Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Was it really better ?

I consider myself part of a "blessed" generation. Things were simpler then, no doubt. Kids played together and the older ones ruled the roost but you worked out your place in the scheme of things and got on with it. I got battered a few times myself but it was part of the learning process, at least you didn't get a hiding just so someone could take a bloody phone off you. In school you knew exactly where you stood, the bottom of the pile, the teacher's word was law. No if's, no and's, no but's.
You could usually get some pop, a lolly ice or a toffee apple, to brighten your day, a bit of sherbert or packet of plain crisps. A stick of liquorice was a bit of a treat, as was a gob stopper which changed colours as you sucked it through the bands. People spoke to you on the street and Charlie Pepper was the only paedo you knew about, which didn't stop the gang from winding him up. Thompson's Mission for a treat and a sing-song. Games of kick the can, the alleyo, or leg it to the park, Bidston Hill, Seacombe, Moreton Shore. I could go on all night, it was brilliant and not a care in the world. Even the teens was better, no muggings, stabbings and what have you. I feel sorry for the kids nowadays to be honest, except for the little gits what cause bovver of course, they can go and swing.

sing something simple! now that brings back memories! my dad have that on the radio--'wireless'! every sunday night, then sunday night at the london palladium on the tele, bath and bed for school next day!! yes i grew up in the 50s/60s,they were the best times, everything was so simple and straight forward then, normal toys for christmas like--paint box's,colouring books, annuals, i even got a 'film star book' once!table tennis sets, skittles,toy phones--we did'nt have real ones! now look at what kids get! give them something like we got and they would look at you as if you were soft!!

What about Radio Luxembourg, 208 mtrs, medium wave, with Dick Barton, Riders of the Range and pop records of the time sung by real singers (I'm going to get told off there). Everything just seemed so laid back in comparison to the mad rush, must have everything now attitude.

oh yeah--radio luxemburg, used to listen to that under the bedclothes when i should of been asleep! listening to the beatles! one christmas i got my very own first radio,i was over the moon!!! it was only a tiny thing but it was mine!!!did'nt have ear phones so turned it down low and held it to my ear!!we were easy to please were'nt we!!

spot on bandy,50s no leccy,matchbox boats in the gutter,street football,alleys and bollies,broken fish and batter for tea on friday paid for with echos and birkenhead newses,swing park on camden street,smells in the old market,dinkies ,watching footy on the cinder pitch in the park where the goalies had a dimp when the ball was up the other end,going over the street to dennies to pay the rent and getting a reject yacht,the floating bridge,the wireless,great school cathcart street,walking round the pitch at the rovers at half time selling sweets,cowies in the rocks,the arno.all these and many,many other great memories.today,computers,mobiles,thats about it.

remember also the joy at the end of rationing and going in the corner shop whith a whole 3penny bit and not needing sweet coupons.

'Sing Something Simple' was one of the longest running radio shows in the world. Cliff Adams, the man behind the show, also composed the music for many classic telly ads of the 60's and 70's - like Fry's Turkish Delight and Cadbury's Smash! Compilations of the radio show's songs sold millions. Let's face it, the Cliff Adams Singers were doing musical medleys and 'mash ups' long before the likes of Glee.

And never mind MP3's and ipods. We listened to the radio via a rented Rediffusion telly! Listening to the Top Forty countdown on a Sunday evening before 'Sing Something Simple' started was always a must for me. I don't have a clue who's in the charts nowadays. It's not the same anymore without Top of the Pops, or the Sunday teatime countdown.

Does anyone remember that sherbert stuff that used go go Pop in your mouth? Wierdest feeling ever. It was called "Space Dust" or summat. I almost died once after eating it when I swallowed my cheeks!! :-)

You can still get it. Ever given it to a dog???

and the sherbit you used to dip a wet finger in and your finger turned yellow!!!

If you where posh and there was a TV in the house during the early part of the 50s there was the Black and White Minstrel show every week

...and Radio Luxembourg with Horace Batchelor trying to sell you his formula for winning the pools - If it was that good how come he didn't just do it himself ?

Bob

You mean Horace Bachelor.......from Keynsham.........Bristol!! (Note the pauses!! :-)

I once got 8 draws on the pools-and won £2.78p cos there were 23 draws on the pools that week. (It was in the days before no-score draws counted too!!) Bah!! Still laughing at giving space dust to a dog!! hilarious. Never thought of that!! (here, Rover!!)

Horace Batchelor's "Ifradraw Method"

"Keynsham, that's K E Y N S H A M, Bristol"

The guy didn't need to spell it out, as it was on almost every advert break and therefore ingrained deeply into the swede. Every kid in the 50's/60's knew how to spell it AND where it was.

Thanks for the memory jolt 8HBob !