Ah yes! Pheasey Community Centre. Thanks for this. No doubt already pin pointed as to its location. But I'll tell you what I think I know - because I can !
It was located next to the Collingwood Drive School, playground entrance, on Hillingford Ave. We called it "The Old Barn". I think I am correct to say that to the right of the single doorway was a group of about 40 or so mainly corrugated asbestos constructed garages [little did they know!!¬] - going down the Hillingford hill. The OB was, part of the complex where Boots the landlords of Pheasey had their hq. As a kid me and my mates used to visit the yard where, for some reason, there was a museum of old charabancs and construction vehicles. We could jump in the cabs of the vehicles and play running bus services or delivering building stuff - we had vivid imaginations in the 50's
I used to park my Austin Somerset (4 door by the way) in one of the lock up garages. It really was good for the ego to rent a garage, even at 19 yrs of age (1966). Garages were paramount in those days as winter starting of cars left to the elements was touch and go - mainly not go! Of course rust was also inherent in car manufacture then! What seem ridiculous now is that I walked 10 mins from our house on Leighton Close - down Linton Road - right Collingwood -up to the school and onto the garage site. The winding drive of the site was, too say the least, a car spring road test. Originally, the houses on the left and right of Hillingford going down from Collingwood junction were not there (built in the '60's) so getting to The Old Barn area from the back of the house on Leighton took 2 minutes or so walk. These fields were a blue bell wood with a flatish surface at the Tynedale end ready made for 17 a side football. Leighton Close and Linton - and there could have been other roads involved - held Coronation Sports Day on this field. My Mum and Dad had a rare Marconi TV and opened up there back door for families to have a peek at the Coronation. as it happened!
I think somewhere on this site I saw a copy of a dance ticket for the Community Centre - if this is the case more than likely my Dad, who became Secretary or was it Chairman of The Community Centre used to get tickets printed by Mr Tector who had his printing works in a wooden factory along Aldridge Road - the one off Queslett Rd - probably near to where Farmer John pub is nowadays.
Another point, earlier Pheasey Gardeners Guild (part of the Community Centre projects) used to have a garage/shed on this site where they the very latest garden composts and plant growth encouraging substances - it used to smell. The 'shop' was open every Sunday morning - Feb to October and was a gathering point for discussion on flowers and veg development and growth. They used to have 2 Flower Shows, annually, originally at the Community Centre and then in the hall of the school. I should know, my Dad was the G.G.club Secretary in the 50's going into the 60's -Bill Marsden. I well knew this as my job on Show days was firstly to help Dad carry all the paperwork, rosettes and certificates to the Old Barn/school and then, employed for pop and sweets, sweep the exhibition arena every hour on the hour of the show!
Most of that was 55 to 67 years ago - I need a drink. good luck to all!!