tally2

I remember a Dutch guy ran the place in I think the mid 70's.If my memory serves me right his name was Bill Hoffman.Don't think he ran it for long before leaving to take over The Sportsman at Lodge Moor,

Hi Drabb, You will gather from subsequent posts,that we were talking at cross purposes. Although Dick Hoole is not your man ie. wrong Ball Inn,you might be interested to see from the other posts, that your thread has resulted in USUK getting in touch.He and Dick Hoole had lost contact for over 30 years,but will soon be back in touch.So many thanks for starting the thread which has achieved a great result for our Dick. I wish you equally good luck in your quest!

Hi USUK Spoke to Dick,he remembers you well and would like to make contact again.Please email me on johntalford47@hotmail .com with details of your own email address and I will let you know his. ps. I am married to his sister Linda. Kind Regards, John

I'm trying to discover if Hibbert Brothers are still trading in or around the city. I bought a print from them some 30 years ago, by what I assume was a local artist(Louis Jennings).Sadly, the print of Victorian carol singers in a snowy Paradise Square,has faded badly over the years and I would love to replace it.Despite years of effort I have been unable to trace either the artist or the print itself on the internet. On the edge of the picture is printed "Copyright Hibbert Brothers Sheffield" I realise this is a long shot,but if Hibberts(or an associate company) are still trading,I may be able to obtain a copy via them. Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated.

My brother-in law is Richard(Dick)Hoole.I'm pretty sure he played for the Ball Inn during the late 60's and early 70's. The family used to live about three doors up from the Ball,on the corner of Crookes main road and Mulehouse Road. He's away at the moment,but I will contact him when he returns to verify this, and I will post again.

My Grandad often used to say about certain people "He's got more money than Soft Mick" Has anyone else heard of this one and if so have you any idea who Soft Mick was supposed to be?

The Italian Job-Michael Caine Remember going to see it when it was first released and it knocked the socks off me.Thought the concept was great and the stunts were brilliant.So much so I went back to see it a further 3 times within the next week! Can,t believe I did that,or indeed that I am admitting to it all these years on.

Hi Guys, Thanks for your replies so far. I do remember Ian Geddes.Didn't know him as a friend as such,but seem to recall him as a big lad who took delight at that time in terrorising the rest of us ,including a few members of staff! I do remember the regular trek across the mud between the two schools.In particular I remember being punished, along with the rest of my class ,by Mr Rogers our P.E. teacher for persistent bad behaviour during one of his lessons. It must have been Winter, as I remember it being absolutely freezing,the field looking like The Somme,there was that much mud.He made us all strip down to just shorts-no shirts socks or trainers and run 10 laps of the whole field. Can you imagine that happenning these days? There would be a huge outcry from angry overprotective parents, threatening everything from legal action to a lynching. Ah happy days-Ha Ha

Although it's some 30 years since I lived in the city,I still have great memories of some of the cinemas. I remember standing in huge queues at the Abbeydale(it always seemed to be raining) to see the original Sean Connery Bond films. Likewise,my now wife,then girlfriend queued for what seemed an eternity in the covered passageway between Cockaynes and the ABC to see Night Fever. The Odeon and Gaumont were also famous regular haunts.The Classic on Fitzalan Square although not generally living upto its name,nevertheless usually had a good film or two on. Ther was also a multiplex which was situated either under, or at least next to,what was then the Grosvenor Hotel ,just off The Moor,although I can't remember its name.In any event those were happy days.

Hi Chimay, I was in the boys school during this period and remember the merger of the two schools. The event caused a division of opinion within our camp.The staff met the news of the propsal with a mixture of disdain and disappointment.200+ testosterone filled teenage boys felt somewhat differently !!!

Was anyone there during this period? If so I would like to hear from you about your best and worst memories.

Thanks to you both Patto and PT.My grandad used to say that to me quite often when I was a little lad.It has always stuck in my mind and puzzled me.It seems it was his own bit of nonsense made up to pull my leg. Nevertheless,it's interesting to know that it had some substance in fact . Once again many thanks

Well i'll go to't top o Sharra bottom (does sharrow have a top or a bottom?) He's got a reight blog on (pretty annoyed) Sithee owd lad - new taters (to this day I don't know what that was about and my grandfather died in the late 60's)