Just for a bit fun I’d like to know what famous people you’ve spotted in Hoylake over the years? Let’s exclude famous golfers and local footballers because that’s simply way too easy!
I’d imagine you’ve seen the odd actor from Brookside and the like. I used to see Dee (or was it DeeDee?) from Brookside visit relatives most Sunday afternoons years ago. Other than that my own sightings stretch to seeing Glenda Jackson waiting at the zebra crossing on Market Street many moons ago. Oh, and a pre-famous Daniel Craig on the bus to school.
How about you – answers in a comment please !
Gilly Coman at St Lukes Church, her children must go to the same school as mine!
Gilly Coman ….had to check: Aveline from Liverpool comedy Bread !
Yes first spotted her at Carr Farm Garden Centre where I work, she was asking about carrots, I was too busy wondering if it was her!
Perhaps Chris Boardman needs to be excluded too (“,) Chris Eubank could have been seen down Bertram Drive a month or so ago!
Thanks Babs …yeah, Chris Boardman doesn’t count either 🙂
Yes John, Glenda Jacksons mum lived opposite my parents house in Alderley Road, I used to see her arriving in her open top Mercedes, loved that car.
But my mum-in-law bought her flat in Cable road from Daniel Craig’s sister and Daniel phoned her by mistake one day thinking his sister still lived there, random or what.
But as a shop owner in West Kirby I have had many famous people in my shop including Glenda J and ‘Avaline’ from Bread too.
My dad was Glenda’s dads friend and used to decorate for them.One day I went with him when Glenda was home and she let me hold her awards.Holding an Oscar is pretty awesome for whatever reason.
Another W.K.G.S girl,Jan Ravens was in my year at school.She had us in fits in the common room at school with impressions of Miss Rowlands and several members of staff!.No surprise that she became one of our finest comedic actresses.
Jan Ravens …forgot she was from around these here parts!
Way back I saw Cynthia Lennon with Julian in a pram in Austins news agents, it was just as the beatles became famous then she moved on. I also went to school with Glenda Jacksons sister.
Cynthia Lennon …did she live in Trinity Rd?
Yes, number 18 I believe.
Sorry I don’t know if she lived in Trinity Road John
There was Joe Mercer, Man City manager who used to live in St. Margaret’s Road; he used to walk his dog and chat when I was a kid.
The football commentator Clive Tildsley lodged with us in Curzon Road when he joined Radio City at the beginning of his career in the ’70s.
ooh two interesting ones there Peter !
I know Cynthia lived in Alderley Rd for a time.Julian went to Kingsmead too and my friends dad, Brian Wynne taught him guitar.I used to sing in St Hildeburghs choir and every 4th Sunday the boys from Kingsmead tramped from the school to church.Poor Julian just used to get stared at by all the choir girls and general bedlam was the order of service on those days……………………………….!
OMD,just heard them on the radio!
Andy McCluskey was a Meols boy of course,we went to art college together.I know he had success with Atomic Kitten recently but what is he doing now?
OMD were playing live again the other month.
Cynthia Powell 9 [Lennon] lived at 14, Waverley Road, Hoylake and when she was 16 moved to 18 Trinity Road from there Julian stayed as a baby and John came as well.
This is featured in her book about John.
The YMCA on the corner of Hoyle Road, had Disco’s in the 60’s run by Charlie Tranter, and the Silver Beatles played there , as did Gerry and the Pacemakers, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and a few others.
Tony Crane of the Merseybeats lives on Birkenhead Road, and has just returned from a 2 month tour with the Merseybeats, I spoke to him in the bank yesterday.
My wife Patsi and I went to see Jan Ravens last night , who was performing in her first national one woman tour, this one being at the Lowry Theatre in Salford.She is a female impressionist who came to fame with the radio and tv programmes ‘Dead Ringers ‘ and ‘Spitting Image’.She is a first class comedy act. She said that she hails from Hoylake but I can remember her face from when she lived in Beachcroft Road, Meols when my cousins, the Parkinsons,lived there in the 1960’s.
During the show she went on a little about her past and actually mentioned friends of her mum who were also good friends with my parents, a Norman and Marjorie Pye . It really was spooky to hear
their names mentioned! However when she did an impression of Ms Hindley, a former English teacher from West Kirby Grammar, my missus was in stitches, as she also taught her!
She really should come to Pacific Road or the Floral Pavillion, but her next nearest venue is in October in Runcorn…look at her website.
She is definitely underrated, her impersonations of Joanna Lumley.Fiona Bruce and Patricia Routledge to name a few, were second to none.
Jan Ravens was on Woman’s Hour recently (forgive me but I work from home!) and talked about coming from Hoylake and having a posh accent.
I remember being taken to Joe Merc er’s house and being allowed to hold the F.A Cup when he was manger of Manchester City.
Andy Mcluskeys mother taught me my Hairdressing trade in the early sixties. I was her apprentice for three years Used to take Andy out in his pram in Market street when his mum came to the shop. Helen Carr.
November 1963 – Cynthia and Julian move to Cynthia’s place on Trinity Road in Hoylake. Cynthia takes Julian to Hoylake Parish Church to have Julian christened while John was off touring with the band. Upon leaving the church, photographers captured several shots of Cyn and Jules which were plastered over the next days papers, upsetting John and sufficiently breaking the news of his secret family.
Date of Julian’s christ ???
Joe Mercer lived in 23 Grosvenor Road, next to what used to be the croquet club. His father-in-law, Albert Dyson, lived at 5 St. Margaret’s Road, but maybe Norah inherited the house later on. I grew up with their son David, who was a year younger than I. A very fond memory was of watching the 1950 FA Cup Final on TV in their house, whilst Joe was playing in the final for Arsenal against Liverpool. They were the only ones in the road who owned a TV at the time, and arranged with their next door neighbour to open the house, so that we could all watch the game. Arsenal won 2-0 and Joe brought the cup home and I clearly remember holding the trophy and drinking orangeade from it. What a treat for an 8 year old.
Many years ago, I guess around 1967, Annie Walker from Corrie used to come to Hoylake/West Kirby -my Dad offered her a lift down Meols Drive in his van but she declined- cant say i blame her.
My mother’s family, came from Hoylake, they had the haskins sports shop, my grandads father was feed haskins brother, who was lost in ww1 Arthur haskins
In the good old days of Hoylake, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Selwyn Lloyd lived in the town.
Also the Sangster family, from the Vernons football pools firm, lived in Meols Drive. The son Robert always drove a flashy sports car with the number plate ten 10.
Whatever happened to this once glorious Town? There’s not even a Bank or Police station now. What a shame….
My Dad used to complain bitterly about Selwyn Lloyd, MP for Hoylake, being Speaker of the House, as he was then denied a vote, having to remain impartial, and therefore leaving Hoylake unrepresented in the House of Commons.
Hoylake was far better represented in those days, than they ever are these days….no matter what your father thought.
Even you must admit, that the Town has deteriorated since you and your sister’s were young.
Susannah,I had a wonderful childhood, growing up in Hoylake, and could never imagine a better place to do so. My Dad loved to complain about just about everything, but he had a point, which is still valid today, depriving whichever constituency the Speaker represents, of a voice.
I left Hoylake in 1963 so don’t feel qualified to make a judgement on what life is like there now.
Incidentally, do you know my sisters ?