Sandyford and Goldenhill

When 1950’s Vicars’ rode Triumph Speed Twin Motor Bike’s

An unusual beginning to David Wood’s story this week because it starts at the church with Father Craig riding his twin speed bike, which shook the establishment back in the 50’s. David’s story continues like this.

1950's Triumph Speed Twin Motorcycle

Reverend Bowdler, the Church of England vicar of St John’s, was a very nice man, short in stature but great in character and benevolence. Father Craig took over from him and rode his Triumph Speed Twin motor bike, that shook the establishment quite a bit I can tell you, especially when he called in the Duke for a pint.

I can recall reading the lesson from the Bible in St John’s church when the school sponsor, Captain Potts was visiting. A couple of years ago I went into the church and stood by the lectern, it occurred to me that I must have stood on a box or stool to be able to see over the top of it. Father Walsh, was the parish priest at St Joseph’s and Reverend Baxendale and Reverend Crouch were the Methodist ministers.

The Co op delivered their bread by horse and cart and the horse was stabled behind the shop. If you were a young lad you could go to the back of the Co op and ask for the cane rings off the butter barrels to use as hoops for wheeling around the streets. Pea shooters could be bought for a few pennies and your ammunition, maple peas, could be bought from Crawshaw’s shop. We made catapults from tree branches and elastic bands but we didn’t fire them at people or windows.

Frank Dale delivered his milk in a three wheeled van which was basically a motor bike with body work on the back. He actually moved my grand parent’s furniture from Woodstock to Burnaby Road in it in 1956. When at my granny’s at Woodstock, we bought and drank un-pasteurised milk from Burgess’s farm straight from the cow, never caught anything untoward from it though.

At less than 11 years old we went unsupervised from Church School to the senior school canteen for lunch and back again, 5 days a week. The ice cream was delivered by hand cart and so was Mr Poole’s milk, his dairy was at Snow Hill by the swings.

On the very tight bend at Latebrook just passed the old Baptist chapel, stood a sweet shop owned by Mrs Rowlands, her brother lived in the wooden bungalow next to the pub. Our grandmother used to take us to the shop for our sweets which were still on ration then. The chapel and the pub are still there, the houses are long gone.

My grandparent’s cottage was further along the lane on the right, just past the derelict farmhouse, the area is called Woodstock Bower. The old foundry chimney is still standing, I used to crawl in there and look up at the sky.

So until next time from looking up at the sky from the old foundry chimney, we will be going down memory lane for more of David Wood’s interesting recollections of time gone by.

Damage/Vandalism “Goldenhill Golf Course”

Peter Hall from Staffordshire Fire & Rescue is requesting help from residents and especially those who walk their dogs on the golf course at Goldenhill.

The Prevent Team Fire Officer is asking people to report any damage to the golf clubhouse in respect to Vandalism etc.

Pete Hall shared his concerns with S.A.G.E. about the building getting damaged as in the Driving range for some time has also been subject to damage and arson.

If you see or are aware of any damage/antisocial behaviour taking place at the Goldenhill Golf Course then please report it to the police on tel no 101 or Staffordshire Fire & Rescue on tel no 01785 898886.

http://www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/ http://www.staffordshire.police.uk/

Sandyford Respect Day

S.A.G.E. has been involved with the City Council’s Safer Cities Partnership, Staffordshire Police and Councilor Martin Garner in regards to a “Respect Day” for Sandyford.

The reasson for having a “Respect Day” was suggested by the authorities because of the trouble the Ridge Road Estate people have suffered throughout recent years by having it’s fair share of antisocial behaviour.

The “Respect Day” is to take place on Monday 12th December, which will cover all streets around the Ridge Road Estate.

The reason for the day is to show support to the local community in Sandyford as well as having the presence of the council, police and extra support from fire fighters.

Activities being mentioned for the respect day are,

Police media van in the area, local Authority PCSOs on patrol, supplementing local Police officers
Environment Team will be out in force, tidying the area up, litter picking, street cleaning etc (McDonald’s are helping with litter picking on the day)
Hedge cutting on the Ridge Road Estate park

S.A.G.E. along with Councillor Martin Garner believe that this is a good way to support local residents who need pressence and evidence from the local authorities to show that they care about the people who have suffered from antisocial activities for some time.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Tearaway-brothers-given-Asbos-months-terror/story-13096802-detail/story.html

Sandyford & Goldenhill “Good Time Stories”

1967 Sweet & Grocery Store, 871 High Street, Goldenhill

Can anyone out there share some good time community stories, which have happened to them in the past or even more recently in the Goldenhill and Sandyford areas.

Sharing some of these stories on the website might be useful to helping S.A.G.E. bring back some past events to the reality of the 21st century.

Residents are invited to share any of their memories with us, no matter how small they are.

To the right is a picture of a sweet and grocery store going back to 1967 where eating too many sweets never seemed to be a health problem.

Closer to Home Walk 2 Fitness

Steele’s Fashions Appeal to 1950s Goldenhill

Here are more stories of David Wood’s walk down memory Lane and they start at Steele’s Fashions, 1950s styles of course and finish at buying a penny cornet in the village.

Goldenhill Chemist 1967

Harry Barnett, Steele’s Fashions, Millington’s fishmongers and Sillito’s were all in a row leading to the phone box and then the Swan pub. Sillito’s became Boulton’s plumbers eventually. Mr Boulton converted a shop into a laundrette which brought untold luxury to the village.

Tucked in between Boultons and the pub was the smelliest gent’s toilet in the world, I only ever went in there once, never again.

Elgood Lane or Church Lane as it was called then, had the Church of England Junior school on the corner with St John’s church and the vicarage next door. The next building was the Church Infants school, headmistress Miss Eptlett.

Lane’s ladies and gents outfitters and Jones shop were just before the Catholic church, which I can remember being built in the early 50s.

There was small sweet shop tucked away in Gordon Road, I think it was Mrs Farmer who ran it. On the corner of High Street and Broadfield Road stood the Sandyford Co op store which is now the motor bike dealers.

Meakin’s new factory was built in the field on the corner of Hollywall lane and most of the employees from the Royal Albert pottery in Parsonage Street Tunstall moved to there, my mum was one of them.

The small traders in the back streets consisted of Mr Bromley who had a shop in Taylor Street, Mrs Bourne in Heath street who had a hairdressers opposite, Mrs Moss had the corner shop in Charlotte Street next door to Jeffreys garage & Mrs Jones was at the top of Alice Street.

There was a chip shop in Brakespeare Street, there were at least 3 small builders yards and there were 2 Coal merchants in the village, one of them had a lorry and the other delivered by horse and cart.

The cobblers in Alice Street were my mum’s cousins Tom and Fred Stanier and every day around 4-o clock the big polishing machine was switched on and you could feel the vibrations in our house, 3 doors away.

There was the undertaker in the village, Mr Reeves and he looked the part, very sombre.

The ice cream maker was Jim Dutton’s father and you could buy a penny cornet from Jim or his dad, if you had a penny to spend that is.

There is still more to come from David Wood’s stories of Goldenhill & Sandyford, so keep on watching for more interesting tales of days gone by.

101 “Police Non Emergency Telephone Number”

As from Tuesday 8th November, the new Police Non Emergency telephone number will be 101.

This telephone number can be used to contact the police off any phone including mobiles.

The new contact will benefit all residents by it having the easy to remember three digit number of 101.

The 0300 123 4455 police contact telephone number will still be available to use to contact the police, which will be during and after the change over takes place.

For help in remembering the new Police Non Emergency telephone number just think of Room 101.

http://www.staffordshire.police.uk/

Litter “What a Mess”

McDonald’s in Sandyford are doing their bit for the environment. The food restaurant has approached S.A.G.E. and is wanting to do litter picks in the Sandyford and Goldenhill areas.

If you know of any litter hot spots then please contact the Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association, S.A.G.E. through this website.

This is your opportunity to tell us where you want litter removing from in the two villages. Don’t be shy and let us know, McDonald’s staff are waiting to do a clean up for you.

For more information on “Keep Britain Tidy” follow the link

http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/Default.aspx

Spooky Halloween Walk

Closer to Home Walks are holding their next big event, which is organised by the Friends of Park Hall Walking Group.

The spooky torchlit Halloween walk around Park Hall usually gets over 80 walkers attending due to its on-route storytellers and ghouls.

If anyone would like to come along to the walk or help on the day by giving out leaflets about the regular walks as well as helping with craft activities etc then it would really be appreciated.

On the day Halloween fancy dress is optional, but great fun. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, please contact us on the web page tab or follow the link

http://www.closertohomewalks.org.uk/

Operation Nemesis – Staffordshire Police Keeping You Updated

Inspector Martin Brereton of Staffordshire Police said that on Thursday 6th October the police executed searches relating to drug dealing at addresses in the Stoke North Area. The Inspector goes onto say, I am now able to update that 16 people have been arrested as a result of this targeted police operation.

Thursday’s activities formed part of a pre-planned operation targeting specific addresses of those believed to be involved in drug-related crime and serious acquisitive crime, which includes burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.

Officers have taken action as a result of community concerns about suspicious activity taking place at the properties.

Warrents were executed at 20 locations as part of Staffordshire Police’s ongoing Operation Nemesis campaign and officers have also arrested people suspected of serious acquisitive crime.

All those arrested have been taken to the force’s Northern Area Custody Facility at Etruria (NACF) where they will be questioned.

Officers are carrying out detailed searches at each address and neighbourhood police officers are conducting high visibility patrols to reassure local residents.