Crosby Herald - Crosby Memories

Memories Of World War II In Waterloo

2009-02-19T15:51:15Z

A FORMER Waterloo resident has told of his childhood experiences during World War II.
Paul Fletcher, 75, who used to live in Alexandra Road, has recalled life at that time including the Blitz.
His first thoughts of war came in 1938, after watching a sword fight in the Adventures of Robin Hood film and he told his father how he would fight the enemy.
When war broke out airfields being built in Birkdale and Southport as well as barbed wire and concrete tank traps being placed in the sand hills.
He said: "Occasionally throughout the war years we would hear an explosion and see black smoke rising from that area as a dog had strayed into the minefield and set off one of the mines."

Children played an important role, collecting salvaged paper and sacks of old books, which they took to assembly points.
Major raids were on Saturday nights and Christ Church, which was at the end of his road was hit as well as the library, where his eldest sister also worked.
Paul was among the many residents who ran to the church with buckets of water.
He said: "Bits of burnt paper were fluttering about from the library and other houses were alight.
"There was nothing the fire brigade could do about it as all the water was being used up to fight the blaze at Gladstone Dock."
Going to school and realising classmates had been killed was difficult and one of his friends, Ronnie Shaw, who was just eight, was among those who died.
Paul said: "It was sad when going into school to find some of your school pals missing and you found out that their house had been hit the night before and we would not see them again."
Windows were repaired by the council with cardboard instead of glass and there were no sweets, so children contended with Horlicks tablets and cough sweets.
He also remembers the local Home Guard, who were mainly elderly men, marching along South Road to protect the sea front.
Paul said: "They had no uniforms or weapons apart from garden forks, hoes and poles with carving knives tied to the end."

School Photographs Of Waterloo From Years Gone By

2009-02-19T15:51:15Z

READERS are being asked to send in photographs and memories from their school days.
Photographs have been submitted by Memories contributor Tom Heath from his archive of pictures.
The photographs show Waterloo County Secondary School, which was later Crosby Road North Junior and Infants School, pictured in 1972.

Also featured is a photograph of staff, boys and girls at Crosby Road Secondary School, which was taken in around 1949.

The third photograph shows girls from Crosby Road School, although the exact date is unknown.

If anyone recognises anyone from the photographs or has any information they are asked to contact the Crosby Herald.
Anyone with school photographs or other memories can send them to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

Cattle That Once Lined The Streets Of Crosby

2009-02-10T09:00:00Z

CATTLE once lined the streets of Crosby and as old photographs show.
A reader has submitted two photographs cows walking along St Luke's Road in around 1934.
They show the late John Bootle, when he was around three or four years old and have been submitted by his widow Cherie Bootle, who now lives in Mersey Road.

Cherie, who grew up in Brownmoor Lane near the dairy in Endbutt Lane and recalled how cows would go past her house and into Brownmoor Park to the fields at the back.
Her late husband John used to live in St Luke's Road and the photographs show him with the cattle in his road.

The dairy was owned by Mr Hall and his cows would travel through Crosby Village and into DeVilliers Estate, which were then fields.
The building in the photograph is the former Jim Armstrong Warehouse.
If anyone has any photographs and memories, they can send them to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

Past Pictures of Churches in Waterloo and Litherland

2009-02-05T15:37:45Z

CHURCHES in Waterloo and Litherland are featured including St John's Church, which is pictured at the junction of Wellington Street and St John's Road.

The church was built in 1824 and it marked a celebration of the Napoleonic wars.
It was fire-bombed in 1940, which destroyed most of the inside and it was reopened in 1951.
Also featured is the first Christ Church in Waterloo Road, which was built in 1840.

The photograph was taken in 1899 when the church was being demolished to make way for the new building, which is now known as Old Christ Church.
Old Christ Church was also later damaged in World War II and vandalism also caused damage through the years.
The third photograph, of which the date is unknown, shows St Philip's Church in Orrell Road in Litherland.

In 1859, the worshipping life of St Philip's was founded and people used to meet at a room above the stables of the former Litherland Hotel.
The foundation stone of the present church was laid in 1861 and The Earl of Sefton donated the land for the building.
Tom Heath, a regular Memories contributor, submitted the photographs and anyone with any postcards to donate to his collection is asked to call him on 0151 931 2033.

A Confirmation Ceremony At All Saints and St Luke's Churches

2009-02-05T15:37:45Z

READERS have sent in information about a Memories photograph.
The picture is of a joint confirmation ceremony between All Saints Church and St Luke's Church.
John Armstrong and his brother James recognised the clergyman in the middle of the photograph as the Bishop of Warrington, who used to carry out confirmations at that time.
They also recognised the clergy man on the left as Raymond Lee, who he believes is now a Canon but was the vicar of St Luke's Church during at that point.
The clergyman on the right, they recognised as Paul Elliot, who was Curate at that time.
They also said the photograph was taken in around 1973 or 1974.
The man wearing glasses at the very back of the photograph is a man with glasses, who they recognised as their late father, Ted Armstrong.

The boy on the right, pictured wearing a jacket and tie, pictured with his thumb in his pocket, is their cousin Steve Cottier, who still lives in Crosby.
The boy to the left of Steve, is John Brookes and the woman to the left of former vicar, Rev Lee, is Steve's mum Doreen Cottier.
The boy in front of the Bishop is Colin Spiers and the boy to the left is Peter Gagen.
Anyone who recognises any of the people on the photograph or has any other pictures for Memories is asked to send them to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

A Litherland Woman's Experience Of Life In The Land Army

2009-02-05T15:37:45Z

PHOTOGRAPHS have been sent in to the Crosby Herald showing one woman's time in the Land Army.
Maureen Murphy of Ennerdale Drive, has sent in the photographs of her neighbour Rose Culkin, who served during World War II.

Rose, who will celebrate her 90th birthday this year, trained as a milliner in Liverpool before leaving the role to join the Land Army.
During her service she worked as Silcocks Farm in Litherland and at Hillcroft Farm in Halsall.
Rose ended up working for the Forestry commission in Hawkshead in Cumbria planting saplings which have now grown into a forest.
Maureen, 58, said: "She made many friends during those years and managed to stay in touch with them for years."
In the photographs Rose Culkin is pictured with Maggie Myers, Kathy Dwyer and May Webb, who were also in the Land Army.

She is also pictured in another photograph with farm hands at Hillcroft Farm in Halsall.
Maureen said: "As Rose will be 90 years old this year, the fresh air and hard work didn't do her any harm."

Readers can send their own photographs and memories to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

Crosby Churches Pictured In The Past

2009-01-09T12:16:17Z

THE series of churches pictured in the past continues this week in Memories.
Places of worship in the photographs include Crosby Congregational Church, St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, St Mary's Church in Little Crosby and Sefton Church.
The former Crosby Congregational Church, pictured on the corner of Mersey Road and Eshe Road, has now become Crosby United Reformed Church.

It is one of a number of photographs submitted by Tom Heath and it is not clear when it was taken.
The church was formed in 1885 to serve Crosby and Blundellsands, which was growing in population and within ten years the congregation grew to up to 300.
Mr A Brown Paton, who was a member of the church, laid the first foundation stone in 1897.
In 1972 the Congregational Churches in England united with The English Presbyterian Church to form The United Reformed Church in England.

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Crosby Road South in Waterloo is also pictured, possibly during the Victorian era.
The church was founded in 1855, the old building was developed in 1857 and the cornerstone for a new church building was laid in 1906.
Building work started on St Mary's Church in Little Crosby in 1845 and it was consecrated in 1847.

Sefton Church, the only Grade I listed building in the borough, is also pictured although the date of the photograph is unknown.
It was first built in 1170 as a private chapel of the Molyneux family and some stones from that era still exist.

The tower was built in around 1320 and the church was completed in the early 1500s.
Anyone with photographs or memories of churches in the area is asked to send them to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

Street Carnival in Crosby in 1975

2008-12-24T09:00:00Z

MANY people may remember a street carnival in Crosby in 1975.
Chris Leigh has submitted photos he took of the parade from his parents house in Mersey Road.

The first photograph shows Alexandra Hall in all its glory and the second photograph shows the parade being led along Mersey Road towards the hall by a police panda mini car.

In the third picture the parade has reached Alexandra Hall and it also shows the traffic build-up in Coronation Road.

Anyone who remembers the carnival or has any other pictures of the event is asked to contact the Crosby Herald.
Readers are asked to send information and pictures to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

A Parade in Litherland Near the Old Lift Bridge

2008-12-24T09:00:00Z

A PHOTOGRAPH has been sent in showing a parade in Litherland and the old lift bridge in the background.
It is believed to have been taken in the 1960s and shows the bridge in the background from Bridge Road.
Pictured is former Mayor Cathy Roberts and it was submitted by her granddaughter-in-law Liz Birchall.

Readers who remember the event or have any other photographs of the lift bridge are asked to send them in to the Crosby Herald.
Photographs or memories can send them to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

The Former Colosseum Cinema In Litherland

2008-12-11T09:00:00Z

A READER has told of her memories of a cinema in Litherland.
Freda Hurst of Dowhills Park was prompted to write after seeing a photograph of the former Colosseum in Linacre Lane, which was pictured on October 23.
She used to go there with her three brothers Eric, George and Clive on a Saturday afternoon to see their favourite programmes.

Freda said: "My brothers liked Roy Rogers and buck Jones also The Mask of Zorro. he used to have a sort of big whip and he used it like a lasoo, hurling it in the air and it left a Z mark on his opponent's forehead."
Scores of readers have responded to the photograph and the cinema which later became the Essoldo.

Youngsters Enjoying A Snowy Scene In Waterloo

2008-12-11T09:00:00Z

READERS are asked to identify the youngsters having fun in this photograph.
It was taken in January 1954 next to the former Crosby Herald Offices, which were then in Waterloo.

Pictured far right is Tom Murray, who celebrated his 60th birthday this year and now lives in Gravesend in Kent.
Anyone with information or with photographs can send them in to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

Times Past at The Regent Cinema in Waterloo

2008-12-10T09:00:00Z

TIMES at The Regent Cinema remain in the memories of many Crosby people.
David Miley has submitted a photograph of the picture house and anyone who knows the date of the photograph is asked to get in contact with the Crosby Herald.
As a child in the early 1960s David attended the Minors of the ABC Club on a Saturday morning.
He said: "It cost four pence and a man would come on stage at the beginning singing 'We're the Minors of the ABC'.
"Some kids would get bored with this and start to throw things at him only to be bawled at by a fearsome usherette wielding a torch that looked like a World War II Army Cycle Lamp."
He said a similar arrangement trip to the Odeon in Waterloo cost six pence.

In the evening he said the Regent was transformed and he also once went to see The Ten Commandments with his parents.
On screen there would be adverts for local shops including the hardware store across the road and Bobby's Milk Bar in Moor Lane.
He said: "During the interval we sat in the lounge on silk upholstered wicker chairs and my mum drank from a cocktail glass."

Train Disaster at Waterloo Station and Crowds in Crosby

2008-12-04T09:00:00Z

PHOTOGRAPHS have been submitted showing aspects of life from years gone by.
These include pictures from as far back as 1903 in Waterloo, Seaforth and Crosby.
Two of the photographs show the train disaster at Waterloo Station in 1903.

They show a derailed train on fire on the platform of the station surrounded by rubble.
Anyone with information about the train disaster and anyone with family members who were involved is asked to contact the Crosby Herald.

Another photograph is of the old Seaforth Police Station in Seaforth Road.
It shows police officers in old uniforms standing outside the station as well as a horse and carriage travelling along the road.

There is also a picture of crowds gathered at Islington in Liverpool Road, Crosby.
In the background of the photograph there is a shop called M and E Cook Hardware.
If anyone knows what is happening in the scene and why the crowd was gathered, they are asked to get in contact.

The photographs have been submitted by regular contributor and Memories reader Tom Heath.
Send information in to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, e-mail lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

Teenage Litherland Jockey In Race Win

2008-11-27T09:00:00Z

A PHOTOGRAPH has been submitted of a Litherland jockey who rode his first public race aged 16 and won.
The late John Molyneux, who was born in Litherland, won the race at Lingfield in the 1950s with his horse Parasol.
He weighed in at just 6st 5lb and was the son of a boilermaker in Liverpool.
According to news reports, he had left school two years before and had been working as a stable lad at Geoff Barling's Newmarket stables.
He had heard a programme on the radio about racing and had always been fond of horse, so he decided to answer an advert for a stable lad.
Eventually the youngster became an apprentice to Geoff, who was the Newmarket trainer.

As well as reaching success with Parasol he also won a race on a horse called Winsome Princess.
The photograph was sent in by his wife's cousin, Seth Ormesher, who lives in Gorsey Lane.
Seth said: "After a short spell and a few winners he began to put weight on and was unable to continue his flat race career but was so devoted to horses he had a spell with the Horse Guard's in London."
Anyone with memories or photographs to share is asked to send them to Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT, email lyndsay.young@liverpool.com or call 0151 282 8117.

Memories of the Scandinavian Streets in Waterloo

2008-11-27T09:00:00Z

A MAN who used to deliver milk to the former Scandinavian streets in Waterloo has talked about his memories.
Les Thomas lived in Sweden Street from 1934 to 1943 and was prompted to write in after seeing the pictures in Memories on November 13.
From 1965 to 1967 he worked for Reeces Dairies and delivered milk to practically every household in the streets that made up what was known as "Little Scandinavia".
The picture is from the Waterloo Social History Archives and shows numbers 69, 71 and 73, which was a corner shop run by Charlotte Draper.

He said: "The dark building extreme right of picture holds the nameplate of the grove, and is also the site of the remaining five houses on the left side of the street."
However he said there was no demolition of any buildings in the 1960s but some of them were bombed during World War II.
He remembered that four houses were bombed in Norway Street, two in Denmark Street but no houses in Sweden Street were hit.
Brenda Riddick, who founded St John's Local History Group, is welcoming members of the public to view Waterloo Social History Archives.
They are based at Waterloo Community Centre in the Old School Buildings, Great Georges Road.
The archives are open to the public on Saturdays from 10am until noon and people are welcome to submit their own Waterloo documents or photographs to the archives.
For more information about the archive call Brenda Riddick on 474 9445.