I have never heard these names since I lived in the Prefabs in Birkside Road.
The doctors were called Saul and Winfred Ellenbogen and the chemist’s was called Prendergasts with the big blue and red glass phials and of course the three local boozers, the Bridge Inn and the Black Bull and the Brown Cow in Gateacre Village.
Things I remember about the Prefabs.
1.There was a pond on the other side of Belle Vale Road called Jackson’s pond where we used to go fishing and actually catch fish, mostly roach and carp.
2. Georgie Moon , I think he lived at the bottom of Hedgefield Road was the first boy to get a proper bow and arrow (a Black Mamba) and an air rifle.
3.The families who lived there were all young and strangers to the area.
4. All the gardens were neat and tidy and many people, for the first time in their lives, grew vegetables and flowers.
5.People used to clean and paint their front steps.
6.For weeks before Bonfire night we used to collect all the wood we could and also nick wood from other people’s bonfires.
7. The local park keeper was called “Billy Tin Whistle” whom we used to tease and he if he saw you doing something wrong he used to blow a whistle at you.
8.There was a sort of small holding/farm owned by Ma Guy. We used to go in and ask for a 1d ice lolly and when out the back we would nick ciggies.
9.I remember seeing a guy just outside Belle Vale school crying his eyes out having just learnt that his young wife had just died. His name was Sammy Richards and he used to cut my hair.
10. I remember that at friends birthday parties we would always play “Postman’s knock” and I must have kissed 50 different girls from the age of about 10 till 11.
I remember very well J.T.Mc Kenzie a very good but strict teacher. The whole of our class passed the 11 plus except one.
Miss Helm was a soft touch and the PE teacher was Mr. Bostock who showed me how to use my bow which he promtly snapped in two.
The Headmaster was Mr.Quayle a good old boy, who used to get our names wrong , we were called Freddy (Denis) Wright, Sammy (Ellis) McQuillam and me Tommy (Jimmy) Whittaker.
The caretaker Mr. Quine was like a cross between Fitch from Harry Potter and Mr. Quilp from the Old Curiosity Shop.
I remember a group of us lads tresspasing on the roof at night in order to get balls which had been acidentally kicked or thrown up there.
I think we had a craft teacher called Mr. Davis, who was also a good old boy.
The school was a happy place for my many friends and I.
I remember Donald Diskin and his sister Ann who lived opposite us.
A couple of door up lived the Clarke family (Molly and Michael and their 4 0r 5 kids. Michael , I have been in contact on Friends Reunited. Despite wearing a leg caliper Michael was our reserve goalie. Opposite them were a family called Corbett and farther down there was a family of Weirs, the mum was called May and she had someone at a party at her house playing a guitar and that’s what got me hooked on guitars some 55 years ago.
There was a family at the end of our road called Johnson and Harry was about our age 61
11 th September 2010 is Liverpool Heritage Day and we will have displays at St Stephens Church, Gateacre from 10.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. and at Gateacre Chapel from 12.00 noon until 4 p.m.
25th September 2010 there is a reunion at St Basil’s Church, Hough Green Road, Widnes WA8 4PE. There will be pictures to see and memories to share.
30th September 2010 Our regular social gathering at Lee Valley Millenium Centre from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Future gatherings at the Millenium Centre are on 28th October 2010 and 25th November 2010 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
