MargieH

So which one is you, Chulla?

I used to knit all the jumpers for my children and for my mum when her eyesight worsened. I also used to crochet, once making a bedspread, which we still use in winter. I also used to do embroidery but the tablecloths I did are too nice to ever use and I wouldn't want to have all the bother of washing and ironing them after use! Same as the wedding present tea sets I have - I prefer mugs and the tea sets probably wouldn't go in the dishwasher anyway. Perhaps the kids can get them out when they have the party after my funeral? Don't think they'd bother doing that, though. It'll all end

I passed the exam and wasn't given the choice to go to a secondary modern as far as I know. I remember Carllton-le-willows, Brincliffe? And Bluecoat?? were 3 of the choices. I said I wanted to go to CLW because that's where most of my friends were going. I suppose it's conceivable that someone's parents would choose for their child to go to a secondary modern if they couldn't afford the cost of a uniform....... My Dad left school when he was 12 or 13 because, even though he was clever, his mum couldn't afford to let him go to a secondary school at all. He just stayed in the village school

To make this site work, just let us know what we should/shouldn't be doing, Mick, and I for one will stick to the guidelines

I ran in the hurdles one year, but that was several years previous to that..... 1957 or 58 I think.

I can see the picture and think I can recognise you, Lizzie, but not the other one!

Yes, I saw the little engine about 5 years ago. Is it still there I wonder or has it been vandalised. I'll have to have a look next time we're in Nottingham.

I like the new format very much now I've worked it all out

When I had just got married, I remember going round to my next door neighbour to ask her how long I was supposed to boil potatoes. My mum never wanted any help in the house when I was younger - she said she wanted me to enjoy my childhood because 'you won't be a child for long and you'll be a grown-up for a very long time'. But I soon learned to cook when I had to!

My favourite teacher at Carlton-le-Willows was Mr C N Bates, who taught me French and German. He was a really good teacher and was also my form teacher for 3 years. I think he really cared about us and our education although he got a bit cross with us sometimes! I liked his sense of humour..... I have heard that other students didn't always appreciate him in the same way, though. 20 years after I left school, I wrote to him and then visited him for tea at his house with Paul and our 3 children. It was really good being able to talk to him again and we corresponded for quite a while afte

Lovely long first post, Wilf..... Hope you'll continue to share your memories

Welcome to Nottstalgia Jonty. Look forward to reading your memories of your early years in Nottingham

I think the bridge in the top photo is the entrance/exit to the Ashwell tunnel but above it is the park itself, not Woodthorpe Drive. There was a 50 yard (approx) cutting between Woodthorpe Drive bridge and the start/end of the Ashwell tunnel.

#6 Benjamin, I used to be taken by my dad to watch football on the park sometimes. In later years, the matches were played at the lower end of the park but the ones I remember were at the top end fairly close to the house. I remember there were the 'Mapperley Methodists' and - I think- 'Porchester something or other' I only went to please my dad.... never liked watching football, and still don't! This would have been around 1950, so you wouldn't have been playing with the 'big boys' then!

Merthyr Imp, yes, that sounds the right year. I thought I was about 10 years old, but I was actually only 8 in 1951. It must have made a impression on me as I can remember it quite vividly. CliffTon, the tunnel I used to be scared in was the one BEFORE the one that went under Woodborough Road - it started soon after Woodthorpe Drive, went under near where the playground was (still is) and came out just before where the big flats are now. It wasn't that long, I suppose but still scary. I expect the one which went under Woodborough Road was longer but we never went near that one!

I remember seeing the train run - was it for the last time? Can't remember the year. I stood on the bridge on Woodthorpe Drive with my mum as it went underneath us. Later on when I was a teenager, we used to explore the tunnel going South, but it was a long tunnel and I used to get scared.

The big house is actually at the upper end of the park (Woodthorpe Grange). The School for the Deaf was on Mansfield Road and the entrance was opposite the lower end of Woodthorpe Drive. Trevose Gardens is just a little bit further along towards Sherwood and yes, it does run by the park for a short way - on the opposite side to Woodthorpe Drive.

I'm not sure but I think I would have gone to Manning had I lived on the other side of our road - our road was the city boundary. From what you are saying about the school, Jill, I'm pleased I was able to go the Carlton le Willows. I loved it there and had some great teachers, apart from one I didn't get on with very well - don't know why..... It was probably because I had some stroppy teenager moments!

The coach built pram in the lower photo looks like the one we used to have for my eldest son. It was given to us by my brother after his 3 children had finished with it. If that was the case it would be in the 60s when the photo was taken. The woman/girl next to the pram might be me as I used to take him in the park often when we visited my parents!! I tried to enlarge it but it looks a bit blurred then. (I might be a bit blurred NOW - certainly feel like it sometimes - but I certainly wasn't in the sixties! ) I never heard of the house being an old person's home at any point b

Firbeck, I hope all your expectations for the future will be fulfilled. My brother has lived in Malvern for 64 years so I have climbed those hills many times, though not for the past couple of years. Living in flat fenland, my muscles aren't as good as they once were!

Wonder why the patterns always resembled ferns - well they did to me anyway. Never liked spoiling the patterns by scratching on the glass to see outside, but I still did it!! My little mum used to get up early to light a fire downstairs so I could get dressed in front of it when I was little. When I was a bit older, I used to warm my clothes in the bed and get dressed while still in bed!

Jill, your writing about heating in bedrooms reminded me of the house I grew up in. There were those funny sort of gas fires in our bedrooms - can't describe them except by saying there were columns of some beige coloured brittle stuff which glowed when the gas was lit. I remember studying for O levels in my bedroom with the fire lit. This didn't happen very often - my bedroom was usually very cold, but I suppose my parents wanted me to concentrate on studying. Must have been a cold late spring that year (either 1958 or 59)

Carni, I feel sure the pews weren't destroyed when they were removed from the church, unless they were irreparably damaged by woodworm or similar. In our last church, many people did buy a pew to put in their house - because we live in a rural situation there were several people who had old 'farmhouse type' houses which were able to accommodate them. In in our present church, there has been a compromise..... The side pews and those in the balcony were left in situ but those in the central body of the building were removed. It works very well. We certainly couldn't use the bui

Thankyou Jill.

Welcome, Shaz. Pleased you took the plunge and dived into Nottstalgia! I'm much older than you but I'm still looking forward to reading about your memories. Keep them coming....