by Jock Strapp » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:49 pm
Yes, a trip down memory lane, really enjoyed those photographs.
Would you remember the chip shop, just a shed really, half way down Collycroft on the RH side. Belonged to a friend Eddy Day. Munched my way through lots of his chips.
Bing Twigger lived with his parents LH side of Newtown Rd in the Queens Head. Still kept by the Twiggers and has been for many years. Now known as Altie's.
Bing also worked down Frankies and had a nasty accident some time after I left the pit.
The town policeman was known as Big Bonner and quite nifty with his hands but I never had bother from him because I was as big as he was.
The Arden Ballroom, I'm sure that was its name back in the 50s but as you point out it has had several names. After a sweaty evening dancing ( They didn't call me snake hips for nothing ) We would swim in the clay pit behind the Arden.. Very stupid and dangerous.
Also remember Titch Wild, Ben Randle John Allsop, Lofty Stokes and many others.
As for the bagpipes. They started in Ireland and somehow drifted across the Irish sea. Scotland hasn't seen the joke yet.