WWI Cheshire Regiment Soldiers, & Street Scene from Hyde.

I've once again been sent pictures from Elaine Hallfarm, if you recall it was Elaine who shared a picture of John Street, Hyde where part of the property had collapsed. Through the information that turned up on the face-book group page, Elaine as been able to add that to the back of the picture for future reference.

WW1 Soldier from the Cheshire Regiment with women

WW1 Injured Soldiers in unknown Hospital, One is possibly Elaine's Uncle Arthur 

WW1 Cheshire Regiment Soldier, wear a Mourning Button

DuringWW1 it was permissible in the British army to wear a small square or black crepe or silk wrapped around the second button on the tunic as a sign of personal mourning. Officers wore black armbands.

Procession Walk in Hyde

What a cracking picture this is
Where it is unknown but it is from Hyde
Anyone know the church banner
I will be very pleased if this can be pinpointed and see what it's like today.

These pictures are all shared by Elaine in the memory of her Aunty May

These were Aunty May's pictures, and are now passed on to family members. Elaine says there are more pictures to follow, and that the family sometimes can work out who they are looking at, but more often there are no clues. She hope we enjoy looking at them and better still find something of interest in them.

George and Dragon 1953

Thanks once again to 'Tony Downend' for these pictures his father took many moons ago. 

They are from 1953, taken in the George and Dragon, Bennet Street, Newton. They show the Landlord, Albert Cropper, and his Landlady Alison, with a few of the then regulars and the 'Card School'. Fantastic pictures capturing the era perfectly.

I imagine the brass hand pumps would shine like gold. 

Beautiful bit of woodwork on the bar surround. 

Notice the meat pies on the bar covered with a tea towel..

Shiny classes polished to perfection

Would love to put names to these chaps.

Few prices from 1953 & 2015

British sirloin beef (without the bone) £0. 2s.11d = £3.75

British beef brisket (with bone) £0.1s. 6d = £1.93 

• Mutton leg (British) £0. 3s 1d = £3.32
• Pork, leg (foot off), Home killed £0. 3s 1d = £3.32
• Ham, cooked and sliced £0. 6s 2d = £8.25
• Bacon, streaky £0. 2s 6d = £ 2.79
• Fresh cod cuts £0 1s 6d = £ 1.71
• White loaf unwrapped £0. 0s  3d = £0.32
• Loose tea (125g) £0. 0. 7d = £0.75
  Sugar granulated £0. 0. 7d = £0.75
• Pint of milk £0. 0. 3d = £0.32
• Butter £0. 0. 9d = £0.96
• Cheddar cheese £0. 2s. 0d = £2.57
• Margarine £0. 0. 8d = £0.86
• Lard £0. 0s 9d = £0.96
• Eggs (size 4) £0. 2s 4d = £3.00
• Potatoes £0. 0s 2d = £0.21
• Green cabbage £0. 0s 3d = £0.32
• Onions £0. 0s 4d = £0.43
• Eating apples £0. 0s 11d = £1.18
• Oranges £0. 0s 9d = £0.96
• Cocoa £0. 3s 9d = £4.18
• Pint of beer £0. 0. 9d = £0.96
• Coal (50kg) £0. 2s 3d = £2.89
• Electricity (per KWH) £0. 0. 1d = £0.11
• Gas per therm £0. 0s 8d = £0.86
• Soap (per lb) £0 0s 10p = £1.07
• 20 cigarettes £0 0s 18d = £1.93

RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK'S 'CLIPPINGS' POST

I posted this as part of a group of cutting from the Coronation Special Of The North Cheshire Herald last week. 

I received an Email this week after posting these clippings, from a regular contributor to the blog Ken Smith.  

Ken wrote: On the 2nd of November I responded to a posting on Hyde Baths with a story about my great uncle Jimmy Oakes, who was employed as fireman/laundryman/general dogs body at the long gone establishment and who died on the 5th June 1952.
While scrolling down the blog on the Coronation Special Edition of the North Cheshire Herald 1953 I came across two entries under the name Oakes in the Memoriam column, which were entered by his wife, Fanny, and by my mother, father and myself. It was quite a shock seeing it and brought back many memories of the time he died.
I was in my final year at Hyde Grammar and was seeking to enter the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice, which required sitting an entrance exam. That exam was held on the same day that Uncle Jim was to be buried and I was faced with the awful dilemma of taking the exam or attending the funeral. Common sense prevailed and I took and passed the exam and duly joined the RAF on the 10th of September 1952.
The photo I send today is of Uncle Jim, his wife Fanny and yours truly taken outside the front door of 312 Stockport Road, Gee Cross (Spout Cottage) in 1940, not long after the outbreak of WW2  hence my patriotic wearing of a military sidecap! Uncle Jim, is dressed in the 'working man's uniform' of cloth cap, Union shirt (no collar), braces, the obligatory stout leather belt and clogs!
Thank you to your wonderful blog for bringing back some long forgotten memories.

Best regards to you all,
Ken Smith

Thank you Ken,
I very nearly left the Deaths and Memoriam column out in case it caused upset... but changed my mind, and I am very glad I did now. Ken's story as put a personal touch to the post and I am so pleased he allowed me to share it. 

Arthur Wilde, Projectionist and collector.

Today post is courtesy of Andrew who kindly got in touch and offered to send some items of interest in... and as you see he did!.

The photographs seem to date from the 1970s and include a great shot of the man himself "ARTHUR WILDE" in the Royal 2 box with "Albert". I presume this would be Albert Breakey, whose family were heavily involved in the theatre in earlier times.

Arthur Wilde in the Royal 2 box with Albert

The other picture features one of the Westrex 2000 projectors housed in the Royal 1 box, with Arthur in traditional pose.

Arthur Wilde in traditional pose

The pictures were part of a job-lot which were offered for sale on Ebay. It would appear that following Arthur's death in 2013, his personal effects in his home were disposed off, including his own private cinema. Although I understand his projectors etc were sold early on, the photos and other ephemera were put to one side by the dealer and have only recently resurfaced.

Although it was sad that some of Arthur's effects were to end up as the contents of a house clearance, at least these important archives will continue to show how things were at the Theatre Royal.

Theatre Royal, Hyde  by Harry Rutherford

Andrew is of course right, it is sad... but how much stuff in the past must have gone off to the tip at these sad times. One man's rubbish is another man's treasures, and some of the items that have been donated to this blog have indeed been rescued, social history being save for ever as got to be a good thing.

Thank you Andrew for having the good sense to bid on this lot, and then be kind enough to share with others.  

...

Help Needed

Interesting request that came in through the emails...

A request for information from Gillian Johnson on behalf of her mother, over to Gillian.

My mum, now 89 years young fondly remembers visiting relatives on Market Street, Hyde round about 1935 - 40. She had lost both her own parents and thinks probably family members "took it in turn" to have her to stay sometimes.

My mum recalls visiting Beryl Wood who she thinks was a similar age her, maybe a bit older, Mums memories are full of kindnesses and playing under the table!,  there was a shop on Market Street- maybe a sweet or toy shop, that was owned by Beryls grandparents who were named Knowles and their daughter was Nellie who married Cyril Wood and they lived on Gower Road. Nellie died and Cyril married Edith. Mum recalls Cyril was a market trader, she thinks selling Biscuits.
She would love to know what happened to them as they were all so kind to her when her life living with her Uncle Harry was quite difficult. I don't know if any of your followers have any memories that would help me find more information as I have been unable to turn up anything so far.

Beryl Wood

I am quite a novice at this kind of thing, but mum has previously contacted the press and over sixties clubs in the area with no luck. Hoping you can help.

HIGH BANK TIGERS Cycle Speedway Team

From our emails...

Hi there,  our names are Trevor Kay and Dave Oates we and others are celebrating what will be fifty years this year since we were lucky enough to win the British national junior team championship at cycle speedway in September of 1964 at Raynes park in Surrey Is it possible to have brief mention of this on the Thameside blog It all started out as just a bit of fun but in the enclosed brief history it will tell the story better

Team picture are from top left to right: P.Groome manager, Trevor Kay Capt. Ronnie Boote,Dave Newton, Bottom left to right: Brian Wheatley, Bernard Shaw and Billie Rutter.

The poem was all Dave Oates work 

Updated

Over head view from the 1970s

The left arrow points to The Talbot Pub, the right to the cycle track

Kate Middleton and her link to Hyde

An interesting email from Michael Reed of an article in The Telegraph newspaper... about the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton's link to Hyde.

Kate is related to Beatrix Potter, who had given the Middleton family her own original hand-painted illustrations.

Kate’s great-great-great uncle was the Leeds University pro-chancellor Dr Arthur Lupton, whose brother-in-law was Lord Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of HYDE. Baron Ashton was the first cousin of Beatrix.

“Beatrix had given the Middleton family a number of her own drawings, including four for Kate’s blood cousins, sisters Elinor and Elizabeth – who were the daughters of Dr Lupton,” says the art historian Michael Reed. “These four drawings were auctioned in 2006 and sold for £41,500.”

Michael Reed says the associations go further still. Beatrix’s father, Rupert Potter, had been taught at Manchester College by Kate’s ancestor, Dr James Martineau, who was well acquainted with Queen Victoria.

Beatrix lived in the Lake District, where Kate’s grandfather, Peter Middleton, had regularly holidayed as a youth.

It was in the Lake District in the summer of 1936 that Peter’s mother Olive Lupton was rushed to hospital with peritonitis, dying on September 27, aged only 55, leaving behind a large trust fund for her descendants.

The snow-covered peaks featured on the Middleton family crest represent the Lake District and are perhaps also a reminder of one-year old Prince George’s famous literary relative.

===========

Thank you to Michael Reed for todays posting

I was informed this week that one of our subscribers JOE LLOYD of Gee Cross had passed away. Joe was a local historian and railway enthusiast

Joe Lloyd

 Words By Dave Stafford

Joe was born in Wallasey son of a grocer but moved to Hyde very soon after his birth.

Lived on Stockport road a few doors away from Zion’s church and the railway lines on Peel Street

He attended Leigh Street School, then moved to Hyde Grammar, his father died when he was fifteen from an old WW1 wound.

Attended St Georges scouts and got his interest in the peak district walking and hiking he became scout leader taking his troop on numerous trips, and even to Switzerland.

Stayed involved with the scouts all his life.

Started work at Beyer Peacocks (Gorton tank) as a trainee apprentice designer then called up for national service.

Served in Northern Ireland in the military police special investigations squad rose to sergeant this is where he got his interest in research, after national service he decided Beyer Peacocks not the job for his so he started at Hyde town hall as a committee Clark 1946 stayed in local government all his career working at Stratford Stockport Dukinfield and Hyde and was part of the formation of T.M.B.C.

Married Betty 1953

In 1974 moved to Ashton T.H. as an assistant director of administration and retired in 1981

But carried on with committees charities and trust. 

He has published books on Beyer Peacocks locomotive listing every locomotive built and where they are today and enclosing all design drawing of each one.

He had a love of cars and travelling and a never ending searching for facts

R.I.P.

Samuel Oldham 'White Gates Landlord' Information please

Recently in our emails was a request for information concerning Samuel Oldham, one time Landlord of The White Gates public house.

Over to Andrea:
    I came across your blog today and I thought you might be interested in this photo.  It is my grandfather, Samuel Oldham, standing in front of the White Gates Inn.  He was the licensee or victualler at the time.  I'm not sure when the photo was taken and this scanned version is a little difficult to see details but I have always loved this photo

My grandmother told me The White Gates was in the family for several generations until it was eventually sold.  My father lived above the pub when he was a boy.  I have just started doing a genealogical search of my father's family and that is how I came across your blog.  Maybe someone reading your blog will recognize him or his name.  my grandmother's name is Hannah Chapel.  She was born and raised in Hyde as well.  Born in 1900.  I know that both my grandparents had many relatives in Hyde.  Maybe there are still some living there.  I hope to visit there some day.  I live in Dallas, Texas.

Eric Harrison Godley Junction Signalman

I was contacted this week by a lovely lady called Liz Harrison who supplied the following information and could do with some help.. I hope we can sort something out for the family.

My grandad Eric Harrison was the Signalman at Godley Junction for many years. This is the only picture we have of him there and we have looked through many archives to find more pictures of him but nothing as turned up. Could you put this on the blog to see if anyone may have any pictures? He was my dad's idol and I am desperate to find something for him.

Thank you

I am sure there are other pictures out there of Eric, Godley Junction was a favourite hangout for many a train spotter,  hopefully amongst the many picture that have been taken over the years around the Signal Box someone somewhere captured Eric going about his job. 

There might be colleagues who have pictures and of course memories of Eric Harrison whose nick-name on the railways was 'Pedro' because of his moustache. He worked at the Godley Signal Box from around 1952 until he retired around 1980.

Eric was born 12th August 1917/8 the details of this date are sketchy, alas died 19th April 1990 Eric was originally from Sheffield but lived in Dukinfield with wife Jessie. They had 2 daughters Kathleen and Janet and 3 sons Roy, Ralph and Liz's dad Keith.

.....

We have managed in the past to come up with pictures and memories for folk, I hope we can do it again this time.

Update

Eric's son Roy worked on Brookfold Signal Box in between Apethorn Junction and Godley. They called him 'son of pedro'

Frank Wortley Pinkerton (Sergeant Pilot)

Frank Wortley Pinkerton was a Hyde man, born in 1913. Before WW11 he was working at the Leathercloth Division of I.C.I. Newton.

During the war he was a Sergeant Pilot with 12 Squadron RAF at Wickenby. On the night of 29th/30th March 1943 he was the pilot of Lancaster Bomber W4858, coded PH-A, on an attack on Berlin. The aircraft was hit by flak over the target, and on the homeward leg both starboard engines failed while they were over Holland. Sgt Pinkerton gave the order to abandon the aircraft, and he kept the crippled bomber steady while his crew baled out, being the last one to jump when they were all clear.

Of the seven crew, two were killed,  and four were taken prisoner, leaving only Sgt Pinkerton to evade capture. He was helped by the Dutch resistance movement to get to Belgium, and from there a network of people guided him, mainly on foot, through Belgium, France, across the Pyrenees into neutral Spain, and home via Gibraltar.

On his return to Britain he took up his duties with the RAF again, and gained a Commission in October 1944. After the war he took up a career in civil aviation with British European Airways. He was married in 1945, and they had their first child, Robert, the following year.

On August 19th 1949, Captain Pinkerton was flying ex-RAF  BEA Dakota G-AHCY  From Belfast to Ringway, Manchester, with 2 other crewmembers and 29 passengers. Due to a navigational error, they descended  through cloud on their approach to Ringway and crashed into Wimberry Stones Brow, Dovestones, Saddleworth. 

The crew of 3 and 21 of the 29 passengers were killed as the aircraft disintegrated and caught fire. Workers from the nearby Greenfield paper mill were amongst the first to arrive at the scene to assist the injured. 

An undercarriage leg at the bottom of the slope and a few small scraps higher up at the crash site is the only remaining evidence of the terrible accident today. 

Looking Down from the crash site

Looking up to the crash site

At the time of the crash, Mrs Pinkerton was expecting their 2nd son, Richard. Their home was at Wallasey. In his pre war days, Frank was a keen hiker, and by coincidence the area where he crashed was one of his favourite walks.

Thank you to David Hamilton  for this excellent post.

Arthur Wilde R.I.P.

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Arthur Wilde who was the projectionist at the Theatre Royal in Hyde for over 35 years and when the cinema closed down Arthur became the caretaker of the building until ill health two years ago forced him to give up the theatre all together. Arthur had worked at a lot of the cinemas in the Hyde, Denton and Ashton areas. He knew a lot about the Theatre Royal Hyde and his knowledge of local cinemas was vast.

Here are a few pictures of the man himself and the theatre and the projection room in Royal One taken from Dennis Roylance's film. 

FROM STEPHEN HILL

The picture below is from Gerald England