housing

[pamela 1944]

Ok all you leylanders....I need help in finding either a council house exchange or a private let ( at a sensible rent) My grand-daughter has gained a place at Runshaw and I need to get back to my roots. Soooooooo I need the help of you good people to let me know if you spot anything . 2 or 3 bedrooms will do just fine....my house ( if its a swap is a 3 bed.Thanks []

[MjO]

Pam, as I dont live in Leyland I cannot help you in your search, but if I do hear of anything I will obviously let you know. I know its off topic, and regarding the Withnells, Tommy built our fitted kitchen in Leyland, and knew Peter quite well, and remember Tommy building Peter a Guitar from a 50's article in the Pratical Woodworking, which I also followed after sending for the back issues. I dont remember many people from Fox Lane itself apart from Peter, although I seem to remember a John Deacon on the opposite side, I think his mother was a cleaner at the Infant School for a number of years, and seem to remember a girl that lived somewhere between Peters house and Lords Butchers, who had some health issues at the time, and cant remember whether or not whacker(Ian Watkinson) lived in Fox Lane, I think he would be possibly about 63-4 by now. I remember Jack Platts workshop in the ginnel that led past the Junior School and into Cow Lane, from there you could cut through into Spring Gardens, some quite large families there as I remember, some names that spring to mind, Farrels, Andersons, Brundretts, Hampsons. Across from the Old Gas Lamp you you could walk down the third ginnel which led into Westgate between the O'Donnells and the Gills. I remember a big fight being staged one night between Michael Jackson and Joe Farrell, which all turned out to see, and after a cut lip and burst nose it all calmed down, I seem to remember Michael having a young sister called Hilary, who always walked with her head on one side, this turned out to be something very serious and she sadly died possibly only about 7 years of age. I wish you luck in your search, and your grand-daughter in whatever subject she undertakes ...

[rocketmanjohn]

Ian Watkinson did live on Fox Lane, about the fourth or fifth house from the top. He's been dead for many years now, I was told he was badly beaten by the police and died of his injuries. It was'nt surprising really, Ian liked a good punch up on a Saturday night and the cops were frequently called. He would have been 60 now, had he lived. Ian was one of the cleverest people I knew, he flew through O and A levels without trying, but he was odd, and never progressed in a career of any kind.
His older brother, Alan, was still alive a couple of years ago, although with a severe alcohol problem. Alan was one of the original Leyland 'Teds' and wore the longest drape jackets [so did Ian] and the tightest drainpipes. Alan was one of the original rockers and road a potent BSA Road Rocket, and although pretty wild, he was an alright guy. Happy memories.
I think there was an older sister, Sheila.
John

[Karen]

Hi John,

Ian died early in 1976 at age 32 from a sub arachnoid brain haemorrhage .. it was a genetic problem.
He had returned to the Merchant Navy and was just about to graduate from training school when he passed away.
He had worked at Fishwicks after leaving and then returning to the Merchant Navy.
Drivers from Fishwicks carried his casket into church and I think his fellow cadets carried him out.
He was much loved.
His sister Joan who lived in South Africa died at age 34 later the same year .. from the same cause .. such a tragedy.

Alan is alive and well and sober.
He still has the same dry, sharp sense of humor.
His mother(my mother's best friend) made my birthday
cake each year.... Alan who is 9 days older than me offered to decorate my Sweet Sixteen cake.
It was a pink and white confection ..
with a "Ban the Bomb" peace sign .....
His mother was mortifed ...
I was thrilled to little mint balls!![][]

Ciao Karen.

[pamela 1944]

MjO how lovely that we know the same families.........the Watkinsons played a big part in our lives as children,,Karen was it at their house that we watched the coronation on the telly?? Auntie Hilda (watkinson)looked after me when my younger brother (nigel) was very ill when i was 5.I went to see Mrs Whithnell about 13 years ago ( i hadnt seen her for about 40 yrs) and as she answered the door she knew who I was instantly......I remember that Peters sister ( her name evades me at the moment duhhhhh) used to make minature dolls from wire and cotton wool and used to make dresses for them beautifully, they all used to be lined up in the whithnells 'front' room.,..happy memories

[LDunlop76]

Pam, I googled 'council house exchange' and came up with this:
http://www.council-exchange.org.uk/
It might be worth a look........

[MjO]

John/Karen, thank you for enlightening me regarding Ian and his sister, a very sad state of affairs that one, and to think that both brother and sister died in the same year aged 32 and 34 respectively, is quite simply tragic. I dont remember Ian being an aggressive type at all, everybody as I seem to remember just called him whack or whacker, and there was usually three of them that mated together, I think for quite a while they used come to our meeting spot via the Vicars Fields at Atherton-Clough where we had an underground den and a rope swing over the river ... but all in all, Very Sad ...

And sorry to Pam, I didn't know or remember Whithnell had the 'h'

[rocketmanjohn]

Sorry if I gave the impression that Ian was aggressive, it only happened after too many beers. Other than that, he was'nt at all aggressive. There was a crew of 4 or 5 of us when we were 15 or so, myself, Colin Hunter, Clarence Whittle, Geoff Liptrot and of course Ian. Ian wore the most outrageous clothing and I often admired his boldness, he once bought a drape jacket from Jacksons in Preston, made to measure. He asked to see the linings first [you could choose the lining in those days] which the assistant duly produced from the sample book. Ian chose a bright blue silk like material and then ordered the whole jacket to be made from the same material. What a laugh.
John

[anacortesdamp]

John:

I assume Geoff Liptrot was Eric's younger brother. Eric was in my classes at Fox Lane Juniors. Joan Watkinson was also in my class. I recall a recent posting where her daughter was in touch from SA.

If I remember rightly, the Watkinson family lived at number 10 Fox Lane, the Newtons (Raymond was in my class) at number 12 and the Hodges (Bill was in my class) about number 48.

Frank

[pamela 1944]

LOL MjO........whithnel or withnel........I'm not sure what it was !!!!!!!!.......maybe I like the 'posh' version of whithnel hahahaha !!!!