Frankie Rage

Hi Ann,

I think then I am probably about the same age as your Kay. She may have been in my class at Hucklow Road or more likely one year above/below me? You're right about what sticks in the memory and what doesn't. I went to Firth Grammar (as it was then) after Hucklow Road but I was no fan of school, not Hucklow nor Firth Park so not so happy days for me!

Other members of the orchestra at Hucklow in my time were John Emsley and Andrew Caban who both played trumpet or cornet. Can't really remember any other of the musicians but there was caretaker Mr Owen who taught us boys (and girls?) brass instruments. Teachers I remember: Miss Clarke, Mr Sysk, Mr Howe, Miss Carding-Wells.. and Head Mr Bradley, of course.

Other kids I recall at Hucklow who might have been friends of Kay were: Robert Lowe, Stephen Pacey, Stephen Wells, David Brown, Margaret Nunn, Steven Kelsey, Elaine Dickens, Nigel French, Barry Heywood, Paul Scott, Walter Humphries, Philip Bullivant, Susan Royston, Richard Fooks, Carol Morton, Carol Kingston, Susan Bottom, Elizabeth Gregory, Michael Gill, Linda Nolan, ... phew my memory is struggling now!

Don't really remember any kids on Firth Park Road itself, my pals were more up on Hinde House Lane in the late 1950's/early 1960's and then up on Vickers Road and Firth Park after that.

Like you I have now lived more years outside Sheffield than in it! But can't forget it!

Oh my god!! This is like re-living my childhood. Only just found this forum -Born on Firth park Road in 1960 - but nearer to the Page Hall end so the shops there were our local shops. The corner chemist - before that, when I was very young - remember buying bread there. I remember Bill Beever's and Siddalls - occasionally used to get ham salad butties as a treat - had worms in the lettuce one day so didn't go in again. Was a Saturday girl at Underwoods newsagents for a while - when I was about 14 - worked with Veronica. Can't remember her last name. She lived on Idsworth Road, just opposite the club - used to babysit for her. Anyone remember her? I remember Buywise (shopping list always began "two tins of beans; two tins of peas ......................"), and Maxted's!! Used to get spuds - served by a small lady with dyed orange red hair and glasses - bit of a stoop..... and the launderette - when mum's washer packed in or she'd had enough used to go in there with my big sister Kay Coleman. Used to love Patnick's junk shop - bought books and all sorts there. Used to go to Hucklow Road - anyone else go there - from about '64 to '71? Mr Bradley was the headmaster - we had a brilliant orchestra. I used to play the double bass 'cos I was taller than everyone else. My older brother Peter still lives in the house we were born in - but yes, when i go back - nothing is the same. But then - I'm not either.... oh, and the boating lake - used to go 'swimming' in there when i was really young - oh the memories come flooding back - it was quite a nice place to live then - been in North Wales now longer than i lived in Sheffield but I'll always be a Yorkshire girl ..................

Hi Ann, I think I remember your sister Kay Coleman, certainly remember the name. I lived on Bolsover Road at the bottom end near Page Hall shops and went to Hucklow Road from 1960 - 66. I also played in Mr Bradley's orchestra (trumpet) about 3rd trumpet I think as I wasn't very good! Frank Egarr was the name then. I only got angry later! I remember Kay as being tall as well, possibly with medium long brown hair in a pony tail? Or am I dreaming???!!!

I remember going to my local barbers in the 70's on Page Hall Road and taking along various photos of pop stars hairstyles that I wanted. Always came out scalped no matter what!

It's all a bit different now!

Brown sauce sandwiches (these were a treat!) 'Chop' sauce became a big favourite (2nd only to Henderson's Relish)

Mom's Sunday roasts were the big deal: pork, lamb mostly and also beef ...not chicken too often though, a bit dear then!

The veg was always peas, carrots green beans or cabbage ..and cooked so thoroughly as it was hard to tell the original shapes but we loved those meals nevertheless!

Hash. Like meat and potato pie without the pie crust. Always with Henderson's Relish. Custard (not the liquid) with a crust. Apple pie. Meals she threatened us with: 's**t with sugar on!'

Also, there'd always be some noxious big ******* to come and bother you!

I think he had a job once doing summat. Does that help?

Our band used to rehearse in a room upstairs around 1973/4. So if you remember a racket from above, that was us!

I'd go back to The Wicker 3rd July 1969. I dropped a ten bob note, never got over it!

Jollop

..as in..

We're still waiting for thi mother, she's not gorr her jollop on yet!

It's only a scratch just stick some jollop on it!

If it was a pear - they would say 'thiz no cores on pears'

Them pears were as hard as 'ousebricks. We wunt wait forrem to ripen!

I was back in Sheffield December last. Took a walk down Page Hall shops, it's bloody different now!

It's true, we were out on the streets playing from dawn 'til dusk, Sunday night was bath night... the rest of the week it was just a quick wipe around. And clean pants on after bath night, every week...

Yes, ...still do!

Yes, and they would go with the potatoes our mams said we had growing behind our lug 'oles!

I think he flew the nest...

I worked as a polisher in an ice skate factory in 1974 - somewhere near Bramall Lane I think. I only lasted a couple of days. It was like walking back in time to the Victorian age. I remember standing in a queue at the end of the day waiting to 'get weshed' at a big old sink in the yard. Not the worse job I ever had but close!

e's bin mankin' abaht wi 'er next door, 'e'll cop it from 'is missus!

A bit off topic, but when I last visited there was an excellent museum at Western Park, beautiful Botanical Gardens, numerous parks within easy reach of the city centre (e.g. Norfolk, Endcliffe), the nucleus of a decent shopping area around the Town Hall/ Fargate/ Barker's Pool area (though it rapidly degenerates in either direction), some great historic buildings in the city centre that could be renovated and turned into a variety of usages, a decent range of restaurants, and a rich history of steel making that could be profiled. There's also Manor Castle where Mary Queen of Scots spent a while. Not every tourist wants to sit on a beach, slurp mugs of tea, sun bathe, and eat cockles and whelks. There is such a thing known as convention tourism. People attending company or association conventions and taking in the local ambience.

 

It does have live theaters, if only they opened their doors when tourists were around.

 

Then, just outside of Sheffield, some great scenery, excellent spots for walking, hiking, climbing, and caving.

 

Add on to that the fact that by North American standards, Sheffield is within easy reach of coastal resorts.

 

I was about to say Sheffield Wednesday but after last night, no, not right now. A unitedite might want to express similsr sentiments about his or her club right now. But, there is professional football - kind of?

 

Sheffield is ideally situated. All it would take is a bit more imagination by the people running the place, so that the downtown would become the vibrant spot it used to be. History, uniqueness, and character given top billing. Tourists don't want to come to visit Meadow Hall.

 

And, back to topic, demolishing the seedy looking Castle Market and profiling the ruins of the old Sheffield Castle would be a good place to start.

Mmm... you've proved one thing, Sheffield sure needs a lot of talking up!

Didn't both she and the goat have the same name, and weren't they never seen together??

Thats the problem though. The is an astounding amount of money to be made through tourism but people who live here seem to be against it!

I wouldn't be against it but am hard pressed to see Sheffield as a major tourist destination. There could have been more to see maybe if they hadn't demolished so much. As for Castle Market, it holds no interest for me, I'd rather see it knocked down and more of the Sheffield Castle excavations exposed and displayed.

Wrong! Sheffield is a town to come back to

After twenty years travelling the world, and having lived in three different continents, there was only one place I wanted to live, and this is it

Not perfect, but it'll do for me - and I shop in the Castle Market most every week

I've got Henderson's Relish running through my veins and I'm always disappointed at the end of a football match

Maybe, but I think Sheffield is for Sheffielder's - those that have always lived there and ex-pats like us. I couldn't recommend it as a holiday destination - not for the City itself - outlying areas maybe, but go and stay there, not in Sheffield. A quick look around the Cathedral and what else is there worth looking at? The Town Hall? What else?

That's how it's always been, full of typical Sheffielder's!

Sheffield is a town to come from, not one to visit.