Comments on: Friday Photo: Hoyle Road Slipway

By: Peter Wilson

Peter Wilson — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:16:03 +0000

Some time in the ’80s or maybe early ’90s I think. I remember getting a shock the first time I was back in Hoylake and they weren’t there. Doubtless a local resident will remember exactly when!

Perhaps it was at the same time the big shelter at thge bottom of Alderley Road disappeared too?

By: Jeremy Salmon

Jeremy Salmon — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:58:35 +0000

I don’t remember the public toilets. Do you know when they were demolished?

By: Peter Wilson

Peter Wilson — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:36:00 +0000

No, the red brick building is definitely the public loos! The bandstand was a lower pebbledashed building in the middle of the park so is out of sight in this photo.

By: Jeremy Salmon

Jeremy Salmon — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:41:14 +0000

The red brick building is indeed the old bandstand. It was used by myself an the local kids (circa 1970) from Meols & Hoylake as the perfect place to play football & cricket. The pillars holding the three sided roof perfect as goal posts or a wicket.
If the tide was in the rules were no balls above head height because if the ball was kicked over the roof into the road it was no problem. However, if the ball was kicked over the other side a good ball would be lost to the sea.
I remember it was not allowed for ball games to be played in this area, but that didn’t stop us. The local constable (yes, we had one then) often used to catch us out. He would take all our names but he would never do anything about it.

By: Donald (Don) Johnson

Donald (Don) Johnson — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:57:28 +0000

The white and blue waals you can see in the picture enclose a shelter and to the left of the left blue and white wall you can see the entrance to the mens toilet, the ladies was round the corner to the right.
The black and white building was the St John Ambulance hut and later became a lifeguard hut.
The red building above the blue and white walls is the toilet block and the grey wall has a gate that leads into the gardens, other gates are round the corners to left and right. First there was a bowling green then two tennis courts then there was a quadrant which in its heyday had a stage and a cafe then there were more tennis courts and a childrens play area with a gateway leading almost onto the slipway. There were a few shows on stage during the 1950′s and early 60′s but it fell into disuse.
The Beach Mission was run by the Wood Street Mission until they moved into the old Congregational Church at the round about and they haven’t held any since then.
This slipway has, for many years, been the lifeboat recovery slip but now it is also their launching slip.
I hope this is of help.

By: Howard Dean

Howard Dean — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 08:41:16 +0000

Comment for Geoff Garrett,

Your father was quite right, imagine the strain put on poor old Dick Rigby’s right arm having to cane people like you and I. At least he only knocked me down the concrete stairs on my secongd day for what he thought was cheek. He asked my name and when I told him he said “Oh yes, you are one of the clever ones aren’t you” ? I didn’t appreciate the sarcasm and I thought he meant I was in the top class for the year, I answered “Yes sir” and finished up on by backside. I should have arrested that begger too.

By: Geoff Garrett

Geoff Garrett — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:51:44 +0000

I digress a bit, but I vividly remember being flogged across the behind with a bamboo cane for the mortal sin of speaking (whispering) in class by Headmaster Rigby. The purple welts I incurred were with me for over a week……… My father told me to start behaving myself.

By: Howard Dean

Howard Dean — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:27:27 +0000

Having attended Hoyle Road School in the early and mid 50′s the picture does bring back many memories I recall a P.T. teacher named Ernie Morgan making us run around the gardens although those of us in the “Know” used to nip through the middle and rejoin the runners who had run right around. There was time for a quick smoke for those addicted to nicotine. I later saw Ernie when I was a constable attached to the CID with Cheshire Constabulary, I still regret that I didn’t arrest him for crimes against humanity. There would have been room for most of the teachers, Dick Rigby included.

By: ian b

ian b — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:30:18 +0000

sorry penny the pool was behind the photographer over his\her left shoulder

By: ian b

ian b — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:26:57 +0000

The picture shows the public loos, this pic would have masked the old bandstand beyond, the red bricks on view are the top of the toilet building, the view of the bandstand from this point if you could see it would be of a dreary pebbledashed wall