gower25

Ron Fairfax I remember you very well, not as a school pal but as a character in the year or two above me. I was at fpgs 52 to 57 and had a similar end to my schooldays as you. I got as far as Transitus Science but dropped out being anxious to get working. I remember several of the names you mentioned, Barry Littlewood, Tony Justice, who i met again in later life. I spent my teens in and out of jobs ( easy in the fifties). I finally ‘straightened up and flew right’ with a career in electrical engineering at Yorkshire Electricity where I met two more ex-redcaps, Eric Damms and Pete Digby. I maintained contact with Eric until his death about five years ago. It was good seeing your posts as I was beginning to think I was the last survivor. It cheered me no end. my close mates at school were Ray Brocklebank, Os Robinson, Rodney Capill, Vic Burgin and others. I should have said at the outset I am Brian Ayres but it’s unlikely to ring a bell for you. Oh, and I joined the Scout troop briefly where Daz Smith was my Patrol Leader if you meant a pupil (I think there was a Daz Smith teacher there round that time) Best wishes to you Ron

Jimmy Walker I hope you’re still active on this site. I’m Brian Ayres and lived on Gower Street and remember you well. I’ve searched for years to get in touch with friends from the 40s/50s. I think you had an older brother (Brian?) and your dog was called Jack. Some of the people I remember are Melvyn Rawson, Eric Renshaw, Alan Knowles, Tony Marriott, Alan Denial, and girls Pat Onions, Judy Richardson, Tessa Connolly. I’d love to be in touch with any of them and hear their stories. Hope you see this and reply. Best Wishes. Happy Days then!

I went to Ellesmere Road School Infants and Juniors leaving in 1952 to start at Firth Park Grammar. The teachers I remember are Mr Albaya and Mr Goldstone, the others have slipped from my memory along with many other things. I remember though Mr Goldstone taking a party of us camping in the Hope Valley. The camp site was the back lawn of his house at Edale so not quite wild camping. But I think we enjoyed the week with lots of walking and even wild swimming in a river in the area - freezing cold! His wife I remember was very nice to us. I think there were only boys on the trip and she was the subject of much speculation as she wore an ankle chain. This was supposedly a sign of relaxed morals and provoked much discussion and arguments between those who found it exciting and those who wouldn't believe anything bad of such a lovely lady. And none of us over 11! Some of the pupils I remember are Peter Beevers, Malcolm Marsden, Pat Onions, Alan Denial, Sandra Finney, Judy Richardson (Earsham St), Tessa Connolly whose parents had a restaurant in the Wicker, Marion Cox, John and Robert South - twins, Sylvia Ellis, Arthur Phillips (Clun St), Norman Naylor to name but a few. Out of school I hung around with Melvyn Rawson, Eric Renshaw, Jimmy Walker, Alan Knowles, ? Beighton, can't believe I've forgotten his first name. Unlike today's kids we wandered far and wide visiting both Hillsbrough and Bramall Lane for football, trainspotting at Victoria Station, Smith's Fields on Petre Street, Longley Park Open Air Pool, Millhouses Park and Woods and Roe Woods for the ponds and fishing for newts, tadpoles and sticklebacks. All gloriously free of adults! I lived on Gower Street next but one to Hawksworth's Paper Shop (previously Miss Walker's) and my uncle Charlie Blades had the barber shop down the road just before the Gower Arms. Love to hear from any of the above or anyone who I have left out due to faulty brain connections. I should say that I am Brian Ayres and some may know my brother Fred who now lives in Spain. Happy Days!