Web Page 1046


2nd June 2012

Top Picture: A typical front room shop somewher in the north of England

Second Picture: A very organised wool shop not like the one in Drayton
,

.

Third Picture: The Wool counter in Woolworth's in Commercial Road 1956


Forth  Picture: Drayton shops in 1965

Corner Shops

When we were young there seemed to be a corner shop on almost every corner, then the supermarkets moved in and they all disappeared but now with the growth of the local Cooperative and Tesco stores they all sem to be coming back.



But what I remember are the shops which seemed to have bee opened in the front rooms of people in ordinary houses not in purpose built shops. For example at number 28 Station Road in drayton was a small shop run by Mrs. E Clark. On entering the shop, through the front door of the bungalow on turning to the left you were presented with what mst have been originally the front room of lounge of the house but it was now kitted out with shelves, a counter, a till and a miriad of grocery products all served to you by Mrs Clrk herself. I do not know when she closed to shop but it was still there in 1964. Next door in Central Road was Davies’ but this was a purpose built extension.



Two roads along from Mrs Clark was Lealand Road and opposite Keith Conlon’s house at number 17 was Mrs Bannisters shop which again, like Clarks, was the front room of a bungalow. The shop was registered in the name of Albert Bannister but when he died his wife carried on serving for several years and when sh did close I hear that she lived off the tinned stock for quite some time.



Another front room shop, this time at number 268 Havant Road was Hyman Levy the tailor who had been in business on these premises for many years. In fact it was to him my father took me to have my very first suit made. This tailors shop was a a real study in tayloring history. Mr Levy was of the Hebrew faith and on the door post when you entered was a mizuzah contain holy texts. The whole of the front room of the house was taken up with his workshop and the hallway was his cloth store. In the middle of the room was a very large woolen, fabric covered work table and in the bay window were a pair of very old treadle sewing machines. All around the room were the tools of his trade, boxes of triangular shaped chalk, taylors tongs, scissors in varying sizes and styles, flat irons heated on a gas ring which were installed in the hearth and were fed with gas by two red rubber hoses. The table, over which hung two light bulbs fed with maroon cotton covered cable from one central ceiling rose, from one of these light fixings hung an adaptor I nto which Mr Levy plugged in his one and only elctric iron !!!!!! The table was covered with boxes of needles, reels of cotton, stiff clothes bushes and piles and piles of cloth samples (the bolts of cloth were stored floor to ceiling in the hallway). Every surface was dusty from the cutting sewing and brushing in this workshop and that was not all the wall paper was ancient and very heavily patterned and the paint work was brow making the whole place dark and gloomy. As a traditional Jewish taylor Mr Levy worked in the traditional way and very often could be found sat cross legged on the large table when a customer walked in. Mr Levy must have given up by 1967 as when I came to hhave my wedding suit made he was no longer in business!



Three doors down from Mr Levy was another fascinating front room shop but this one not only took up the front room but the outside porch as well. This was next door to Mr Levy at number 270 Havant Road and this was the wool shop. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the lady who ran the shop but I know that the shop had gone by 1964 and had been converted to The Glen Coffee Lounge. The wool shop was a sight to behold because everywhere in the porch and front room were bags and skeens of wool from floor to ceiling. Just inside the door was a small counter which was stacked high with knitting patterns, knitting needle, croquet hooks, pins, cottons and colour charts. Both my mother and grandmother were regular customers in this shop and what always baffled me was that they (and many other ladies) had wool put by to pick up the odd ball at a time but somehow the lady who ran the shop always knew where it was and how many balls the customer had left. I wish I could rmember the name of the lady who ran the shop can anyone out there remember?



I will mention just one more shop and this is not a front room shop but a back room and conservatory shop. This was run by Mr Le Shaw from a house at 71 Solent Road with the entrance round the corner in Highlands Road. As I have said befor this was the pace to go and spend your pocket money on sweets, gob stoppers,home made ice lollies, home made pop, cap bombs and guns, goggles and flying helmets in fact everything a boy could want! The shop also sold groceries and friut and vegetables which our mothers found useful but when you are 10 years old these things did not bother you. As I sid earlier I have dealt with Shaws befor so I will leave it ther.



However, if you have any memories of shops in front rooms send them in so we can all share in them.



Ah well more memories from the past!

Stay in touch,



Yours,





Peter



DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk



You Write:



Christopher Writes:



I recently came across your Manor Court blog and what wonderful memories it brought flooding back. Thank you. I attended Court Lane Infants until the 11+ then spent two years at the Technical High before I left for Malta in 1962. I remember many of the folks in the photographs, and although I have been living in America for the last 27 years I still keep in regular contact with Robert Webster and Christine Miles (nee Budd). We all lived in Kinross Crescent at the time.



Thank you for the trip down memory lane



News and Views:

The Internal Revenue Service quietly revoked its claim that Dionne Warwick owed $2.2 million in unpaid federal taxes on. The IRS says it made an accounting mistake and Dionne only owes less than one million

On this day 2nd June 1960-1965



On 02/06/1960 the number one single was Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Filming of Spartacus was about to begin.



On 03/06/1961 the number one single was Surrender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Probation Officer (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25.



On 03/06/1962 the number one single was Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Boeing crashes on take-off in Paris killing 130.



On 02/06/1963 the number one single was From Me To You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Pope John XXIII dies the next day.



On 02/06/1964 the number one single was You're My World - Cilla Black and the number one album was Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 03/06/1965 the number one single was Long Live Love - Sandie Shaw and the number one album was Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1044

Top Picture: Victor Sylvester

Second Picture: Gang Show Scouts in the late 1950’s





Things gone by



Whilst thinking back the other day several odd thoughts and names came to mind. Names and events from our younger days, names and things we do not hear of any more.



To start with from the good old days of Victor Sylvester and Come Dancing do you remember the Frank and Peggy Spencer Formation Dancing Team? They always seemed to be appearing on the show. For years I thought that Frank and Peggy were a husband and wife team but actually they were actually brother and sister in law. Whose home territory was the Royston Ballroom in Penge.



Another name that came to mind was Tom Arnold. He was know in the entertainment world at the pantomime king but I will remember him for his fantastic ice shows at the Haringey Ice Rink. As far as I can remember I was only taken to the Ice Show once back in 1951 but for years afterwards my parents would receive free ticket through the post every December, I know not why.



No Bank Holiday was complete without Disney Time for the kids at 5.00pm and later in the evening a Whitehall farce with Brian Rix. Sir, (later Lord) Brian Rix was the actor-manager who produced and acted in farces at the Whitehall Theatre and also appeared in farce on TV and in films. Much of his work from the Whitehall Theatre also feature two other well known actors of the time Larry Noble amd Leo Franklin. After his retirement Brian Rix became much involved in charitable works. He married Elspet Gray in 1947 and it is a partnership that still survives.



Anyone involved with Scouting or Guiding will remember the name of Ralph Reader. This ex USAF wartime flyer after a show business career in the USA returned to the UK where he choreographed dance routines in West End Shows and staged big events at the Royal Albert Hall. Became well known for producing 'The Gang Show', the annual Boy Scouts shows for which he wrote many of the songs, while continuing to stage other productions. He died in 1982



Ronnie Ronalde was a famed whistler from the days of music hall who first broadcast in 1947 on radio's 'Variety Bandbox' and also in 'The Voice Of Variety'. He made many records which sold well. 'In A Monastery Garden' was his most popular tune and also remarkable for his bird whistles and he was a regular performer on Workers Playtime on the Light Programme.



Having mentioned Workers Playtime what do you know or remember about it? The programme began before we were born on May 31st. 1941. It was a revolutionary new show and was meticulously planned and organised but no-one was to know where it was to be broadcast from or who was appearing in it. It was secret and it was always broadcast live. It was actually a simple comedy and music programme and it became part life in England from the days of the Blitz right up until the mid 1960’s. It was one of the very first touring variety shows on the BBC and was scheduled to run for 6 weeks but went on broadcasting for 23 years. It was one of the longest running radio shows in history.

It started out on the BBC Home Service and was broadcast live from a factory canteen "Somewhere in Britain". It had the support of the Government with the Ministry of Labour choosing which factory canteens the show would visit.

Throughout the War the Minister of Labour and National Service, would appear on these shows from time to time to congratulate the workers. When the War ended it was realised that the show had worked and it was agreed that Worker's Playtime would continue to raise the morale of the workers, whilst the Government rebuilt Britain and the British economy. The BBCwere very happy to continue with a show which had proved a national success even if it did mean moving the technical crew, cable, microphones, two pianos, a producer, two pianists and a troupe of variety artists and musians up and down the country three times a week. On 1st. October 1957 the programme switched to the Light Programme. For all 23 years of its existence, the producer was Bill Gates and he would always finish each programme by wishing "Good Luck All Workers!".

Many famous variety and comedy artists appeared over the years such as Charlie Chester, Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Ann Shelton, Betty Driver, Eve Boswell, Dorothy Squires, Julie Andrews, Morecambe and Wise, Peter (the voice of them all) Cavanagh, Janet Brown, Bob Monkhouse, Peter Goodwright, Percy Edwards, Ken Dodd, Ken Platt, Cyril (odd ode coming up) Fletcher, Elsie and Doris Waters and many, many more. The programme became an institution and a way of life.

Ah well more memories from the past!

Stay in touch,



Yours,



Peter



DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk



You Write:

Steve Writes:-


I REMEMBER THE CHEESE OF MY CHILDHOOD


And the bread that we cut with a knife, When the children helped with the housework, And the men went to work not the wife.

The cheese never needed a fridge, And bread was so crusty and hot, The children were seldom unhappy And the wife was content with her lot.

I remember the milk from the Billy, With the yummy cream on the top, Our dinner came hot from the oven, And not from the fridge; in the shop.

The kids were a lot more contented, they didn't need money for kicks, just a game with our mates in the paddock, And sometimes the Saturday flicks.

I remember the shop on the corner, Where a pen'orth of lollies was sold Do you think I'm a bit too nostalgic? Or is it....I'm just getting old?

I remember when the ‘loo’ was the ‘ dunny’, And the pan man came in the night, It wasn't the least bit funny
Going out the back with no light. The interesting items we perused, From the newspapers cut into squares,
And hung on a peg in the outhouse,

It took little to keep us amused.
The clothes were boiled in the copper,
With plenty of rich foamy suds
But the ironing seemed never ending As Mum pressed everyone's ‘duds’.
I remember the slap on my backside,
And the taste of soap if I swore
Anorexia and diets weren't heard of
And we hadn't much choice what we wore.

Do you think that bruised our ego?
Or our initiative was destroyed

We ate what was put on the table
And I think our life was better enjoyed.



News and Views:

Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb died on the 20th May following a lengthy battle with cancer.In a statement, Gibb's family said they were announcing his death with "great sadness".He had undergone intestinal surgery, notched up dozens of hits with brothers Maurice and Barry - as performers and writers - and sold more than 200 million records.


 
On this day 26th May 1960-1965

On 26/05/1960 the number one single was Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Stirling Moss wins Monaco Grand Prix.



On 25/05/1961 the number one single was You're Driving Me Crazy - The Temperance Seven and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Bootsie & Snudge (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 25/05/1962 the number one single was Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 25/05/1963 the number one single was From Me To You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show of the week was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story was Manchester Utd had won FA Cup.



On 25/05/1964 the number one single was Juliet - Four Pennies and the number one album was Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 25/05/1965 the number one single was Where Are You Now (My Love) - Jackie Trent and the number one album was Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the week was Muhammed Ali floors Sonny Liston

Web Page 1042

Top Picture: The Hair Tonic Vitalis

Second Picture: David Frost in his ‘That was the Week That was’ days.



Hair Today

Now lads do you remember those far off days when you first started to shave and you pinched some of dads After Shave and foolishly thought no one noticed? Well chaps we were in at the start of the men’s toiletries revolution. Back in those far off post war days the most exotic fragrances we came across was Cussons Imperial Leather, a brand that goes all the way back to 1768 when a Russian nobleman Count Orlof commissioned a brand of perfume from Bayleys of Bond Street in London. The perfume was called 'Eau de Cologne Imperiale Russe'. In 1921 Bayleys was acquired by Cussons Sons & Co, but it was not until some years later in 1938 that Alex Cussons used the original perfume and created Cussons Imperial Leather soap and other toiletries. The soap was initially called 'Imperiale Russian Leather', but was soon renamed to Imperial Leather.

Then there was the famous Yardley Men’s Y Range and the origins of this particular company went back just as far as Cussons but somehow managed to get Royal Patronage much earlier.

But if you were feeling rich or maybe just old fashioned Old Spice was certainly the product for you. The Shulton Company, original producer of Old Spice, was founded in 1934 by William Lightfoot Schultz. The first Old Spice product was actually for women and was introduced in 1937. Old Spice for men followed a year later in 1938. The men's products were dominated by shaving soap and After Shave lotion, all marketed with a nautical theme. The original ships used on the packaging were the Grand Turk and the Friendship. Other ships used on Old Spice packaging include the John Wesley, Salem, Birmingham, Maria Teresa, Propontis, Recovery, Sooloo, Star of the West, Constitution, Java, United States, and the Hamilton. Proctor & Gamble purchased Old Spice from the Shulton Company in June 1990. The clipper ship was replaced by the present yacht logo in February 1992. In the late 2000s, Procter & Gamble introduced many forms of deodorant sticks in several scents all under the Old Spice brand.

But these were all old hat to us teenagers because Our ‘enry had persuaded us all to ‘Splash it all Over’ with a new masculine product Brut. Brut was the brand name for a line of men's fragrances first launched in 1964 by Faberge, packaged in a green glass bottle with a silver-coloured medallion, it is still, believe it or not, sold today. However Hi Karate is a very different matter. Pfizer (famous today for producing Viagra) developed Hai Karate after shave lotion which came with its own 'self-defence' instructions to help you fight off the hordes of women attracted by the scent. "Don't dare use Hai Karate without memorising them: these instructions will help you to defend yourself from women in case you apply an over dose of Hai Karate. It then gave three simple steps to 'remove' the offending women. This never seemed to work for me though, I was never chased by hordes of women!!!

Hair preparations were another area which changed whilst we were teenagers. Gone was the thick glutinous whit gloop called Brylcreme, or its Boots equivalent Ship Shape and in came Trugel; the first of the hair gels and it was supposed to give your hair a controlled but non greasy look. Out went the old fashioned Bay Rum and in came Vitalis Hair Tonic, gone was the sticky, lavender scented, Pomade so beloved by some hairdressers and for the really vain we saw the first ever hair spray just for men, Cossack. By using Cossack we could get our hair to curl up and stay there, just like David Frost.

Now hands up if any of you used any of these products from Mr Hember’s (Sylvia’s dad) barbers shop in Drayton which many of us seemed to frequent!

But the definitely you knew that you had really grown up when after having your hair cut in those days the barber quietly asked you ‘anything for the weekend Sir’. I just wish!!!!! But they were innocent days then and despite all our bravado it was mostly just wishful thinking!

Stay in touch,



Yours,



Peter



DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk



You Write:

John Writes:-

Hi Peter


Back in 1967, I joined the Army Cadet Force (ACF) at the ACF Hut inside the grounds of the TA Centre on Tudor Crescent.

In 1973 I joined the Territorial Army (TA) as a Private Soldier in the Royal Army Medical Corp (RAMC) at the TA Centre on the other side of Ports Creek on Perrone Road.

Now after 39 years to the TA and the RAMC I am to be officially retired from the TA at a TA Centre in Nottingham in the rank of Sergeant.

Its been a long and rewarding journey from my days as a 17 year old young man from Highbury to a 57 old man now living in Chesterfield.

I would be interested to know of the other young men from the Cosham area who also joined the TA and where they are now and especially those who were at Manor Court.

from Editor: If you would like to get in touch with John please email me. Peter





John Lockwood




News and Views:

Bobby Vee announced that he was diagnosed a year ago as being in the mild stages of Alzheimer's Disease. His wife of 48 years, Karen, continues to wait for a lung transplant. He has recorded a CD of favorite tunes that are due out soon.






On this day 19th May 1960-1965



On 19/05/1960 the number one single was Cathys Clown by the Everly Brothers and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth 13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 19/05/1961 the number one single was Blue Moon - The Marcels and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Bootsie & Snudge (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth 13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 19/05/1962 the number one single was Wonderful Land - The Shadows and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth 12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 19/05/1963 the number one single was From Me To You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Liberal Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth 12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 19/05/1964 the number one single was Don't Throw Your Love Away - Searchers and the number one album was Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth 12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 19/05/1965 the number one single was King of the Road - Roger Miller and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1040


12th April 2012

I cannot believe it but today marks the 10th Anniversary of the Blogg !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Top Picture: The Osiris Players load their Rolls Royce

Second Picture: The old school hall in 2010



The Osiris Players

The above picture from a newspaper several years ago of a group of women loading hampers into a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and I have to thank Peter Westcott for dircting me to it. You may remember he asked some time ago if anyone else remembered a troupe of actresses coming to the school to give a performance of Macbeth. All Peter and I could remember was that they travelled in two Rolls Royces (one being an old hearse and both vehicles towed trailers with their props and costumes in them.

Peter suggested I look on the internet for the details of these women and here is what I found. These seven women were the Osiris Players - a troupe of semi-strolling players, led by a Miss Nancy Hewins, who travelled across Britain taking theatre to people who otherwise had no access to the arts at all or to schools and educational establishments. Between 1939 and 1945, the women travelled tens of thousands of miles, giving 1,500 performances from a repertoire of more than 35 plays - and playing every role, including the great male leads themselves. The company was founded in 1927 and was led, until the early 1960s, by an indomitable director, Nancy Hewins. Before and after the war, Osiris travelled in two Rolls-Royces, one cream and white, one sheer black (the ex hearse), because Hewins maintained they were the only vehicles that could carry the scenery and the costumes. During the war, Osiris battled on with horse and dray, when petrol was no longer available and on one occasion using a canoe. TheTheatre Museum luckily has retained the records of the company in five boxes of appointment books, programmes, photos, reviews, lighting plans - everything intact. And at the bottom was an unpublished autobiography of the indomitable force behind the whole enterprise: Nancy Hewins.

Nancy was a great pioneer when it came to theatre as education and from unpromising and often farcical beginnings, she developed a company that became a force to be reckoned with. She thought of herself as an "Awakener" - someone determined to stir people's faith in humanity.

Clearly, the themes of gender held no fears for them and their priority was to convey the immediate dramatic interest. Nancy Hewins looked on the arts as both our history and our heritage, and perhaps our horoscope, too. She felt that, through the power of storytelling, you could change society by touching people individually and harnessing the power of collective imagination.

She was lucky enough to witness the arrival in 1945 of the reforming government of Attlee and Bevan. She was there for the creation of the most enlightened welfare state, the NHS, the Arts Council and the expansion of the BBC.

They performed on improvised stages in village halls, schools and munitions workers' canteens. In fact, the Osiris Players, Britain's first all-female professional theatre company, appeared more or less everywhere in the country apart from the West End. The war was Hewins's finest hour. Osiris put on 1,534 performances of 33 plays, 16 of them Shakespeare. For reasons of economy, the company was never larger than seven women. Everybody did everything: acting, props, cooking, changing tyres. On stage, scenes were cut and transposed to make the doubling work. At school they performed Macbeth where Hewins played Lady Macbeth in a ferocious red wig, changing her make-up at top speed so that she could become the Porter within a few lines. By the time the company closed, in 1963, Hewins reckoned she had taken 129 parts herself, in 55 plays.

According to Jane Freeman, a former Osiris Player, the company created "theatre for the people". It certainly created a passion for theatre in innumerable young people, Judi Dench among them. Hewins and Osiris were in the direct line of descent from strolling players. But their reputation suffered from doing their main work in "the provinces". Hewins never featured in any official record. When she died in 1978, just before her 76th birthday, her death was barely noticed.

A small core of two or three actors stayed with Osiris for many years. But it was tough going, and few lasted long. The women slept where they could, in barns, on school floors, even in a park cafe. They worked without subsidy and pay was frugal. The out-of-town tours began in Wolverhampton, and they celebrated their 21st anniversary at a women's institute in Kent, with Twelfth Night in the morning, Everyman at lunchtime, Macbeth in the afternoon, Shaw's Captain Brassbound's Conversion after tea, topped off by Badger's Green, a comedy about village cricket, in the evening.

A truly unique group who we were privilaged to see , if only we knew it at the time!

Stay in touch,



Yours,



Peter



DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk



You Write:

Christine Writes:-

Hi Peter




Just to let you know, I love reading your old memories of school and vaguely remember the javelin incident. I think Robert Webster (who lived 2 doors down from me and was one of the "older" boys) told me it was John Mortimer who threw it............but it was a long time ago. I think Robert reads your blog so perhaps he can confirm these dastardly rumours!

Re the old jobs that no longer exist.........when we first moved to Kinross Crescent (around 1952/3) the vegetables were delivered by horse and cart (Madgwicks) and the co op bread was in a sort of pull along vehicle that the baker walked through the streets. I remember the old baker having a few too many sherries at Christmas courtesy of his customers one year and weaving all over the place with this strange vehicle. It sure was a long time ago!

News and Views:

Despite protests by some students and even the faculty who object to his right-wing Christian values, Pat Boone delivered the commencement address and received an honorary degree Adrian College, Michigan. Pat had offered to cancel his appearance but the college’s president declined the offer.

On this day 12th May 1960-1965



On 12/05/1960 the number one single was Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 12/05/1961 the number one single was Blue Moon - The Marcels and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 12/05/1962 the number one single was Wonderful Land - The Shadows and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Film star Emilio Estevez born



On 12/05/1963 the number one single was From Me To You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Labour Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 12/05/1964 the number one single was Don't Throw Your Love Away - Searchers and the number one album was Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 12/05/1964 the number one single was Don't Throw Your Love Away - Searchers and the number one album was Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 12/05/1965 the number one single was Ticket to Ride - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1038

It’s 10 years since we all attended the Reunion, where have those years gone.

Top Picture: Night Watchmans hut



Second Picture: Lamp lighter

Long Gone Jobs

Have you ever stopped and wondered just how many dozens of jobs or positions which we all took for granted when we were kids but we see no more? No! Well how about these three?



That hole in the ground by the road works (like the ones sung about by Bernard Cribbins) was never left to its own devises when we were kids. More often than not there would be a little green canvas or wooden shelter, normally ex government, in which the Night Watchman, normally an elderly ex service man trying to stretch out his pension, sat there all night long making sure that the wicks on the paraffin lamps were neatly trimmed and so were showing a bright red light to warn motorist, cyclists and pedestrians of the danger behind the barriers around the road works. The watchman was also responsible for the tools left on site and had to guard them against thieves who would have a ready market for good quality shovels and pickaxes. It also seemed to me that whatever the time of year these night watchman fellows always had a coal brazier burning in front of shelter throughout the night for warmth and brewing tea and cooking on, at least I assumed that he sat there behind the brazier all night, I was never allowed up late enough to find out if that was true. The night watchman on road works have long gone but I understand that some lasted at least to 1960.



Another unusual job was that of lamp lighter. Now I know within the Cosham, Drayton and Portsmouth areas gas lights were most certainly a thing of the past but I can remember gas lights still in use in London. My Grandmother lived in the Gate Lodge on Hyde Park Corner and the official Park entrance and the gates were lit by gas lights at least until 1952 when my Grandmother moved to Portsmouth. We visited my grandmother regularly and as a young boy I vividly remember watching the lamplighter with his long pole lighting those lamps. In a different sphere but still with gas lamps I remember Pam’s Grandmothers house in Ringwood only had gas lighting in the kitchen right up until 1975 when they moved. (There was electricity downstairs but the power upstairs was fed from a wandering lead up the side of the staircase.



Another long disappeared job is that of Park Keeper and his assistants. The Head Park Keeper were the terror of all kids who wished to play in the formal gardens in Victoria Park or the Rock Gardens. One small misdemeanour meant a stern voice shouting out either ‘pick that up’ or ‘get off the grass’ or ‘if I catch you my lad…..’ Many of these Park Keepers were ex service and proudly wore medal ribbons on their official uniforms. I do not remember the names of any of the park keepers in Portsmouth but I know that here in Gosport the name Parky Brown was enough to send a shiver down the spine of many a young lad for several years. But what I do remember about those park keepers and their assistants was that they always seemed to carry a bag with them and a long stick with a spike on the bottom so they could spear waste paper and sweet wrappers.



Other jobs also have gone and several years ago I spoke on this blog of the fishmongers van doing its rounds along the streets as did the Smith and Vosper or Campion bread van, the Cornona van, the Ice Cream van and believe it or not the paraffin van this was a Bedford van which had an enormous tank in the back full of paraffin this would be drained off from a tap at the bottom by the driver who always seemed to be smoking!!!!



Another job that now really does seem to have disappeared completely is the milkman’s lad. From when I was fourteen onwards I went out with our local Gauntlett and Walker milkman Roy and helped with the Saturday deliveries. This covered an area from Drayton right up to Forty Acres at Bedhampton and took in houses on both sides of the Havant Road. This was a real eye opener, not only did I get paid by Roy but I could drink as much milk as I liked. After a time I also got to help him in the holidays and it always amazed me how trusting people were then. Milk money was left on the step, or in a flowerpot or under the milk bottle. Some places I would have to place little cups over the bottles to stop the Blue tits pecking into the milk, other places the milk had to be put into custom built little cupboards in porches or under special bushes and at least two different houses in Hilltop Road, I remember I had to go round the back of the house, open the back door, cry out milk and then put it in the fridge and leave. I cannot ever remember seeing anyone in the kitchen when I delivered I only ever heard a voice from somewhere in the house reply ‘Thank you milky’ . My, my it really was a different world then.



Stay in touch,



Yours,



Peter



DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

From the files ten years ago, first published in the blog of 25th August 2002.



That Sporting Life

Sport at school was never one of my major priorities and apart from remembering that I was a member of Masefield House whose house colour was green, not a lot immediately comes to my mind on this subject. The only sport I pursued for a time was swimming. I, along with many others, was taught to swim in the Hilsea Lido outdoor pool by Mr Young. My, that place was certainly cold even in the height of summer. Then in the winter we were taken by bus down to the old Victoria baths in Park Road that had the distinction of being situated right next door to the City Mortuary (very handy). Does anyone else remember those beach hut type changing rooms that were built along the side of the pool? Rooms with half saloon type doors, giving very little privacy and very little elbow room, it was here we had to change and then dry ourselves off as quickly as possible so we could get back on the bus to return to school. This pool was the home of the Northsea Swimming Club, which I joined and trained with for a few years and eventually became fairly proficient in middle distance swimming almost reaching County standard but not quite. The funny thing is that I now hate anything to do with swimming and would not go willingly to a swimming pool if you paid me.

I was also never very keen on football but somehow I was picked three times for the School team and played outside left and, as far as I remember, and made very little contribution to any of the games I played in. Some of the names I remember from the team are Steve Carter in goal, Alan Clarkson, David Harris, Phil Ward, Morrell and Frankie Howells. But as I said I only every played three times and that was all in one season. For some reason I also seem to remember playing in an all boys netball team whilst still at Solent Road Junior School.



Sports lessons now come to mind. Hoards of us climbing into a Corporation bus outside Court Lane School and being driven, whilst changing into sports kit, to and from East Lodge (are the playing fields still there? I believe they are), to spend the afternoon at our sporting pursuits. Most of this is just a blur, and I have very vague memories of cricket and field sports. However I do remember one particular day when we had an ambulance roar onto the playing fields because one lad had thrown a javelin at another and it lodged in his foot. Here I, and my memory, need a little help from you out the, can anyone remember who the two lads were? and why the javelin was thrown. (E-mailed answers please).



I also remember a sports day or maybe it was two that were held on the running track in Alexandra Park at Tipner, why it was there and if I took part in anything I just cannot remember. But I do remember it was a windy and cold spot which seemed miles from anywhere and we were glad to go home.



However I do remember that I enjoyed, and was reasonably good, at cross country running and came in third on two separate occasions in the School cross country championships no medals, no prizes but just very surprised looks from several teachers. No I did not take a short cut or get the bus! But Mervyn O’Donnell and Melvyn Bridger were the stars at this particular sport and when they met again after many years a few weeks ago this was one of their topics of conversation.



Then there were the sessions in the hall on the various instruments of torture that were produced from the equipment cupboard, the vaulting horse and the box to name just two. I could never get on with either of these items, likewise the wall bars, and I could not climb a rope to save my life. After an hour of strenuous activity came the march back to the changing room and in the boys section at least those ghastly walk through communal showers. As you can read from above I was never a very sports minded person, I was more interested in the social life after school and such like, unlike the people who were good at sport. People such as Larraine who tells me that she was well into the Sporting Life of the School and far too busy to attend things like the Dancing Lessons mentioned a few weeks ago so no memories of Wheels Cha Cha for her!!!!



One cannot mention sport at school without mentioning Jim Fox, the Olympic Pentathlon Champion, who won a gold medal at the Montreal Olympics. Jim was a couple of years younger than us but I dimly remember him in my role as a Prefect/Deputy Head Boy taking late duties and minding classes when the teacher was absent, and also as a Patrol Second at Scouts. But neither I, nor our old Scout leader at the time Skipper Bill Mustoe, remembers Jim ever showing any leaning to sporting activities whatsoever. It just goes to show how wrong you can be but I do wonder if any of the sports teachers noted that potential in Jim all those years ago.



I am sure that a perspective of the Sports Scene from the female point of view would be interesting to us lads, so come on girls, put pen to paper.

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News and Views:



Bobby Rydell was 70 this week.

On this day 5th May 1960-1965



On 05/05/1960 the number one single was Do you Mind - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Soviet Union shoots down American U2 spy plane flown by pilot CG Powers



On 05/05/1961 the number one single was Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Castro makes Cuba Socialist.



On 05/05/1962 the number one single was Wonderful Land - The Shadows and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 05/05/1963 the number one single was How Do You Do It? - Gerry & the Pacemakers and the number one album was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Churchill retired.



On 05/05/1964 the number one single was A World Without Love - Peter & Gordon and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 05/05/1965 the number one single was Ticket to Ride - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.