Morts

Was due for an interview as a trainee accountant in 1970 but was offered a job in the morning which I accepted so never actually worked for them. Suprisingly I always kept an eye on the company. Richard Shardlow was into motor sport, in particular Hill Climbs and, from memory was pretty good. he also owned Leedspeed-a motor sport accesory shop-at the bottom of Crookes at Broomhill. Bought my first set of fireproof overalls from him!

Ernie Blenkinsop-his name seemed forever above the door at The Sportsman at Crosspool. But what an amazing football record he had. Played 26 times for England and all 26 were consecutive England matches. Even his name conjours up memories of times long gone!

I was at King Teds at the time and can remember the Prefects who organised the school dance tried to book Jimi Hendrix to play for the night. A myth or what but I seem to recall he wanted £80 for 20 minutes. I think they turned him down! Who cares if it's a mile from the truth-it was a great story then.

Hi Mojoworking "Funny how the British comics invariably concerned themselves with the class system." How right you are! I've just remembered Gorgeous Gus-probably in Victor-who was a footballer with his own butler who helped Gus out of his silk gown before each match! Gus had an amazingly hard shot which would break the goal nets and even the heads of statues on the top of foreign football grounds.

Beano, Dandy, Victor, Hotspur and Boys Own. It wasn't just the heroes in them-Alf Tupper, Wilson and the rest but the free gifts you got with them. I can recall something made of cardboard with brown paper inside-it made a bang when you slammed it. Simple things....

Great reply! I fell for that one!

There was one such shop on Crookes which was open upto the 1960's. I gather it was mainly for pet food but I bet there were many families who ate it. In fact I bet many of us have eaten it at sometime, particularly if on holiday in France. Can anyone remember it?

Can anyone explain what has happened to reserve team football. In 'my days' the first team and reserve team alternated each week at the main ground. I see reserve team scores occasionaly in the papers so they must still have them. If so, why do managers moan about lack of squad depth and is reserve team matches where players get match fit. Or, are reserve matches played infrequently? Sorry, just don't understand what goes on! Help!

Another question from my 90 year old dad!-see Legion of Frontiersman for his other. He says that Western Road, Mona Avenue (Gilcot Street) and Springvale road were lined with trees, each in memory of a boy from Western Road School who was killed in WW1. He's not been there for many a year and wonders what state they are in now bearing in mind they would be 90 years old now. The sad thing is that they were planted as a memorial-who knows that these days?

A sound thrashing was received about1966/67!

I got caned at King Teds when I was 13-three on the backside which was heavily padded with about six pairs of shorts. The reason-I changed a radio programme from a German lesson that was being recorded by JET, the most useless teacher ever. I could have got away with it but I told my best mate what I had done and as a detention for the whole form after school was threatened I had to own up. Lessons learned? Keep your gob shut if you do anything likely to bounce back at you! I was also vice form captain and I learned my lesson at that age of the need to set an example and be a role model. So John Terry has no sympathy from me.

This is a memory of my dad who used to live at the bottom of Lydgate Lane, Crookes. He's 90, so goodness knows if anyone can help. He remembers The Legion of Frontiersmen who met in a large room at the back of The Old Grindstone. He recalls that they were ex-servicemen who served abroad in WW1. Everyone was eligible to join-except the French!(Brilliant rule that ought to make a comeback). Their uniform was riding breeches with a navy blue tunic with chainmail epilettes and they wore a stetson hat, a bit like the New Zealand army. So, who were they, what did they do and what happened to them?

Hi Discovery Have a word with Sally who runs Lacasablanca-a White Company shop-near to the Dolphin Roundabout. She has been running a cava and caviar club for ladies for a few months. Mention Liz, my wife, if you do go in as an introduction.

I think he lived on Ivy Park Road-I used to deliver papers to his house in the late 60s. He had a golden retreiver which would just lie at the entrance to his house. That dog was so obedient and made such an impression that I eventually got one 30 years later! Fab house by the way!

I made a mess of my 'O' Levels because of scooters! I got a Lambretta LI 150 well before my 16th birthday and couldn't wait to get out on it legally. I worked at a JET petrol station at the weekends and tried to leave a nozzle full of petrol after each customer for subsequent decanting into a petrol can which after several customers would be my weeks free petrol. Just needed 2T at 25:1 from memory. Could never understand the mixture ratios! That was 1969. Can well remember the thing not starting and bump starts down hills were the norm only to end up pushing it back home up the hills of Sheffield as it failed to get a spark. £25 it cost-a total death trap but still here to tell the tale.

I lived in the Ranmoor/Crosspool border and used to get the no. 60 bus into town from the stop outside the Ranmoor Inn. I have absolutely no recollection of the shop-I'm talking early 60s. However I mentioned it to my dad who is 90 and still has all his marbles-he remembers it-unbelievable! He reckons it was just by the old yard where the horses used to be kept. He even described the sign. When next in Sheffield I'll pay it a visit-the pub that is. Any good?

Hi Magneteer-I was at Lydgate Lane about the same time. Was the infamous Miss Pollard your teacher then? I honestly could not think of a more boring project. As a kid who was interested in how chocolate was made-it was only the end result that appealed! Having said that I did win a certificate but I can't remember getting any chocolate.

The Kraft takeover of Cadburys reminded me of the project we had to do every year at junior school in the early 60's. Writing about how chocolate was invented and developed over the following years. The classroom was covered in posters all about the cocoa bean. It seemed to last for weeks but was probably only a day or two. I think all the winners got were certificates so you can imagine we all hated the project with a vengance! Anyone remember this project?

I moved from Sheffield in 1974 but remember the local hero as John Warhurst who won gold at the Commonwealth 20mile walk. Such a shame it no longer exists. It's all marathons or half marathons these days. It would be great if a walk came back -does one exist anywhere else? What a great way to raise money for charity that is within everyone's capabilities-ok you may look a prat walking fast but it's all in a good cause. What do others think?

A tiny combative mid fielder from memory. Didn't Brian Clough think so and sign him for Derby to do the job he was good at and nothing else. Sad-I still sing Mighty Carlin whenever the Manfred Mann record is played (fortunately not often!)

That's the best advice from jamiemini. You need a money pit to get involved in motor sport. Believe me, been there, done it, got the T shirt. The trouble is once you start, the adrenilin kicks in and it is such a fabulous feeling. Get your kicks elsewhere for minimum outlay.

Can only remember John Fantham having a hairdressers on Division Street and then a hardware shop at Crosspool

Big Brown-remember that sports shop well! Managed by Paul Leadbetter who played in Wednesday reserves and then Matlock Town in about 1970. I worked on Saturdays at his fruit & veg shop-his previous venture.

I used to belong to Speakers Club. I should imagine it's a similar format to Toastmasters. To many people, speaking in public is their worst nightmare and the encouragement and confidence that is gained at these groups helps overcome these fears. Often think that footballers should get themselves to a meeting!

Thanks Ash for this. The dinner dance photos make me laugh-I wonder how many gents still have (and wear) the DJs. I knew a few of those at the Insurance Dinner-didn't realise they were that old or is it just how fashions change. Can remember being in the Spectator-a photo of me in the weightlifting room at the YMCA. Only there as five a side had been cancelled. Looked well out of place!