Phil, a friend of ours from Sheffield, England, is over here in Perth, Western Australia at the moment visiting family … on Saturday, he visited us in Glen Forrest, as he has done for the past eight years.
On this occasion, he presented me with a copy of Barbara Hillier’s book, ‘CHANDLER’S FORD, A PICTORIAL HISTORY’ (1994 edition – Front Cover shows Fortune Court and a VERY blue sky) … Phil bought it via Amazon U/K from a bookshop in Reading, Berks …
Here’s where the ‘long shot’ comes in …
The blank page inside the cover is inscribed, by hand, ‘With Love & Best Wishes to Jan, from Mum – 1996’
What are the chances of me discovering who Jan and Mum are ??? … slim, I feel, but not impossible, and I am sure they would like to know their ‘off-cast’ now has a welcome new home in Western Australia.
Keep smiling …
I have no idea who Jan and Mum might be. You can tell you friend Phil that there is one person from Sheffield helping to keep Chandlers Ford going. My Grandfather was born in Bramall Lane so that’s a good pedigree. I am ashamed to say that I was born in Jessop’s Hospital for Women. Lived in Handsworth and moved up to Ecclesall. Uncle ran a petrol station in Intake.
I left in 1956 to go to University in Bristol.
Hi Mike … this world gets smaller every day … I have taken the liberty of sending a copy of your comment to our friend Phil, who is currently enjoying a stop-over in Thailand before returning to Blighty … my second wife comes from Sheffield (I met her in WOZ) and her (our) daughter was born in Jessops at the time of the hurricane … her Great Grandies lived in Scarsdale House in Derbyshire Lane, next to Norton Cemetery, both of which you might know … Phil lives in Meersbrook
I cannot say who Jan and Mum were, but the photo, fig.16 in my copy,
shows the tranquil track through the woods, now Queens Road, with my grandmother, Nellie Sarah Adamson, with my sister Jane (not a son) in the state of the art pram, with me, the little squirt standing beside it.
Hi Barry … LONG time no speak … the last time must have been during the days of ‘Relievo’ around the Lake in the early 50’s, or even before …
You have lost me with your comment … you quote ‘the photo, fig. 16 in my copy’ … this does not appear to connect with my post, nor is there a photo … as Mr. Woodhouse used to write in our books at school ‘please explain’ …
Cheers
Doug Clews
Hi Doug, Those were the days, and what fun we had. I have 1st edition of Barbara Hilliers book, which I quoted accurately. I also have a more recent edition, in which the same photo appears on p.49, simply captioned Queens Road, Chandlers Ford, 1935. Dramatis personae the same.
Best wishes, Barry
Hi again Barry …
Now it all makes sense … thanks ! … I too have both books, and fig 16 is definitely the better photo … I had forgotten the caption though … I guess Jane would have been about 1 year old in that 1935 picture, as I seem to remember we were about the same age …
I regret to say I have lost contact with the ‘Lake Gang’, with the exception of Tony Grinyer and his cousin David … I did meet up with Diana Sykes (Ostler) and her brother Christopher, here in Perth back in the late 70’s … At the time, Diana was Chief Dietician at Princess Margaret Hospital For Children in Perth, and Christopher was with the Agriculture Department Of Western Australia from memory.
Keep smiling
Doug from WOZ
Hi, Doug.
My name is David Magrath and from 1951 to 1956 I lived with my parents at Pine Corner, 1 Lake Road, right opposite the “Lakes”. I played Relievo with a younger “Lake Gang” Which comprised such people as Brian Prentice, John Bronsdon, Derrick Banerman, Chris Arnold, Bob Sykes and his sister Ursula, The Pratt sisters Sonya and Hazel, The Burnidge Brothers, Richard Jenkins, Richard Janes and Jenny Vining. I’m sorry if I spelt names wrong. We all subsequently joined the YC’s that you know about, led by Godfrey Olson who I believe died about a year ago. I also belonged to the 2nd Chandlers Ford Scouts when Jack Hall was Scout Master and I connected with another group of boys including the Harding Brothers and Nat Cotel. Jack was ably assisted in scouting by David Brand and Tony Grinyer.
I took up an apprenticeship in Structural design in East Greenwich and used to return to Ch’Ford on weekends and went to YC dances at the Ritchie Hall. I subsequently met up with a lovely girl from Eastliegh named Diana Blundell and we eventually married and have spent most of the rest of our life in Canada. We now live in Halifax Nova Scotia.
Best regards to you in Oz and Hope you are surviving from those awful fires.
Hello there David …
I do remember you from YC’s and the Lake, as well as most of the people you mention …
I also remember Michael Arnold, older brother of Christopher, and Ursula and older sister Diana Sykes and older brother Christopher Sykes (both of whom I came accross a couple of times in Perth Western Australia) but I do not remember a Bob Sykes …
Unfortunately, you are correct about Godfrey Olson, whom, incidently was my Best Man and I his, when he married Joan …
Jack Hall lived 5 doors away from me in Meadow Grove … A peter Brand married a girl from Meadow Grove, Anne Johnson, but not sure if he was related to the David Brand you mention (I know he had an older sister, Pamela I think) … I also remember Andy Vining, younger brother of Jenny, and Andy Burnage …
Good to catch up with you and memories …
Keep smiling David …
Young Doug Clews from Sydney Australia
Hi Doug, I have just found a post of yours where you mention Michael Arnold and his younger brother Chris. Both these boys were great mates of mine when I lived in Chandlers Ford in the early fifties. Do you have any contact with them or know their whereabouts, I would love to catch up with them. I clearly remember their parents came to our house to view the Coronation in 1953. Mr Arnold was manager at the egg factory in Pine Road right next door to where we lived.
Always keen to talk about old times
Kind Regards
Brian Wadham