Web Page 1056
7^th July 2012

Top Picture: Brickwoods Sunshine Ales

Second Picture:  The Cobden Arms


Firstly I need your help. It has been suggested that I put some of the memories and stories about Drayton, Farlington and Cosham into booklet form. I have a printer who would do it for me and I envisage a 48 page A5 booklet with a colour cover. I think the retail price would be between £3.50 and £4.00. What I need to know is would anyone be interested in buying one at that price? Could you email me either possibly yes or no because if there is little interest I will not continue with the project. A simple yes or no please, it would help enormously.


End of request

                                                        Beer

Whatever you thought of their beers Brickwoods was the local brewery and were in Queen Street for almost 140 years. Here is a little of the history of the brewery.

In 1848 Henry Brickwood of the White Hart in Queen Street wrote to his sister-in-law Fanny suggesting that she came to Portsmouth and enter the licensed trade. Mrs. Brickwood must have liked the idea because she took her only son, Harry, from articles to a surveyor and  sent him on a week's brewing course, and so founded the firm of Brickwoods.

In 1851 Fanny Brickwood bought the freehold of The Cobden Arms in Arundel Street and along with it went a small brewery and also coal business. Fanny died in 1854, Harry following her eight years later. His two elder sons, John (later Sir John) and Arthur, were apprenticed to brewers. In 1872 they joined forces at the Cobden Brewery and using investments left by their father they acquired and moved into Long's Brewery in Commercial Road and in so doing gaining many licensed houses.

By now the firm of Brickwoods was on its way to success for within six years they moved to Bransbury's Hyde Park Road Brewery. At the same time they entered the wine and spirit trade. But they weren't to stay in Hyde Park Road long because by 1887 they needed to expand and this led them to the Penny Street Brewery in Old Portsmouth and then the last move to Jewel's Catherine Street Brewery. These new premises had plenty of space for expansion. The Lion Brewery was bought as was Pike, Spicer and Co. During the next 40 years Brickwoods acquired 10 other breweries. Perkins and Sons, Southampton, Forder and Co., Southampton, S and T. N. Blake, Gosport, Aldridge's, Southampton, Sprake Bros, Isle of Wight, Barlow & Co,Southampton, Smeeds of Southsea, Long & Co Ltd, Southsea, 1953 Portsmouth and Brighton United Breweries and its subsidiary, The Rock Brewery of Brighton. So it can be seen that by the time the Rock Brewery was acquired in 1953 Brickwoods had bought up most of the opposition.

In just over 100 years from a back street in Portsmouth the company had grown to supply much of the south coast.

Brickwoods was still a family brewery. John, grandson of Fanny Brickwood, died a baronet in 1932. John was succeeded as Chairman by Mr. Harry Brickwood and John's son, Sir Rupert Brickwood, was Deputy-Chairman of the company. Brickwoods could produce 252,000 gallons of beer a week and more than 4,000 dozen bottles of beer could be bottled every hour. Each year, more than 2,600 tons of malt and 350 tons of sugar were used. More than 110 tons of hops were consumed (Brickwoods beers had one of the highest hop content in the country). Each hour more than 1,500,000 gallons of water was used in the brewing. Extensions to the brewery costing more than £1,000,000 were completed in 1962. Each year Brickwoods customers paid more than £1,500,000 in duty on the beer they drank.

In the mid 1960's there was a plan to move the entire brewery complex to Fareham. These plans were scrapped and it was decided to allow Whitbread & Co to attain a large stake in the company. In 1953 STRONG & Co ltd. of Romsey had allowed a lot of their shares to bought by Whitbread's. In 1969 Whitbread's bought the rest of the Strong's share capital and the company was wholly absorbed. In 1970 Whitbread's did the same to Brickwoods. In 1973 the two brewing sites were 'brought together' under the banner of Whitbread Wessex. This lasted until 1983.

In April 1980 the Romsey bottling plant closed a year later the Portsmouth one closed.

June 1981 was the final date for brewing at Romsey and production transferred to Portsmouth, but the beer was sent back to Romsey for packaging.

But come September 1983 the Portsmouth site closed totally. Brewing transferred to Cheltenham and Romsey Supplied from Cheltenham & Magor. Two years later the Romsey site closed totally. New warehouse facility opened at Hedge End. All production and packaging was moved toCheltenham & Magor.

The Portsmouth site was demolished in 1989 except for front of building and part of rear wall and the Romsey site mostly demolished. Retaining just the Brewhouse and fermenting rooms for offices but luckily the malting were left alone as they are listed buildings.

So after many years of brewing and filling the Portsmouth air with the pungent smell of boiling hops all that remains of the site is one wall and a very large car park !!!!

I must thank the pgsclassof77 for much of the information in this article.

Stay in touch,

Yours,

Peter

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

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For an amazing video put your postcode into

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News and Views:

The Internal Revenue Service quietly revoked it's claim that Dionne Warwick owed $2.2 million in unpaid federal taxes on April 10. The IRS says it made an accounting mistake and Dionne only owes less than one million.

On this day 7^th July 1960-1965

On 09/06/1960 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 Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV) 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 Bing Crosby presented with a platinum disc by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for estimated sales of 200 million records.

 On 09/07/1961 the number one single was Runaway - Del Shannon and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Labour Party Political Broadcast (all channels) 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 09/07/1962 the number one single was Come Outside - Mike Sarne with Wendy Richard and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. 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.

 09/06/1963 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 day was Martin Luther King denounces JFK's civil rights policies.

On 09/07/1964 the number one single was House of the Rising Sun - Animals and the number one album was Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Room at the Top (ITV) 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 One champions

 On 09/07/1965 the number one single was I'm Alive - Hollies and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. 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 1054

Web Page 1054


30th June 2012

Top Picture: Face mask from Kelloggs Corn Flakes

Second Picture: Kensitas Coupons

Gifts


You may think that the sales ply of giving away free gifts is a modern phenomenon but far from it, think back to when we were kids. Several years ago I remember writing about the terrible free plastic roses which came with each packet of Daz so I will leave that type of free gift out this time.


Lets start with cereals the Kellogg Corn Flake packets in the late 1950’s and early 60’s were gold mines of free gifts. Cut out masks or cars or spaceships, different board games (with the counters inside the packets) were printed on the backs of the packets. But the real toys were to be found inside the packets buried inside the Corn Flakes. I remember a whole series of Bandsmen soldiers, complete with bearskins, each of the instruments in the band being modelled in a ghastly bright red plastic !!! Musicians caught on and Tetley tea issued a full orchestra of the Tetley tea men and their instruments


I seem to remember that these were followed by Magic Submarines, again in plastic, which sank or rose in a screw top bottle provided that you filled the reservoir on the bottom with baking powder.


Sugar Puffs issued "Flying Saucer" tokens to get your own flying saucer, I wonder how many kids were disappointed to learn that this was merely the passport to a 10" diameter inflatable toy and you would not be flying your friends round the houses in it..



Weetabix and Rice Krispies also gave away things, Little plastic airfix kits to build cars, a set of busts of Indian Chiefs etc. Together with the cards from PG Tips tea or Brooke Bond Tea, they furnished and fuelled the swapping/collecting bug at Junior school. Ricicles gave away a plastic Noddy which climbed up a string if you pulled the ends, another gift was those plastic pictures that moved when you tilted the plastic to and fro. Then there were those plastic rockets or bombs, 3" long which you put caps into and dropped onto concrete with a satisfying BANG


There were just so many things to collect back then, WITHOUT HAVING TO FORK OUT EXTRA MONEY!


Cracker Jacks at one time gave away free tattoos or a magic decoder ring!


I also remember one brand of soft toilet roll giving away miniature plastic cars and trains inside the cardboard tubes the paper was wrapped around.


In 1959 a cereal (I forget which) offered coupons to collect for a canteen of stainless steel cutlery, I wonder how many of these pieces are let today?


In our comics us lads got those triangular snap things that made an almighty bang when shaken in the air with a downward sweep, yoyo’s, kazoos and swanee whistles whilst the girls got bangles, necklaces, rings, hair slides, Alice Bands and other pretty things.


But it was not only us kids who collected things our parents where also at it. There were the little red stamps which came on the packets of tea and which could be transferred to a savings card to save up for a free pack of Brooke Bond Dividend Tea.

Our fathers would try their best to smoke as many fags as possible so they could collect the Cigarette Coupons and the promised gifts from the special catalogue. I remember my father got his first electric drill with Kensitas Coupons, he must have nearly smoked himself hoarse to get it! But Cigarette smoke was part of the background of everyday life in the sixties. Most men and women lit up and children as young as ten took up smoking for the first time. Although most people had a vague awareness of the health risk, only a minority gave up smoking. The first health warning came in 1950 when Professor Sir Richard Doll's research linked cancer with smoking. However, his report was for the medical establishment and it took him another four years to convince the doctors. Reports that smoking might be less than healthy started to appear in the press in fifties and people knew about the 'cancer scare'. Health concerns did, however, influence smokers. From the late fifties many people switched to filter cigarettes. Although people thought filter cigarettes were healthier, there was little evidence that they were any safer than plain cigarettes.

Back to collecting.


Then there were Green Shield and Pink stamps but I have talked about them before so I will only say that at this time there were always adverts in the papers for people trying to buy or sell coupons or books of stamps. Now to tax your memory and to help me out, who remembers the shop in Lake Road that sold foreign stamps and coupons and books of trading stamps? If you do remember can you tell me the name of the shop please as I just cannot bring it to mind.


As we got older the petrol companies got onto the free gift bandwagon by giving away thousands of various shaped and coloured glasses, tiger tails and other advertising items.


Bu I suppose for our mothers especially the most important gift or bonus was the Coop divi and I bet at least 50% of you out there can still remember your mother’s divi number. Ours was 33037! Coop stamps were never as good as getting you divi!


More and more memories!

Stay in touch,

Yours,

Peter


DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk



You Write:

Robin Writes:- I remember the Auxiliary Fire Station which was where Manor Court school was built. It was on Grove Road approximately at the centre of what is now the sports field with some wooden huts to the right at the Lower Drayton Lane end which were used for the storage of furniture from bombed out buildings. The Fire Station was used as a Scout Hut amongst other things certainly in 1952. I also remember the Dump for ex Army tin helmets, Gas Masks and a host of other surplus equipment which was on the far right of the school grounds, the Station Road end and I wonder how much was found when the school was built! I also remember the allotments as my father had one until at least 1956, their access was via West Lane now called Scholars Walk. 

News and Views:

Herb Reed, who has died aged 83, was the last surviving original member of The Platters, the 1950s group behind such hits as Only You and The Great Pretender. Reed, who sang bass, was the only member to appear on all the group’s recordings and he sang on their four No 1 hits, including The Great Pretender, My Prayer (1956), Twilight Time and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (1958).

On this day 30th June 1960-1965

On 30/06/1960 the number one single was Three Steps to Heaven - Eddie Cochran and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) 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 Ghana and Somalia to become republics.

On 30/061961 the number one single was Runaway - Del Shannon and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Harpers West One (ATV) 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 30/06/1962 the number one single was Come Outside - Mike Sarne with Wendy Richard and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. 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 30/06/1963 the number one single was I Like It - Gerry & the Pacemakers 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 day was Zip codes introduced in US

On 30/06/1964 the number one single was It's Over - Roy Orbison and the number one album was Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Club Night (BBC) 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 30/06/1965 the number one single was I'm Alive - Hollies and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. 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 1052


23rd June 2012

Top Picture: Alf Garnet

Second Picture: GEC Advert





In the 1960’s we witnessed a procession of very different celebrities passing before our eyes. Here are just a few:-



HAROLD WILSON was one of the most prominent British politicians of the latter half of the 20th century, serving two terms as Prime Minister. The first from 1964 to 1970 was notable for substantial legal changes in a number of areas, including the liberalisation of censorship, divorce, homosexuality, immigration and abortion. He carefully managed his public image very carefully as a modern leader and linked himself to the burgeoning pride of a 'New Britain'.



DAVID BAILEY was the photographer credited with capturing and helping to create the 'Swinging London' of the 1960s: a culture of high fashion and celebrity chic. He socialised with actors, musicians and royalty and soon found himself lifted to celebrity status photographing people from The Beatles to the Kray twins he also directed several television commercials and documentaries. The film Blowup (1966) is largely based on him.



THE KRAY TWINS were the foremost arranger of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s. Ronnie and Reggie were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, violent assaults and murders. As West End nightclub owners, they mixed with prominent entertainers and politicians and even became celebrities in their own right, being interviewed on television. They were arrested in 1968 and the following year were sentenced to life imprisonment



ALFRED HITCHCOCK the English filmmaker and producer who pioneered many techniques in suspense and psychological thrillers. Although the 1950s were considered his peak years, in the 60s he produced his most famous feature; Psycho. He came first in a 2007 poll of film critics as: "Unquestionably the greatest filmmaker to emerge from these islands." MovieMaker has hailed him as the most influential filmmaker of all time, and he is widely regarded as one of cinema's most significant artists.



JAMES BOND first appeared on the big screen in October 1962. Dr. No was a low budget movie that became a huge financial success in spite of receiving mixed reviews. This success was due in no small part to the casting of Sean Connery in the title role. The movie delivered sex, violence and colourful action sequences all delivered with a dry wit. It also established many iconic sequences such as the distinctive James Bond Theme, the gun barrel sequence and the scene of Ursula Andress emerging from the water.



MICHAEL CAINE the London born actor became well known for a number of popular and critically acclaimed performances throughout the sixties. One memorable role was that of Alfie Elkins in the film Alfie, which tells the story of a young man and his promiscuous lifestyle until several life reversals make him rethink his purpose in life. However, he is best remembered for his line in The Italian Job; "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" which has been voted one of the top ten lines in movie history.



ALF GARNETT was a creation of scriptwriter Johnny Speight and with Warren Mitchell's brilliant interpretation British television was graced with an iconic creation, which was paradoxically as repugnant as it was well loved. The TV series 'Till Death Us Do Part', showed the darker face of British society.



NOT ONLY...BUT ALSO... regarded by many as one of the few groundbreaking comedy shows and possibly the definitive 1960s sketch comedy. Starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore and attracting a number of well-known guests, including John Lennon, Ronnie Barker and Peter Sellers, but the true stars were Pete and Dud, two cloth-capped sages from Dagenham, who discussed weighty topics over a pint such as how the bottoms of Rubens' nudes seem to follow you around the room. (whilst trying not to giggle)e r



TH ENGLAND WORLD CUP TEAM To date the only England team to win the World Cup was the side of 1966. Geoff Hurst was expected to be a reserve player for the tournament, but an injury to Jimmy Greaves offered an opportunity and an England legend was created. His hat-trick in the final has not been equalled to date. The victory made stars of many of the England players not least of all their captain Bobby Moore. Mo



GEORGE BEST was arguably the first celebrity footballer, bringing a pop star image to the game. He acquired an agent and a secretary and went into business, opening two boutiques. But the accompanying champagne and playboy lifestyle degenerated into alcoholism, bankruptcy, a prison sentence and, eventually, a liver transplant. As a footballer he had speed, superb dribbling skills, the ability to accelerate past players and was adept with both feet and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have graced British and world football. But he eventually succumbed to alcohol addiction.



Though not strictly Celebrities I cannot close without mentioning the DALEKS - one of the most iconic television 'monsters' of all time. First appearing in the second tale of Dr. Who, they immediately captured the imagination of the British public as well as the media who couldn't write enough about them. Dalek toys, annuals and playsuits were produced and although 'killed off' in the series the BBC were quick to commission writer Terry Nation to produce a 'comeback' story in 1964 in good time to capture the Christmas market. The Daleks have hardly been off our TV screens for the past 50 years!



Ah well more and more memories !!!!




Stay in touch,


Yours,


Peter



DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk



You Write:

Steve Writes:

Regards your blog article on Home medicine, yes some home remedies were a nightmare.  My Mother used to doll out sennapods at any sign of me being constipated, which basically were the real things boiled in water and drank down quickly whilst holding my nose. Yes it tasted foul, but probably worked!

I remembered the Kaolin & Morphine mixture for upset stomaches, flu etc; I don't think you can get it now well maybe a substitute without the Morphine?

The Malt extract was another regular dosage, I still like Malt but in beer form today. And Vick is still in use today for me, as I suffer with my chest and breathing.

Can't ever remember getting sunburnt although like the rest of us in those long hot Summer holidays, I was out for most of the day in the sun. Last time I used Camomile lotion was after a scorching two weeks holiday in Cornwall in the late 60s. I was roasted and toasted and could barely walk!  So welcomed the cooling lotion when I got back home, even if I looked like a ghost with so much plastered on.

News and Views:


The Australian portion of the Queen's birthday honours was released Monday June 11th. Rolf Harris ("Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport") has been named an Officer of the Order of Australia (he already was a Member of the Order of Australia and is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire). John Paul Young ("Love Is In The Air") will be made an Officer of the Order of Australia, as well, for his performing and charitable work. 


On this day 23rd June 1960-1965

On 23/06/1960 the number one single was Three Steps to Heaven - Eddie Cochran and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) 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 23/06/1961 the number one single was Surrender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was 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 23/06/1962 the number one single was Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. 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 23/06/1963 the number one single was I Like It - Gerry & the Pacemakers 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.

On 23/06/1964 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 23/06/1964 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.

Web Page 1050


16th June 2012

Top Picture: Michael Holliday’s memorial in Anfield Cemetery .

Second Picture: A Michael Holliday 1957 EP cover



Michael Holliday

Norman Milne, was a Liverpool-born sailor who became “Britain’s Bing Crosby” and with it, one of the biggest stars in the business. It was to be a brief stay in the spotlight. His stardom lasted only eight turbulent years, from his breakthrough on television in 1955 to his suicide in 1963. He served in the Merchant Navy during World War II, having been born into a seafaring family. On a 'stop-off' in New York, he took the opportunity to enter a talent contest at Radio City Hall- which he won. This gave him the confidence to try and become a professional singer and he began by offering his services around Liverpool's dance halls. His first important professional work came as a member of the Eric Winstone Orchestra. From this he soon became a top performer during the dying days of the Variety theatre and drew sufficient attention to get into Television and records.

Michael Holliday was a household name in the Fifties and truly, a big star. His records outsold those of his contemporaries such as Alma Cogan, Dickie Valentine and Frankie Vaughan. He topped the charts twice with “The Story of My Life” and “Starry Eyed” and enjoyed a string of other hits. He was just as well known on television as much an icon of Fifties TV as that of Tony Hancock or Richard Dimbleby.

When Michael Holliday sang, he sounded like a Bing Crosby and for thirty years, British singers had competed for the label of “Britain’s Bing Crosby” until Michael Holliday came along,. But what started out as an accolade became a millstone around his neck.

He made it all seem so easy. At a time when formality was still the order of the day, Michael Holliday was cool and casual. BBC newsreaders might still be wearing dinner jackets but Michael Holliday sang his songs in a sweater and open-neck shirt. His TV ‘set’ was normally a make-believe flat, his props were a rocking chair and a sofa and the mischievous wink that he gave to the camera. “Life’s a breeze” seemed to be his message and the public in the ‘never-had-it–so-good’ days of Fifties went along with it. In fact much of his recorded output, in common with other British artists, were covers of American songs. He also hosted his own TV series and was one of the first to adopt a 'relaxed' style as used by Val Doonican a few years later.

He saw his dreams come true and Bing Crosby went from being an idol to a friend. They met in California in 1959 and when Bing turned up unexpectedly to make some recordings in London, Michael Holliday was there. He swapped the terraced house in Liverpool, where he was born, for a mansion in the Surrey hills. The newspapers caught him strolling in his orchard or riding his white palomino, “Shadow” across the downs. With a beautiful wife and son, he was everybody’s ideal next door neighbour. “In tune with life, in tune with song” said one TV announcer. No-one on the outside would have doubted it for a minute.

But when Michael Holliday walked into the night club run by his friend, ex-boxer Freddie Mills in the early hours of October 29th, 1963, he had already decided that he could take no more. His marriage was in tatters, his taxes were unpaid, and he had convinced himself that he was through. “You’re late” laughed Freddie Mills when he appeared around 1.30 am. “You’ve missed the show. Come back tomorrow night”. Michael Holliday looked him deep in the eye. “There won’t be a tomorrow night” he said.

“Drugs Kill TV’s Michael Holliday” screamed the morning papers. The inquest revealed another side to the star. The fairytale had become a nightmare. Michael Holliday was two people in one body. One part of him loved the limelight and the adulation of stardom; the other wanted the anonymity and solitude of his days in the merchant navy. He looked so relaxed on stage, as if he didn’t have a care in the world, but before every appearance, he was a shivering wreck who had to be virtually pushed onto the stage. He loved his wife Margie and leant heavily on her in his darker moods, but couldn’t resist the girls that came his way. His homely, family image was a world away from the man who disc jockey, Pete Murray called the “number one crumpet man of all time”.

They buried him by the wall of the Catholic chapel in Anfield cemetery. Three thousand fans turned out to pay their last respects. The Beatles, Cliff Richard and a host of other stars sent their own floral tributes. But when the crowds had gone, society turned its back. The Swinging Sixties were just around the corner, but suicide was one of society’s last taboos. It was as though he had never existed. Within a matter of months, showbiz had erased Michael Holliday from its memory. Fifty years on, the Catholic chapel is long gone. The black headstone stands incongruously alone. Even that maintains the anonymity – “Dear Mike – Beloved by Many” is the only clue to the alter ego of Norman Milne who lies there.



It really does not seem 50 years since we heard him singing the theme to ‘Four Feather Falls’, ‘ The Yellow Rose of Texas’ and ‘The story of my Life’.

Stay in touch,



Yours,





Peter



DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk



You Write:

Peter Writes

You mentioned in this weeks Blog my fathers Chemist Shop,  "BAKERS OF 
COSHAM".  The business "Baker & Son Chemists Ltd" was established in 1845 
and the premises which were demolished in 1963 to make way for the new style 
"Bakers of Cosham" was originaly Cosham Post Office until 1845.  My father 
John Barlow was the son of a well known Chemist in Palmerston Road, T.O. 
Barlow, which was bombed in the second world war.  The family moved to 
Bakers in 1946 where John Barlow was to shortly buy the business from Mr 
Cyril Baker who lived at Lumley Mill, Emsworth but it wasnt until the late 
1950s that Mr Baker eventually retired.  Once John Barlow owned the business 
he quickly transformed and modernised the Chemist and Stationery side into a 
small department store, the Chemist part being the main department and 
introducing Quality China, Pictures, Greetings cards and Stationery.  He 
dramatically changed the Cosmetics Department and introduced regular Beauty 
and Make Up Demonstrations with many of the main cosmetics companies such as 
Elizabeth Arden, Lancome etc; etc;  He employed approximately 10 very loyal 
long serving staff.  John died in 1971 aged 53 and his wife Mary carried on 
the business until 1974 when it was closed down.  I enclose one or two 
photos of the original business before it became "Bakers of Cosham"

News and Views:

Paul McCartney has told the BBC that he will be closing the Olympic ceremonies in London on July 27th.

On this day 16th June 1960-1965

On 16/06/1960 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 Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV) 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 16/06/1961 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 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 16/06/1961 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 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.



On 16/06/1962 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 Brazil wins World Cup Final.



On 16/06/1963 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 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 Prince Charles (14) buys cherry brandy.



On 16/06/1964 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 16/06/1965 the number one single was Crying in the Chapel - Elvis Presley and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. 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 1048




9th June 2012

Top Picture: J Collis Browne’s cure-all

Second Picture: Coughs and Sneezes poster from 1950






Home Medicine




I think that I must have suffered more than most because my mother was an ex nurse, in fact she was an assistant matron in a children’s hospital before she married. In those days married nurses were not allowed and she had to leave. The upshot of this was that every cough, sneeze, wheeze, scratch and cut was dealt with as though it was a nursing priority. Every spot had to be squeezed, every cut bathed in Detol, and oh! Didn’t that hurt! Head colds were dealt with by plunging my head over a bowl of hot water with Vick in it and with a towel over my head and a course of Owbridges the lung tonic as also required and for that tickly cough it had to be Zubes .


I sometimes wonder looking back just what were the origins and effectiveness of some of the remedies our mothers used on us in the late 1950’. A stomach ach or upset and it was out with the bicarbonate of soda and hot water. It never settled anything just made me violently sick. J Collis Brownes Chlorodyne medicine in ominous blue bottles was supposed to settle stomachs as did the Kaolin and Morphine mixture. Nits in the hair and out with the nit comb and that foul smelling shampoo!


Do you remember that evil thing called a poultice? I remember my mother boiling up one on the kitchen stove and applying it to a group of bee stings on my leg, not a pleasant experience! Normally the single sting was dealt with by placing a Drummer Boy Blue Bag on the sting and being told that it would ease the pain, did it …..! I also remember mother making a warm bread poultice to place on a boil which erupted on the back of my neck.


With us all playing outside for most of the summer sunburn was the biggest problem. There was no factor 15 in those days if you were sunburnt you were liberally plastered with Camomile lotion which dried hard and turned your skin from bright red to brilliant white.




Then there was ‘opening medicine’ when you were constipated and ‘closing medicine’ when diarrhoea was the problem and a spoonful of Syrup of Figs to keep you regular. If all else failed it was down to the Liquid paraffin as it was considered to have a limited usefulness as an occasional laxative. Cod liver Oil was supposed to be good for us as was Malt Extract, terrible stuff!


Come the winter Vaseline would be rubbed on our lips to stop them getting chapped and the luck ones had Vick rubbed into their chests, it smelled terrible but not as bad as the other remedy Goose Grease!


Olive oil in the ear was the popular way to ease earache - this was of course in the days before bottles of the stuff lined the shelves in all supermarkets. You bought a tiny bottle from the chemist shop and it came with a dropper so just enough could be dripped into your ear. I also remember a flannel bag, filled with salt and left to warm in the airing cupboard. You held it to your ear on going to sleep for some gentle warmth - and presumably this allowed ear wax to soften and ease the pain.


For the real invalid it had to be Lucozade and if you were really ill Claves Foot Jelly or Beef Tea. Luckily I never had the last two but I must admit that I was very fond of Lucozade.


In those days a trip to the chemist was a real adventure. The dark wooden shelves containing everything from aspirins to Toni Home Perm Kits. In the pride of place were the three big bottles of coloured liquid, one red, one blue and one green. The chemist was the place to get oneself weighed and have your photographs developed apart from the enormous range of personal and medical products.


Go back through the side bar of this blog and have a look at what real chemists looked like, ie Bakers of Cosham High Street, which looked what like a real chemist should be. They did not sell sandwiches, drinks and crisps, just essentials like ointments, bandages and medicines.


Maybe I am getting old fashioned!!!!!


Stay in touch,


Yours,
Peter


DUSTYKEAT@aol.com


Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk




You Write:

Mary Writes:-

All this talk of the Diamond Jubilee gets my brain going  I still remember coming home and asking my mother why our programme wasn’t on the radio and why were they playing sad music .She explained that the King had died. A year later my mother bought my brother and me our Coronation China. I have mine in this house but I don’t know about my brother. We had trays, biscuit tins, tea caddies etc all celebrating the event. When the great day arrived we went to my father’s friends house where we watched the service on a tiny black and white screen in a huge cabinet. Later that day we went into the city of Portsmouth and saw all the decorations on the buildings. Solent Rd School took us to the Odeon cinema and we saw the Coronation in colour. The school gave us a book on her Majesty which featured photos taken in Portsmouth. Then there was the Fleet Review. We went up Gillman Lane to the top of the hill. It was very dark and lots of people were there to see the ships lit up. It was a wonderful sight. My brother who was only 4 slid down a grassy bank and disappeared into a ditch. Dad rescued him. The memories stayed with us and for a long time we played “coronations". I don’t think her Majesty would be amused by our antics or perhaps she would! She’s said to have a good sense of humour. A circle of cardboard was the crown and I would sit on a kitchen chair in the garden holding a piece of copper pipe for my sceptre. The orb was the ballcock from a toilet cistern!!! Weren’t we lucky having a father in the building trade? The years seem to have gone by very quickly and whenever there was anything to celebrate I bought my children items to remember the day. Any royal wedding we would have a special meal and watch the service on TV. In the next week I will be buying some things for my grandchildren hoping that they will enjoy it as much as I did. And on another topic, I think the name of the lady who ran the woolshop in Drayton was Miss Moffatt. 

Anida Writes:

Well we have had the Olympic flame, and very exciting that was too, and now it is almost time for the Jubilee. 

At the National Trust we are asking people for their memories of the day of the Coronation and of how we heard about the Queen's accession to the throne. I suspect that most of the memories are going to be much the same, however, I don't remember, as some of my colleagues do, being told at school that the King had died.

I do remember the Coronation itself, although it is amazing that I should since we did not see it on television, we did not have one or know anyone who did.  I suppose it is the excitement of the preparations and our own celebrations that are most vivid, going to London to see the decorations (in my school uniform!) and meeting my friend who lived in the next road outside Buckingham Palace!  There was a fancy dress parade organised by Court Lane School, I think this was when we were presented with our blue mugs impressed with an image of the Queen and our blue book (both of which I still have).  Some of the costumes did not seem to have much connection to the event; one friend who shall remain nameless went as a tube of Smarties!  However, Patsy and I were resplendent in crowns, blue circular skirts, and little white gloves and sashes proclaiming "God Save the Queen", a special touch was the wine glass filled with red jelly to raise in a perpetual toast to our new Queen.  Of course the sun shone continually - didn't it?

I am pretty sure that we were taken by the school to the Odeon cinema in Cosham to see a film of the Coronation some while afterwards, and I am certain that you will remember if I am correct!  My Grandfather bought me a large book full of coloured pictures of the Coronation, with details of the parade and who took part in it which was very well thumbed as I poured over pictures of the ladies in waiting holding the enormous ermine trimmed cloak and studied the details of her coronation robes and marvelled at how she managed to keep the crown on her head whilst walking with the orb and sceptre, all words that were completely new to me.

How different today’s celebrations, every detail texted, tweeted and twittered around the world in an instant, bombarded with peoples comments and opinions, we simply knew what our Mum and Dad thought about it all.  If I had one wish it would have been to have seen it on one of today's 50" LCD, HD, 3D televisions - how good would that have been?  And here's a thought, we still have enough time to see two more coronations - you never know!

What do you remember about the big day and the celebrations in your house?

Bye for now.

Anida

News and Views:


I understand that Frank Ifield's mother, Hannah died May 12 at the age of 96.


On this day 9th June 1960-1965


On 09/06/1960 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 Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV) 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 09/06/1961 the number one single was Surrender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was 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 09/06/1962 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 England lose World Cup Quarter Final 3-1 to Brazil.




On 09/06/1963 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 Buddhist monk burns himself alive as protest.




On 10/06/1964 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. The big news story of the week was 1st World Book Fair in London




On 10/06/1965 the number one single was Long Live Love - Sandie Shaw and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. 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 750th anniversary of Magna Carta.

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