Are kids missing out?
Sandieh[:)]I was thinking back today about childhood days, the reason being, it`s school holidays here and in newspapers and on tv parents are being shown all the entertainment they can take their kids to, shopping centers have things going on for school holidays, tv has more cartoons and kids movies showing, cinemas have all the new kids movies on, and most kids have computers to play on, Now I`m curious? how do kids these days learn to socialize? in the 50s we had to figure out something to do for ourselves, think of a friend to go and call for to play out, we had the field at the top of George st, the boys would be there flying kites when it was windy enough, and they had to first make the kites themselves out of cane and newspaper, I always had to hold the kite for my brother until he set off at a mad run trying to get it going, and that could take ages, when it rained hard the same field would flood, that was one of my favorites because I could put my wellies on and go paddling, in winter the paddling water froze, then we had our slides, Guy Fawkes night we had a bonfire there which the lads had collected for, knocking on doors asking if anyone had rubbish for the bonfire, then they had to try to guard the bonfire against other kids taking it for their own fires. Who remembers playing "Kick the can" "Knocker door run" and girls in the street with skipping ropes, two girls would turn the rope while others jumped in and out, when someone caught the rope they were out and had to go and turn the rope until someone else was out, I often think todays kids miss out, on memories of childhood, and on making discoveries for themselves, without computers, TV, and parents doing their thinking for them, what do they do? [:(]
Lady GriffinWhat do they do ?? Not a lot it seems that doesn't cost a load of money. Like you Sandieh I played the same games -skipping -marbles -tops and whips ,decorating the tops with coloured chalk,-hopscotch etc. Great fun. Just been to Blackpool with William R and seen the price of rides on the Pleasure Beach! We managed to find one Victorian Arcade by the Log Flume Ride where we won and lost a few 2p`s trying to beat the system on the penny pushers. Due to the generosity of a passer by we managed to get in to the Tower at a price of two for one. The Tower was good value.Nostalgic look at the Ballroom .Ahhh! Listened to the Wurlitzer organ,watched the dancers and chickened out as they looked very professional. Another time we may even join in. LG
SandiehOh Linda, that lovely ballroom at the tower with the organ it made me feel envious reading your reply, the last time I was there I danced with my three year old daughter who had a wonderful time, it was such a happy atmosphere. Sandie.[:D]
LDunlop76What kids are missing out on is that freedom to disappear off in a gang of mates and go and muck about on field or at the park, only coming home when hunger struck - often an hour or two after the meal had been prepared! It's sad that it doesn't feel safe enough to let you children off the reins like that any more. But they are gaining in other ways. When I went to secondary school, I had a scholarship place to a school in Manchester and I was the only child from my primary school to go there, so I lost touch with all the children I'd played with pre-eleven, but all my high school friends lived at least one bus ride away. We weren't on the phone at home, so in the evenings and weekends I was generally a solitary soul. These days I'd be able to talk to my friends via text message or on the internet if I was in that position again. Kids socialise less face to face, but chat more with their fingers!
skitzyI agree Linda, my daughter who is nearly 18 is never off the net. We have started to restrict the time she spends on it. Eileen
ThornleyEven on the internet children are not safe, no matter how hard we try. I do think they miss out on social interaction and take longer to develop communication skills. It is a worry letting your children do anything without you being by there side. Vanessa
noelWhen I was small I used to beat other kids up. We used to have gangs, School St versus East St. I was in the East St gang. Grossly inferior to the School St gang as they had a lot more young lads in the street.
noelFor heaven's sake don't believe that anyone, seriously we used to play outdoors all the time. We had a Subbuteo league at Barry Hibberts on Crown St, played with the table set on his parent's driveway. Football, cricket tennis, chasing girls, but there wasn't any telly in those days.
Sandieh[:p][:D][:D] All girls in School St Noel?[:D][:D]I`d have been in their gang[:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][}:)]
SandiehOh ! sorry Noel, I was wrong they were mostly girls in East St[:I] OK I`d have been in your gang[}:)] I did have a friend in School St but we were always falling out so it would`nt have mattered[:D] when we had a TV it was rationed, so we still had to go and play out. [img]http://images.animfactory.com/animations/people_a_l/girl_young/mel_sitting_on_brick_wall_md_wht.gif[/img]
noelI like the picture Sandie. There was only me, Frank Todd who tells me I used to beat him up when he was 4. ( I was 5 at the time, I wouldn't do it now!!) David Hindle, and Charles Leather, oh Alan Spiby, can't remember any more lads. The street was full of girls. Still, not complaining.
LDunlop76I used to play inside a fair bit, but largely because best mate, Kim, and I had very complex games involving Barbie/Sindy families and it took half the morning to set it all up! (Fortunately we had very understanding grandmothers living next-door-but-one to one another who allowed their front rooms to be transformed into Barbie worlds for the entire day and never moaned that they couldn't hoover or whatever like our mums did!) But we still played out way more than modern children seem to -skipping, what we called "American skipping" using knicker elastic, swinging on the gate (when Grandad wasn't looking!), playing "Thunderbirds" or "Batman" using Grandma's old curtains for capes, shining the slide at the park with the waxed paper from cereal packets to make the descent faster.... And what about kiss chase? Do today's kids still play kiss chase? Or kickstone?
Bill RigbyReading these posts with some interest, I decided not to post at first. Then LD's post set me thinking since so much of his experience is but a step removed from the leisure occupations of kids today. I refer to the Barbie doll game, which relies on promoted, 'fashion' trendy and bought articles. As a kid during the war, we had only our own resources to rely on with the only toys I recall being Dinky Toys bought before the war! We used leisure time, I believe, more actively than in the next generation. From the age of 9, we would set off from Leyland 'across the fields' by Brownie brook, over Wigan Road and walk to Whittle Hills, where we would play 'mountaineering'scaling the quarry faces. Another destination was 'up Runshaw' where we would walk along Wigan Road to Back Lane and then along the Worden estate... Each year had its season for given pastimes, from Rollo in the autumn (which I believe is a variation of 'Kick the Can') introduced to Ryden Avenue by the Ashurst brothers who came from Wigan, through sledging when it snowed (an obvious seasonal one!) to bird nesting, damming the brook, to impromtu rounders, cricket and soccer. We walked everywhere with no fear of molestation, mayhem or aggression, except in the case of the latter when 'territorial imperatives' were offended. I omit the weeks leading to bonfire night after 1944 spent in scouring woods and hedgerows for combustible wood and raids on neighboring rival growing bonfire piles... Or the 'wars' that broke out at certain times of the year with neighboring streets and avenues that led to hordes of kids and teens slinging rocks at each other every evening after school until dusk fell, or until hostilities ceased due to someone getting hurt by a rock on the nut or the face, bringing out parents to quell the rain of missiles. Were we more active? Yes, I think so and as recent reports from concerned health authorities show we decidedly were. Were we happier? I doubt it, if I judge through my own grandchildren. But then, they are not English...
SpitfireLesley, I was intrigued by your decription of the games you played. I take it that knicker elastic and swinging on the gate were two completely seperate games? If not, will you please explain how you did it. ROFL
noelBill, the past always seems better. Watching television or playing with the latest Nintendo hold no favourable comparisons with the descriptions of your childhood adventures . Time has dulled my memory. I remember playing with sheep's eyes from Haydock's slaughter house at the back of where we lived . I'm not sure I enjoyed that.
SpitfireLesley ? Who`s Lesley for goodness sake! Sorry LINDA, must have been having one if my senior moments. ROFL [:I] [:I] [:I]
SandiehThink I remember Alan Spiby Noel, was`nt he Marilyn Bush`s couison ? (dont think I spelt that right, coiusin cousan????[:(])
quote:
Originally posted by noel
I like the picture Sandie. There was only me, Frank Todd who tells me I used to beat him up when he was 4. ( I was 5 at the time, I wouldn't do it now!!) David Hindle, and Charles Leather, oh Alan Spiby, can't remember any more lads. The street was full of girls. Still, not complaining.
Bill RigbyNoel, Do you mean Haydock's butchers in Farrington? My parents got their meat there all during the war, partly I suppose because Mr. Haydock was one of my dad's insured. Did you know his son Fred lives (lived? he may be no longer in the land of the living) in Clitheroe and had a wine and spirits business for many years? My dad bought off him for the pub... The past may seem better, but in fact it rarely was! Different? Indeed.
skitzyWe lived across from Haydocks butchers.I remember Tom, his son Michael has the shop now. What did you do with the sheeps eyes Noel? Eileen
rocketmanjohnAre kids missing out? I was fortunate to be a kid in the 40's, yes, I do meen fortunate. Everything was in short supply, or non existant, so we had to make everything we wanted, trolleys out of pram wheels and orange boxes, bows and arrows [lethal weapons nowadays], catapults [ditto], dens etc. etc. We all had loads of friends and spent all our free time playing out, truly paradise. We even made our own fishing rods, and spent many happy hours fishing in the local ponds. All this taught patience, the value of friendship, how to use our hands, how to read drawings [had to, to build model planes], respect for nature, decision making, oh, I could go on and on. Todays kids either watch garbage on TV or play on a computer, they are missing so much in life that can never be replaced. I was showing my grand kids how to make a blade of grass screech by blowing through it whilst held between my thumbs, they were amazed, so was I, I thought everyone knew how to do that. Yes, I was very lucky to be born when I was. John
Bill RigbyFrankly, RMJ, I would have preferred to have been born at a time that put me as a boy in a world engaged in war and terrible things happening in eastern Europe. (I am just reading "The Last Days of the Jerusalem of Lithuania" being the diary of Herman Kruk that he kept from his flight from Warsaw on September 5, 1939 until he was murdered in September 1944 in a camp in Latvia, the day before the Red Army liberated the area. He hid the diary in various places and piecing it together its dissemination in different locations has been a task of several years). Yes, I did all the things you mention, including building a bicycle from parts found on the 'rec' on Bent Lane; I called it an 'ASP' and when folks asked me what kind of a bike it was, I was delighted to say "It's an ASP" and wait for the inevitable, "What does ASP stand for?" in order to give my clincher , "All Spare Parts". I think I would have preferred to have a boyhood with bananas and oranges and free from my mother's terror when the planes passed overhead on their way to blast Liverpool and Manchester. It would have been preferable not to see my mother sacrifice part of her rations so we kids could have jam (of sorts!), etc... Better too, to have parents at home instead of two working as a result of the "work of national importance" order, so that I was thrown on my own resources or that of elderly women I did not much know or care for. Was my boyhood unhappy? No, I have stated some facts above that show it wasn't; indeed, the only affection I had for Leyland was because of my boyhood. Comparison with then and today is disingenuous; I have three grandsons from age 8 to 16 and they do not spend their time watching TV or playing on a PC, mainly because their mother gives them other things to do. The three are in Judo clubs, each plays a musical instrument and the two youngest are in a local rugby club - the eldest one was but had to quit due to his school schedule and plays basketball instead. The eldest is at school from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. four days a week, on one day he finishes at 3 p.m. And he has homework most evenings. No time for TV and playing PC games! But then, my daughter lives in France...
Bill RigbyPS I missed an all important 'not' from the first sentence! How does one edit these posts, g-damnit!
SpitfireBill, If you select the icon (with the pencil) you will be able to edit your posts. I know this from experiece, as 50% of mine are `fine-tuned`.
rocketmanjohnBill, I was born during the war and have no memory of it, I only remember from about 1947 on, as you'll no doubt remember yourself that this was a time of shortages and rationing, it was all I knew and was normal to me. Consequently, even though I'd heard of oranges and bananas I did'nt know what they were, so it did'nt matter to me. I can never figure out why everyday fruit was unobtainable, and yet one could always get dates and pomegranites. John
Alan MarsdenHaving read the previous postings with interest, I must say that you have activated memory cells that have not been used for many years! It would appear that many of us are of a similar age group., wartime or just later being prominent. I strongly recall rushing down the garden at the wail of the air raid sirens to the security of our air raid shelter with it's supply of barley sugars and parafin lamps and sandbags. Regarding fruits,at one time Mother bought the family rations from Billy Hoopers grocers shop( Eldon St. Preston). One Friday night while shopping there Mr Hooper brought out an orange apparently for me to look at ,and upon taking it back, mother became annoyed that he had only shown it to me without giving a sample! Dealings with Mr Hooper came to an abrupt end, the CO-OP becoming our new grocers! This was a great improvement as the black and white tile floor was covered with a thin layer of sawdust making it excellent for sliding across! They also paid the divi, exchange and handling of money was not done by the attendant but the money was placed in a cyinder suspended from an overhead cable,the attendant pulled a lever whereupon it shot across the room at ceiling level and disappeared into a hole where a bespectacled man took the money and returned the change and divi.using the same overhead cable system ! The butchers next door also used the same system utilising a hole in the wall for the cable to pass through. The whole system was magical, pulleys everywhere, cables and high speed overhead cablecars delivering money, together with bells ringing upon their termination ! Saturday morning, standing on Blackpool Rd at Lane Ends, watch the convoys of American trucks and troops going towards Weeton and Blackpool, our shoutings of "ANY GUM CHUM ", were often rewarding ! Alan M
Alan MarsdenWhen I tell my family the following I am met with laughter and disbelief, I do hope that some other family participated in similar activities, and that they will confirm ! We lived in Shelley Rd.just north of Blackpool Rd,the canal was at the foot of the garden. On occasion,after lunch on Saturday ,Mother, Grandmother and I would catch a corporation 'C' bus at Balcarres Rd Co-Op and travel to Preston. We would then walk along Lancaster Rd, up a 'alleyway ' to the Ribble bus station and stand in line for a Blackburn Bus. Arriving at Blackburn,we would spend the afternoon on the markets and shops and in late afternoon we would purchase a great treat,'ice cream wafers', sometimes 'tubs' from a stall on Blackburn market. This would then be well wrapped up in multiple layers of newspaper, and we would proceed to the line up for the Preston bound bus. Of course all the busses stopped frequently. Upon reaching Preston we again walked across Lancaster Rd, waited for the 'C' bus to arrive and after its crew rest depart, eventually arriving home I would guess about two hours after buying the ice cream., the delicacy was then enjoyed by the family! Alan M
SpitfireAlan, I remember the `alleyway` well. At the Lancaster Road end was (according to the late Gilbert Harding) the `Best sandwich shop in Britain`. With refence to Preston buses, were they plumb coloured at that time? I know that Preston was the only corporation who refused to put advertisments on then. I`m not sure if I`m going back too far, but was there still an alternative service you could use run by Viking buses fron Starchhouse Square?
Alan MarsdenSpitfire, certainly, Viking ran an excellent service, their busses were clean and cared for by their drivers, their headquarters was just north of Lytham Rd on Woodplumpton Rd, where you would see the busses and coaches being serviced.Viking operated from Starchhouse square to all the villages , Nog Tow, Catforth, Woodplumpton,Inskip,Elswick and Great Eccleston. You could catch a Viking bus by simply putting out your hand, didn't need a bus stop ! They were unfortunately taken over by Ribble motors, just like other operators, Scout, BBMS,Standerwick,and of course their caring attidude was replaced with a virtual non service ( more of an employment service). eg. when I lived in Walmer Bridge and worked in Leyland, I often stood at the triangle near the sportsground and plots adjacent to the River Ribble where I hope to catch a bus home .Ribble busses going almost anywhere towards Liverpool and Southport would have suited my purpose, and often a bus would approach and stop for people to alight only to find it could take perhaps 6 people only, meanwhile other busses would go straight past half empty, I have even seen drivers grinning as they left you behind. ! It became so annoying that on many a nice summer evening I would walk home from work in Sandy Lane leyland, down Longmeanygate, across the moss ( taking a pint of refreshing Lion at the Midge hall railway hotel) and home to Walmer Bridge. Later I bought a Honda 90 and eventually a car. As far as I,m concerned I have no intention of ever again using a bus ! At Lane Ends , mid afternoon Saturdays and Sundays, Viking busses would fill with passengers going to Catforth for what then was a treat, a 'chicken sandwich'. The same thing occured with Premier and Viking coaches, they would take people on a tour of the Fylde,but the real attraction was stopping for a chicken sandwich tea at in Pilling at Striklands or Lewis's cafe ! Alan M
Alan MarsdenSpitfire, yes, Preston Corporation busses were part cream and part a chocolate brown. I don't recall Gilbert Harding's ( what's my line ) recommendation, but my sister Barbara owned and operated a sandwich bar named the 'Shanty' on Fishergate ,almost opposite Corporation St, she had a plaque on the wall from 'Egon Roney'naming the Shanty as 'Highly recommended'. Alan M
SpitfireAlan, I don`t remember the `Shanty`, but from your description it must have been where Debenhams and the Fishergate centre now stand. With regards to BBMS, their moto was `never to leave anyone behind`. ( An early day equivalent of Indian Railways , no doubt).
Lady GriffinI remember those buses well and regularly made the journey from Starchhouse Square to my aunt's home in Lea .As I recall we got off the bus after Nog Tow, the name of which always held my interest as a kid.Since then I have found out that Nog is a wooden peg and Tow means of course to pull behind. LG
noel
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Rigby
Noel, Do you mean Haydock's butchers in Farrington? My parents got their meat there all during the war, partly I suppose because Mr. Haydock was one of my dad's insured. Did you know his son Fred lives (lived? he may be no longer in the land of the living) in Clitheroe and had a wine and spirits business for many years? My dad bought off him for the pub...
Yes that's the one Bill. I don't remember a Fred Haydock, Old Man Haydock as we called him used to wait for us when we played behind his shed. The roof was close to the land so it was easy to climb up on it. Suddenly woosh, a bucket full of water came sloshing over the top. We were terrified of him, only being 5 or 6 but I think he was a gentle man in truth. Tom was his son as Sandie said and now Michael runs the shop. The sheeps eye's? we used to use them as marbles. A bit wobbly . But cheap. Poor sheep I feel lousy now.
noel
quote:
Originally posted by Sandieh
Think I remember Alan Spiby Noel, was`nt he Marilyn Bush`s couison ? (dont think I spelt that right, coiusin cousan????[:(])[quote
Cousin Sandie. No he wasn't. But it gave me a laugh[:)] No I'm only joking forgive me. I think he was actually but it's so long ago. I really wouldn't like to live in East St again, or on Stanifield Lane looking right down Mill St.
noel
quote:
Originally posted by skitzy
We lived across from Haydocks butchers.I remember Tom, his son Michael has the shop now. What did you do with the sheeps eyes Noel? Eileen
It depended Eileen. Sometimes when there were stringy things left on the back of the eye ball we would try to Yo Yo with them. Invaribly the eye ball just dropped off. Or we would swish them round and round our heads then let go, using them like a sling a la David and the Goliath. Marbles was a popular game also with them. My parents found me playing with them one day. My dad went mad, we never could see eye to eye.
skitzyYuk Noel, or as they say in oz thats gross. I remember old man Haydock, he lived up the backs.I remember my dad sending me up to post a bill through his door & I couldn't remember which 1 of the 2 houses was his, so I just posted it in any, when I got home he wanted to know which house id delivered it too. I didn't half get a roasting cos id picked the wrong house. Eileen
skitzyDid you still live at home Noel the morning your settee caught fire? I remember my dad running over to help,I think Katrina had accidently knocked a candle over. Eileen
noel
quote:
Originally posted by skitzy
Did you still live at home Noel the morning your settee caught fire? I remember my dad running over to help,I think Katrina had accidently knocked a candle over. Eileen
Eileen your dad saved our lives that day. I never knew who it was who broke the door down, and always wanted to thank him. Can we write privately about this.?
skitzyNoel i will send you an E mail over the weekend, I have to work tomorrow so it will probably be Sunday. Eileen
LDunlop76This is what I like about this forum. A fluke mention of something on the forum and Noel finds out, years on, who saved the family from fire! Marvellous!
noel
quote:
Originally posted by LDunlop76
This is what I like about this forum. A fluke mention of something on the forum and Noel finds out, years on, who saved the family from fire! Marvellous!
It really staggered me to read that. I was 12 or 13 at the time, my younger sister 6 and my elder one 15.Eileen's dad resued us. I never knew it was him until now. I have sent Eileen details of what happened, with my very belated gratitude. He deserved a medal for bravery and his quick reaction.
SpitfireThe story of the fire would, I`m sure find space in the Leyland Guardian. `Fire Hero found after x Years`. etc. How the discovery was made would also promote this forum to a wider audience. Well ----it was a thought!
ThornleyWhat a great story, how amazing that after all these years you have found out in this way who helped to save your lives. I'm sure it brings back many memories, even those that are not so pleasant! How nice to be able to put a name to that person after all these years. Vanessa
Bill RigbyThanks, Spitfire, for the editing tip. RMJ, evidently I am older than you and it seems older than Alan. When I lived in Leyland the only buses on the Preston route were Fishwicks and the 109 Ribble that ran between Preston and Chorley via Leyland. I well remember the old Leyland Tiger bus owned by Fishwicks that probably would have been retired before the war all things being equal; the suspension was something else and when the driver got a speed up on the long straight stretch between the small humpback bridge over the Lostock and where the road divided coming into Farrington, if you sat at the back, the bounces enabled one to hit the ceiling.. with a little effort. Never knew till now that Preston Corporation busses plied between the two towns. Fred Haydock was old Mr. Haydock's son and I only remember him, since he was, I think, older than his siblings. As I wrote, he moved to Clitheroe at some time, probably in the early 1950s. The other Haydocks, I do not know. Talking of Haydock's, there was a Haydock - I was about to write Joyce, but it was Sheila Haydock - who lived on Balcarres Road and went to Winckley Square convent in Preston. She became a 'hot' number at the Fox lane Youth Club and a few years later when I was in the RAF on military service, I remember going back to Padgate through Preston station on the train to Warrington on Sunday evenings - we lived in Whalley then - and seeing Sheila Haydock flaunting herself about the station, in a manner that quite unnerved me! Although I had known her well, I avoided her seeing me! Anyone recall her? You're all probably too young! Or Sheila O'Donnell, who lived off Towngate in that street by the Ship Inn? Her father was an insurance agent, I recall, and she had a younger sister. Horrible to think I am talking of almost 60 years ago!! Still, if I consider the alternative....
skitzy
quote:
Originally posted by Spitfire
The story of the fire would, I`m sure find space in the Leyland Guardian. `Fire Hero found after x Years`. etc. How the discovery was made would also promote this forum to a wider audience. Well ----it was a thought!
The problem is Jim that we cant be sure if my dad was first on the scene. All I can remember is seeing smoke & shouting for my dad, who then ran across to help. I was only about 6 at the time & both my parents have died so we cannot be sure if he was the one who broke the door down. Eileen
noelThat's true Elaine it may not have been him, but the direction my dad pointed after the fire and the description of where you said you (unbeknown to me) lived, it was him or your very near neighbour. I rememberhim vividly grabbing us and pulling us to safety. Not a big man, aged thirty to fourtyish,difficult to estimate when your 12 and scared out your wits. You've brought back memories that had been long hidden. We've got smoke detectors all over our house, even goes off when Margaret burns the toast. Both my parents died in the eighties so I can't ask either. My dad did tell me his name but it's gone with the passage of time.
Leyland Lancashire UK