----- Original Message ----- From: john.hume To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:32 AM Subject: YORKSHIRE ? 1950's. Hi All Whilst not in Yorkshire, I used to visit with my parents my favourite uncle who lived in Sheffield. In those days we knew when we were approaching that city by the huge fires that roared alongside the railway line, especially at night on our return home. In the late 50's my uncle was unwell, my dad a keen chrysanthemum grower grew a special one to be delivered from Nottingham to Sheffield general hospital where my uncle was residing. We had to take the plant, complete with its SEVENTY TWO blooms of perfectly formed yellow flowers, all out in unison. The distance from the allotment to Nottingham Victoria was about three miles. My dad had made a 'litter' from an old wooden banana box (those very long ones) and complete with two long carrying handles, my friend and I walked the three miles to the railway station where the plant was weighed and the cost was dearer than our tickets. Those coaches were non corridor and the plant was placed in the guards van. At every stop, and there were plenty, I had to dash out of the carriage, into the guards van and back again before the train moved off. After many miles (I'm sure we had been up and down the country twice,) we arrived at noon in Sheffield on a busy Saturday morning. Walking through the throngs of shoppers was a nightmare walking with the plant to my uncle's lock up garage on Eyre street. The end result was two broken blooms and for that, a clip around the ! ear. However the plant adorned the front of the hospital for many years afterwards. As for products, remember the following big tins of biscuits at woollies where you could ask for a selection. My mum wrote down Nice biscuits, of course I was in my element, I got all those NICE biscuits, custard creams etc, of course she actually meant NICE(south of France) biscuits. The Boy's Own magazine, London Illustrated, Pathe News with the cockle crowing at the beginning. The rush out of the flicks before the national anthem came on with the Queen on her horse inspecting the troops. The 3d rush on a Saturday afternoon to see Flash Gordon, Superman, and the Cisco Kid. And of course Zorro where we all came tumbling out of the cinema pretending to be the famous man himself with the legendary three stokes of his sword. Snobs and marbles, played in the gutters on the way home from school, and miniature racing cars. Playing cigarette packets against the wall, and 'chock' with marbles. Life Boys and Boys Brigade with little Pill Box hats and trying to play the bugle. 1d everlasting strips, tiger nuts and little black Imps, brought in a very small black and red box. Beechnut chewing gum, a free packet on every forth turn from the machine outside the shops, next to the fag machine dispensing domino cigarettes at 6d a packet. And of course as a ten years old going to the pub with an enamel jug for two pints of bitter for dad at home, or the local off licence for bottles of Indian Pale Ale. E by gum, kids don't know they'll born today, 'ecky thump. regards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 167 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try SPAMfighter for free now! ---------------------------------------- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 167 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try www.SPAMfighter.com for free now!