johnpm

I have been away from Sheffield for 31 years and would never move back. I come from the Page Hall area ( Hinde House Lane) and it has changed beyond comprehension. Prior to my mum dying, she was quite frightened about what the area had become and put her name on the housing list in case she needed to get away. Her neighbour was a member of Idsworth Rd Club and she and her husband dreaded the walk past the Page Hall shops area at night past a cafe apparently which was a drugs den and where there were gang fights etc. Sadly this reflected how difficult it is for different peoples to live together particularly when older people feel the neighbourhood which they have known and loved all their lives has been taken from them. On the other hand, the southern part of the city seems little changed. I still like to come to visit Derbyshire though - thankfully thats still the same although perhaps busier .

Yes, I well remember the chinese laundry. As a kid I was a bit fearful of it as to what went on inside! Casino on Idsworth rd. Was that what The Roxy Cinema became ? When I was a kid in the 1950's I remember one large shop a little way past Bill Beevers - like a department store - which had overhead wire arrangements that were used to send the money you paid to the office and any change came back the same way. Anyone remember what that shop was ?

I seem to recall a Billy Mott being talked about when I was young - may be to do with Reform Chapel. Any relation?

A great set of postcards. I particularly like those of the old mills. I have an ancestor who died in the Great Sheffield Flood when he was working in the first mill below the dam. Its interesting to see what a typical mill looked like. Where was the Ruskin Museum? ( I haven't lived in Sheffield for over 30 years so have forgotten it if I ever knew about it !). John

Hi Fleetwood, No your reply to my PM didn't get through - if at first you don't succeed - - - - !! Bessie Webb gave up being caretaker 2 or 3 years ago as it was becoming too much for her. I think she is in a flat near Longley Park but may be wrong on that. Since then there have been a younger couple with kids living there and doing the job. If you can find any photos and can post them that would be great. I went to the BB camp at Skegness as a young boy with my mum and dad . This photo was taken there of my mum and dad with Charlie and Amy Wise. How formal can you get on holiday !!

Yes, The band led by Dave Brennan essentially formed in 1961 (although had played under various names earlier) and started at the Cranworth in 1963. The stayed there until 1978 but also played at the New Broom Hotel in the 60's. The core of the band during these years was Bugs Burgon, Terry Kennedy, Pat O'Brien and Dave with a variety of others coming and going. Following the Queen's Jubilee they were renamed Dave Brennan's Jubilee Jazz Band and since 1993 have been resident at the Three Horse Shoes, Wickersley.

I went to many jazz nights in the 1960's. A friend, Harry Jarvis, played bass in the Climax Jazzmen which were resident at a pub ( can't remember is name) at FirVale. I went virtually every week. Anyone remember them ? I also was a regular attender at The Esquire Jazz Club on Leadmill Road. This was a great venue with the stage and dance floor at first floor level - I recall it was quite dark with sofas around the edge of the room for couples . The ceiling was cut out so you could go onto the second floor and look down from up there. The last time I went, instead of a jazz band there was a group called "The Merseys" -went on to become The Merseybeats I think. Never went again as I was more interested in jazz than pop. Anybody remember The Esquire? A works friend, Dave Brennan has run Dave Brennan's New Orleans Jazz Men for many years - they were resident at the Cranworth Hotel, Rotherham when I lived in Sheffield. I regularly went to hear them . They still play and produced their latest cd last year on the "pek sound" label. Dave hosted a weekly jazz spot on Radio Sheffield for some years. John

Hi NettieJ, Welcome back - Its good to hear from you again. I hope your recuperation is going well. Francis was really well loved man. He seemed to have the happy knack of getting on with both young and old. Did you know Kath Lynch died about 4 weeks ago aged 95? Irene emailed to tell me.

I lived at 97 Hinde House Lane until 1986 but my mum and dad lived there until they died in 1993. When I was a kid there was a sweet shop at the bottom of the road just up from Little Bolsover Road - remember it?

I lived at 97 Hinde House Lane (just opposite and below the telephone exchange) from being born in 1944 until 1968. My parents were Marjorie and Jim Moore. I knew a John Bennett who went to Grimesthorpe Reform Chapel BB - met him at the 75th BB reunion a year ago - probably the same one you mention MikeG. Had friends Philip & Steven Nicholas ( now in Derby) at no 101 and Ian Pinhorn at about 119. Also a school friend called Alan Greaves whose parents ran the grocery shop at the bottom of Robey Street. I still meet him at Hinde House school reunions. Used to love playing on Firth Park pond and in the woods making touchburners. The area was really great when I was young -sadly not the case now ! John

I lived on Hinde House Lane from being born in 1944 until 1968. Used the Popple Street chippy every saturday lunch time and some evenings. I liked fish cake and chips plus mushy peas and scraps. Really great grub ! Is it still there? I moved out of Sheffield in 1976. John

Hi Baz, Yes I have lots . After spending 7 years at English Steel I worked at BISRA from 1967 until we moved to Teesside in 1976. I worked in SM for Roy Widdowson. Became SM Assistant Tech Sec to Joe Piper about 1970. Then spent 4 years with Kerry Hill managing the design and build of CAPLAB. Here are a couple of photos : BISRA female staff about 1970 - recognise anybody - I know Jenny Atherton, Pat Booth, Renee Mosley, Dorothy Walshaw, Linda Bilson etc - what a bevy of beauties !! This is Ted Fullwoods leaving do at Teesside about 1978 Recognise Ted Fullwood, Joe Piper, Don Spenceley, Kerry Hill, the "Brown bears" and Roy Widdowson. Let me know who yopu are and we can chat more. Cheers, John Moore

Thanks Hillsbro for that - really interesting to find exactly when they went. Cheers, John

Hi Fawn, You are right - Francis was brought up a Methodist and would have gone up'roed but he was very popular as a preacher at Reform Chapel and knew most people there well. I seem to remember he moved up towards Burngreave before moving to Chapeltown although my memory may be wrong ( it often is so my wife says !) John

Its great to see the Victoria timetable. Does anyone have a similar one for the Midland station showing Thames Clyde Express and Devonian departures?

Francis Butler - knew him very well prior to leaving Sheffield in 1976 mainly through Grimesthorpe WR Chapel. He was a Methodist local preacher and was a favourite to take the Sunday School Anniversary Sermons at WR Chapel. At those services he often brought a pigeon with him to show the kids. I remember him embarassing our family on one occasion when he was going up our road, Hinde House Lane, canvassing for an election in a car with a loudspeaker. Dad and I were out at the front of the house and "Hello Mr Moore, hello John " the speaker boomed out to all and sundry ! Altogether a lovely man - didn't know he had died. Best wishes to NettieJ too for a good recovery. Knew her when we were kids at Grimesthorpe chapel.

I lived on Hinde House Lane from birth in 1944 up to 1968. Used Firth Park boating pond all the time. Even fell in it once when I was about 9 when it had ice on it and we were messing about on the ice and I fell thorugh a hole in it. I remember that at one time it had a circular island in the middle which was really frustrating if your model boat got stuck on it ; you had to get a really long ball of string and pull it across the pond with a freind to release the boat. I also remember that the area around the pond would be chock full of families in the summer if it was a hot sunny day. There was a water fountain at the top end which was well used. Another use for the area was to use mud from the stream in the wood to make Touchburners - remember them !

It was the 57th Company at Petre Street Methodist. If you look on page 2 of this, there is someone called ADNIL who also went there. Albert Drury Smith was the Captain I think - he was also 4th District Chairman and was heart and soul in BB - I knew him well when I was 4th District Secretary. Last thing I knew about 10 years ago his son was running a company at Unstone which had both boys and girls. John

Hi Clown, Sent you a PM the other day. Have you seen it? John

Just come across this thread. I was at Hinde House 1956 -1960. I see Mr Ridgeway has been mentioned. He is still in good health and attends the reunions we hold every year for those of us who went to Hinde House when it first opened in 1956. At the 50th anniversary celebration we had in Sept 2006 he cut the cake. John

Hi Clown, yes, I well remember the place we stayed at Jersey. I first went I think in 1957. As far as I can recall, by then the beds were proper ones. I will see if I can find out any more names. Cheers, John

Hi Terry, Thanks for your 2 latest photos. The bunker you talk about is the famous German Underground Hospital. Both photos must have been taken when I was in Life Boys ie before 1955. On the one outside the boys club Harry Jarvis is stilll a boy in the company and there are quite a few I don't recognise. I will send it to Les Cusworth for him to pick out names. Cheers, John

Thanks for that Clown. I am kicking myself. I went on my Gold DEA exepedition with Alan - my memory must be bad !! Cheers, John

Hi Crocker, I was born May 1944 so if you were born before Sept we would have been in same year at Grimesthorpe. My grandma Morris lived at 43 Rothay Rd and I spent half my younger life trainspotting at Brightside station. I am John Moore. Any clues about you? Cheers, John

I have just picked up this thread and there has obviously been a lot said already. I started my interest in trainspotting on the wall of Holywell Rd ( not far from my grandma's on Rothay Rd) adjacent to Brightside Station near where in those days there was a Gas Plant ( which smelled something awful!). Great times we had there with the "Thames Clyde Express" being the highlight I always wanted to see. I remember great delight the first time I travelled on it on a trip to Leeds. A little older and my horizons extended to Retford where I seemed to live on some Saturdays. I recall winter days spent in the waiting room there with snow piling down outside playing shove hapenny to while away the time. The sight of an A4 rocking across the cross tracks there was a sight to behold . It wasn't unknown for them to come off !!! Older again and off to Warrington many times - train to Manchester, then across to the other station for the train to Warrington - I felt really grown up - and the sight of large LMS Pacifics hurtling along the west coast main line was wonderful. Great memories and friendships - Ah - nostalgia. And yes, I still have my Ian Allen Combined book from 1960 ! John