Many thanks to Joan Howell for sending in these super old photos of Hoylake. Joan says of the above photo:
This was a photo from my mum’s collection (May Ball who lived all of her 95 years in Hoylake), it was a charabanc trip and the photo is dated August 1924, my mum was only 10 so is not actually on the photo.
…did they have crisps in Hoylake in 1924? Frank Smith originally packaged a twist of salt with his crisps in greaseproof paper bags, which were then sold around London in 1920 (wikipedia) so maybe?
Below is a photo of the original Hoylake RNLI station with some of the crew on a tractor in 1934.
Here’s the pupils of the old Market Street school from the class of 1953. I understand a certain regular contributor to HoylakeJunction is in this photo! (click for larger version)
And finally for today here’s the residents of Lee Road with their friends celebrating the King George VI Coronation in May, 1937 (click this one for larger version).
Hello, just seen the super photos on this week’s featured photos.
Can any one tell me who the teacher is in the school photo ? I am wondering if it is Mr Powell. I was at the school at that time but I would be eight when that photo was taken. I wasn’t ever in Mr Powell’s class . I remember being in Miss Rowlands and Mrs Hughes but have no idea between those classes. Or is the photo of Mr Harrison perhaps someone would kindly clear up my confusion
I love getting the Junction publications, A great way of re-tracing early years in Hoylake . Sheila
Hello Sheila,
The teacher is Mr Molyneux, he was the Headmaster. He was an excellent teacher but very strict. I had many a dig in the ribs for an ink blot on my work using the old dip in pens!! Thanks for your comment on the photos. I love the publications too.
Joan
Sheila replies:
Thank you for that. I didn’t know him but I too had many a little poke for blotting the old copy book and for talking !! When I first went there, we were told not to pass the flying butress..I didn’t know what one was so did and then got into trouble !!!!! I passed the 11+ in Mrs Hughes class despite having no idea how to work out maths problems but I can still chant my tables off perfectly however!
I think it was the head teacher at that time, Mr Molyneux, Mr Harrison’s predecessor.
Hi thanks for that..I didn’t know him.. or at least I wasn’t aware of him, I can only recall the two names I said..either I wasn’t very observant or the memory blanks out various things Sheila
Love these photos. My late husband was at Market Street school but I think would have left by 1953- can anyone put some names to these faces??
Also the Lee Rd photo my husbands grandparents lived in Lee Road so are probably on the Coronation photo.
What fantastic memories of old Hoylake.
Hi Sue, I can remember most of the names but not all , Front Row from the left, me,Frank Burns ,Duncan McLelland,Harry Housley ,Mr Molyneux (who retired that year), ?, Beryl Chapman, ?, Ann Grace , ?, Second Row, Hilary Black,John Tyson, Wally Hughes,Albert Triggs, Barbara Williams,Joan Lawence,Joan Ball,John Dones. Back Row , Alan Hazelhurst,Richard Ryding,Teddy Owen, ? , Bobby Kerr ,David Francis, ?
Hi Syd..a Dennis Housley was in my class..Mrs Hughes I presume it was /is Harry’s younger brother
Does anyone know of Gillian Pringle and Judy Jelly, I think those were the names. I did hear that Hilary Quilliam as she was sadly passed away recently..we were good friends all through school until I left Hoylake and we went to different schools after the age of 11….there was also a Graham something
Sheila
Hi Sheila
do you remember me I lived on the corner of Grosvenor Road you lived across from me
in a flat overlooking Market Street, I used to come and see you that was when your
mum was alive your Dad used to visit my house to see my Mum and Dad.
My best buddy was Lesley Quilliam as she was then, and I was close to Hilary
too. Her funeral was yesterday Lesley is devastated, I am coming to Hoylake
next week to see her. The only Graham I can think of was surname Thwaite?
I remember Syd Bird well although not sure if he does me.
Sandra
Hi Sandra yes I remember your house and going there but didn’t know that my Father used to nip over
I was close to Hilary in those early years age 5-11 we played at her house on Station Road I heard she had a brother John but don’t remember other siblings. I am so so sad that we had not been in touch only a couple of cards after finding this site but presume she had been too ill to start anew. please give my best wishes to Lesley
Do you remember my brother Leslee Wray spelling is correct !! could my parents not spell I wonder ? he got knocked over and died just before his 6th birthday I was 4 he ran back over the main road I gather
We lived over Billy’s and I think my Mother worked there at times
Hoylake was a good place what with the baths and being able to play out etc
it is good to hear from you take care Sheila
Hi Shelia,
great to hear from you and that all is well. Oh how sad it was when Leslie was killed
in fact my mother was paranoid for years about me crossing roads, There was a
photograph in the Hoylake Advertiser of Leslie and me outside the town hall
peeping round whilst some people of importance where going in to the town hall.
Was’nt your dads name Leslie? and your mums was Kathleen Yes?
Take care Sheila
Hi again and thanks for the info. My father was called William but my Mother was Kathleen as you said. As to the little boy, on his birth and death certificate – it spells Leslee how bizarre is that ?
I can imagine all Mums being extra cautious – as far as I can gather, he ran back across the road after being taken across apart from the obvious, one can also feel very sad for the poor bus driver as it was something he would have to live with
I only have one small photo of my brother I would have loved to have seen the picture of the 2 of you peeping round the town hall !!
Despite the sadness, I was still allowed to play out on my bike as I got a bit older.
Take care love Sheila
Hi Sandra,
Where are you these days? So sad to learn of Hilary’s funeral. She was a couple of years younger than the rest of us. I remember asking Helen Carr (Jones) if she remembered your Dad racing up Charles Road in his slippers to answer the fire alarm.
We are settled in Dorset now for the last 17 years, and manage to get back to Hoylake only rarely.
This site brings back so many special memories for me, as Hoylake was such a great place to grow up.
Thanks for the names Syd. I went to Meols school although I lived in Hoylake- but remember several of the people on that photo- I think must have been same age as me. Hilary Black lived in Trinity Road I recall, ceertainly knew her. I think Albert Triggs lived in Grove Road. Joan Ball’s name rings a bell too as well as several others.
I never knew my husbands grandparents- not even sure what their first names were- Mr&Mrs Brumfitt but they certainly lived all their married life in Lee Road. John , my late husband, grew up in Newton Road- until we got married in 1963.
Looking forward to a trip down memory lane next week when I’m in Hoylake for a couple of days. Love this website
Sue
Hi Syd
Just filling in some other names: back row, left to right Alan Hazlehurst, Richard Riding, Teddy Owen, Terry Halewood, Bobby Kerr, David Francis and George Hollingsworth.
Middle Row, left to right: Hilary Black, John Tyson, Wally Hughes, Albert Triggs, Barbara Williams, Joan Lawrence, Joan Ball and John Done.
First Row, left to right : Syd Bird, Duncan McClelland, Harry Housley, Mr Molyneux, Esther (unsure of surname but lived at the Rendevouz), Beryl Chapman, Janet Little, Anne Grace and Carla Yates.
Glad you like the photo’s Syd and hope that you are ok.
Hi Joan, wonderful that you remember all of the names ,your memory is better than mine. You were Joan Ball at school ,yes ? . As I have said, fantastic photos and they certainly bring back some very good memories. I have lived in Scotland for the last forty years or so,are you living in Hoylake.
Hi Syd I thought you still lived in Hoylake. I have lived in Chester for nearly 40 years. I loved living in Hoylake it was a brilliant place to grow up in!!! I love looking at all the old photos but I’m a novice in the whole Internet thing. My daughter bought me an iPad for my birthday so I am busy practising !!!!
Hello Joan, now you have an iPad there will be no stopping you!! . By the way my sister Jennifer (not sure if you will remember her) lives in Meols.
Fantastic photographs. My grandparents ran a little shop in Lee Road for many years. It was basically the front room of their house. They raised 9 or 10 children there. I think it was No. 21. During one period of time my Grandmother had a soup kitchen going as well. The kitchen in that house was no bigger than a cupboard.
Re the picture of Lee Road, my Grandparents name was Maddran and the shop was at No. 22 not 21
Hello Anne,
I lived next door to the little shop for years, I remember it was run by two sisters called Maddran. It was a brilliant little shop, it sold everything food wise! Everybody used it. I loved living in Hoylake and I still really miss the sea.
Do you all remember the beautiful gardens in front of the tennis courts with all the little shelters? Also the greenhouse at the end where you could shelter? We used to live at the baths in the summer, we could have a contract for seven shillings and sixpence! WHAT A BARGAIN!
Hi Joan
We used to travel on the same train when you were still hairdressing yes?
I also was friends with your cousin Jill Salmon , we were in the same class
at the parade, and later on she used to do my hair, how and where is she
now? I also remember her brother Barry who was due to marry Helen
Stanley but didn’t in the end.
My father worked for Hoylake council and painted the baths every year,
and one of my birthday presents was also a contract for the baths
and yes I remember the beautiful gardens with the little shelters.
Happy days.
Sandra
The two sisters were my Aunty Nan and Aunty Eliza, they were my Dad’s sisters.
I too stand corrected, I thought it was Mr Powell, having never seen Mr Molyneux they are very similar. I would have been at Market Street from around 1956-60. Starting off in Miss Rowlands class, finishing in Mrs Hughes. Then I went to the Parade. I lived in Lee from from 1949 until I married in 1972, i recognize no-one in the photo but must know of some them, I am sure Mr & Mrs Brumfitt must have been there Mrs Gallagher who lived in the very bottom house odd numbers. i remember the shop, Mrs Willis Mr Beavan. Mr & Mrs Ryan who lived next door to us at number 3. We being No 1. Mr& Mrs Lawrence. How long they had been there before i remember living there I have no idea. It was a lovely road, your front door was always open and i remember my Mam sitting in the sun in the Lobby, as we called it. We had no inside toilet or bathroom till well into the 60’s, the rooms tho were quite a good size compared to some starter houses these days and we had the most fantastic range in the kitchen. The Back Kitchen had the sink in it. Later that became the kitchen and Mum & Dad lived in the back room. the front was for special occasions. Happy happy days a lovely childhood.
Val Nee Maddocks
Hi Val I remember you and your Mum ,Geoff Todd lived opposite. Do you remember all the Ellis boys who lived on top of the shop?It was a lovely road and they really were happy days!!!! Take care Joan. Howell nee Ball
Hi, Joan,
Lovely to hear from you, I used to talk to your Mum quite often we had a good laugh together bless her I miss her around. The Ellis boys yes I remember them well, they used to have budgies flying loose that sat on the window looking out . I always remember that. Not sure but did Jimmy Baily and wife move into that house or was it further down.
I am surprised no-one has any tales about the Rondevoux or the Lantern (Lamp) we used to call it. Happy Days xx
My dad is John Ellis, one of the boys from the corner of Lee road. They moved from moreton just after the war.
John lives in hawarden north Wales,
4 of the 5 brothers are still around.
Stuart Ellis, wrexham
What a great set of photos and such superb quality.
Hi I am Dianne McMullan nee Wilson. I remember living at the top right hand corner of Lee Road many years ago. My parents Brian and Jean Wilson rented rooms off an elderly widower gentleman but I can’t remember his name. He was very kind to us and loved custard pies and would have bought me one every Saturday. Opposite us was a family who emigrated to Australia I think. We were friendly with them and would have went to play in Queens Park with them. I think we lived in Lee Road for about a couple of years and then we moved to Hazel Road which was our forever home.
I also remember Mr Powell. He always smelt of pipe smoke if I can recall.
the girl sitting next to the teach with the plaits is Lesley Cookson, I vaguely remember Joan Ball but remember her brother Ian better as they were friends with my brothers. Val’s house i remember very well as i have some lovely memories of Val and her mum and dad as she says in those days open doors and we all had aunties who were no relation but we thought of them as proper relatives who we could turn too if needed.
Hello Diane,
It’s great to see so many comments on here…although I’m not too sure Leslie Cookson would be too pleased as she was younger and not in the photo….it is Esther, although I cannot remember her surname. My brother is not Ian but I think you may be thinking of my younger cousin.
Regards
Joan
Hello Joan,
Nice to be remembered after 60 years!!!
Terry Halewood
Hiya Joan,
Apologies i would of sworn that Esther was Lesley they look similar and I stand corrected about Ian as well I could of sworn he was your brother , I remember your mum though she was a lovely lady always very nice to me
Cheers Diane
Hi Sheila you were asking about Gillian Pringle, she lives in Rock Ferry she has daughters and grand children. Judy Jelly I don’t know off, but her father lives in Marine Park West Kirby. I am sorry to hear about Hilary Quilliam. My sisters were great friends of Gillian especially and she lived all her childhood life next door to us with her sister Marjorie till we all got married and moved away from home also good friends of the Quilliams. My sisters are Barbara and Carol Jones maybe you remember them. Unfortunatly Carol died a few years ago.
Helen Carr [nee] Jones
Hi Helen.. I am pleased to hear news about Gillian Pringle along with Judy, they were two names that stuck in my mind. It is amazing what info comes up when one starts to delve a bit. I am amazed if anyone actually remembers me. I think I must have gone into memory shut down after my Mum died and I moved.
Yes it is so sad about Hilary . Of course if one still has connections with Hoylake and Hoylake folks it is a good memory jogger. I do remember knowing loads of people and belting up and down Charles Road on my bike 93rd hand no doubt !!! Sorry to hear that Carol died but hopefully the rest of yoy are keeping well
Sheila
Hi Helen
Do you remember me? I used to live on the corner of Grosvenor Road and Played with Carol
and Barbara, And your French cousins Francine and Dominque.
I thought your mum was great such a kind person, Sorry to hear that Carol has passed
away.I think we visited you in Willastion once?
Best wishes Sandra
Hi Sandra, So lovely to hear from you. Yes I remember you playing with Carol and Barbara and when our cousins came over from France. I have a lovely photo of the four of them together on a day out when they were over hear on holiday. Carol died very suddenly with a brain haemorrhage, I still can’t believe it. Did you have an older brother that used to play with my uncle John Broster from Cable Road at the other end from our house, or am I mixing him up with someone else. Are you still living in the area Sandra, all of us stayed in the area. I am seeing Barbara later on so I will tell her that I have heard from you.
Take Care
Helen.
Hi Helen
So good to hear from you!
No brother, but my cousin Norman lived with us so could him, So very shocked to hear about Carol,
and of course Hilary Wallace (quilliam) her funeral was on the 17 April and Gill Pringle attended
I did not go, however, I am seeing her sister Lesley on Thursday.
I have moved around a great deal married in 1966 (World cup day would you believe!)
Had my daughter in Ipswich she is now 43 moved to Scotland and had my son 41 then
to Whitley Bay (near Newcastle), THEN down to Ruislip North west London, then
to Manchester suburbs Altrincham, then to Sale , finally I am now in Liverpool as my
daughter Laura and family reside, but of course now handy for the Wirral, so my
roving days are done! I was divorced in Altrincham, so am very happy with the
single life.
So take care Helen and great to hear from you.
Sandra
Hi Mike,
So great to hear from you! if you read my note to Helen Carr, you should get a potted history and
Geography of my whereabouts.
You are living in a beautiful part of the country, Mike that wonderful old Christmas card you posted
on screen where did you get it from?
Last year I was in St Bridgets churchyard were I met some bloke who was taking photos of tombstones
we got talking and after some time told me he had been married to your sister Barbara,
how are your family doing?
I have been toHoylake today to see Lesley (hilarys sister) I am impressed how it is thriving in this bleak
economy! however, as you say it was a great place to grow up in.
Really glad to hear from you.
Sandra
Hello again Sandra,
It’s so good to hear from you. You do seem to have done a lot of travelling around. The Christmas card I found in the little post office next door to where Irwins used to be just round the corner, when we were visiting Hoylake some years ago.
Barbara was married very young to a boy from Meols called Simon Rothwell, and it could have been him you met. His nickname was Sam, but sadly the marriage didn’t last very long. Barbara married again and now lives in Moreton. Jenny married Ken Dean, who lived next door to you, but sadly Ken died 5 years ago after a long battle with cancer.Jenny now lives in Yorkshire. Our Vic stayed in Hoylake up until a couple of years ago and now lives in Meols. We moved down to Poole, Dorset, 17 years ago and now live in a village called Corfe Mullen, between Poole and Wimborne Minster and on a clear day we can see for over 20 miles over the fields to Dorchester.
I have just spent a week in hospital in Bournemouth undergoing major surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm. I have my staples removed next Thursday, and then hopefully the healing process will accelerate.
Please pass on my best wishes to Lesley when you see her. I remember her well too.
Mike.
Hi Mike
so good to hear from you again and delighted that you are making a full recovery after your op.
Yes, it was simon I met in st bridgets churchyard, he told me that he was now known as Sam.
I was so amazed when he told me that he had been married to Barbara! I remember when
you always called Victor Matt after Matt Dillion! I may have got him mixed up with someone
else but is his birthday 8 May? So, do you have family grandchildren if so how many?
I have four grandchildren all girls! two belong to my daughter Laura (43) and two to my son
Martin (41) where the time has gone god only knows.
Take care Mike
Sandra
Hello again Sandra,
Your memory is pretty good. We sometimes still refer to our Vic as Matt, and yes his birthday is May 8th. He was born in 1945 in Clatterbridge hospital and as he was the first baby born that day, V.E. Day, the nurses insisted his name should be Victor. Mum wanted to call him David but was over-ruled.
As to my family, well I hope you have plenty of time. My first marriage ended in divorce in 1974, from which I have a daughter Angela,(1963) a son, Peter, (1965) and another daughter Emma,(1969). I married again in 1975 to Margaret, who had also been married previously, and who had two sons, Joseph,(1965) and Andrew, (1967). We didn’t have any more children together much to Margaret’s disappointment.
Angela lives in Ellesmere Port and has 3 daughters, 2 of whom have daughters of their own. Peter lives in New Brighton and he has a son and a daughter. His son Richard is just beginning his third tour of duty in Afghanistan in the army. Emma also lives in New Brighton and has 3 sons and a daughter. one son Arran has a son of his own. Joseph live down here in Dorset just down the road from us. He has a son and a daughter. His son lives and works in London and his daughter is in Sydney. Andrew has two sons and lives near Columbus ,Ohio, where he works as a tactical and firearms instructor for the state. He was a city cop for 18 years and before that served as an MP in the US army in the invasion of Panama in 1989.
So in total, between us, we have 5 children, 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, so far, and you wonder where the time has gone.
We do have problems keeping up with all the birthdays, but I guess it all helps to keep the Alzheimer’s at bay.
It’s really good to be in touch with you again after all these years.
Take care Sandra,
Mike.
Hi Mike,
Talk about go forth and multiply! I am not surprised you have problems keeping up with
all the birthdays, remembering everyones name must be a challenge!
I only had two kids (Laura my daughter) who has two girls (evie &Gracie) and my
son Martin who also has two girls ( Amy & Lucy). I never knew that Victor was so called
because of his birth on VE day. I have a fabulous photo of lots of people including my
Mum and Dad dancing on VE day outside Hoylake station, I came across this picture
quite by chance in a book author Ian Pumfrey calledThe Wirral Home Guard> I could not
believe it when I saw it, and so regret that Mum and Dad never lived to see it.
I don’t unfortunately have a scanner as I am sure you would enjoy the picture. I agree
how good it is to be in touch again after so long, trust you are recovering well.
You take care Mike.
Sandra
Hi Mike
I put your name on my message in error sorry!
Sandra
John Tyson lives in West Kirby.
He has an allotment on the Sandringham site and has been the all Wirral Allotment champion for about the last 8 years(with 1 year off due to ill health)
Awesome gardener 🙂
Could this be the same John Tyson that lived in Evans Road, and used to go cycling and camping in North Wales?
Hi Sandra and Mike,
Sandra I have been trying to do some research in St Bridgets about the Broster family that’s mum’s side of the family as we know some off them are buried in their but to no avail as most of the lettering has been weathered off and makes it very differcult.
Mike I am sorry to hear about your operation and that you will soon be fighting fit. I had know idea about Kenny Dean that he had died. I remember him coming to a birthday party of mine once and we were all playing upstairs in the spare bedroom{as my birthday is in December and always cold} we were playing some game or other and he put his elbow through the window, well we were soon all cleared out of the house and that was the end of the party. Happy Days.
Take care Both of you
Helen Carr [nee Jones]
Wonder if anyone could tell me if the four members of the Bird family that died in the Hoylake Lifeboat disaster of 1810 are buried at St Bridget’s Churchyard and do they have a headstone. From reading the newspaper writeups their bodies were recovered and brought home and I guess with Trinity Road Parish Church not built until 1833 they would have gone to St Bridgets?
Thanks for any help
Am really enjoying this website. I see Geoff Todd (my cousin) mentioned as being a past resident of No 2 Lee Road (from 40s to some time in the 60s before marriage). His mother, my late Aunt Lell,, lived there as did my late Dad (Jack Taylor) & their many siblings throughout their childhood. Their father, John Taylor, was a member of the local fishing fraternity.