Memories From Childhood

[curlyfries81]

What lovely things do you remember from your childhood that you just don't see today?

I remember going out picking elderberries to make wine for the "oldies", going to the shop for a 10p mix and taking the bottle back to the cornershop to get some pennies back.

I used to hate christmas pudding but remember the elation when I found 20p in the pudding. 

I remember going outside to play and joining in with all the other kids in the neighbourhood with skipping games and so on and then eventually being called in for my dinner - sadly those days are gone.

What are your fondest memories of childhood that you don't see any more?

[bhg481]

Sorry - baked potatoes, not roast, and a bag of small ones not large, stuffed ones

[bhg481]

In the late 50s a lad from our town used to play for Wolves, so a few of us started supporting them. His uncle Walter went to our church an he would take us on the bus when they played local teams; Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and Bolton were all first Division clubs then. After the match he'd take us round to the team coach and we'd meet him and some of the other players. Bill Slater was the man and he became captain when Billy Wright retired and led Wolves to an FA Cup victory in 1960.

[Tilly2]

My fond memory would be listening to Mrs Dale's Diary with my grandma and having a ham and tomato sandwich for my tea.

[curlyfries81]

Are you still a Wolves supporter now then, bhg481?

[10ClarionSt]

The first football match I ever went to was at Maine Road, circa 1955. My dad took me to see City v Preston North End. Preston won 0-2 and I remember seeing Don Revie, Joe Fagan, Bert Trautman, Roy Paul, Jim Leivers playing for City. Preston had Tom Finney and Tommy Docherty. 

I remember trolley buses in Manchester and lots of horse troughs still standing, especially the huge one at the junction of Oldham Road, Oldham St and Ancoats St. I remember Ancoats when it was a rabid slum area, unlike now, where local councillors say it is one of the most desirable areas in the world. That really makes me laugh when I remember how it used to be.

I remember our house in ClarionSt. It had no electricity and no running hot water, just a single cold tap in the tiny kitchen. I was actually in that area this evening and remember playing football on the local "croft" as we called it. Amongst the boys that were playing was Nobby Stiles, Brian Kidd, Colin Barlow. Of course I was just the kid that got bumped out of the way! There's many other things too numerous for here.

[fiveleaves]

Sometimes during the school holidays I would help the local milkman doing his deliveries.Sit in the float and go with him a few streets.All totally innocent but pretty sure it would not be allowed today

[curlyfries81]

I remember my parents having a twin tub and my mother having to pin it down during the spin to stop it jumping all round the room. 

[bhg481]

I look at the results but couldn't name a single team member nowadays. I know they're the strongest team in the Premier League at the moment; they're at the bottom holding all the others up.

Incidentally Bill's daughter Barbara was an Olympic gymnast for GB and was Director of Sport for BBC until she retired earlier this year.

[pastafreak]

My parents moved from the suburbs of NYC to an almost rural area(not for long). There was a tiny 'main street' in the village...a sweet shop with a soda fountain, ironmongers, butchers, proper American delicatessen, a small supermarket, ladies clothing store where you asked for what you wanted. The owner was called Pearl...as was the shop. I remember her taking out boxes of sheer ladies stocking to show my mother so she could pick the right shade.

There was a veg market run by an Italian man. Mr Ferraro iirc. It was on what would become a major road. A dirt floor with a shed under awnings with big bins of locally grown produce...especially potatoes. The area was full of potato farms.

Down that same road was a children's petting farm with a miniature train ride. I still remember my ice cream cone being eaten by a cow.

[dustypuss]

Pigs trotters. Rope swing over the beck. Climbing up York Minster.  It was free for York residents. Don't think I could make it now 😵‍💫

[curlyfries81]

I remember feeding my ice cream cone to a cow! 😂

Dustypuss, you actually remember pigs trotters with fondness? Yikes.

[fiveleaves]

Local bakeries. We had one at the end of my road. They would start work at something like 4am. The aroma of freshly baked bread is wonderful. I would often be sent there to buy a sandwich loaf for something like 8p. So much nicer than supermarket bread

[Maydup]

I remember when a box of broken biscuits was a huge family treat!

They came from the bakery on a Saturday morning pre-supermarkets and when if you wanted a biscuit you had to bake them or pay for 6 at the bakery.

[Maydup]

Listening to the radio to hear which record is number 1 this week. 

[pastafreak]

My dad was from the South...he ate pickled pigs feet. I seem to recall liking them.

[dustypuss]

And tripe on bread .Curly🤤

[curlyfries81]

Double yikes! 

You reminded me though about sandwich spread - I used to love it on spread on bread. I actually liked chicken paste too. 

[DTCwordfan]

Booths supermarket in the NW, all attended service, run by accounts and young employees carrying out the goodies to the car. Had to act as a translater for my mother when we went decimal.

Falling in Lake Windermere on the Grisedale Forest side of th lake on my 5th birthday....

'Dancing' on a tartan carpet in the hotel we stayed in when visiting Callander & the Trossachs when I was two-and-a-half, my eldest sister just born - and a trip on the steamer on Loch Katrine.....still going, I believe.

[curlyfries81]

Goodness, did someone have to jump in and rescue you?