I went to school with Alan Hazelhurst, first to Moss Park and then to Gorse Hill. We lived at 7 Derbyshire Avenue, a house that was eventually condemned because of mining subsidence. I moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1969 and then to Rochester, New York in 1970. I am now retired and live on the coast of Maine. I have fond memories of the 'top shops' and playing in the passage behind the shops (the entry

My Name is Tony Hillier, I am the eldest son and Brian Hillier who perished in the "Bobs Ferry Disaster" at 18 years old was my brother. I moved away from Partington when I got married in 1966. On 7th April 1970 I phoned my mother's neighbour, to get one of the family so I could inform them of my 1st child, a daughter, Karen. My brother Brian came on the phone & I told him... this was the last conversation I had with Brian.
One week later Brian became a victim in the 'ferry disaster' which took five lives, Brian was one of them. I still think of him and to make it worse I was just getting to know him as a man. Brian also had a girlfriend at the time & sorry to say now, I wish we had stayed in touch, but it was a very bad time for our family especially my mother & father who never got over it. RIP Brian

I remember Didsbury well. I was a young Telephonist who transferred from the big Telephone Exchange in Chapel Street Salford to Didsbury to get Manual experience. I have such memories of how busy we were. In those days you could not call your next door neighbour the operator had to put you through. Of course we got to know a lot of the customers and knew that Mrs Smith went for morning tea at Mrs Jones every Tuesday and if there was a call for her we would often transfer it through to where she was. I also learnt to work a switchboard that I have only ever met one other person who worked one. people that could dial numbers would dial their DID 1234 but what the never knew was an operator was in between plugging in the call and giving them the ring tone or busy signal. What great days they were, Saturday afternoon was a highlight of the week as we all used to put in our order for sweets from the shop that was located close by and shared them around. what an assortment we ended up with. Another memory is of the Granada television studios and being given complementary tickets to watch the recording of Candid Camera...What lovely care free days they were. I left Manchester in 1964 and came to Australia in 1977 but my memories are as clear as yesterday.

Just a note to let you know I have never forgotten you, having been born in 1962 in Greater Manchester but lived in Queens Road (now Queenston Road) and despite leaving in 1967 due to my poor health, you will always hold a special place in my heart. How I remember my Nan taking down to the station every day so I could watch the trains, how I loved them at that young age, how I cried my little heart out when the line closed, I didn't understand why the nice man wouldn't let me into the station anymore, why the track went rusty, why they took the track away, the thought of my trains not being around upset me deeply, so much so that I ended up in Wythenshwe hospital, pining for my trains, "Why can't I see them any more, Nan?". When the station was demolished I cried too, when I came back to see my old childhood memories I cried again! Oh Didsbury - what have they done to you? I love you so much, and I miss your terribly, but things just aren't the same any more, too many changes, too much pain! But I will always love you Didsbury! Thank you for being a part of me.

I grew up near 7 ways circle between 1950 & 1962. We lived on Derbyshire avenue, I went to Moss Park junior school then to Gorse Hill senior school. I remember my mom working at Rowans green grocery shop & me going to the sweetie shop next door, ration coupons in hand. My dad could be found in the Melville pub most times.Many fond memories. I emigrated to Canada in 1974 with my wife Janet & our two children.

I lived with my grandparents on Coniston Road, the Kenny family. This was the happiest times of my life! Care free. Everyone was your aunty or your uncle, and you felt safe.. The canal was the pull of every child in the area, happy times.

Gorse Hill
Please can anyone remember if there was a house that sat on the side of Christie Road and the canal? All I can remember was that it was a big red-bricked 4-storey house the you could see from the main road? I believe that this house was owned by a relative of my father's and would be thankful for any info. Many thanks

I have only recently found this site and I am still exploring the site. I have just found the above message from Hughie Flint. I have to admit that I have known of Hughie and his family from the late 1950's. I went to school with his late brother, Hughie was also the best man at my sister's wedding and I understand that he was recently in contact via email with my brother in Australia . I think that Hughie richly deserves to be included in the list of famous people from Wythenshawe. Why??? Just enter his name into a search engine and you will know why.

I had all my childhood in wythenshaw born mentone crescent crossacres went to crossacres school then brownley green born in 1944 oldher brother and sister mclarens

What's not in Wythenshawe anymore that you miss the most? Is it the Golden Garter, Sharston Swimming Baths, the old outdoor market (which was huge and busy), Manor Bakeries (Mr Kipling's Cake Factory), Ozzies or something else. Enquiring minds would like to know

Wow, for me its got to be the old market where McDonalds/Choices are now located! I remember 15 years ago or so walking round the market with me Nan buying some balls of wool or something like that, stopping every couple of yards while chatting to friends, neighbours. It was such a social place!
Now what have we got? An empty market with about 6 rubbish stalls!!! I say bring back the old market!

The Coronation and ABC Forum Cinemas - happy days !! Plus - mis-spent youth and a good old-fashioned clip round the ear by the local bobby

Anybody remember Stax Disco at Civic. I worked in Granada Retail early 70's - when TV in Colour (!) and BBC2 were a wonder to behold! Had to 'repo' many a set locally - still warm!

I miss -

All the school fields that were sold off without our consent, + all the schools that united the generations in Wythenshawe..............
Waking up in the morning WITHOUT the constant drone of the motorway...............
The pitch and putt at Hollyhedge Park ..............
The Tatton Cinema ......... ( and the chips and meat pie on the way home ).............
The shops in civic centre ... pre 1985 ...........
The shops at Hollyhedge ...... pre 1980..........
The old style 'open back' buses ... pre 1975 .......
Buying the football pink from the hut where the old 'addy' was ...............
Watching all the parents going to local pubs on a warm saturday summers evening ( the Benchill, Peel hall, the Sharston ) .... then all kids would pile in each others homes........
Being able to cycle behind Manchester airport ........
Visiting Pymgates shop on styal road ... it was the only place open on a sunday...............
The van that came round the estate selling groceries ... inc. proper size wagon wheels.........
The coalman/dustbinman/ that used to walk past the bay window to the backgarden ...............
to be continued..........

Having just returned home to Oxford after a memory-lane trip to Wythenshawe, I must say it was a depressing experience. I left there in 1963, my last home being in Solway Road and the change was dramatic. A neighbour next door to where we lived in Solway said she wouldn't dare walk in the area after dark ! Of course, some houses had been well kept, but, the Benchill area seemed pretty run down. And my old church, St John and Thomas's in Woodhouse Lanewas locked, with even a padlocked gate - there never used to be a gate ! My wish is that the people of Wythenshawe might see better times and have as fond memories of the place as I do.

Hello from down under!
Amazing what you can find in cyberspace, searching on a word from your the distant past. I used to live in Marple until I was 11 years of age in 1969 when my family emigrated to Adelaide, Australia where I still reside. I found your website brought back a few memories of place names such as Hawk Green and Upper Hibbert Lane, but sadly the years have blotted my recognition of most of the photos which I nevertheless still found interesting. The address at which I used to live was 2 Ridge Crescent and if my memory serves me correctly it used to back on to fields in which I used to pick blackberries with my two brothers. I could not find any reference to Ridge Crescent. Is it still there? I attended All Saints Primary school. Maybe you can remind me of the route I would have taken from Ridge Crescent to school. Keep up the good work

my grandfather was angelo vito who in 1917 married carolina porrelli she lived at 103 great ancoats street her father was gerardo porrelli an ice cream vendor after getting married they lived at 36 howarth street chorlton upon medlock he was an ice cream maker any body remember them

Hello all back in Marple, good to see this website!! 'Cos I did not even think one was about so good luck in the future!! I went to Marple Hall school not so long ago 93 -98 I think? you may remember me as lloydsie if anyone remembers me? Well anyway I am now living and working in Germany with the British Army (Irish Guards) and only get the chance to come back to sunny Marple every now and again. One bad point about this website is that it makes me feel very homesick!!, just looking at all those pubs I drink in back home. Anyway I am going to say my hellos now so hello to gav bowers, ian cobain, jamie totterdell, sam evans, john bailey,dave mcormick, si hughes, phil connerty, paul nuttall, gaz morris, pete taylor, everyone at Marple cricket club and anyone else who knows me. Hope to see you all soon in

Just new to "net"... found the site very interesting... I used to live in Marple from 1972 to 1978, and attended Marple Ridge. Does anyone remember Mrs LOMAX, Mrs GWILYM, Basil the art teacher with his sandals and rattly old motorbike? Has anyone heard of the old reprobates, David LUCAS, Willie HENDERSON, Andy WALSH, Sandra MACKLHAGGER (?) Katie GREEN...?? I would very much like to get in contact with me old mates from Marple. Oh, and not forgetting Dai, David WINTER, and the old Peacefield Primary crew... Look forward to hearing from you if you are still out there. KEVIN PARRY, The one who missed out on appearing on "Cheggers Plays Pop" due to a severe bout of tonsillitis!!!!!!

Still like looking at your attractive and informative site. Pleased to read that my birthplace, The Bowling Green pub is to be resurrected in Marple