SonofFred

Along with many friends I used to frequent the Raven in the mid 60's. Were all students. A few of our group were University weight lifters and spent time in the Raven gym. A heavyweight called David Metcalfe met my sister there and they later got married. Sadly he died a few years ago. The Raven did free black pudding and cheese and onion sandwiches on Thursday nights. Also sold the best Tennents Queens in Sheffield.

I went to Woodseats from 1954 to 1957. Moved there from Lowfields. Lived off Abbey Lane. Should have gone to Abbey Lane. Wouldn't have us. Snobs. Didn't fancy people from Heeley. Can't remember much now but my last teacher was Mr Bennett. He must have been a genius because somehow he got me thru' the 11 plus.

Yes I do remember you MJW47. We played together as kids. You are a couple of years older than me. Fred and Doreen both died in the last couple of years. Kay lives near Manchester and I live down south. Our other sister, Jane, lives in North Wales. Your dad was called Alec and your mum was called Margaret. As I remember it she was from Ireland originally. If I knew how this forum worked I could send you an email with my phone number, not sure how to do that. Will investigate. If you know send me your phone number or email address and we could have a chat. Sorry if this is a bit boring for other users of this thread.

My mother Doreen Gregory, later Doreen Bloomer, worked at Loxley's when she left school in 1935 until the end of the war. Unfortunately she died last year so I can add little. I remember climbing up to the 2 round pillars outside the main entrance as a child, when we lived close by in Chippinghouse Road.

I worked there in school Hols and student vacs between 1962 and 1966. I worked variously in the cream dairy, back dock, bottle washing machines and front dock, oh and in the laboratory. The dairy manager was called Rev Fisher, a small red headed man who was hard but fair. I got the jobs because my father, Fred Bloomer, was the area retail manager. He worked at Broadfield Rd in the 40's and 50's, but by the 60's was based at Junction Rd retail HQ near Hunter's Bar. My mother, Doreen, worked as a senior clerk at Broadfield Rd in the 50's