|
 |
Our New Home
|
 |
Steve Donoghue has sent us some memories of the day he visited Little Hulton for the first time, prior to moving there.
Our Grandad asked if we (my sister and I) would like to go for a mystery ride in the car (one of only two in the street back in 1966) – too right was the answer. Our destination was halted for an ice cream break and quick gill (a half glass of beer in old terms) at the Bridgewater pub at Worsley. I had never seen such a place, I thought it was the countryside, with the canal and ducks and swans, barges and loads of actual green grass wild flowers and “fresh air”. We only saw flowers in the front parlour if somebody had died, or worse still if my dad had had a row with “me Mam”. My grandad’s two-tone cream and maroon Austin Cambridge gently pulled away from the Tudor fronted village and headed northwards for Little Hulton. There we pulled up at Baronfold Crescent (our house), and later Baronfold Terrace (our grandparents house), where our parents had already arrived. It’s there where our parents told us we were moving to – WOW – a brand new house – WITH AN INSIDE BATHROOM & TOILET, and gardens front and back. Blimey no more bathing in a tin bath from the yard, no more having to dodge the rain to go to the loo. Growing up in the area as a teenager was a pleasant experience, we seemed to have all the great summers playing with friends and dating pretty girls, doing normal teenage things like fighting with lads,, driving our Lambretta’s down to the seaside, to Rhyl or Blackpool and staying out late. Once established in the area I spent many a happy hour in the Sunday league playing football in Swinton, Monton and Eccles. Winning trophies with the Antelope Pub pool team (which I still cherish). Over the years I made many friends in LH and Walkden having fun in Uncle Tom’s Cabin on the corner of Cleggs Lane and at the Pembroke Halls. I ran a United supporters coach to home and away games. Printing the first ever United fanzine, called ‘Simply Read’, way before the pop group was formed which was only ever a piece of A4 folded into four A5 sized pages – never the less, it was the first pioneer of its kind, before Red News, which was the first full length version of what is now common place at all clubs.
So that is my story and over the years I have moved from the area, married and had two wonderful girls, and I have travelled from LH to LA, and Rochdale to Rio de Janeiro, watching the mighty Man United, but that first trip from George Henry St to Baronfold Crescent Estate will always be a fond and pleasant memory.
Steve is the published author of “Red Fever” - from LH to LA, and Rochdale to Rio (Signa Press) – available in Salford Libraries.
|
|
|