Web Page 1146
11th May 2013

Top Picture: The toiletries counter in Woolworths in Commercial Road 1950

Bottom Picture: Bottom left Cosham Cottage Childrens Home.

Back to the 1950’s

When we look back to our early childhood most of us do so with rose tinted glasses and we try to ignore the less than pleasant things. So do you remember some of the things below?

Cod liver oil capsules; we were forced to take one each day, Pam also remembers having to take a spoonful of malt extract each day as well! Our houses being cold in the morning with frost on the inside of the windowpanes, frozen pipes, frozen toilets at school, no fitted carpets just very cold lino and rugs. On the food front we still in the aftermath of wartime Britain and many things were still rationed. However some strange products graced our tables such as dripping toast or tinned Snoek from South Africa. This was a variety of tinned fish intended, by the Ministry of Food, to replace tinned Salmon but despite much pushing by the Ministry the British people refused to accept it. Here I must admit do not remember eating it but I do remember eating whale meat! Whale was off the ration and looked like a cross between liver and beef. My mother used to buy it from Sidney Slape the fishmonger in Drayton and as far as I can remember it came in very square joints and when raw it had a distinct fishy smell, which seemed to disappear when it was cooked normally. Most mothers would braise it when it became almost acceptable! But what was most acceptable was a product that was invented in the USA in the 1920’s but was not introduced into the UK until the early 1950’s and that is the Fish Finger. Even today Birds Eye claim that even though the product is aimed at children at least 66% of all Fish Fingers sold are eaten by adults! Birds Eye frozen peas did not appear until 1956.

Changing the subject entirely, one area that I have not covered over the last few years is to look at the Children’s Home in Cosham called the Cosham Cottage Homes. I have only a vague recollection of the buildings and the picture above is the only photo that I can find of it. But to discover, many years later, what went on there is very disturbing and it was probably a very good thing that we, as children, knew nothing about it at the time, although I understand that some of the children who were fostered out in the area did attend our schools.

Former residents of the Cottage Homes in the 1950′s and 60′s alleged that they were abused and campaigned for justice for many years. Eventually in June 2008 nineteen victims received undisclosed damages as compensation. Some spoke of abuse, bullying, and neglect. Their allegations went back to the 1940′s up into the 60′s and were concerned with physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect at the hands of some of the staff employed at the home and their foster carers. Many ran away and reported the abuse but no action was taken. The home was owned and run by the Portsmouth Corporation and housed children of all ages who were homeless.

This is an area that we as kids luckily knew nothing about and I must admit that when several years ago I learnt of the problems in the home I was really shocked, I had no idea that things like that occurred so close to home.

The buildings now have been swept away with the redevelopment of the QA hospital, a blot on Portsmouth’s record, which I expect; the council are very embarrassed about.

But for most of us the 1950’s were a great time, a wonderful time to grow up in and a time when we made many lasting and good friends.

Stay in Touch

Peter

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

You Write:

Griff Writes:-

From a Pan Yan Jar.

Rutabagar (swede), sugar, apples, carrots, vinegar, thickener (modified starch) gerkins, acetic acid, peppers, onions, spices, colour (caramel), flavourings.

Dead easy to make and Sally has been making this type of mild curry pickle for years. Don't need Pan Yan anymore. I think people just liked the name on the jar as it is very quirky and different.

I liked Jonathan's expelled from school story 

News and Views:

On this day 11th May 1960-1965

On 11/05/1960 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 11/05/1961 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 11/05/1962 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 11/05/1963 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 11/05/1964 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 11/05/1964 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 11/05/1965 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.