mike-s

I went to school with a lad in the early 70s whose Dad was building a boat at the wharf, think his surname was Croft (or Crofts)

There was a Goodison family on Basegreen Drive in the 60s/70s all I can remember was a daughter called Janet.

Lewis Jepson jnr who ran the garage was a friend of mine, he sadly passed away a few years ago.

Did 'Spud' live down Jaunty? I didn't go to Ashleigh myself but do remember knocking about a bit with someone called Spud in my teens, drove a Mk 1 cortina? Might be wrong, memory not what it was!

I spent many hours as a kid donning wellies and playing in 'Shirebrook'. The brook disappears into a culvert on Lister avenue and reemerged in a quarry close to Birley moor rd where the industrial estate is now situated (hence Quarry vale rd where my sister lived) Used to be lots of newts in the quarry which we would bring home for our old sink in the back garden,

Which would be SIXTEEN for one 'new penny'!! The biggest swizz I remember involving decimalisation as a kid, was that overnight instead of twelve goes on a one armed bandit for a shilling, we only got FIVE. Gutted!

My late father had the middle name Pigott, (Charles Pigott Spencer) However his younger brother George had the SURNAME Pigott, (George Pigott) We never could work that one out! They originated from the Park area of Sheffield, bottom of Duke street,

It was also known as an open air school when I started in '66. First thing monday mornings we had to run up to the round house, opposite the Norfolk arms, unaccompanied, in all weathers. The round house was a tuck shop in those days so we would stock up on sweets for the way back!

I left BGS in 1974 and moved away from Sheffield a few years later. I still enjoy visiting when I'm in the area for the brilliant cafe (The hidden gem) which is housed in the old boys changing rooms adjacent to the playing field. The food is beautiful, well worth a visit.

I remember Rodney Hill, he and Brian Chapman 'babysat' me one night, I was around 10 years old they would have been perhaps fourteen. Mum and dad returned home to find me comatose, they had watched me drink an extremely large percentage of my dads whiskey, gin, brandy etc whilst they rolled about on the floor howling with laughter. I was not well 😆.

The Wards pub in Holmesfield would be the Rutland arms, lovely little pub, used to frequent it a lot before moving away. managed to pop in last year, first time in years, hardly changed at all.

Does anyone remember the Bethels and the Watsons from Jaunty? They always had a 'Presence' on the estate! I got on ok with John Bethel, but think there were plenty who didn't!

Trying this again. Anyone know the whereabouts of Robert (Rab) Green. Will be around 66 now. Worked at PCL on Arundel gate in the 70s, lived at Gleadless (later Heeley?) Brother Mark, sister Lesley. Attended Bents Green school.

I pass the driveway leading to John Pecks old house at Darfoulds once a month, always gives me a little tingle as I remember Dad taking me there around 60 years ago, never forgotten that driveway!

Thanks for that. I only knew her at school, if she married in 76 she would have been 18 I think. Could be the 79 one possibly.

Anyone know of Linda Bolsover, lived Petre St I believe, in the 70s. Had a brother Peter. We went to school together, would just like to know how her life has been, she didn't have the best of starts.

That chippy was cracking, a favourite stop off on the way back from the flea pit 😋

Used to love this shop in the mid 60s, especially at Christmas, the window was amazing.

Anyone remember a Mrs Needham at Middlewood rd?

Thanks for that Monica, In the middle of moving house at the moment but I'll contact you re the book when I'm sorted. Mike.

I remember my late mum saying she went to Notre Dame catholic school, this would have been 1930s. Not having lived in Sheffield for many years myself I wondered if the school was still still functioning as a school, or if not, what is it now?

I knew an Ian Sockett, television engineer, often wonder what happened to him.

Later Vallances.

Shame to hear the Far Lees is no longer. It used to be one of the pubs on our (myself and Brian Chapman) 'Christmas pub crawl' in the 70s, Start at The Hollin bush, The New Inn, Heeley & Sheffield (also no longer I believe) The Far Lees, The Red Lion, and finish at The Old Harrow. A pint and a rum in each, and if it was snowing that made it all the better! Happy days.

The some kinda mushroom shops were owned by (Dave?) McPhie. He went on to open a book / record shop in Bakewell and I believe a member of the same family now owns the High Peak book shop at Brierlow bar. I used to supply his shop in Chesterfield in the late 70s/ early 80s.