Received 07-06-18

I would just like to say I really enjoyed the book. I know Rob Langton and his wife Madalaine. I hope you carry on with your research of Gateacre Childwall and Lee Park. I know there are plenty of people, who would love to e-mail you with their tales of a fantastic time in their lives,

Received 07-06-15

Benson meets Benson

It was last year that I was first invited to a Prefab Project meeting but it was not until this year, after reading the book that I finally managed to get there. My sister, Moya, had travelled down from Darlington on a family visit and we came with Margaret Hyland, neé Ryecraft, and another friend who was unconnected to the prefabs.
We were greeted warmly but did not immediately recognise anyone else in the room. Someone asked us to fill in our details in the records, alongside the road where we used to live. My sister and I wrote our Christian names and maiden name, Benson, in the spaces beside 42 Whinhurst Road. The book was then taken over to the opposite table where another newcomer, a lady, started to fill in her details. Suddenly there was a shout from the table, ‘There’s another Benson here!’
The lady turned out to be Wendy Benson, who was not actually a relative but whom we remembered as a friend from our childhood days. She and her husband, Les, came over to join us. Wendy said that she thought she had a photo of Moya in her bag and, amazingly, she did! She and my sister then began a discussion about the dog in the picture and whose garden they were in. All three of us were delighted to meet up again after so many years and to catch up on each other’s news. Moya’s face also lit up when she saw her old school-friend, Gladys Williams walk through the door.
Margaret also enjoyed the evening, meeting someone who used to live in the same road as her family. It was sad, though, when he asked about her brother, who died only a few years ago. Our other friend could only look on with bemusement as we all reminisced about the ‘good old days’ but she, too, could sense the atmosphere of history all around us. For myself, I particularly enjoyed meeting people who knew friends of mine, and looking at the map of the old site, which, in itself, stirred up memories of old locations. That seems to be the essence of the Prefab Project - what my friend, Eddie Lansdowne, calls ‘chewing the fat’ about old times. I will certainly be coming again and our names our down for the trip to see the prefab in Cardiff in September.

Received 07-06-07

Hello again.

I have now purchased my copy of Prefab Days and it is excellent! It is very evocative and I got very emotional reading it and seeing all the photos.

I am unable to submit anything to you via the internet, and I have limited access to the web-site, as I am using a computer at work and do not have one at home. I would, however, like to submit a piece for any future prefab projects. Is it possible to send something to you by post, please?

Received 07-05-17

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I have now got the book (actually got 3, 1 for my parents and 1 for my brother) having found the post office. I would be interested in coming to a meeting some time; maybe you can give me the dates they are held on?
I have also asked my parents if they have any photos of the time we lived there. My parents are now both in their 90's and are enjoying reading the book. I was 4 years old in 1947 when we moved there; I can still remember the cinder roads and paths as the estate was not finished when we moved in even after this length of time.
Regards
Tony Hartley
Cloverdale Road

Received 07-05-14

I saw your article in Saturday night's Echo and was very excited to read about the book on the Belle Vale prefabs! I lived in a prefab in Bridgefield Road from 1950 (when I was born) until 1966, when my family was moved to Cantril Farm. I went to Joseph Williams C.P. School in Belle Vale from 1955 to 1962. I loved the prefabs and have very many happy memories of my childhood in Belle Vale.

Received 07-05-14

Hi people!

I remember the prefabs well!
My aunt lived at 74 Birkside Walk, off Besford Road and I went to those swings at Lineside every week-end when I would stay with her from Friday to Sunday.
From the bottom of the walk on the left, in the first prefab, I don't remember the name of the family but they had a black dog called Loopy which was aptly named! I would creep past their house in the fervent hope she wouldn't be there and go for my ankles! "She won't bite' they used to holler, dragging her off my tattered ankle-socks!
The second prefab on the left had the Weir family at the time and I had a tenuous friendship with the daughter Kathleen, partly because I was only there week-ends and partly because I wasn't a Catholic and didn't understand their ways. They thought I was very odd, not having salt-fish every Sunday morning or not getting the little Catholic-based phrases (...like Proddy-dog..!) and inferences which littered their conversation. But we all liked the Beatles, so that was okay!

Then it was my Auntie Jinnie & Uncle Joe's prefab. I loved it there, thinking the detached cottage with gardens on all sides was lovely, although I was assured by my Auntie that it wasn’t so cute in a bad winter (I never noticed that myself)! I loved the solid-fuel fire with the door on it - it was toasty warm in the winter - and the prefab even had a built-in fridge (my Auntie called it 'the safe'!) which I think my Mum & Dad didn't even have at that time!
My uncle was a keen gardener and kept the garden nice, so it was lovely to sit out in the summer. I was very happy there!

The other prefabs housed the Lundy’s, the Pearson’s, Watlings and I forget the rest.
Backing on to my Aunts, there was very nice lady called Bella Whittle and she had a son of about my age who I sometimes used to chat about pop music with Freddie.
I've attached a couple of photos and I think if I hunt, I may have a couple more if you would like them.
Good luck with the project!
Eileen Nicholson (nee Langshaw)

Received 07-05-13

Hi having lived the early part of my life in a prefab in Belle Vale (Cloverdale Road) and gone to Joseph Williams school, I am very interested in purchasing the book "Prefab Days". As I now live not to far from Liverpool can you please tell me if this book is still available, and where the Belle Vale post office is?
Many thanks
A Hartley

Received 07-05-13

Hi Just read your article in the "Liverpool Echo", which brought back many childhood memories. We lived at 95 Charlwood Road, Belle Vale I think it was off Wambo Lane or something like that, I was born in 1950 and lived there till 1956.

Received 07-05-12

Hi my name is Rosheen Buchanan, after reading your article in the echo tonight I was interested because my mum used to live in Hedgefield road. Her house as you can tell from the attached photo was next to the shops. It was situated where the ramp is up to the car park of the shopping centre. I think if my mum could go back to her prefab she would. Her name was Marjorie ward but is now Marjorie Thomas and lives in Cockshead Road. I also had an auntie that lived in Lineside.
I remember the park, it was taken away and a scout hut built next to the chapel, but then came the houses.
Any way I hope this photo helps
Rosheen Buchanan

Tom Smith, Charlwood Road.

My name is Tom Smith.
I'm not sure if anyone remembers me, but I was an ambulance-driver, one of three, who all lived in Charlwood Rd. Looking back, they were happy days. Should anyone from the prefabs wish to get in touch my e-mail address is:
tomankit@tadaust.org.au