Yesterday the 30th of July, I found your amazing site, reading through the letters , I came across one from somebody who lived on Portland Road and wrote about all the different shops on Stockport Road, Leons the tailors, John Williams grocers, Ridings furnishers  ( a British Restaurant during the war, I had many a good lunch in There)

I was telling a friend of mine who lives in Queensland Australia and emigrated there from Portland  Road. I have tried to get back to the letter on your site, however I find that to-day the 31st of July it has been taken off and some new letters inserted. I would dearly love to see that particular letter again as I'm sure it mentioned the number of the house where the writer lived, I can't remember what it was,my being 76 years old does not help much. Would you be so kind as to let me see the letter again ?

I was borne in Ancoats back in 1933, moved to the Sutton estate then on to Ellesmere Place in Longsight on to 206 South Street during the war and spent many nights under Longsight Library in the shelter, we were in there the night the landmine dropped on St Josephs, I think it was a convent at that time, I can remember all the screams from the people in the shelter thinking that we might be next. Just after the war my father came back from the army and we moved again to Vernon Place, behind Parmiter Hope And Sugdens electrical engineers. I left in 1951 to do my national service. My dad stayed there until the place was demolished then moved out to Middleton.

I have to say that I had the happiest days of my youth in Longsight, 5 good mates, dancing at the Astoria Sunday club, Levenshulme Palais, the Kings, Shafs and the Queens picture houses, graduating from Joe Raffos milk bar to drinking beer in the Wagon and Horses, the Coach, the Longsight tavern, the Ducie. Oh boy did we have a good time of it when we were so very young.

Three of my old mates are still around and my best mate Harold Lee of Portland Road is still going strong and loving life in Australia.

 

I thought I would drop you a short note asking about a letter I read and here I am giving you my life story, ah well, somebody else out there might just remember little Tom Hallam from Vernon Place.

Thanks again for the fantastic site and for giving me a chance to relive some wonderful memories.