Recognise this old building? It’s the old Meols Infants School that was once in School Lane, Meols, kindly sent in by Graham Price. For those out of the area, the site is now home to some bungalows that are accessed from both School Lane and via Beachcroft Road.
Whilst some of my old school friends attended school at the building, when I moved to Meols I went straight to school in nearby Elwyn Road. I can’t recall when this building closed, but I guess it was around the late 1970’s?
Graham wonders if any of you recognise an old family friend named Ike:
After a little search I managed to stumble upon a German fanzine site for local band OMD. They have a couple of other photos of the old school; a photo of an ex-teacher I remember, named Miss (Mrs?) Clayton and a photo of one of Hoylake’s better known landmarks – the fountain on the promenade in a lovely shade of blue!
Amazing what’s out there on the internet!
I attended the old Meols school for around two years early ’50s. My first teacher there was Mr Tomlinson, then in “top class” Miss Crawshaw or Mrs Farrow as she became.
It was a great little schhol and my two brothers also went there before we all passed the 11 plus and went on to Calday and West Kirby.
Happy Days
Thanks Sue, I remember Mrs Farrow. Four of my children went to the old school (and Elwyn Road) before we emigrated to Canada in 1975. The old school which was then mainly for kindergarten was still a going concern then.
How can anyone ever forget Ike! He was Mr. Meols of the old days and when he passed away a few years ago , so had an era of Meols. Throughout his adult life my dad used to keep a photograph in his top jacket pocket, of a group of young lads from Meols playing football, including Ike and himself.
Hello to all old Meols-ites – Including Mr. Baldock !
I’m new to this junction thing, but my son Sam and I just spent a couple of hours looking for old school lane pictures and old school photos with me in for entertainment purposes, with not much success! I lived literally next door to Ike (John) Jones and his family on the junction of School Lane and Brosters lane. Ike went to school with my Great uncle Richead (Dick) Earndan – still alive and well in Hoylake aged 93. – My Mum and Dad still live there in Brosters lane 53 years after Dad built the house himself at the age of 28. He is seriously ill at present, but his wish is for me and my family to live there one day. I attended the old Meols Annexe school back in 1972 – 74, then I went to the fairly newly built Elwyn rd. school, where my Daughter Lottie is going very soon. – All the best everyone. Myles
Uncle Dick lived with auntie elsie. My mother was,Brenda, the daughter of Jack and Betty Earnden of Chapel Road Hoylake. Jack, real name Frances , was the brother of them. There were 10 siblings in total. I have researched the family tree back to mid 1550s
Tim – just saw your name – I used to be a school friend of your cousin Judith – and I think I remember you from your connection with the United Reformed Church in Meols
where are you now – abnd do you know where Judith is?
Hi Gillian, just found this after all these years! Are you still wanting an answer?
I went to Combermere School with Judith! I lost touch with The Wirral, except my family, after leaving for California in 1971. I’ve enjoyed seeing names from my past!
Hi Lynda , I never got a reply from Gilliam and so am not sure who she is !
What was your surname ?
I was at Combermere and Judith’s brother , Martin came into my class .
I am on
timbalsock7349@gmail.com
Cheers,
Tim
Should read
timbaldock@gmail.com
Hi Lynda, this is completely off topic, but I have been surprised to hear that so many people left Meols and Hoylake in the 70s for Canada/US/Australia.
As a man in his 20s who grew up here, it seems like nowadays everyone is wanting to move here, especially people from the south.
Many from afar are drawn to the seaside charm of this area, and in my lifetime Hoylake has gone from an up-market area to almost a luxury neighbourhood with many houses worth millions.
I’m wondering what has changed here since the 70s, and what were the push factors causing so many to leave. It seems like many young people wanted to escape what I imagine was a quieter, more affordable Hoylake and Meols.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and any response is appreciated! 🙂
Gillian did you go to Combermere? I went there with Judith?
Hi Tim,
I believe through a mutual acquaintance we are related? My father was Robert John Alfred Baldock from Birkenhead?
Keith
Hi Keith, just found this after all these years! Are you still wanting an answer?
How Amazing that this picture should appear this week!!!
St John the Baptist Church Centenary is 2013, and we have just set up a group to plan the Centenary.
As a result I met with the Headteacher of Great Meols School yesterday to discuss the History of the School, which was St John’s School originally, being part of our Celebrations. She was delighted as she has long wanted to do this.
An exploratory General Get-together for anyone who is interested in helping with this School Project or has archival pictures, stories, etc and/or would be interested in a Re-union of Past Pupils is cordially invited to St John’s Church Centre on Wednesday January 19th at 7-30p.m.
Contact us at 632 2152 or 632 1661.
I went to the little school on School Lane before going to big school at Elwyn Rd….
I was at little school 1980-1982(ish), Mrs Baker(1B) Mrs Sedgewick (2S)
I think it closed a year after i left, used to play on roller-boots in the quad just out front of that photo once it closed.
Great find!
Mrs Sedgwick was mark sedgewicks mother
Mr Tomlinson
Mrs farrow
Miss Clayton
I was there 66 – 70
Ah how nice to see a picture of Ike! He was a lovely man – always had a smile and a few minutes for a chat. There really were some characters in Meols in those days. Hey Graham, for a minute I thought it was a picture of YOU standing outside the school! I never attended that part of the school as a child – think I was in the first year that missed that experience. Happy memories of Meols School – Miss Burns (married and living in Hoylake – see her now and again), Mrs Wynne, Mrs Grandidge, Mrs Stevenson, the lovely Mr Holland (one of my fave ever teachers), Mrs Blackburn, Miss Clayton and Mr Tomlinson. I once got a detention with The Capper Twins from Mr T with for standing on the Juniors croquet hooks! I also remember sitting in Mrs Farrows office for hours doing telephone duty – could you imagine doing that now?? And being rubber plant monitor – got out of several PE lessons to go and clean the rubber plant! Loved it there!
blast from the past, you have brought back so many memories mentioning those teachers!!! i had forgotten their names
I too got a detention for standing on the hooks !! I had to miss playtimes and write out my 3x tables!
I went to Upton Convent with the Capper twins V and D! Left for California in 1971 and lost touch with the Wirral, except my family.
Lovely to see the old school, I went there in the late 50’s, early 60’s and remember Mr Tomlinson and Miss Farrow well, and also Mrs Smout who was there when my father and his sisters were at the school in the 1930’s! Happy days, when all winters meant the milk bottles froze and had to be warmed up by the heating pipes, (the outside toilets froze too!) and all summers were gloriously hot and the summer fair and sports days were big events! I was so sad to see it knocked down.
I lived in fear of Mrs Smout ! I was there in 1955, but not for long ! All I remember of the school was brown plasticine and cake and custard for puddings …every day
The clod milk I could cope with, but the warm ish summer milk. Yuk
I went to the school approx 1970/1971 before moving onto “Elwyn Road”. I remember there were 2 teachers one being Mrs Sedgewick. I remember singing around the piano and playing with water toys in the front yard. The building you can just see to the right was where we did christmas shows for parents and was also the dining hall where there was a really scary dinner lady who banged the ladle on the old metal bowls to make us quiet! Ike lived over the road with his brother Fred who was a caretaker at West Kirby Grammar when I went there. Good memories,
That was a real school, just like The Parade !
I went there in 67 when we moved to Meols and then moved to Elwyn Rd as soon as it opened. During the 70’s whilst I was in the Scouts based down the side lane, used to help with running the Fairs and Jumble sales there. Back then the school field was still in existence.
So many teachers names to bring back memories, especially Mr Holland. Back in the days when you could be promoted to Milk Monitor whilst the teacher sorted out the problems like they used to be able to then.
That has to be the Graham Price that I went to school with, along with Toby Stiles from the farmhouse on Park Road.
Alan I went same time
Toby styles horrendous broken nose joined the black watch regiment I think
Kevin scalley Mike Roberts
Another was Keith I forget second name who opened hairdressers on meols shops
ah i remember Ike, what a great guy!! and Mrs Clayton, she was my teacher in Elwyn road.. a wonderful woman… good grief i feel old now!!!!
Hi all..Graham I still see you and Heather now and again..I remember attending here in the 60s and then the move to Elwyn Ed….I also remember something one day where Mr Tomlinson chased a man out of the girls toilets and across the front yard and out into the road and the man ran off…scary really but the girls toilets were open onto the yard..and bloomin cold in the winter hee hee….happy times….
Goodness, yes I think I remember Mr Tomlinson doing that.
Jill I was there remember it clearly
Ingrid Wesson reported he had been in the toilets
Mr Tomlinson chased him out through the front onto the road
I remember your name well
I’m Peter Rogers
Hi, I see my brother has made a couple of posts already! I loved my time at St. John’s school and then at Elwyn Road. I remember we weren’t allowed to cross’the line’ in the infant school-which I inevitably did and consequently got told off by Mrs Baker!! I also really liked Mr Holland at Elwyn Road-he used to address the class as’ladies and jelly-beans’ if my memory serves me well! I remember the telephone duty with Mrs Farrow too and also her recorder sessions which I really enjoyed (bar the disinfected mouthpieces-eew!).
Happy days!
I went to St John’s in the early 50’s but only for a short time.
I Joined St John’s Meols snooker & bowling club situated behind the school in the late 50’s my grand father was treasurer of the club and used to take me there for a game of snooker, you could cut the smoke with a knife, does anyone remember the whist drives there on a Monday night?
during the late sixties When the club started to fall into disrepair I volenteered to look after the maintenance of it, not thinking I would spend the next 25 years doing it, Does anyone remember the playschool attached at the back that I painted with so many vivid colours?.
When St John’s school and church hall where demolished, I arranged for the club land to be bought from the church, for the princely sum of £10000 and subsequently sold it to enable the building of the new club now situated at the side of the bowling green, after arranging with the council to build it on their land for a peppercorn rent.
In the sixties Ike his brother Fred, Myself and a couple of others would play cards in the club on a Saturday night till the early hours, Ike would always call in the club for a chat, such a friendly man and still missed in the area.
Ike. There’s a name to conjure with. What a character and what a lovely friendly man. His name was actually John Wilson Jones, and he was my Dad’s cousin. Dad reckoned Ike never bought a round in his life. The scruffy old mac he constantly wore was his treasury. He didn’t believe in banks and always carried all his cash around with him, stuffed into the lining of his old coat. On one of my infrequent visits to the Wirral, I bumped into him in the Old Quay at Parkgate, where someone had taken him for a meal, and was able to buy him a pint. Sadly he died soon after, but I was glad to have seen him again.
Looking at Grahams photo, the old school in school lane should NEVER have been knocked down.It was structurally sound. – St Georges primary in Wallasey Village is still going strong and its much older than school lane. It could well have been still put to good use as a school or small community centre as well as the new church centre at st. johns where my family and I attend currently. – Bungalows should’nt be built just replace local history !! Grrrr!
Myles- interested in your post as I went to St Georges in Wallasey before we moved and I started at Meols- St Johns. Both fantasric schools. I was 6 when i went to St Georges and was there for around 3/4 years, Finished off in the prefab clss rooms which were by the Cheshire Cheese pub. Had less than 2 years in Meols before passing 11plus to West Kirby. All downhill school wise then- hated WKGS.
I totally agree Myles – what a lack of foresight on the part of the council! Great that your children go to Meols School. I love that sense of continuity – it becomes more important the older we get, doesn’t it? My Dad went to Meols School – he would have been 100 this year and used to tell great stories about his time there! I worked there for a brief period as a classroom assistant before I went to Uni but never went there as a pupil since the infant department and the juniors swapped sites when I started.
Mr Holland – I loved him! He once gave me an out-of-date green fisheries diary as a prize for spelling “grotesque” correctly I was so chuffed – treasured it for ages! And I’m sure Mrs Grandidge used to smoke in the stockroom although I could be wrong!
Mrs Grandidge spent her time renewing her lipstick in front of the tiny sinks in the classroom, that’s when she wasn’t crying/ smoking in the toilets! Mr Holland was the best, his spelling tests were legendary and they have served me well in my adult life. I remember he used to pick up the boys by their ears tho!….and Tommy gave the ruler, but only to naughty boys!
Guess I must have been a naughty boy ……………lot’s lol
How wonderful to see the photo of St John’s Primary School where I was at school from 1952 until I passed the 11 plus and went on to West Kirby Grammar.
Happy memories of the teachers Mr Tomlinson, Mr Corkhill, Mrs Smout, Mrs Farrow.
The big grassy hill on the playing field at the back which was wonderful to roll down!
I went to my first dance in that school hall.
Wonderful memories!!
Does anyone remember Butterworths ice cream round the corner in Forest Road?
We used to go to the house and knock on the door to buy ice cream.
Also Jack Price’s farm on the green in between Forest Road and Roman Road?
I remember the ice cream in Forest Rd although I didnt remember the name. I also remember a shop in the front room of the house junction Hoylake Rd and Banks Rd opposite the Railway Inn. My mum used to buy me sugared
mice there.
I remember that shop run by 2 old ladies
Hello old friends from Meols Primary School,
How lovely to find this site and to read your many childhood and family memories, so many of which I recognise, which is wonderful. I am happy to share some of my memories with you.
My parents moved from Park Road in West Kirby, where I had been at St. Bridget’s, to Meols in 1956 to move into a newly built house at 25 Cleveley Road. The builder was Mr. Capper. He and his family lived in the last of his development of about eight houses further up the road..
In response to your question, Jilly McTearny: the Butterworth’s at the dairy in Forest Road, who also sold ice-cream, were the grandparents of my best friend, Anne Dunning. Anne’s mother used to occasionally sell the ice-cream, and so, on a summer’s day, we might be lucky enough to have a free ice-cream cone. Old Mr. Butterworth delivered the milk to our area. The Dunnings lived in Derwent Road, near Meols Station, and my family lived nearby with the parade of shops between the two roads. Mr. Butterworth was a very energetic and cheerful elderly man, and he was always friendly and chatty with my Mum when he came on Sarurdays to collect the ‘milk money’. I remember he had a very deep wound from WW1 on his face, so he must have been well into his seventies in the mid-1950’s. That means he was born about in the 188o’s. He told my Mum about WW! because her father had also been at the Somme.
I loved the little red sandstone school building in School Lane with the big grassy field at the back, and the woods beyond. My memories are mixed. Teachers I remember well were Mr. Tomlinson, who taught my class for two years, and then in the 11-plus class it was Mr. Corkhill, whose son Alan was also one of his pupils. Mrs. Doris Cook taught sewing. She was strict but had a good and surprising sense of humour. Miss Crawshaw married and became Mrs. Farrow. She was respected and was relatively benign for a teacher of that era in which corporal punishment of young children was still permitted. I recall with horror at having my hands very badly hurt by being hit with a ruler by my trusted teacher Mr. Tomlinson. I had been home for lunch and was a few minutes late. After the ‘rulering’, I was made to stand for about half an hour at the front of the class, so humiliation and pain was seen as acceptable. It is extraordinary to think of how children were treated in those days until corporal punishment in schools was eventually banned in 1987.
In my eleven-plus class there were 48 children and 8 places available for both boys and girls. So, I went to the Parade School in Hoylake for a while and then my parents moved abroad and I went to Loreto `College on the Great Orme in Llandudno as a boarder.
Life in Meols for me and my friends revolved around Saturday morning shopping with our pocket money in Hoylake, and a sophisticated ice-cream soda at Billie’s Cafe in Market Street. In the summer we bought season tickets to the legendary Hoylake Baths and spent our bus fares on a hot Horlicks drink and crisps in the cafe. We walked for miles, climbed trees in Monkey Woods behind the school and had picnics in the sand dunes or caught the train to West Kirby and picnicked up on Caldey Hill. It was a wonderful time. My Mum looked after the family and the home, and Dad commuted to Liverpool on the train, where he worked in Customs and Excise in the Royal Liver Building.
Earlier this year I returned to the Wirral to scatter my Mum and Dad’s ashes into the sea off the slipway in Meols, as they had wished.
This is where we had spent so many happy summer days, waiting for the right tide, before wading through the shallow gullies, out to the sandbanks and beached boats for an afternoon’s picnicking and swimming.
As the tide came in, they just drifted away together, towards the Irish Sea.
With very best wishes to you all. Pamela Hope, nee Plant
Pamela. Lovely to read your post. My family moved from Wallasey to Hoylake 1949/50. In Wallasey Miss Crawshaw was our Sunday school teacher. So when we moved she spoke with my parents and suggested we ( myself and 2 younger brothers) went to school in Meols rather than Hoylake.
I went into Mr Tomlinsons class- he was a very good teacher but like you say the ruler ruled!! Many times I got it, but no one objected! Different times, different rules and standards.
You say that “Corky” took the top class for scholarship- when I was there Miss Crawshaw/Mrs Farrow took it. I have no recollection of just a number of places like you say… and many of the class passed to the Grammar schools and some to Birkenhead school..
So maybe things had changed by the time you went. When I started there I’d been already at 2 schools, one in Cardiff then St Georges in Wallasey. I missed my friends in Wallasey but I did love St Johns. One brother went into Miss Sturdys class and my youngest brother eventually started his school career with Mrs Smout. he went on to great things…
They were good times. Hoylake Baths was a big part of our childhood. Lots of good memories.
My parents were from South Wales and it was a civil service appointment for Dad that moved us from Wales to England!!
I love the nostalgia that comes up on these site.
Sue
Hello Sue, thank you for replying to my post and for recalling your family’s time in Meols and Hoylake. It sounds as though you were there some time before me. How interesting that you knew Miss Crawshaw from your Wallasey days. It was lovely for you to have your two younger brothers with you in school. It must have been fun setting off together and having those shared times. I don’t know if you have been back to Meols recently. The area around where the school stood is more built up than it was. The woods at the back of the playing field have disappeared and made way for housing, and the little park across the road has lost most of its trees and looks very bare. The tennis courts on School Lane have also gone. I used to play there with my cousin who spent her summer holidays with us. When we were not picnicking or playing tennis, we spent most days at Hoylake Baths, even in the coldest weather. The water temperature used to be displayed on the pump room door at the far corner. One day it was 54 degrees Farenheit, and we still went in and had the pool to ourselves.
I took 11 plus in 1958 in the school hall/dining room. Who could forget that? I didn’t pass, which at the time felt like a calamity, but I did go on to university later.
It is really enjoyable to read about your memories and experiences of life in and around Hoylake. Thank you Sue.
Very best wishes,
Pamela
Hello Pamela
My family and I were your neighbours on Cleveley Road .We lived in the police house at number 23. My dad was Jack Bailey and he was a policeman and my mum was Nora . My older sister was Pauline , she went to West Kirby grammar School. I’m Elizabeth and I went to St John’s from i think 1958 until we moved in 1962 when dad was promoted. My younger sister was Patricia .
My mum and dad were good friends with your parents .
I also remember the ruler on the hands punishment at St John’s . I seem to remember it happening to me only once and that was for talking in assembly !
I have a class photo from 1961 but the only children i remember from it are Peter Williamson, Lesley Fawcett and Myfanwy Jones.
I wonder if anyone remembers me ?
Liz Campion (Bailey)
Yes, Elizabeth I do remember you. In fact I still have a little autograph book with your signature in it and you had written your address underneath! So many years ago now… where have they gone.
Best wishes.x
Hello Carol
I’ve also got an autograph book from my time at St Johns and a class photo too . Nice to hear from you and all good wishes to you .
Liz
Hello Liz,
Thanks for your lovely message last year. with news of your family and your time at St. John’s, Meols. I did reply to your email, but lost track of you in the system., so do try again:
Very best wishes, Pamela
Hello Pamela
Lovely to hear from you again . I saw your reply on this site but didn’t get an email . , just the prompt from Hoylake Junction that there was a new post on here . Hope you are well and have managed the various Covid 19 restrictions .
I can give you my email address if you’d like to keep in touch .
All the best
Liz
Dear Liz,
I can’t find a reply button to your last email, so I hope this works.
What a sad day you all had yesterday, without Pauline on her birthday, but how lovely you all got together with photos and happy memories.
Could you tell me which town you live in? That way I might be able to find you on FB, because my friend/neighbour is willing to help out. I live in Kingston upon Thames, Love and best wishes,
pameladothopeatblueyonderdotcodotuk
Hi Liz,
Thanks for your reply, and for offering to send your email., which would be great. I have tried to send you my email address, and even tried, via John who very generously runs Hoylake Junction, but cannot find my way through, as emails are not published. So the only means of communication appears to be on this public site. Perhaps you will have more luck than I have had so far..
Very best wishes, and to your sisters,
Pamela xxx.
Hi Pamela
I can’t find a way on this site to send you a personal message so I can give you my email address ! I guess this is the same problem that you found ? I just assumed there would be a way to send a PM as I can do that easily on other sites including Facebook! Very strange .
I have sad news though since my original post last year . My wonderful older sister Pauline died on 8th July 2019 just 3 weeks before her 72 nd birthday . We all still miss her terribly and she was such a lovely person in every way .
Are you on Facebook ? Maybe I can find you on there ?
Liz xx
Dear Liz,
I am terribly sad to hear that your sister Pauline died last year. That is really sad news for you all. You were always such a close-knit family, and Pauline was obviously a lovely, cleaver, gentle big sister. Such a lovely person. What a terrible blow to lose her, much too soon.
I don’t know how to get around the communications difficulties here. Like you, I have tried. I am on LinkedIn as Pamela Hope, writer, researcher, etc. I hope you can find me there, and then we can continue our conversation. Much love to you and your family. Pamela
Hi Pamela
Unfortunately I’m not on LinkedIn. I’m still trying to work out how to send you a PM somehow with my email address . I’ll keep working on it .
Thank you for your kind words about Pauline . Today would have been her 73rd birthday so it’s been a day of memories and looking back at old photos and wishing she was still here .
I’ll keep in touch
Liz
Hi Pamela
I’ve sent you an email . Hope it has arrived
Liz
I was there from 1960 to 1965 and Mrs Farrow paraded me in front of the class one day and administered severe corporal punishment for a misdemeanour. I was traumatised at the time but I’m well behaved now😅. Plasticine melting on the hot water pipes in the hall and the worst urinals outside the film Trainspotting are two memories which spring to mind
Fabulous post, I revisited this site every few years and enjoy reading all about ‘ our’ past… I started swimming off Meols slipway early 50s, and I still go down their for a walk most weeks, ….. Great read. Thank you
Hello Pamela, I was in the same year at St John’s and remember you well. Enjoyed your recollections which were spot on. Years later I surveyed the Elwyn Road school and heard a familiar piano being pounded – sure enough it was Mrs Farrow. She used to drive a green Austin 7 while Corky had a Jag at the old school. My stamping grounds were the sandhills between the prom and Forest Rd and I remember the dairy and ice cream, usually a bit chewy, served via a stable door. And the foreshore where my father had a boat moored. I still sail here in Scotland. We used to queue up at the baths to get the lowest numbered season contracts on issuing day. The Winter Gardens had children’s Saturday matinees which we went to and ran riot on the way home. I did a paper round from Merryman’s and butcher round both by bike, with a large basket on the front and weighed a ton, from the Station Approach shops. Carefree days and it was big shock going to secondary school after Meols Primary.
Hello Michael,
How lovely to read your message. Thank you so much. It arrived on my birthday! I remember you very well and the friends you used to hang out with. I have class photos taken on the school field with Mr. Tomlinson and I know you are in the group. I think I can put names to most of the old class mates,
Your recollections of St. Johns and life in those primary school days in Meols are very familiar: swimming, playing in the sand dunes and buying ice cream from Butterworth’s dairy, which was owned by my friend Anne Dunning’s grandparents.
How lovely that your Dad had a boat. When we were not at Hoylake baths, we would check the tide and walk over to the sandbanks where the sand was perfectly golden and clean with my Mum for a picnic, as the shoreline itself was pretty rocky and muddy.
Two. years after the eleven plus my parents moved away, so I left the Parade School and I went to boarding school in North Wales. That was a huge shock. My old English teacher, a lovely lady called Mrs. Beaver and her husband, visited me in Llandudno and brought me a cake. She was an intellectual, and I think she was quite shocked at the life in a girls convent boarding school where even the newspapers were censored.
How lovely that you live in Scotland. Lucky you. Such a beautiful country. When my parents returned to the UK they lived in Winchester for many years. I have lived in SW London since the late 1970’s.
It has been really great to receive your message. I love all the historic photos that John the Website posts on here from time to time. So thanks to John for facilitating old school friends being able to link up.
Warm wishes and keep well, Michael.
Pamela Hope (Plant)
I well remember butterworths ice cream my mother would send me there with a bowl to fill up on special occasions, you got served from what seemed to be a stable door.
I worked for Jack Price as a school boy I would have been about 14
Before school at about 5.30 I would walk from Egbert road to the farm to help deliver milk, sitting on the back of his van exhaust fumes blowing in stopping every few minutes to jump of with the order and deliver to1 or 2 houses then running to catch up with van as jack would have driven further down the road, kept me fit, when van was empty we would return to farm to refill, I would then go home about 8ish to get ready for school, nice job in summer very cold in winter.
What about the shops by meols station Rosie Prices veg & fish shop,merrymans paper shop everybody had a flutter on merryman when it won the national 1963.
does anybody remember the names of other shops like the cake shop, chemist etc?
Does anyone remember the small general food shop in fornells green lane Meols and the DIY place behind it?
Starting at the Birkenhead Rd end of Station Approach you had Ann Lennie hairdressers, Woodfield Cooke chemist, Merrimans, Irwins, later taken over by Tesco. ( The manager was Mr Halewood.) Then you had Becks the baker, run by Ted Beck, then you had a baby linen and wool shop last owned by Jacky Brookes, Newton Edwards the butcher, then Rosie Price the green grocer, who for years employed Arthur. At the other side of Derwent Rd there was Tottey and Capper’s builders yard.and hardware shop and across Birkenhead Rd, where the Beauty Salon used to be was Martin’s Bank which later became Barclays.
The shop at the end of Fornalls Green used to be called Whiteleys,it was later known as Brookfield stores and eventually it became Brownbills.
Guy
Wow, you’ve a good memory! The chemists sold yummy lollipops as I recall, at some point it became a clothes shop. Think everybody knew Arthur with his huge beard! I remember all the other shops and my hubby remembers that Whiteleys sold loose cigarettes….naughty boy that he was! I also remember the sweet shop opposite the Railway Inn, useful after crossing the road with Mrs Mcclusky as our lollipop lady. happy Days
Yes i remember the fornels shop
Ginger haired lady ran it her daughter was called Denise.
Used to have a cigarette machine on the wall outside sixpence for 10 number 6
My late husband Ron Hall left the Parade School in 1938 and began an apprenticeship as a Pharmacist at Woodfield Cooke, now Something in Store.
He was trained by Mrs Johns and had to leave in 1942 to join the Army.
You could do all your shopping at Meols, remember no processed foods all fresh and home cooked and in Season Fruit and Vegetables only.
Hope the latest food scares will return us to these good food days!!!!
I worked at WoodfieldCooke in 1968 on leaving school I was there 3 years as a junior to start what a lovely chemist it was does anyone remember had a colleague Vivian and Miss Quinn was the manager
Am loving these posts on Meols. have wonderful memories of the school- I went there in 1950 having moved from St Georges in Wallasey. Although we lived in Hoylake many of my friends lived in Meols and I spent a lot of time there. I remember the ice cream in Forest Road, the little shop in Fornalls Green Lane. Does anyone recall the shop on Birkenhead Road- opposite the Railway Inn. You went up the garden path into a sweet shop- I don’t remember the name- but hope someone will.
I remember Meols Shops so well. Before WW2 my father in law – Bill Brumfitt- worked for Prices greengrocers. It must have been a happy time for him as he still talked about it until he died in the early ’80s.
It’s around 12 years since I was in Hoylake but have lots of memories, I was married in St Hildeburghs, and both my children christened there, one daughter born in Meols in the flat we lived in before going off to live in Africa.
I will be making a visit in April- IF anyone remembers me I’d love to meet up- Jackie I remember you as Jackie Reeves at Meols school- Jan Foster I remember you and Mike at Pet shop and Mikes’ parents house in Bertram Drive. Hope to hear from some old Hoylakians. Sue
Yes Sue. I remember well all those shops in Meols by the station. Living in Ryecroft Road I used to push the pram over the bridge most days to do my daily shop. In those days you could leave your babies in their prams outside the shops quite happily knowing they would come to no harm. I could buy everything I wanted there at the baker, greengrocer, buther and chemist. Happy days!
Hi Sue
do you remember me at all I also attended St Johns ,remembering Miss Crawshaw
Mrs Smout and Mr Corkhill.
What I remember about the sweet shop was 1 penny bags of broken crisps they
were so wonderfully greasy!
Does the name Ann Murch mean anything to you, or David Cresswell, orNigel
Bertram? these are the people I remember.
I lived in Hoylake {Grosvenor Road} whilst you lived in Alderley road Sandtoft
I believe.
Anyway happy days!
Sandra
hi Sandra. Sorry not to have replied before. Yes I remember you and the names you mention although I think Nigel was Birchall not Bertram. What a happy school it was as I recall anyway.
I did have a lovely visit back to Hoylake in April and saw the photos of the old school on display in St Johns church in Meols. I caught up with a few people who remember me- not many left there now as its many years since I lived in Hoylake. Since my Mum died around 10 years ago that was my first visit. Where are you now? I live near Southampton. Sue
Hi Sue
We used to call the little sweet shop ‘Ma Brown’s’ and I seem to recall that she wore long Edwardian dresses.
I lived in Meols but loved going to see Clive in The Bob Bon in Hoylake. Loved that sweet shop and was sorry to see it go.
I was a Rycroft road girl too, I’m wondering if you lived at no 16?
Yes I did. I was Jill Evans then and had 6 children including twins, Daniel and Gareth.
Were you at number 20?
This question is off topic but I am curious about the name Gillian or short form Jill, is it overly popular in the Wirral pennensula? The reason I ask is my wifes name was Gillian, her best friend in Hoylake was Gillian Watson, she had a nurse from Prenton named Gillian, and many times the name Gillian pops up, not important but just wondering.
I am actually just Jill, not a Gillian. My birth certificate says Jill Elizabeth. I knew of a couple of Jill’s while at school and on the Wirral but one spelt Gill which I was told was not the shortened form of Gillian.
I have a cousin christened Jill. But regarding Richards comment- I just think Gillian, Gill and Jill were names of the time- not peculiar to Wirral.
I have loved reading all these posts. I attented the little old school with Mrs Kelly as my teacher before moving to Elwyn Road. Mr Holland was lovely but I liked Mrs Wynne who had a Jemima Puddle duck you could cuddle if you felt ill. I remember the shops in station approach. Living over the bridge we were supposed to cross the road with Mrs Mccluskey outside the railway but we never did. Happy memories having left the Wirral several years ago.
Mrs mcclusky was Andy’s mother he of OMD fame !!
I remember when I was a lad, delivering fruit and veg on a bike with a big basket on the front for Arthur at prices green grocers , I think I got the princely sum of £1 per week… Happy days!!
before it was whiteleys it was langleys.i used to get my dad,s woodbines for him from there!
I went to St John’s C of E Primary School (Mrs Farrow was was very insistent about the C of E bit!) from 1957 to 1963. I started with Miss Murray in the classroom at the back of the school which I think was called Class 5. Then into the church hall with Miss Mole for a year. Next year it was over the partition to the other side of the hall for a year with Mrs Savage. The problem with that ‘classroom’ was it was also where dinners were served, so it was not unusual to come back from lunch to find mashed potato in your inkwell! Class 2 was back over in the main building with Mrs Coyle before moving into Class 1 with Mr Jones (whom we all adored) and a last term before Caldy with Mr Griffiths. Mr Tomlinson was also there in my time. Imagine teaching in that hall today! There must have 70 kids in there separated into two classes by 6 foot screens. Still, so far as I can recall, we all emerged being able to read, write, we knew our tables from 1 to 12, do arithmetic up to long division and multiplication in decimal, £ S D and Imperial Weights and Measures. We could also identify all major countries of the world and had a good grasp of English history. Because of the C of E bit we could also recite the Catechism and the 10 Commandments. The highlight of the year was the Christmas Party when we shown a cartoon and, I seem to recall, films of people picking tea supplied by Brooke Bond. Since not many of us had a TV, these were the only moving images that we saw all year. After the film there was tea in hall and then Santa turned up to give everyone a present. There was also the summer fair and the ritual of winning a goldfish by getting ping pong ball into a jam jar.
The sweet shop on the corner of Banks Avenue was known to us as ‘Ma Brown’s’ and I seem to recall that she still wore long Edwardian clothing. You could still get a chew for a farthing! Another memory is the horse drawn fish cart. The fisherman would go from door to door and the old horse would plod along the road, by itself, keeping up with him. I was always intrigued by the knife sharpener who would turn his bike upside down to drive a grinding wheel by turning a pedal. They were happy days which seem to been spent playing outside almost regardless of the weather.
After 50 years away, there is a good chance that I will return to live in Meols this year. See you then!
And you did. ðŸ‘
I did! We moved from Oxfordshire to Park Road, Meols in 2014.
Hi Sue!
Just found your post here, and then read all the other posts about our old primary school! Fascinating!
I was at school with your brothers Peter and Andrew – I was in Peter’s class. I was just thinking about some of our old teachers yesterday, and decided to Google. This page came up…
Mr Tomlinson, Mr Corkhill, Miss Crawshaw (who then married and became Mrs Farrow), Miss Murray, the weekly visits from the vicar, and reciting the Catechism. I think Mrs Smout lived in the house next door, with her grandson (?) – Robert Daykin – he was also in our class. Such memories!
I went on to do many things, before becoming an actress and voice artist. I now live in Florida with my American husband, Ray. I visit the UK on an annual basis, and often think fondly of the Wirral.
Hope you are well and happy. BTW, some of the girls from my time at WKGS are organising a reunion for next year. We were the WKGS Class of 1957-62.
Much love to you all,
Lesley
hi Lesley. I vaguely remember you. If you send me your personal e mail I’ll let you have the news of my brothers. suevine17@gmail.com
Sue
Remarkable amounts of the Catechism have stayed with me down the years. I particularly remember “denouncing the Devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world and the lustful desires of the flesh.” Seems a bit rotten to get an 8 years old to denounce lustful desires until they have had a chance to try them!
I can remember loads of the catechism also. Think in my time at the school the vicar was mr Hammond. We just learnt it parrot fashion didn’t we with little idea what it meant!!
I remember Mr Hammond. In fact while going through some documents I a found booklet celebrating St John’s 25th anniversary. There is a picture of Mr Hammond that I recognised at once. The other catechism mystery was at the very start – What is your name? N or M . Never did get that!
Me neither Tim. I remember my first lesson of catechism, having joined the school mid year in Mr Tomlinson’s class it was all very new. I really never knew what we were supposed to respond to that one??
Hi Although I’m not from Meols, I am trying to trace a former pupil, who was a friend of mine at WKGS – her name was Gillian Murch and would have attended in the 1950’s. I see someone has mentioned her older? sister Ann. Can anyone help?
Carolyn. I don’t know if I replied in 2013 when you posted. But I remember the Murch family. I think it was Roger, Anne and Gillian. Anne was a contemporary of mine.
Hi Sue
Thanks for the info. do you happen to have any contact details for any of them. I am part of a WKGS Old Girls group we started at WKGS in 1957. Gillian is one of the ones we have been unable to trace.
Some of you will remember Mrs Smout our Infant Teacher,
and her daughter Mrs Deakin, Robert’s Mum.
Mrs Deakin–Lilian–later married Mr Jackson the builder of Goose Green.
Sadly Lilian died last week and the Funeral is at St John’s Church on Thursday.
A last connection to the old school.
I went to this school in the early 1970’s and I remember
You Miles Mercer. I live in Palm Beach, Florida now
in the USA. It’s so lovely to see pictures of the school. I would
Love make contact with any if my classmates such
as Lisa Jones, Graham Cooper, Rachael Jones, Lyndsey Smith and if
course you too Miles. I will sort through my picture
Because I have a class pictures. I will be happy
to post it.
Rose (Rosina Kennedy) Bell
I remember some of the names. I was in Robert Dakin,s class and was taught by Mrs Smout. Can any of you remember Moya Burns and Judith Bentley. I lived for a while with my grandmother in Park Way, then left to live in Coventry but came back again in 1957 and was in Mr cork hill,s class.
Hi Sue, sorry to have taken so long to reply to your email of September last year!
I looked at the old meols school with great fondness ,funny but I always remember the
smells of that school more than any other schools I attended.
.
After I married we moved to Ipswich where I had my daughter Laura, who is now 45
OMG how old I feel! we then moved to Edinburgh, where my son Martin was born now
43 where have the years gone. After Scotland we moved to Whitley Bay near Newcastle,
and then to Ruislip in north west London, then to Manchester, where I lost my husband.,
I now live in Allerton Liverpool, near my daughter, and Grandchildren. I love this website!
There you are a potted history in the life of!.
Take care Sue.
Sandra
Sue replies:
hi Sandra
You’ve certainly moved around. My eldest daughter will be 50this year- that really makes me feel very ancient. We left Hoylake in 1968- went to live in Africa where my husband worked for 9 years, then back to UK. Sadly at the time he couldn’t find work on Merseyside and we ended up in Berkshire for 25 years. Then moved to south Wales where John died in 2012. both my daughters had ended up in the Southampton area so it was the obvious place for me to settle. Like you I love Hoylake Junction.
My life is good here and although I enjoyed a visit to Hoylake a year ago I doubt that I’ll make that drive again.
Take care
Sue
Hi All. I went to the little school back in the mid seventies and then moved to Elwyn Rd. I have fond memories of Mr Holland and his tin leg, Mrs Wynne and her Olly the Octopus, Mrs Farrow, Mr Tomlinson, Mrs Baker (especially the time she ran over a cat in her car!), Mr Brent and his Morris Minor convertible (I think), Mrs Knight when she was pregnant, Mrs McCluskey the lollipop lady, boys brigade at the church, the off licence next to the Railway Inn and many more very happy memories. I live in London now and am planning a trip back to see all my old haunts. I went on to Caldy Grammar in 77 and left the Wirral in 1980. Been thinking a lot about my childhood days recently. If anyone remembers me it would be great to hear from you. Cliff Randall ( my twin is Martin) 😀
Cliff – I attended the school some years before you, but was interested to read your post. Do you go on Facebook? There’s a page there that you might enjoy:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/199495886824527/
Best wishes,
Lesley
Hi Cliff,
I hope you and Martin are keeping well. I too have fond memories of both School Lane and Elwyn Rd. We went right through the school in the same class. I remember ‘Tommy’s†ruler across the palm of my hand very well! I have got vivid memories of you in school shorts in the middle of winter! I’m still in touch with Andy Forster but that’s about it from junior school. I do also recall you having an Alsatian called “Bint� My best memory of Elwyn Rd was when someone (Daz Robshaw, Andy Forster) pinched Miss Clayton’s Jelly Babies from the stock room and dished them out around the class! She hit the roof when she found out! Time goes too quick!
Paul Wakefield
Hi Paul. It’s good to hear from you. Are you still in the area?
Myself and Martin are planning on a visit this year. We are hoping to meet up with some of the old crew 😀
It would be great to see you.
I remember both you and Martin , we were all in the same class along with Stuart Fleet, David Robshaw, Joanna Walker, Dawn Lewis, Jo Rymer, Linda Caley, Debra walker are ones I can think of immediately. Sure would remember more if I had photos to hand but thats the best i can do for now. Take care
Karen Pitts (nee Lewis)
Well,I went to St Johns in the early 50s. Mrs Smout lived next door to the school. I was in mr Tomlinson’s class and then 2 years with Miss Crawshaw. Mr Corkhill was also a member of staff. I welll remember reciting the catechism one morning a week and can still recite some of it today at73! ! I went back some years ago and was astonished at how small the classrooms actually were. I went to West Kirby grammar school for a couple of terms and then our family moved from the area. Happy days. Jenny Stott
Jenny- I vaguely remember you. I’m now 75 and living near Southampton. Happy days at St Johns in spite of the catechism!!
Sue
I worked at Woodfield cooke from 1968 to 1971 when I was transferred and then left for London I. 1973 I loved working there just a schoolgirl had a lady called Miss Quinn who was so bossy and a colleague called Vivienne I have some great photos sitting in the sign at Station Approach Meols I went to the Parade school it’s great to see these posts
I went to the Parade and trying to remember my needlework teacher as I am now sewing in my own business she taught me everything we used to go to a little cottage next to the parade last I heard she was still alive I was there 1964 to 66 I think
I attended Meols Primary School from 1956 to 1959 before going to Calday.
I remember Mrs Farrow rulering me very hard on both hands-50 times on each one with a demonic look on her face! Quite painful!
Ma Browns sweet shop I also remember well-she always said “if you please” when asking for the money which used to be an amount like tuppence halfpenny! When a crowd of us went in we used to take the mickey a bit which looking back I’m not very proud of.
I remember Mrs Farrow from my school days in Meols.I lived at the tower house down the lanes by Biddles Market Gardens.Fond memories.John Goodwin. John goodwin29@gmail
.com
Just came across this web site, marvelous. It surely does bring back so many fond memories. I feel lucky that my childhood years were spent in such idyllic surroundings. I was at Meols primary 1956 – 1958 , then onto Calday. Living now in Geneva, 75 years old . Contact on Facebook.
Best wishes to all , especially my first girl friend Gill, we were just 10 years old !
Malcolm Roback
Just remembered, the full name was Gillian Kessie, does anyone know of her whereabouts ?