norma
New Member
Posts: 17
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Post by norma on Feb 25, 2008 8:34:39 GMT -1
Maggi - we may have worked at Cumberland suite at same time. Sometimes I had to go to other bars if they were short staffed including speedway & Kings Hall. I think I finished at end of 1968.Not sure if it was Top ten or Twenty (memory fades after a while). Did you live on Gorton?
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Post by barbara on Jun 25, 2008 20:06:14 GMT -1
I found these pictures of my older sister and myself on the elephants at Belle vue I would be about 6,   |
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Post by taffydee48 on Jun 26, 2008 12:03:21 GMT -1
my wife and I went to Belle vue almost every weekend,the zoo and fairground, we would take our new born daughter around in the pushchair and just chill out with a picnic. That was about 1967 ish, when did it close?
Plus, old mates Kevin Chadderton and Kenny Longshaw (hard lads!) worked on security there for some concerts and shows.
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Post by june on Jun 26, 2008 12:08:59 GMT -1
hi taffy i remeber taking my daughter there as a baby in her pushchair easter 1973 a lovley sunny day not sure the exact year it closed ,,by the way taffy was down near your neck of the woods a few weeks ago at Towyn  |
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Post by taffydee48 on Jul 2, 2008 17:11:29 GMT -1
Hi June
hope you had better weather then now! I live about two miles from Towyn, it's changed a lot from what it used to be,less friendly and down to earh these days I think.
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Post by annesstephens07 on Jul 31, 2008 20:34:02 GMT -1
I have fond memories of Belle Vue I used to go as child to the Circus, Firework displays & the fun fair my father worked there so we used to get in for free. I also went to the speedway when I was 14 & 15yrs of age with Bob Howarth, Maureen Ball, & Ken Howard. Hyde Road used to be hive of activity in those days now it is deserted, happy times was had by all. Anne
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newlin
Senior Member
on the 8th day God made MANchester
Posts: 307
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Post by newlin on Jul 31, 2008 21:17:14 GMT -1
i also have very very fond memories of belle vue !!!! i went every Christmas to THE ANILINE PARTY..... WOW.... it was everything ,circus, party, sixpence in a little white envelope and yes even an orange in our presents all in a brown paper bag collected on our way out oh yes i forgot the main thing THE ANILINE BAND played for us while we eat our jelly and custard
but no seriously they are my most precious memories happy happy days with my wonderful Father i have a picture somewhere i look dead cute till you notice my droopy knickers ;D
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Post by marie fernandes on Aug 1, 2008 0:05:24 GMT -1
I dont know if anyone goes back as far as I do with memories of Belle Vue in the l940's but living in the
Brookhouse flats on Gorton Lane we used to watch the fireworks from our window, that was when we were not inside the grounds, which was often. You could also see some acrobats on the top of a pole from our window, bathed in a searchlight, because it was late at night.
The annual circus was a must, my brother and I were nearly always lucky to get a ringside seat and I remember Mr Lockhart the Ringmaster who nearly always had a big cigar in his mouth. One night one of the acts was the Great Omi, a man tattooed from head to foot, even his face, eyelids and bald head. Not a patch of clear skin! Two little swords went through his ears as earrings and he had a long red cloak on. To us children he was quite scary and we even thought he might be "old Nick" (the Devil). Going out of the main gates in the dark after the show my brother and I froze to see this figure still wearing the cloak with the hood up walking at the side of us, the next thing he hailed this black cab which he had obviously ordered to pick him up. No we thought that was one person we wouldnt like to meet again on a dark night.
Rides on the elephant and the llama were just lovely, the boating lake was a must and I loved the noise the metal turnstile gates made at the lake entrance. In later years when we moved away from Gorton I used to go dancing at the Elizabethean Ballroom. Great Days!
My Grandma who lived in Vernon Street off Cross Street, had some pic.postcards I remember with Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull and an Indian entourage that came over from USA and went to Belle Vue. I wish I had them now.
marie
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Post by Lisa on Aug 1, 2008 10:31:13 GMT -1
Hi Linda, Great to see you......why dont you share the photo with us and let us decide whether your knickers are droopy??   I hope they weren't navy blue p.e. knickers that we used to wear otherwise Tommy in Canada will have a fit!!!! i also have very very fond memories of belle view i went every Christmas to THE ANILINE PARTY..... WOW.... it was everything ,circus, party, sixpence in a little white envelope and yes even an orange in our presents all in a brown paper bag collected on our way out oh yes i forgot the main thing THE ANILINE BAND played for us while we eat our jelly and custard but no seriously they are my most precious memories happy happy days with my wonderful Father i have a picture somewhere i look dead cute till you notice my droopy knickers ;D |
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codger
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by codger on Aug 1, 2008 10:51:07 GMT -1
First elephant I ever saw on wheels, still quicker getaway if ever a mouse happened along I suppose. Belle Vue for me was somewhere to sneak in during the holidays, either over the boating lake or through the workers entrance beneath the watchmans window. Remember the lake being frozen for months in 1963 and we used to walk over to the windmill in the centre with the girls from Queens Road, and trying to grab a snog....no chance!
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Post by Lisa on Aug 1, 2008 14:13:52 GMT -1
Hi Codger, It wasnt you by any chance that waited in the dark corridors in the Crooked House for the girls to come along, was it? ;D |
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newlin
Senior Member
on the 8th day God made MANchester
Posts: 307
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Post by newlin on Aug 1, 2008 22:28:38 GMT -1
Hi Linda, Great to see you......why dont you share the photo with us and let us decide whether your knickers are droopy?? I hope they weren't navy blue p.e. knickers that we used to wear otherwise Tommy in Canada will have a fit!!!! i also have very very fond memories of belle view i went every Christmas to THE ANILINE PARTY..... WOW.... it was everything ,circus, party, sixpence in a little white envelope and yes even an orange in our presents all in a brown paper bag collected on our way out oh yes i forgot the main thing THE ANILINE BAND played for us while we eat our jelly and custard but no seriously they are my most precious memories happy happy days with my wonderful Father i have a picture somewhere i look dead cute till you notice my droopy knickers ;D hiya all I'm still not too good but i will keep reading all your posts [thanks for the giggles ] i will try to find the pic of me circa 1953 with my droopy drawers  lol |
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Post by lin on Aug 2, 2008 7:24:24 GMT -1
HI LINDA..NICE TO SEE YOU ON HERE, SORRY YOU'RE STILL NOT TOO GOOD, I HOPE THINGS IMPROVE SOON.
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codger
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by codger on Aug 4, 2008 8:34:03 GMT -1
Yes Lisa, I must put my hands up to that one. We used to make a bee-line for the slot palaces where we knew one of the minders, Kevin Kennedy from Brookhouse. My mate was a whizz at 'banging' the ball-bearing flick machines, you know, it used to whizz round and round until it went into a cup to win 2d,3d,or4d bit invariably went into the end cup marked 0d. You had to turn a knob if you won to get your money prize, he could bang this knob with the palm of his hand and get tuppence out every time. I was keeping 'nixy' for him, but Kevin got sick of threatening us so used to give us money to go to the other palace near the reptile house. Happy days.
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Post by Lisa on Aug 4, 2008 15:40:45 GMT -1
Codger, At last I've found the 'kisser' who used to grab me in those dark corridors and suck my lips off...... ;D......couldnt have been that bad because I kept going back for more. ;D Those corridors were lined with eager young lads waiting for the next pretty girl to come along to practice on.  Strange though, the ugly ones were soon passed on and came out the other end without a kiss and cuddle...I wonder why? I have a feeling there was a lad at the beginning of the corridor assessing which girls were worthy of a few minutes' practice and passed on the word.  Yes Lisa, I must put my hands up to that one. We used to make a bee-line for the slot palaces where we knew one of the minders, Kevin Kennedy from Brookhouse. My mate was a whizz at 'banging' the ball-bearing flick machines, you know, it used to whizz round and round until it went into a cup to win 2d,3d,or4d bit invariably went into the end cup marked 0d. You had to turn a knob if you won to get your money prize, he could bang this knob with the palm of his hand and get tuppence out every time. I was keeping 'nixy' for him, but Kevin got sick of threatening us so used to give us money to go to the other palace near the reptile house. Happy days. |
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Post by barbara on Aug 4, 2008 22:33:41 GMT -1
I dont know if anyone goes back as far as I do with memories of Belle Vue in the l940's but living in the Brookhouse flats on Gorton Lane we used to watch the fireworks from our window, that was when we were not inside the grounds, which was often. You could also see some acrobats on the top of a pole from our window, bathed in a searchlight, because it was late at night. The annual circus was a must, my brother and I were nearly always lucky to get a ringside seat and I remember Mr Lockhart the Ringmaster who nearly always had a big cigar in his mouth. One night one of the acts was the Great Omi, a man tattooed from head to foot, even his face, eyelids and bald head. Not a patch of clear skin! Two little swords went through his ears as earrings and he had a long red cloak on. To us children he was quite scary and we even thought he might be "old Nick" (the Devil). Going out of the main gates in the dark after the show my brother and I froze to see this figure still wearing the cloak with the hood up walking at the side of us, the next thing he hailed this black cab which he had obviously ordered to pick him up. No we thought that was one person we wouldnt like to meet again on a dark night. Rides on the elephant and the llama were just lovely, the boating lake was a must and I loved the noise the metal turnstile gates made at the lake entrance. In later years when we moved away from Gorton I used to go dancing at the Elizabethean Ballroom. Great Days! My Grandma who lived in Vernon Street off Cross Street, had some pic.postcards I remember with Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull and an Indian entourage that came over from USA and went to Belle Vue. I wish I had them now. marie marie we were piratically neighbours I lived in Wellesley Street it ran parallel with Clowes Street I can remember also sitting in my parents double bed on a Saturday night watching the firework display from their bedroom window, at the end there was one big massive bang if I remember right we would be eating chips brought by my dad on his way home from a pint in the pub. |
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Post by bodzy3 on Aug 6, 2008 14:59:46 GMT -1
Hello Everyone, Speaking of Belle vue.Does Anyone have any Belle Vue Speedway Badges,or anything to do with Speedway for cash sale.Just a Question.As i am an collector.and an old Belle Vue Fan from the early 60s. Peter j Hiya Is it a coincidence or are you related to the famous Peter Mauger the speedway rider bodzy |
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Post by marie fernandes on Aug 8, 2008 22:49:55 GMT -1
Hi everyone, I laughed seeing that elephant, first one I have seen like that. The ones I rode on at Belle Vue were the "Real McCoy." plus mahmoot with his stick and turban on. In later years I rode on elephants in India. One I went on was said to be 54 years of age, I had no sedan chair on top, just a piece of sack cloth, and my goodness was it uncomfortable. The elephant at Belle Vue had a seat on either side to fit three or four small children in. The llama had a little cart with seats in for the children to be pulled along.
marie
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Post by OLLY on Aug 12, 2008 13:41:47 GMT -1
HI ALL...... ......EVERY TIME I GLANCE AT THESE BELLE VUE POSTS I THINK OF THE TIMES I WORKED THERE.........IVE COLLECTED POTS OUT OF THE RESTRAUNTS...?......SOLD ICE SCREAM ON ONE OF THOSE THREE WHEEL BIKES WITH THE WALLS ICE SCREAM BOX ON THE FRONT........BEEN A GARDENER THERE......AND DONE ALL THE FLORAL DISPLAYS IN THE FUNCTION SUITES......DID A BIT OF WINE WAITING .........OH...AND PLAYED A BIT OF FOOTBALL FOR THEM........AND THE COLOURS OF THE STRIP..?.........RED GREEN...AND WHITE HOOPS........JUST LIKE BELLE VUE RANGERS WERE........... ........AHERMM.....THAT WAS AFTER 1940....... |
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mavis
Full Member
Posts: 199
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Post by mavis on Aug 31, 2008 3:41:13 GMT -1
Ivan mauger used to ride for the aces he is from here Christchurch New Zealand and he now retired teaches riding in Christchurch. Were you meaning Ivan mauger Bodzy?
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mavis
Full Member
Posts: 199
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Post by mavis on Aug 31, 2008 3:48:12 GMT -1
Hi Olly,
My brother used to sell Ice Cream as a part time job in the late 50"s at Belle Vue when he was at university called Derek he was put in Charge he had to cash all the money up off all the ice cream trikes, Mrs Prentice i think was the big boss I think. You may have known him back then he also sold Circus Programmes as well. Good pocket money for a poor student....
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Post by bodzy3 on Sept 1, 2008 17:36:08 GMT -1
Ivan mauger used to ride for the aces he is from here Christchurch New Zealand and he now retired teaches riding in Christchurch. Were you meaning Ivan mauger Bodzy? Your quite right Mavis I got the names mixed up betweem Ivan Mauger and his team mate Peter Craven both from Belle Vue Aces its old age you know you must have been a "Aces " fan at one time |
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mavis
Full Member
Posts: 199
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Post by mavis on Sept 2, 2008 19:20:15 GMT -1
Thats right Peter Craven Bodzy, and Barry Briggs, all around that time, at Belle Vue, did you see my entry about Eddie Jones, in "MAnchester Cabaret Clubs? Think it was the same Eddie in my class. Mavis
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anneb
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by anneb on Aug 19, 2009 0:05:16 GMT -1
Bodsy, I wonder if you once worked with my hubby, Peter. He worked on the dodgems in late 50's/early 60's. He espescially remembers Winifred Atwell getting on one of his dodgems once and he always remembers what a foul mouthed person she was. She didn't carry money with her and he had to collect it from one of her minnians. I think it's terrible that a city like Manchester doesn't have a zoo or something. Peter also used to help out in the zoo if they were short staffed. Happy times were also spent at the Elizabethan Ballroom. Do you remember it being burnt down? When it was rebuilt there was a special ballroom at the back called the jive room as we weren't allowed to jive in the ballroom. Good times!
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jaykay
Junior Member
Posts: 111
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Post by jaykay on Aug 22, 2009 9:02:58 GMT -1
Rememeber going to Belle vue in early 60's with my dad. Massive queues at the gates with people from all over the country, but dad knew someone on the gate who used to give him the thumbs up and we would go to a side gate and get in for free. Once in i think the 1st thing you came to was the waxworks on the left hand then the waterchute. Shoot the rapids, used to go on it time after time even though when you sat in that little box that resembled a lift you knew what was about to happen, but it was still exciting. Later on in my teens used to go on nites out there. Start in cheshire hunt across road then bier kellar on front where my mate Les tate was a bouncer. Once in zoobydoo and elizibethan drinking- girl watching and dancing. Does anybody remember the booth where you could cut a record, me and my mates made a record but sadly it never got on top of the pops. Fond memories.
BFN.
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Post by tonymarley on Sept 15, 2009 14:50:34 GMT -1
dear norma and lisa the cumberland sui when you were walking down was facing the water chute it was next door to an office next to the office was the canteen you had the water chuie the fountan the edinburogh and the cumberland they had nice big cars i used to sneak right round and look at all thecars i have moued collin ave xxxx all the best anthony xxxxxx poem i write my own poems and ive not got a book out yet i think of you till the end of time tiloll the stars shine in eyes i play all my records from way back xxx ;D    |
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Post by Lisa on Sept 17, 2009 15:03:07 GMT -1
Hi Antony, Have happy memories of the Elizabethan Suite at Belle View on a Saturday night. My friend and I would spend ages getting ready, then catching the 52 bus to Belle View to go dancing. I loved the big ballroom with the revolving stage and the band would disappear at the interval. We would often stop for chips on the way home.
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I hope they weren't navy blue p.e. knickers that we used to wear otherwise Tommy in Canada will have a fit!!!! 
lol 
Strange though, the ugly ones were soon passed on and came out the other end without a kiss and cuddle...I wonder why? I have a feeling there was a lad at the beginning of the corridor assessing which girls were worthy of a few minutes' practice and passed on the word. 
