Toys & Games - Lawndale

We made our own fun

Played hopscotch, top and whip, skipping. A skipping rhyme was Red stockings, blue garters, shoes tied up with silver, red rosette uopn ny breast and a guinea ring on my finger.

Played ball and double ball against a wall.

As soon as you were dressed you went out.

Coronation - Lawndale

We all went to a neighbours to watch the coronation

I was on my father's shoulders and saw the coach, we went to London by bus because my dada was a conductor and could travel for free.

I was in the army based at Catterick in North Yorkshire and I was in the parade in London for the coronation, but I had to have the front seat on the bus because I was travel sick.

I went to a street party in Whitmore Reans in Wolverhampton - there was bunting and long tables with food

One lady's sister was the coronation Queen in Dawley, she had a crown and a cloak

Memories of the Festival of Britain - Lawndale

I think my dad to me when I was living in London.

We queued in the rain to get a commemorative coin.

One lady from Merseyside went and stayed in a top notch hotel.

Wellington in the 50s - Walton Court

Remembers shops in wellington – Macfisheries, sold fish

Little Espley by Methodist chapel

Big Espley – butchers

They sold cooked meats, sausages, bacon used to queue and they let 6 in at a time

By Chad Valley = Frosts the bakers Chinese laundry further on next to Austin’s paper shop

Tilsley’ general store for groceries 

Half way up High street = Overy the butchers. Abattoir behind – many a time a cow would escape down the street

Lena the sick woman – sold kindling for the fire

Co-op – central ordering and paying – went up a chute

Toy's & Games - Walton Court

One lady remembered playing marbles – called Marley in the Black Country

They played rounder’s on the green

Toys & Games - Turnpike Court

Games

·         Hopscotch

·         Marbles

·         Wooden tops

·         Hula hoops

·         Snakes and ladders

·         Skipping ropes

·         Ludo

·         Draughts

·         Tiddly winks

·          Chess

·         Beetle

·         Kick the can

·         Bun the barrow – jumping on people’s back

·         Hide and seek

We were never in – climbing trees, swings & roundabouts

Used pram wheels for go karts

Beetle – draw the beetle when you threw a certain number on the dice

Used Knitting Nancy’s to make place mats and tea cosies 

Toys & Games - Lowe Court

Games

• Hopscotch
• French Cricket
• Marble
• Top & Whip

Toy & Games - High Mount

·         Hopscotch

·         Leap frog

·         Top & Whip

·         Skipping

o   All in this together girls, never mind the weather girls, when I call your birthday please jump out.

·         Marbles

·         Five Jack

·         Go karts made out of pram wheels and wood

·         Played football with a pig’s bladder full of water

Holiday's - Walton Court

Hop picking – children were taken along with their parents

Holiday's - Turnpike Court

Some people went hop picking in Kent for a holiday while others went fruit picking in Worcester they picked Plums, damsons and apples

One person visited relatives in Wales

One person went to Weymouth every year and stayed in a caravan the owner of Little Sea campsite you had to know to be able to get a caravan there, especially if you wanted a new caravan. There was also a social club there at night there were two rooms one for adults the other for children

Fashion - Turnpike Court

Girls wore short skirts – they thought long skirts looked Victorian

Entertainment - Walton Court

Had to take the accumulator to be charged otherwise you had no radio

First TVs was radio rentals

One lady used to sit with her son and listen to Listen With Mother

TV

·         Woodentops

·         Bill and Ben

·         Muffin the Mule

TV was only on at certain times, then was the potters wheel

Pop Music

·         Billy Fury was my idol

·         Lonnie Donningan

·         Tommy Steele

·         Skittle Groups

·         Helen Shapino

·         Johnny Rae

·         Cliff Richard

·         Jimmy Young

·         Shim Whitman

I worked as an usherette at the cinema in the Town Hall Wellington and my husband was the projectionist

Entertainment - Turnpike Court

TV

·         Spotty dog

·         Roy Rogers

·         Bill and Ben

·         Watch with mother

·         Muffin the mule

All the bands were on the radio at lunch times

Music

·         Guy Mitchell

·         Mitch Miller

·         Hughie Green

Entertainment - Lowe Court

TV

·         Doctor Kildare

·         Muffin the Mule

·         Mr Pastry – real man who did silly stuff

·         Sooty & Sweep

·         Andy Pandy

·         Flowerpot Men

·         Wooden Tops

·         Champion the Wonder horse

·         Billy Bunter

First TV was 9” – in a cabinet

The signal would be lost if you got too near.

Cinema

·         Laurel & Hardy

·         Man in the White Suit

One man went to the pictures only for a special treat because it was four miles away.

One lady remembered the cinema’s in Wellington

·         Clifton

·         Town Hall

·         Grant Theatre

Childhood - Walton Court

Came over to England in 1953. Told at customs to go to Town hall and get ration book

Had German bomb on show in Manchester

Sweets

·        Gobstoppers

·        Rhubarb and Custard

·        Pear Drops

·        Toffee apples, wrapped in brown paper

One person worked in a sweet shop, weighed out penny.

Could buy 4 sweets for a penny. All sweets were weighed out.

Childhood - Turnpike Court

After rationing stopped it was still hard to get sweets

Some people remember having a gas fridge others a paraffin heater in the kitchen, one man remembers his mother sending him for paraffin

Old fashioned boiler to wash clothes husband lit it before he went to work. Took all day to wash.

All washing in the bath rung it in the wringer clothes aired in the kitchen

Sweets

·        Liquorice torpedoes

·        Sherbet dips

·        Gobstoppers

·        Jelly beans

·        Mint imperials – one person always brought these as they could get more for their   money

They drank Corona Pop and Ginger beer

They were reading Beano, Dandy, Topper some could not afford them

One lady every Monday after school went to the Birmingham Hippodrome to the early show to see the stars

Childhood - High Mount

I was given a crust of jam – go over there and behave yourself

One person went round helping the blacksmith with the anvil

One man used to push a truck around collecting different things he was called Mr Whiskers

Ice cream was delivered by horse and cart by an Italian called Ice cream Jack – though we could not afford them very often.

I remember playing on the canals swinging out on the drawbridge  - however my parents could see what I was doing from work

Dad came home with soldiers made out of aluminium

One person had a doll they made clothes for, they crocheted them.

Having two tins cans and put string through and made stilts out of them.

Childhood - Frizes Leasowes

Tied a rope to the outside toilet to trap nanny inside

Deflated tyres on dad’s taxi to blow up balloons

Free school dinners with “f” for free – “p” for paid I didn’t want a “f” ticket – mum told me off because I did not want an “f” by my name

Took wheels of sisters pram to make a go kart, but got told off

Festival of Britain - Walton Court

One man lived in Surry and went to the Skylon and spent the day there

Coronation - Walton Court

We had our first TV to watch the coronation

Street party round mother-in-laws – all shared bringing the food including blancmange and jelly

Had a party in the village hall for the coronation

First TV 9” screen – all the neighbours came round

One person helped organise a children’s sports day and flower show – the flower show is still running – to celebrate the coronation, it was called Coronation sports & flower show

One person had an OXO tin celebrating the coronation

Festival of Britian - Turnpike Court

One person was at school in Birmingham and had a school trip to the Festival, but they were ill and could not go

One person went on a three day trip to the Festival and had their picture taken with the local MP – she remembers being on the Thames and losing her handbag in the river and the people she was with having a collection for her.

Coronation - Turnpike Court

Coronation street party everyone dressed up – their brother went as a solider, the girl next door was a fairy

One person listened to the coronation on the radio at school

After the king died the only thing on the radio was classical music

Can remember having a small black & white TV, they were the first in the street and all the kids used to come round to watch it after school

Coronation - Lowe Court

One family was the first in Corwen to buy a TV for the coronation the house was full & she made food for everyone – people sat on anything the could. It was very exciting, they had cups and saucers all over the floor, the programmes were on from 9.30am – 8.30pm

One person remembers a street party where everyone contributed to the food. However they were late getting back and their dad through they were already in the house and locked them out!

Festival of Britain - High Mount

I remember living in Cradley and having to go on a compulsory school trip – I was only 12 and would rather have had the day off!!

Coronation - High Mount

I remember being on the Sunday School Anniversary Stage wearing a red, white and blue robe

I remember a party being held in Mossy’s yard and I was given a small gold crown instead of a mug, I produced a scarp book for the celebration

One person had to go to her aunties to watch

One had to go to her Gran’s there was a big crowd

One person had a street party – she wore a white dress with red and blue embroidered flowers, she thought she looked great and they had races for the coronation as well.

Coronation - Frizes Leaowes

One person remembers the coronation on TV.

I had a coronation cup & saucer, had a new black and white TV

Lots of glamour – fairytale princess

Went to uncle & aunties house to watch the coronation on TV, it was black & white, coloured sheet of plastic over screen – 3 coloured strips – to make it look as if in colour

Memories of Childhood - Hornbeam

Had teeth checked at school.

They remembered the nit nurse - they knew when someone had nits they were given a grey envelope to give it to their mum.

We were not allowed to do anything on a Sunday.

Girls did handstands against the walls

I rember putting a skipping rope round a lampost to make a swing.

Tied string to a door knocker then knocked the door and ran away really fast.

Memories of the Festival of Britain - Hornbeam

Went with the school in Reading I was about 13. We had about six hours there.

It was on the radio all the time, everyone was talking about it.

I remember standing underneath the building like a rocket (skylon), you could see right up inside it.

I remeber going on a boat trip on the river to see how big it was.

We could not wonder off on your own.

One person had to draw the logo for the Festival of Britain at school.

Memories of Fashion - Hornbeam

All the teenage lads wore white silk scarves.

Dresses were getting shorter!

Underskirts had a lot of netting on them.

Girls never went out without hats and gloves.

They made their own clothes, even out of curtains.

They had utility cupons for clothes - they had to save up to buy special outfits.

I remember having a de mob suit (a mack, trilby, suit and suitcase) - and they gave me coupons, though six months later the coupons finished.

A man never went out without a tie.

Memories of Wellington in the 50s - Hallcroft

Wellington was a thriving town. There was McClures, Bates & Hunts, Walters, Sidolies, Lands the butchers, Craddocks. Hepworths, Bradleys Stead & Simpson and Britions grocery & bakery were in the square.

Mr Roach had the sweet shop by Chad Valley.

Johnsons had a travelling lorry selling wares bagged up near Chad Valley.

I worked at Chad valley making Sooty and Sweep.

Memories of Family and Home Life - Hallcroft

I got married in the 50’s. I had a long dress and veil. My husband came me his extra clothing ration coupons so that I could buy my wedding dress. It cost 13 guineas.

We didn’t have fringes – you had a cold slab on the wall in the pantry to keep your food and milk cold. When it was really hot you’d put the milk in a pail of cold water to keep it cool.

You’d hang your bacon up in there too until it stank! You’d still be able to eat it.

We had a wind up record player and the radio needed batteries called an accumulator. You had to take it to the garage to  get it charged so you had 2 - one that you’d have in the radio and one that you walked down to the garage to get charged.

We had to walk to Bloomsbury garage to get ours charged.

We used to walk miles with the pram.

Washing took all day. We had a boiler with a fire underneath.  You’d rinse the washing into the blue bag to keep your clothes white.

If you had a wasp sting you’d use the blue from the bag.

Memories of Childhood - Hallcroft

We’d play dominoes, draughts, card games and whist drives.

We loved to play outside –with marbles, jacks, and conkers or leapfrog – simple things.

I remember having a stick and a tyre and keep it going down the street like a top and whip.

We played with skipping ropes and hopscotch.

We’d play tin can murky under a gas light where you’d kick the can and then go and find it.

It was before the Fifties but we used to collect shrapnel during the war on the bombsites and would spend hours swopping it, trading it and stacking it.

I went to the school library and borrowed 2 books a week and read them. I loved Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter and Rupert.

Festival of Britian - Hallcroft

I was meant to go to the Festival of Britain on an organised coach trip from Newport, but I broke my leg and couldn’t go so my brother went instead. I remember him talking a bout sailing down the river on barges to get to the site.

Memories of the Coronation - Hallcroft

We didn’t have a TV – we went next door to watch the Queen’s Coronation.

We watched the Coronation in black and white on a 9”TV which was in a Mack Michael cabinet. I saw her going down the aisle.

My husband and I were living in the Solomon Islands at the time of the Coronation.  We organised a sports day for the residents and a ship came from Australia with soldiers and sailors to join in to celebrate the Coronation and remind us it was on.

Memories of Celebrations - Churchway

I was married in 1952 at Dudley Registry Office. We didn’t have any money. My husband had just done national service so he wore his demob suit and I bought a suit from C & A and my shoes were from M & S where I worked. I borrowed a hat from my sister-in-law and we went back to my Mum’s for the do afterwards. We had a chocolate cake. I remember getting on the bus afterwards and going to the room that we lived in opposite Bilston football ground. The loos were outside and we shared a cooker with 5 families. There was no bath so you had to wash in the sink in the kitchen and remember to lock the door.

I was married about the same time and can remember saving up the sugar from our rations for the wedding cake. It took months and I couldn’t stand the taste of sugar after that.

Memories of Family and Home Life - Churchway

I think we had a wonderful life then. We looked after each other and Mum and Dad were always around for us. If someone was ill we looked after them; did their shopping, cooking and whatever we had we shared.

I grew up in Glasgow. There were 9 houses on 3 levels where we lived. There were 3 bathrooms for all these houses. The only place I could read the News of the World was on the loo as Mum wouldn’t allow it in the house.

We had wind up gramophones and I remember one scout/guide dance where we had to all sing Waltzing Matilda together when the gramophone broke so that we could carry on dancing –we were too busy singing for much chatting up that night. 

I was brought up in the Glaswegian slums and at the age of 16, 17 and 18 I was a member of the scouts. We had a canny scoutmaster that had great foresight and organised us to save money each month and when we had enough money organised rail trips abroad to international scout rallies. When I left school I got a job to pay my way. We went to Switzerland for one.  Another time we visited Rome where the scoutmaster had contacted the Scots College and they chaperoned us around the city and I can remember taking Blue Ribbon chocolate biscuits that they’d never seen and loved. After our first departure at the train station we remembered to say cheerio at home as our parents ended up crying when saying goodbye.

You didn’t envy people – no one had anything.

We were hard up and happy.

You didn’t have to lock the door; we had nothing to take.

When the gas man came to empty the pennies from the meter you’d always hope to get some back if you’d over paid – so that you could go and buy some food.

We always had a best front room; it was cold.  I can’t remember ever using it. We can’t have had any posh visitors! After I got married we lived with my Mum and Dad. I saw a 3 piece suite and just wanted something that was ours so I persuaded my Mum to let us store it in the front room even though they had their own it there.

Memories of Childhood - Churchway

My father was given a pair of boots - not new of course and the only one that they fitted was me. I wore them up the hop garden trying to wear them out. I had to mend them and had to wear then until my feet grew out of them.

I remember Cowan’s black chocolate covered toffee – you’d have to chew it for an hour!

We went hop picking in Kent to earn money for our winter clothes from the time we could walk.

Memories of the Coronation - Newfield Court

I remember having a street party on Great Colmore Street in Birmingham. There were tables all down the street and people bring food out. Every school child was given a medal which cost 5 shillings, they were presented at the party and we were given a mug as well.

I remember my dad taking me to the dressed rehearsal, because it would be too busy to go the next week.

My dad’s cousins remembered making a lot of money from tips when they cleaned the public toilets

I was on first aid duty in Trafalgar Square for the St John’s ambulance when she was living in London. She attended one person who was pushed hard against the barriers, they would not move and lose there place, so I got them under the barrier and stayed with her and got a front row seat of the parade.