I grew up in Holbeck in the 1950s and 60s, this is a typical walk home from Princess Field School. I hope it might stir a few memories for some old timers.
Sunny days warm and bright
Well that’s my memory,
Bell rings for home time at Princess Field School,
Bye to friends Lenny and Stanley,
Headmaster Mr Jennings!
Keep out of his way; he likes to use his cane,
Stanley got a few,
I can still hear the crack on his hand, even after all these years,
Poor old Stanley,
Home I go past the urinals on Ninevah Road,
Then on to Marshall Street,
Welcome clinic, to my left, where we had our health checks and free milk,
Past Kay’s Catalogue such a huge company
Long forgotten now,
Next the cobbles of Walton Street,
Commercial pub on the corner,
On to Sweet Street
Passing
The Liberal Club
The Mechanics Institute
The Gas Board offices
Opposite, the big concertina door of Gillington and Dewhurst,
Where a tradgedy would happen, in the not too distant future,
Then Albert’s shop on the corner,
Fish shop in the middle of the terrace,
Did it really cost sixpence for fish and chips, maybe less, I’m not sure
Looking across the road The Laverics where once St John’s Church stood (long ago)
The train sheds
Where many a youngster went train spotting,
Joe’s corner shop at the top of Bath Road,
On the left The Westons
On the right The Derwents
Past the ginnel,
Past Ethel’s shop, where I was often sent by my sister to buy a single Woodbine,
Then the imposing Bath House,
Thompson’s Builders and Bray’s Bakery
The big garages doors on the right
Halfway down Bath Road now, not far from home,
Car workshop under the viaduct
Tailors Press workshop on the right, where Mam used to work,
Turners the coffin makers,
The gas lamp at the end of the street,
Nearly home,
Knight and Fosters,
Their loading door used many times as goals for our games of football,
I’m home, oh no! Not allowed to go in the front door,
Off I run round to the back door,
Seemed like a long way for an eight year old (but not really)
Home for Tea,
Then out to play until bedtime.
This post was written by Paul Pearson
Photo: Houses on Bath Road in 1967 ©West Yorkshire Archive Service via leodis.net
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I think when Jack Taylor had the fish shop, fish cake and chips was 9 pence. Fish and chips a shilling. Left out Angus Bike Shop and Billy Wilkie’s cobblers. Rocco’s bakery on the corner of Bath Rd.
Hi Michael, you have a better memory than me ,