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Memories : Essence Of The 50s And 60s

At primary school in the 1950's discipline was strict, but physical punishment quite rare. Not so at grammar school up to the early 1960's. There, one or two of the teachers (we had to call them 'masters') were notorious for handing out physical punishment for even minor breaches of discipline. I was once on the receiving end of a powerful slap across the face, and when I had the opportunity I went to see the headmaster, who listened politely but did nothing. He more or less told me to 'man up', as the expression is these days. I too couldn't wait to leave school, but funnily enough as time went on I began to miss it.

G
 
My Dad also showed very little affection or emotion Viv, but he wasn't over strict in fact he was fairly easy going. If he was angry with you it was because you really had misbehaved. My Mum was the disciplinarian in our household and certainly could fly off the handle for the slightest misdemeanour. I have two sisters one older and one younger. Although parents arn't supposed to have favourites, and they never said so, it is fair to say my younger sister was my Dads favourite, whilst I was my Mums favourite.
When my Mum was in one of her bad moods, casting a black cloud over the house, and everyone feeling like they were walking on eggshells, they would send me into the kitchen where she would be quietly smouldering, to pacify her. My usual ploy was to put my arm around her, and because I was taller than her in my teenage years I would look down on her and say "What's up Mum" with a little shake. "Don't try to get round me"she would say looking up at me, "Aw Mum" I would say giving her another little squeeze, at which point she would start laughing. Job done, tension broken. I was the only person in the house that could do that.
Both parents were stricter with my two sisters than with me. I could get away with murder ,especially in my late teens I could almost arrive home at night at any time, whilst strict curfews for my sisters. Even my older sister had to be home earlier than me, and she is 2 1/2 years older than me. This led to her saying "why could stay I out later" to which the reply was "but he's a boy".
For all there faults, and haven't we all got some, I loved them to bits and had a happy childhood. I so miss them
 
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Vivienne14 said:
It's really interesting to read everyone's memories of the 1950s/60s. I too look back with nostalgia on the 1950s, but for me I think time has clouded over what was really going on in my family home. Not sure whether this was how it was for others, but my 1950s were a bit odd. My dad found it difficult to show affection. Don't really know why, maybe it was generally how men were or maybe it was because of his WW2 experiences.

Or maybe my dad was just very old-fashioned and didn't see the need for showing affection or for frivolous spending. From memory he never bought us anything. My mum put it down to him being 'tight' as she called it. But maybe he was careful and thrifty. He wasn't short of money by any means. But I suppose, because he'd provided the roof over our heads, he thought his job was done. At the time, I simply thought this was typical of most other families. Was this the same for others ?

Whereas my mum was the complete opposite. She was a very caring mum who worked exceptionally hard all her life. She went out of her way to get us everything she could. I don't ever remember going without, far from it. She was definitely part of the newer movement of working women. And whether by choice or by need, she certainly enjoyed what she did and moved wholeheartedly into the 1960s.

Needless to say, my mum struck out for independence and they eventually divorced. This was a very unpleasant process in the 1970s. But in time she found her independence.

Shall now replace my rose-tinted specs !!!

Viv.
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It made me really sad to read your post. I am the oldest of 5 children and all through my life growing up in the 50s I knew nothing but love from both my Mum and Dad. Don't get me wrong, Dad was quite strict with us and we all often had a smack if we misbehaved, but he worked hard to provide us with everything we needed and I can honestly say I've never been hungry, I've always had a roof over my head and clothes on my back. We had holidays every year even if it was in a tent at Weston. Both my parents tried to guide us morally and taught us to think "there for the grace of god" when looking at people less fortunate.
It may have something to do with their own upbringing. Neither of them had a particularly wonderful childhood. Mum was the youngest of 13 children and was often left to fend for herself while her Mum went off for days on end. Dad's dad was a drinker and often beat his wife in front of his children so perhaps they, like you, made sure that their kids would never undergo what they did.
 
Viv, I couldn't remember which thread your post about your Dad was on so it's taken me a while to respond.

I had a very happy childhood and was well loved by both of my parents (according to my cousin I was really spoiled but hey-ho!)
Looking back, Mom was far more hands on than Dad but I think that was partly the amount of time he was at work. I did get the occasional slap but I know that what when I had pushed them too far (quite often as I recall!)
My overall sense of him was one of disappointment. He came from a very working class background and his older sister passed to go to King Edwards. Nan & Grandad managed to buy her equipment and uniform (which was no small feat in the 1920's) but she couldn't cope and had to leave after 6 months. I think that the divide between the 'haves' and 'have nots' was much wider then, although I found it a shock when I went to Erdington Grammar in the 50's, and so did my cousin when she went to Sutton Girls, but that's another story.
Dad was very clever but understandably perhaps he wasn't given the chance to try for the grammar school as Lillian hadn't stayed the course and Dad remained at Slade Road. He ended up at the Co-op on Stockland Green. This lack of education had a knock-on effect during the war as far as promotion in the navy was concerned but it was even worse when he came back to civvie street and found himself with nowhere to live and a wife and son to support.
My brother, two years older than me and born before Dad was demobbed, was very clever and hard working. I do believe Dad resented his success at school and made his life very unhappy which is extremely sad. Dad wouldn't let him go to university although he had the qualifications and had to wait until he was in his 50's to do this. Dad died when I was 16 so we never got a chance to talk things out.
I think the saddest thing is when my niece said to me 'Why do you remember your dad with affection and my dad doesn't?'
 
Vivienne14 said:
Hi Mbenne. Not heard of bleach deliveries before. Like you say, could've been local. Strange you should mention the 'Christmas Box'. Don't think many people do that these days. We always did for the Coalman, the Dustman, the Baker and the Milkman. Don't know how much was given to each though. Whatever it was, it was a gesture of appreciation. Can't say I'd want to get up at the hours of a milkman in those days, in all weathers too driving a cold, open-sided milk float. Viv.
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I worked for Midland Counties Dairy in 1967 in my younger days and at Xmas you would get an average of 2'6d a customer and with 420 customers it was a tidy sum. joe90
 
We have newspaper home delivery. Every Christmas we get a card from the carrier and my wife leaves him/her a card with $20...
Dave Sr.
 
They had all these in Finchley Park in Kingstanding!
30624524_941532366024503_8318577461173414903_n.jpg
 
I'm sure I read in the paper this week that Wickstead Park is considering bringing back all these rides as part of a heritage museum or some such. Wickstead (or is it Wicksteed?) of course manufactured most of those rides.
 
We had the 'witches hat' and 'spider's web' in Shortheath Park. We also had a thing we called the 'bumper' - long flat beam with handles on top. Four people sat on the beam and one stood at each end 'pumping'.
 
There used to be a ‘spider web’ roundabout over Short Heath park, on Court Lane. There was an older lad, Robert DeLoyde who would get into the centre and push us round at incredible mind-numbing speed. It was a dare to go on with Robert pushing, only the very brave or the very stupid.

He could push it so fast; the blood would run out of your head and you would go faint and feel like you were taking off. I’m sure I did more than once. Robert was ace, we loved it.
 
Soap leaves, which for some reason came into my mind today. We used to take them on long train journeys, I think. You can still buy them!
 
Yes you can Maria. I think Dreft is flakes. Nowadays used for washing woollens and delicates. Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Yes you can Maria. I think Dreft is flakes. Nowadays used for washing woollens and delicates. Viv.
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Are we thinking about two different things here? I certainly recall Dreft and Lux soap flakes. But, there was also soap leaves, a thin sheet of soap for washing your hands with. The ones I remember came as a pack with a paper towel and a soap leaf. The old science museum in Newhall Street had a coin operated dispenser outside the loos.
 
Yes, I mean a "book" of leaves. I don't remember them in dispensing machines, though, but it sounds a good idea. A few years ago, a friend gave me some National Trust ones - which I've mislaid!

I think you can get liquid Dreft now.
 
Astoness said:
smashing photo of the kids in finchley park BB..any idea of the year??

lyn
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By the mini skirted girls I'd say sixties Lyn.

I spent many hours on those rides back in the forties, I learned about 'centrifugal force' on one of the roundabouts (not shown there ) when the bigger boys spun it around so fast that I flew off. :mad:
 
Astoness said:
smashing photo of the kids in finchley park BB..any idea of the year??

lyn
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Hi Lyn, the photos were taken in Birmingham but sadly not in Finchley Park, I just stumbled across them. I'm led to believe they were taken in Birmingham in the 1960s. Finchley Park did have all these things, though!
My first park playground was Blews Street / Walmer's Recreation Ground and here is my favourite item then, the small steam engine. I spent many long hot summer evenings playing on this and in this letting my imagination run riot! Here it is, I'm welling up thinking about it!
index.php
 
RE the Finchley Road photos. Remember those slides used to get scorching hot, so much so you risked burning yourself on hot summer days. Viv.
 
Barr_Beacon said:
Hi Lyn, the photos were taken in Birmingham but sadly not in Finchley Park, I just stumbled across them. I'm led to believe they were taken in Birmingham in the 1960s. Finchley Park did have all these things, though!
My first park playground was Blews Street / Walmer's Recreation Ground and here is my favourite item then, the small steam engine. I spent many long hot summer evenings playing on this and in this letting my imagination run riot! Here it is, I'm welling up thinking about it!
index.php
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It would be nice to know the provenance of this old engine.
 
As it was a city recreation area maybe the engine was originally part of the Corporations working fleet? I note that the Walmer place is now given over to housing.
Addendum: Interesting 1952 clip, Vivienne, but I did not see mention of Blews Street, or was one of the other roads mentioned the same place?
 
Radiorails said:
It would be nice to know the provenance of this old engine.
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This link may provide the answer...
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/aston-brook-street.36325/
"I wonder if anybody has any information on the year that this steam engine was put in the park at Aston Brook St. The reason i am asking is i believe it may have been put there by my late father.
He worked for a firm called Cauldles ( not sure of the spelling) they were Grey colored trucks doing Heavy Haulage work. They used to be on the Coventry Rd, Sheldon, just down from the picture house on the same side. The year would have beenbetween the mid 50s early 60s. I can remember as a kid going with him to put a engine in a Aston park.
So any info on the year it was put there and any info would be appreciated."
 
Blews St park was a regular spot for us to play in the late 40's and early 50's. It was close to Cowper St school too...no grass there, just gravel and that steam engine wasn't there.
Dave A
 
The link provided by Barr Beacon does clear up the road names I asked about. Post 3 of that thread mentions an alternative name of Aston Brook Street and that is one of the names mentioned in the newspaper clipping. The post here, 140, does suggest where the engine might have originated; I believe the council would have used their own transport if the engine had belonged to them.
 
Barr_Beacon said:
Hi Lyn, the photos were taken in Birmingham but sadly not in Finchley Park, I just stumbled across them. I'm led to believe they were taken in Birmingham in the 1960s. Finchley Park did have all these things, though!
My first park playground was Blews Street / Walmer's Recreation Ground and here is my favourite item then, the small steam engine. I spent many long hot summer evenings playing on this and in this letting my imagination run riot! Here it is, I'm welling up thinking about it!
index.php
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oops sorry BB i should have read that post properly:rolleyes:...back to walmer park..how well i remember that engine as well as my aunt lived in bracebridge st and i would stay weekends sometimes and myself and cousin would play in the park/rec...happy days and thanks for the photo of the engine as well...just as an aside and you may well know this already but newtown row and the high st used to be called walmer lane..many years ago of course..as for the origins of the engine and who put it there(and also what happened to it) we have a couple of members who maybe able to check the newspaper archives for you as it may have been reported...fingers crossed..actually if memory serves me right i think we have a thread for walmer rec

lyn
 
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