Anyone remember?

[William R]

Lou Brown and his parched peas. The Saturday Treat that was. No Orchids never was shown in Leyland because of the Regent fire, but when I saw it I wondered what all the fuss was about.

We used to get near the back on Saturday morning shows and all leaned back together, the row of seats went backwards, the manager would stop the film and complain about us throwing things at the screen, standing up and making shadow pictures on the screen. We were the first set of hooligans I think.

Going back a bit further, I recall when the Regent was being built, we played in the roofless place before the floor was put in, walking around on the plank walkways, and running for cover in Marlands Builders yard, when the watchman came.

Remember the Night-watchman sat in his little hut with his coke fire? If you do, you`ll still be able to smell the sulphur fumes and the ever boiling kettle.

Too far back for many, but there are still one or two of us around it seems.

[Smithy]

Hello bmann and William R...thanks for sharing your memories, I remember all of it except the Regent being built . Strange how people can remember No Orchids for Miss Blandish isn't it at the Regent...I can't remember the last film at the Palace before it turned into a Bingo Hall (I'll bet you two can though!) I only joined the Forum a couple of weeks ago, but find it fascinating being able to share all these memories. Here's one for you William as you can go a little further back than me - my grandparents ran the Roebuck for many years (surname Smith), must have been during and just after the War..do you remember them? I was born 2 days after War started so dont remember them, but my Dad used to talk about them, and I know my eldest sister used to stay with them at the Roebuck as she used to work in the Food Office (Towngate?) as it was more convenient (we lived on Northgate, and there was quite a brood of us). Grandad Smith was a very tall man, Grandma was tiny, and I believe she used to have to stand on a box behind the bar. Bernard....ABC minors!! We used to 'gallop' home up Chapel Brow after watching Gene Autrey and Roy Rogers. Did n't someone go on the stage at the front of the screen before the show to announce birthdays of kids in the audience?

[bmann2007]

yes we galloped home from ABC minors and birthdays where read out lovely daysI served my time as a Butcher and after National servise 1953 to 55 I stated driving for naylors transport then fishwicks busesso i have probibly carried you at some time.I dont remember the Regent being built and I am 73 next birthday
please keep writing Bernard

[muffers]

Joe the Butchers at the top of Cowling Lane. My brother worked there for a short while.
Some of you new 'oldies' might remember my brothers David Keith and Malcolm Gardner. I just found out that we lived on Earnshaw Drive before we moved to Cowling Lane.
Some of the names my brother David remembers Trever Sumner, Kenneth Woods, Stanley & Clifford Briarly, Tom and Annette Polkinoid. Kath Slater. Mr and Mrs Kelsall who ran the fish and chip shop for a while.
I do remember being taken to the little 'flea pit' and the long line we had to stand in.
Minshalls farm can't tell you how many times we got chased by the farmer.
My Dad being an Air Raid Warden during the Second World War. Apparently he and his cronies spent alot of time playing cards and getting away from 'the wife'.
Those fields at the bottom of Cowling Lane were our own piece of paradise. So much freedom so many places to go. Collecting frogspawn and taking it home to keep in a jar on the outside window sill till it changed into tadpoles and then frogs.Mom would not let me bring them in the house.
The bonfire at the bottom of the lane. Older children would collect the wood and then another group would come and pinch some of our wood and our group would pinch someone else's. The smell of the fire and the whole street collecting around the bonfire baking potato's and setting off fireworks.
We didnt have much money but we did have fun.

[Smithy]

Hi Bernard...I had 3 brothers, I'm sure one of them drove for Naylors many years ago - Jack Smith - he also drove for Singletons (remember that firm, on Chapel Brow), drove coaches/taxis, then Ribble buses, than articulated vehicles for a firm on Preston Dock. Brother Frank (now 75 yrs.old) drove all his life, mainly artics. then for about 15 yrs.had his own driving school in Leyland (Ambrose School of Motoring) till he retired a few yrs.ago. My father-in-law drove Fishwicks buses for years (Bill Rukin), started way back when the buses had solid tyres! I posted an item in Famous Leyland People yesterday, which you may have the answer to - do you remember 2 sisters in Leyland who won £75,000 on the football pools, possibly in the early 1950's (lot of money then) - they were the talk of the town - possibly they lived in Chapel Brow area(???)We are very much from same 'era' as I was 68 earlier this month...they say the older you get, the more you remember about your childhood!!

[bmann2007]

Sorry jack, smith doesnt ring a bell,but I remember Ambrose school of Motoring, and Singletons Chapel brow,I am sorry I dont remember the ladys who won the money.

[anacortesdamp]

Pat:

When I was at Balshaw's, 1952-58, there was a David Rukin in many of my classes. I believe his family lived in the avenue that was between Crawford and Broadway (Clayton?). It started from the little triangle where Balcarres Road jogged, just before Broad Square.


Frank Damp

[William R]

I think the two ladies who won the money on the pools came from Coppull. Were they called Turner??

[Smithy]

Frank,
David Rukin was my brother-in-law, I married his older brother Jack(John). The family lived in Farington (Highfield Ave). I was at Balshaws 1951-55, and as David was 3 yrs. younger than me, then he would have been at Balshaws 52-58 when you were there. Sadly David died age 42. I managed to find Jack on a Balshaws photo (Old Photos, 1949, Balshaws web-site)...how I wish there had been one for the years I was there to see my old class-mates. I did recognise lots of the teachers and headmaster. I also remember Damps lovely shop on Towngate..when Jack and I got married in 1974, we visited the shop often - one of the things we bought was a beautiful painting (print) of the silhouette of a swan, background was a deep orange sunset.

[Smithy]

William R,
The name Turner does not ring a bell...I had a feeling the sisters lived off Chapel Brow (possibly Fleetwood Street?)...I do seem to remember that they left Leyland soon after winning the Pools. Maybe someone else can shed a bit of light on this subject.