david weston

Anyone remember a lady who worked there called Edna Thompson ?

There was a Frank Lockwood who I think ran a nuts and bolts wholesale business near Commonside in the 1970's.

Today it's unsightly graffiti, but in the post war years, walls, bridges etc. were besmirched with hand-daubed slogans. Anyone remember any ? On a long wall on Upwell Street there was a massive one reading 'Cut The Call-up'; It was there for years and was a call to end military conscription. 'Kilroy was Here' was another, along with 'Hong Kong to China' which we kids thought was 'Honk, Honk to China' which we shouted as a warning when speeding on our trolleys. There was one slogan on the bridge at the bottom of Staniforth Road reading 'Read the Daily Worker', added to which, some wag had painted a 'D' before the first word ! One wit was writing things on roof slates and placing them on top of bus shelters, this got in the Star, or Telegraph, under the caption 'Message for people in high places !' . ( Forget it UKIP !)

They were being phased out around 1968 Mammybear.

Young people today with the cyber world at their fingertips can't realise what a revolutionary thing TV was back in the 1950's. Older member will recall going home from school seeing yet another 'H' or 'X' aerial having appeared on a neighbourhood chimney since the day before. The Coronation was the main impetus for most of the first families to get one, with friends who had been invited to watch the event soon getting their own. My dad was reluctant to invest until 1957 when our first set was a stylish Murphy with the controls under a flip-up lid on the top. Unfortunately the aerials ( BBC and ITV ) were not aligned correctly and the picture would bend annoyingly. Dad was again reluctant to pay the 17/6d for it to be re-adjusted and we suffered with it for around 6 months. Years later I was told that this may have been a trick by the aerial erectors whereby they aim the aerial to pick up a weaker, reflected signal from some large building or gas ometers etc. knowing they will be called back to rectify the problem. Any truth in that ? For those who remember those glory days ( providing they weren't Picture Palace owners !), there is an interesting 1930's film on You Tube of the conversion of Alexandra Palace into the first TV center with footage of the construction of the famous mast, a shot of which was used for the BBC TV Newsreel with the words circling it to the tune of 'Girls in Grey' . Tap in 'Television comes to London' and 'Girls in Grey, BBC Newsreel film' to enjoy for yourself. What other sets were there ? I remember 'EKCO' and 'Ultra', but forget the others.

Am I right in thinking that the City School of Motoring of the 1960's was located on Change Alley ? I had lessons there and think their cars were all Ford Anglias ? I do remember it being 17/6d per hour ( 77&I/2 p, son ). Incidentally, the Ford Anglia was often referred to as a 'Ford Angila' which, along with chimley, skelinton and other corruptions, our teachers would correct us over. However, they're quite excusable given politicians and even BBC newsreaders saying ' Nukiller ' instead of 'Nuclear'

If you don't already know of this, PCPLOD, it may interest you. A book entitled "A copper in Castleford. " , ISBN 978 149 187 5575, or on e-book, same ISBN but ends 5582 instead of 5575.

Can't recall the name, 'Tare19'. I know their cabs had radio names, 'Peter' etc.. I'd forgotten Albert's surname, Rodgers it was, as you say. He was very proud of his son being a dancer, but was always quick to add " But he's not one of those !"

Did you know any daytime drivers 'Tare19' ? I knew Albert, whose son was a ballet dancer, and the thin chap with glasses who wore a peaked cap and kept an immaculate cab.

Jim (Hardy), your mention of Robert Fairweather triggered a memory. I certainly knocked about with him and remember him falling from the top of the slide in Firth Park and knocking himself unconscious, an ambulance attended.

In the mid 60's, one of the people running the firm was a Mr. Hudson, whom PCPlod may be referring to. The livery of their fleet of FX4 taxis was an odd combination of black top areas with a beige lower half, and 'Tomlinson's Radio Taxis' ( the first radio cabs in the city I believe ) written on the boot lid in red letters, outlined in white; these vehicles making a rather gaudy contrast to the other, more conservative, all black FX4's on the ranks. The dead were taken into a section on the right side of the cobbled yard on entering through the arch, female cadavers often having their longer hair hanging from the zipped-up, green, canvass transporting bags. The hire of those most atmospheric, Dickensian premises to film companies could have been a further addition to the firm's income and survival, had they thought of it !

I remember that the floorboards used to creak as customers walked around.

It counts for nothing these days Arfer, with an estimated one million uninsured drivers on the roads; and how do we prove it to anyone ? Us old uns would never dare venture on the roads uninsured, even for a short, pressing trip. Those old Ministry of Transport TV ads were a great help to good driving....' Clunk click every trip'; the old tramp at the farmyard gate saying " No need for a car misself, but I do think you do some daft parking with them, like blocking farmers' gates, ". The one with the glass of water on the bonnet, and even those back window stickers 'If I stop, can you ?' All helped to educate. They've all disappeared now and the example is set instead by MP's asking their spouse to take the blame for them; haven't they Mr. Hune ?

Credit where it's due, 'Folk-father Hillsboro' is an untiring help with many queries on SF and , on behalf of other beneficiaries and myself, I wish him all the best in 2014.

The side of Pond's Forge, by the pavement, was of black painted, corrugated iron and I remember, in the early 1960's, there was some graffiti written on it, seen by all the bus passengers leaving Pond Street. I can't remember what it said now, something rude, but it was visible for years.