A Gorton Lad

[OLLY]

HIYA MAVIS...."CHAVS SLANG" PUT IN YOUR BROWSER....AND WIKIPEDIA EXPLAIN IT FULLY.........

[jude]

Hi Mavis. Mum gave me the Alan A Book. She is 69 this year and went to Varna St School.

[mavis]

Hi Jude,
I went to Varna Street school just for cookery, we had to go on the train, from Ashbury's station, I think that is Openshaw if my memory serves me right?

[jude]

Hi Mavis,
My Grandparents and Aunt lived in Abbey Hey - my Aunt still does in the family shop but it isn't operational -she retired quite a while ago. I'm not so good with the geography. I've only been there once. Mum talks distance in bus stops and train stations too!

[mavis]

Thanks Olly. will have a look at that, we learn a new word everyday!!!

[jude]

Hi again Mavis,
The reason she gave me the book is because it did give a picture of what Gorton was like but also because apparently they all knew him too.

[mavis]

Hi jude, Was it about how Gorton used to be or how it is supposed to be now? I looked up Gorton lad on google, and as I said on a previous posting there was a lovely memoir of Lou Burns, it was so funny as he seemed to remember every single shop along Gorton Cross street and where each one was situated and also what they sold!!! I found it really did bring back memories, I think your mum would probably remember these shops if she shopped a lot on Cross Street, I remember going to Timpsons shoe shop, and leaving my son in his pram outside the shop in his pram whilst i bought shoes, I was at the 109 bus stop and thought to myself what else did i have with me coming, then remembered I had walked there and had the pram, I had to go running back in a big panic. God what a fright good job I hadn't got on the bus, I would have jumped off in full flight!!!

[elainegregory]

HI Mavis, was that a gorton thing forgetting your baby? i did the very same thing!
When the regeneration of gorton got under way we were over run with mice! so i had to go to the "pot shop" to get some mouse traps, i was so embarrassed that i told the shop worker i wanted them for booby prises for our club ! ( i didnt even go out then) and running out of the shop i forgot my son ,sat outside in his pram, i must have seemed like some kind of weirdo sneaking back to get him!!!!
Do you remember the butchers Ganiens i think it was called it had more flies than meat in the window
We got our first set of furniture from Newdays, a dinning room suite( table four chairs and a sideboard) we also got a repossessed three piece suite( black plastic with red cushions) that had pink paint along the the back, that had obivously had been sat against a wall, it was all we could afford.
Happy days!!!!!!!!!

[mavis]

Left in 72 so have forgotten most of the shops, but do remember the lovely food shops and cake shop.On holiday at the moment in A place called Nelson, n a very unfamiliar laptop, and it was a miracle I was able to gt into my mail. I cant get used to not using a mouse. I found your story very funny about runng away from the Hardware shop, I do remember those sort of shops, sold everything ddn't they like open all hours. Sorry about the spelling the sun is shining n the keyboard, so don't think i will be attempting to use this again, I am tearing my hair out!!!

[jude]

As I'm not from Gorton myself, mum is, she has just come home from there armed with other Gorton stuff for me. This time she has given me Images of England - Gorton (Jill Cronin and Frank Rhodes), that has the most extraordinary collection of old pictures in it which is great for my family history research. In spite of all its changes she still loves Gorton and its people. If you haven't seen this book and you are from Gorton it is certainly worth a look.
I also have a memories calender of Gorton and Belle Vue again with great pics and a DVD on Belle Vue which is great. It has a great pic of Gorton Junior school in 1958. I'm just happy to have been given them and know more about my heritage.

[mavis]

Hi Jude,
I have got that book on Gorton, by the same couple, in fact i have two there is another edition, I also have the one on Belle vue, does yours have the "Bobs" on the front? I have had mine for quite a long time, so perhaps you may have the updated version,

Loved the story from "Our Kid" could just picture the situations!!!!

lets have many more of them!!!

[marie fernandes]

Only just read the letters on this thread. And would like to know does anyone remember the open top trams that used to go along Gorton Lane, with the seats being able to face one way and the other. When the fog came down thick and black the guard had to walk at the front of the tram with his uniform on and little black helmet. He waved a red flag I suppose to warn people off the tram lines, but I dont know how they could see him in the thick fog. Anyone old enough to remember Harneys greengrocers along the lane opposite Brookhouse flats. Or the sweet shop nearer to the Gorton Library, which was on the corner. The sweet shop was owned by "pop" Powelll. I lived in Brookhouse during the second half of WW11 and we had to run for the air raid shelters under the arches. I am 74 this year but still remember the Italian prisoners of war kept in interment on Mellands fields. With the diamond shaped patches on the knee part of the overalls they wore and also at the elbow. We were told this was the target that had to be aimed for by security forces if they escaped to bring them down.

[marie fernandes]

I would love to know about these books about old Gorton. Is it just the one - "Our Kid" ?
I was a baby in Mart Street, we knew it then as Bradford, but have been told it was really Beswick? Does anybody know if this is correct. I have tried to see if there are any photos of this Street on the link put on MM's but no sign of it. I used to visit one of my Grandma's,
Gr.Callan who lived on Vernon Street, somewhere near Gorton Cross Street I think, but I remember my Dad taking my brother and I a walk to Uncles allotment and then ending up at a lovely shop on this street where you could have warm Vimto, Saspirella etc. with Black wrought iron table and chairs inside . Does anyone remember this shop? I am 74 now so this was around l944/5. Also the horse trough outside the Gorton baths & public wash-house.
The big drey horses used to stop there for a drink on their way down Hyde Road.