HIBBSY

In the late 60's Gordon's was the unofficial H/Q of the Slot Car Club I belonged to. Track was upstairs in an old building off Cambridge St.

This may be straying off topic a bit but of interest. In the mid to late 60's I was starting my apprenticeship in the training school at Davy-United. At that time the apprentices at Brown Bayleys were restoring one of the Sentinal flat bed steam wagons that had been used in the works yard for many years. The Davy- United training school helped out with some parts and patterns. When completed this restored wagon was used in parades etc. for a few years. I believe this was wagon no. 6 with plate AW2964 which is now in the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.

Directly across the street from us at that time was a green grocer who had a horse and cart. Our next door neighbours were the caretakers for the chapel/hall at the intersection of Petre st and Sutherland rd. Also remember swimming at Sutherland rd baths. We moved away in 1957/58 and went to live at Woodhouse. Visited my grandparents frequently at Burngreave and as a result kept in touch with friends on Petre st for a few years.

My early years were in the 50's living with my parents in Pitsmoor on Petre St. Our house was directly behind All Saints School and next door to Sturdy's shop. On saturdays we would walk into town. I don't think we ever took the bus. Our route took us down Spital Hill, through the Wicker and over Ladies Bridge. From there it would vary week to week but usually we would go up Wain Gate and go thru British Home Stores I think, then cross over into Woolworths to see if my uncle Wilf was at work. I remember the creaky wooden floors in both stores. Sometimes we would go down Dixon Lane into the Rag and Tag market or pass Fitzallen Square and up High Street to Fargate. I remember the policeman on his pedestal at Coles corner directing traffic of which there was a lot both vehicular and pedestrian. Chapel walk was bustling those days. Sometimes we would continue onto the Moor which meant we would be having a long walk home. I left Sheffield in 1980 and try to go back every 3 or 4 years but to me it is frozen in time in that 1950 to 1980 period so as a result as time goes by the changes look massive to me and I can no longer find my way around when I visit to see family and friends. As life takes its toll Sheffield these days has hardly any pull on the heartstrings anymore but I still have fond memories.

Played football for Davys, probably in the late 60's, although I never worked there. Team colours were a sickly purple and yellow that were uncommon to say the least. Can't remember any names from then but we were all in our late teens so all will be in their 70's now. Also played for another but different Davys team at Davy United where I did work at the time.

Hi Jacboy, hope this helps. I was raised in Woodhouse from the late 50s and this is what I remember. Woodhouse council school, later referred to as Woodhouse east was at the top of Station road on the left as you left Beighton road. This is quite close to where your relative lived and makes sense to me as it's within easy walking distance. The Endowed school room was in the middle of old Woodhouse, at the end of Waterslacks lane, which has long gone. It's location was close to where Sheffield road met Tannery street on the opposite side to Stradbroke road. All redeveloped now. Woodhouse scout troop,of which I was a member for a few years,met Friday nights at the Endowed schoolroom. I have not been back to Woodhouse for a few years but there have been a lot of changes.

Is there anyone still around who was at Davy's in mid 60's to mid 70's or would I have better luck on Facebook which I don't like using.

Can anyone remember if Arthur Lee's had a sports ground and if so where it was.

Along with a couple of mates I used to occasionally bump into Len and his group saturday nights in the Royal Hotel ( above the Buccaneer ). That group usually consisted of Gil Reese, Alan Woodward, Len and occasionally Tony Waiters ( Blackpool Goalie) who may have been Len's brother in law. In later years bumped into Tony in Canada coaching kids soccer. Sad to say that all of that group are no longer with us. RIP guys and thanks for the memories.

My great grandfather, grandfather, father and uncles all worked on the railway in Sheffield. Dad was an apprentice in the mid forties, his first job, and was a platelayer when he left in the mid sixties. Not sure if that was a result of the Beeching report. My ancestors worked in the very early days of the railway at Rowsley near Bakewell before moving to Sheffield.

My grandparents lived in one of the lodges at Burngreave Cemetery. During the blitz my grandfather was either out on the property putting out flares dropped by the bombers or sheltering with his family in the cellar under the chapel. While sheltering in the cellar a bomb landed in a nearby flowerbed then wormed underground before exploding. This explosion sent a number of cobblestones high into the air which came down on the roof of my grandparents house doing considerable damage. My nan said everything got covered in soot. I think a couple of other bombs landed on the cemetery property without too much damage.

When Bob committed to going full time at D&H,he realized that he didn't have the time to go racing anymore so the outfit was stripped down and the engine languished on the floor of the shops back room for years. That Vinny engine was a brute and well sorted by Bob and had strong sentimental ties for him. The last time I saw Bob he had a small lock-up property in Wath upon Dearne. The racing sidecar chassis was propped in the corner and in a bit of a state as the property had been recently flooded. By that time the engine was long gone and believed to have resurfaced in Australia. Bob's collection of Vincent stuff would be worth a fortune these days. Happy Days.

Sorry but don't remember Handsworth motorcycles. Where were they located. Bob Hefford and I were mates all thru the 70's till I emigrated in 1980. We raced his Vincent sidecar outfit together for a couple of seasons before D& H Motorcycles got underway. In the beginning the shop was part time and I helped out evenings and weekends. Also remember taking trips out to Pollards at Dinnington. Through Bob met Terry Windle, Owen Greenwood and Tony Dawson , names familiar to those in the know.

Well I appreciated it and thanks for the memories. I left Sheffield over 40 years ago and for me anything after 1980 does not compute. The new stuff has me completely baffled on my infrequent visits. The old pics reminded me of childhood memories. Saturday's we used to walk from Pitsmoor, down Spital Hill, thru the Wicker, over Ladies Bridge then various routes around the shops and markets, all long gone. Then walking back home. Your pictures were typical of those early 50's Saturdays. Again thanks.

That looks like the shop at the other end of Victoria rd opposite Woodhouse West school.