Some Comments (and a lot of memories) Received About This Site!!

I would like to thank those of you who have taken time to share your memories with me, I very much enjoy your emails and do reply if I have the time. So keep those emails coming and share your memories with the frequent visitors to this site.

Have been using computers for almost ever but it has taken a long time for me to get on to the Internet and now, at a ripe old 77 I am finding it fascinating. I have taken the liberty of copying your whole site onto my hard disk so that I can digest and savour it all at leisure!

I was born in Liverpool (West Derby) in 1923 and always wanted to go to sea. The best I could manage were trips to New Brighton on the "Royal Daffodil" and "Royal Iris" and can recall once walking out into the sea in my new suit right up to my arm pits!

I did manage in 1939 to get a job with the Cunard White Star line and was sent to RMS "Andania" and completed a voyage to Montreal and Quebec. As the fates would have it we arrived back in Liverpool on 3rd September 1939 - the day war was declared. "Andania" was taken to the dockyards in Birkenhead and rapidly transformed into an armed merchant cruiser and shortly afterwards was torpedoed and sunk off Iceland whilst I was told that it was the end of my seafaring career.

Before I forget, one of the interesting features at New Brighton when I was a kid, was the so called "One Legged Diver" who used to dive off the pier or landing stage for money! I have never forgotten him!

I worked at the prestigious Aldelphi Hotel in Liverpool and went through the blitz when the Adelphi was hit by a landmine. I later had a personal introduction to Winston Churchill when I removed a nail from his shoe for him - honestly it DID happen!

In 1942 I joined the RN as a Sick Berth Attendant and after training at Barrow Gurney was drafted to Iceland for 10 months and eventually came out to Australia with the British Pacific Fleet - so this Liverpool lad DID getto go away to sea after all!

This e-mail is to tell you that tonight I found your fabulous "Pandora's Box" and thought it wonderful for all us expatriate "Scouses" scattered around this now tiny world. On a sadder note I found details of the terrible disaster involving the submarine HMS "Thetis" that sank with the loss of 100 lives in Liverpool Bay.

Thank you for filling my soul with nostalgia and memories of buckets and spades, Donkey rides and Punch and Judy and my dear departed dad with a knotted handkerchief on his head.

With heartfelt thanks

Kenneth Williams

My name is Cheryl and i now live in Adelaide south Australia. I was born and raised in Liverpool 36 years ago. Your site has brought back many wonderful memories of driving through the Mersey tunnel with my family, and driving past all the streets that had the sea at the bottom of them and getting more and more excited the nearer we got. We used to buy the best fish and chips in the world (I travelled extensively before reaching this my final destination) so I know this for a fact!!?!! Is the shop still there? It used to be opposite the Chelsea Reach. Is that still there?

I am so impressed with the work that you have put into this site and I will continue to return for more golden memories thank you so much for taking the time to put this site together!!.

Excellent site. I was born in Wallasey in 1951 and lived at various times in Belgrave Street, Queensway and Vyner Road. I was at Wallasey Tech' b/w 1962 and 1968.

1966 had to be the year, I spent all summer at New Brighton baths. I can't believe that it's gone. I remember some Bulgarian Footballers being there one day taking a break from the World Cup at Goodison. I also was lucky enough to see Portugal v N.Korea 5 - 3 and Liverpool winning the title again!

I also used to have a Saturday job on Horace Hibbert's bread van. I think they were on Martins Lane by the Primrose Pub.

And who remembers Radio Caroline North? I have a picture of the ship hanging in my office now. The film the 'Magnet' mentioned by another writer was an Ealing comedy made in 1950.

Keep up the good work I'll write some more soon.

Andy Brizell (West Midlands)

I'm Danda Humphreys (Morris as was). I grew up on Magazine Brow in Wallasey in the 1940s and 50s. We moved to Alexandra Road, NB in 1958 and I lived there till starting nursing training.

What a trip down Memory Lane this has been! I practically lived at New Brighton Fairground in the summer -- I used to sneak out on my roller skates and race along the prom with a penny or whatever I'd been given. Never tasted Candy Floss so good as I tasted it there. And never went on a ride so often as I went on the Big Wheel and that one where you stuck to the wall. What was it called? It was a one-word name that sounded as awfully thrilling as the ride itself. Won my first talent competition prize (a pencil case) singing "Counting Your Blessings" on NB pier (my father was furious when he found out). Went to many a dance at the Tower Ballroom. Spent a huge part of every summer at NB Pool -- our Mum used to pack a picnic and we spent the whole day there, always sitting in the same spot, right down to the very same bench! As children, we went to the NB Pool on Opening Day every single year. It was quite the ritual, marked by going down the slide. First you climbed the cold iron ladder. Then you sat shivering at the top, with that ice-cold water running out from under your legs. Then, because everyone was yelling at you to "Get on with it!", you pushed off, holding your nose, and . . . Oh! The shock of that freezing cold water!It really took your breath away! But what a thrill, to have braved yet another Opening Day with the best of them.

I've lived in Canada now for almost 30 years, but have never forgotten that pool. This brought back so many memories! I'm coming over for a visit next May. My sister lives in Willaston now. We always go on a pilgrimage to Wallasey and NB. Won't be the same without the old pool.

I write about LOCAL history here in Victoria, Vancouver Island, and have just published a book! My first! Quite a thrill.

Good for you. Great web site!

Danda

Looking over your site and found it very interesting.

I came to New Brighton as a kid in the sixties from Birkenhead and have strong memories of the place. I like to visit as often as possible and always watch the old Ealing film "The Magnet" do you know it. It was made in 1950 and shot mainly on location in new brighton which is fascinating to see. I wonder if any of your visitors have any recollections of the film..ie were they extras in it as they used alot of locals. It would be wonderful to hear from you with any information on this. Meanwhile I shall keep visiting your site. Bye for now,

Keith. keith@bissoid.freeserve.co.uk

I'm not from New Brighton but have very fond memories of going there as a young child in the 60's.

I was born and brought up in Shrewsbury but both my parents came from Birkenhead and my grandparents lived there in Birch Rd Oxton. Every summer our holiday involved going to stay with my grandparents whilst my mum & dad went away together on his scooter!

One of the highlights of going to Birkenhead was going to New Brighton which for me was the only experience I ever had of seaside holidays. We loved it. For a start, we used to be able to go on the top deck of the bus to get there (Shrewsbury never had double decker buses!) and we all used to be desperately looking out to see who could see the sea first! There was the excitement of just seeing the place - it always seemed so breezy and bright and full of promise.

The first thing we did was go to the funfair where we used to have a go at hooking out a duck to see if it had a lucky number on the bottom - it never did!!

We watched Punch & Judy had donkey rides but the best thing was just digging in the sand to try and get to Australia!

For years, I always thought that the seaside meant a view across to oil storage tanks and docks which seemed so normal to me. Later in life I never quite got used to an uninterrupted view to the horizon!! For me New Brighton was and always will be the ultimate beach holiday destination.

Once we grew up (early teens) we stopped going and I went back age 24 in 1983 to see what it was like. You will know obviously but it was bleak and seemed to bear no relation to my earlier memories. I now have a 4 year old daughter and we've been to see New Brighton and been on the ferry although the magic seems to be rooted in the past (we're off to Florida next week which is I guess how things move on with each generation).

But the reason I was looking up your site was because quite out of the blue my daughter asked me this morning about "the song you used to sing with Grandma" after some prompting i found out she meant "ferry across the mersey" and i was trying to get the lyrics. So maybe a bit of the magic has seeped in to her!!

Take care and thanks for making me think back. When I was a kid I would have been so jealous of anyone who actually lived there!!

Cheers

Mike

Regards, David

My name is Brian Scott, in 1928 I was sent to live with my grandparents in New Brighton. I remained with them until 1942 when I joined the RAF.

I attended Vaughan Road School and then the Wallasey Central School which originally was sited at Vaughan Rd and then moved to Coronation Street. I believe that building is now the Weatherhead School.

Your web site is really a fabulous and most interesting production and you are to be congratulated for undertaking such a project.

As you can imagine, I have reached that age when I find my thoughts turning back to my earlier years and your site has highlighted memories of my youth spent in the best place that one could choose.

I was informed of the New Brighton Site by an old school friend of Vaughan Rd days, Kathleen Calver (nee Sumner) who now lives in Tasmania.

We correspond via email quite frequently.

I have also been able to contact Bill Frost, another old school chum of Central School days, he is living in the Lake District and I shall inform him of your site.

After the war I came out to Canada in 1947 and have lived in most of the Provinces, due to a number of years in the RCAF.

My wife and I have visited N.B. a number of times over the years and I was most disturbed to see that little had been done to clean up Victoria Road from the results of the blitz. I was also shocked to find the swimming pool demolished as a result of a storm, but what really surprised me was to find that there was no plan to rebuild it. That, I think, was a major reason for the decline in the area's popularity as a holiday resort.

However, on more recent visits I was pleased to see that re-construction of Victoria Road was well under way.

I think, Diane, that is enough for now, my intention was simply to thank you for affording me a great deal of pleasure.

Thank you again. Sincerely,

Brian Scott.

Thanks for all the time you spent trying to find my family home "Montebello". Through your wonderful pages a gentleman wrote to our family that he used to live next door in a home called "The Slopes". My PICKERING family occupied "Montebello" St. Georges Mount from about 1860 to 1893 and I was wondering if any of your readers might be familiar with the home.

I've never been to New Brighton but through my genealogy research I can see that our family has very strong ties with the area and I can't wait to plan my trip to England next year - New Brighton will be my first stop! Thanks again for your beautiful website.

Connie Pickering Stover, stover@goodnet.com

I was the person who wrote asking about "Montebello" on St. Georges Mount. Well, since you wrote to me I received two letters from gentlemen who lived nearby in the 1940's and remembers it well. I hope you'll visit my website again and read what they had to say. I would love it if you would link my page to yours somehow. Could that be done? I believe one of the gentlemen found me through your comments pages, but I'm not sure.

Anyhow, thank you for your wonderful pages. They really help us get a flavor of what New Brighton is and was like. I really look forward to vising in the next few years. I am planning to make the trip to Liverpool and continue my research.

Please visit us again - and click on "Montebello"

I would love to hear your comments.

Regards,

Connie Pickering Stover

http://www.goodnet.com/~stover

I also emigrated with my mother and brother from Liverpool in about 1942 to New Brighton, and never looked back for a moment - in 1953 I crossed the water again, this time to Canada, and have lived here ever since - but New Brighton still feels like home.

Very best wishes - keep up the good work

Peter

I have fond memories of my early teens at the baths including some of my first romantic encounters. Together with my five brothers and sister, we staked our claim to a favourite spot each day of the school holidays,(the sun was hotter and lasted longer in those days it seemed) and we didn't leave until the pool men chased us out. Getting in was an adventure and a challenge when funds were short, but I won`t go into that here. (We all tried it.)

My two daughters, too young to remember even seeing the demolition, find it hard to believe there ever was this magical place in New Brighton, even when confronted with photographic evidence, and looking at the area now, sometimes so do I.

Paul

I'm not sure if the following will be of any interest to you for inclusion into you "history", but I came across it the other day and thought I'd send it on to you. On D Day the British troops landing on Gold, Juno and Sword beaches were commanded by General Miles P. Dempsey. (b. Dec15, 11896 - d. June5, 1969) . I knew of Dempsey's part in the invasion, what I didn't know was that he was born in New Brighton. It's only a tiny nugget, I'm afraid. I don't know of any other "important" people (with the possible exception of you and me) whose port of entry to the world was New Brighton.

Regards. Ron Pollitt.

Came across your site quite by accident and what a lovely accident.

We grew up in Ellesmere Port and spent many Sunday picnics in New Brighton, what lovely memories I have. Our family moved to South Africa in 1983 and we all have fond memories, I am now in Australia and cant wait to forward this sight on to my sisters back in SA. Many thanks for a lovely site, keep up good work.

tracey bache

My friends at the time were Ann Taylor and Alison Heap. Does anyone remember Phil Steggles? He danced for Ruby Flipper on Top of the Pops. I also have a sister Tracey if anyone remembers her. Does anyone remember Debbie Yates? Yvonne Brewer, Lyn Steen, David Williams, Alison Liptrot, John McGlasson? Philip Christensen (Tubby) David Grey (Brainbox) Julie and Karen McLean (the triplets!) Irene Ellison? Please contact me if you do.

Caroline Marks (nee Fairall) now living a sensible life in London!

Caroline

caroline_marks@bigfoot.com

Thanks for the memories - Jon Pinnington

Sure you know that the Beatles played the Tower amongst many others, John lennon is quoted in the Beatles Biog SHOUT that "some fella threw a brick at me and just missed me head ,we didn't like playing the tower after that! anyway that's all for now, best wishes Sean.

I remember the ferries well, having been born in Upper Brighton in 1937, then moving to New Brighton, going to Vaughan Rd. school, Wallasey Technical school (Coronation Ave) and then commuting by ferry to Liverpool University.

My mother lived in New Brighton most of her life and died only a couple of years ago. My father died some years back but I believe lived all of his life there. I still have an Aunt living there.

I remember when you found it difficult to move along Victoria road just after the war as it was so crowded with holidaymakers.

Good luck with the site......................Tom Mather.

I stumbled on your site quite by chance and what pleasant memories it revived.

I was born, and indeed still live, in Birkenhead and spent many enjoyable days in New Brighton like so many others who live locally.

I can remember as a child swimming from the beach into the waters of the Mersey. Not something I would encourage my own children to do these days.One memory I have that doesn't seem to have been mentioned in your pages is the New Brighton joke shop. It was situated in a road that ran parallel to Victoria Road. We would often make the journey to New Brighton just to stockup on stink bombs.

I still go down to New Brighton with my own children and walk along the front. Watching the enthusiasts with their model boats on the miniature boating lake. But, alas, the place has never rekindled those halcyon days despite all the good intentions we keep reading about in the local papers.

Still, it's nice that your pages can preserve those memories. Who said nostalgia is not what it used to be <g>

Gary Holmes. ÙøÙ

I'm an ex-Liverpudlian who is writing to you from Cincinnati, OH, USA. What fun to visit your website and relive fond memories of my childhood when we would go the "New Brighton Baths" as we called it back the. The first time we were there it was like an Enchanted World to us and we did not have swimsuits with us. I can't believe we knew so little about hygeine , but my Mum actually rented horribly itchy woolly bathing costumes that were available on site. The underparts came down to your knees in the water, but we had a wonderful time anyway even though we would turn blue with the cold. We were there many times in the late forties up to the mid fifties (with our own suits - even we knew enough to draw the line). Still have snapshots of my whole family lined up for some reason in front of a great weighing machine.

Going to New Brighton used to be the highlight of our summer. So sad to see it all washed away in a storm I'm getting a book ready for publication on my own Liverpool past and I thoroughly enjoyed the walk down memory lane that your website provided.

Thanks for the memories

Margaret Freedman

Thanks for the memories - Jon Pinnington

Wandered into your web site on New Brighton, delightfull. I was born and raised in New Brighton, bombed out of our home in 1940, lived in Liverpool, and the family returned to New Brighton in 1945. We lived in the "Slopes" St Georges Mount, and I have many fond memories of New Brighton Pool, the Tower Ballroom, the Promenade and the adventures as a boy exploring the "Red Noses." I have a good book, "The Rise and Progress of Wallasey," by E.C.Woods & P.C.Brown, first published in 1929 with a second edition in 1960. I also have a copy of a small book entitled Wallasey Urban District Council, Year Book for 1900-1901.

Although I left Wallasey in 1958 for the United States, I have many fond memories. My Uncle owned the tobacinest shop in Liscard, and at one time the family was well known in Wallasey. My eldest brother owned the Real Estate company, Bakewell & Son. I would be happy to share with you any memories or facts I have, growing up in the area.

My Web address is - davidjb@jps.net

Just browsing and your Web caught my eye. You have done an excellent job, with lots of care. I have memories of many happy visits to New Brighton on one of those bright yellow double deck buses from my home in Birkenhead, in the late twenties/early thirties.

Good luck for the future, to you. Bill Clark.

I have enjoyed reading your page, as I used to live in Wallasey, and spent a lot of time in New Brighton, now living in Canada since 1948.

I was reading comments by others, and regarding the one signed by Nick, looking for pictures of the Red Noses, there is such a picture on a web site http://www.wmc.mernet.org.uk/~MCromby/cbt/bintro.htm I also have a web page, with a memory page of Wallasey, a couple of Pictures of New Brighton. http://www.bconnex.net/~dverdin

Have a happy New Year

Regards Don

The last time Miss Eliza Jane Hartill saw New Brighton was in 1891 for at the age of 21, she sailed from her home in Liverpool. She must have loved New Brighton for there are photographs of her as a sweet little old lady enjoying holidays on the beaches of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, U. S. A., with a faraway look in her eyes. I was delighted to visit your page and see some of the sites she left behind 108 years ago. I never met this great-grandmother; however, her happy memories of excursions to New Brighton Beach were passed down to me. Keep up your fine efforts to preserve a National treasure.

Stephanie

Mississippi, U.S.A.

Thanks For The Memories. I am from Birkenhead originaly but spent many a great day in New Brighton.

Does any one else remember the Tivoli theatre? My granmother used to take me there,especialy at Christmas time for the pantomime. Been living in Canada since 1975 but get home often and always spend some time in New Brighton.

Len Tudor

I will keep my eye out for any further info, best wishes to N.B..

ALAN PARKINSON

Lionel

Just a quick note to say what superb web pages! My interest in New Brighton goes back to when I was a small child in the 1950s and we used to travel each year from Liverpool to Belfast to see my relatives. As we used to sail from Liverpool at dusk, the lights of New Brighton used to twinkle across the Mersey and to a small child like myself it used to look like a magical land. By the time I actually got round to visiting the town in the early 1970s there was just enough left to give an idea of what the resort must once have been like. In a junk shop opposite the station I purchased some picture postcards of the resort at the turn of the century and a 1964 guide. With those and the aid of a street map I was able to wander round and discover quite a lot of places I would have otherwise missed.

Since then I have visited the resort several times since then and always found it strangely fascinating, although each time I visit there is alwaysanother bit of history missing. On my last visit at the end of last year I was saddened to find the bottom half of Victoria Road missing and replaced by housing.

I am pleased that at last people are taking the history of the resort seriously, not only are there your web pages, but Anthony Miller's excellent book too.

Best wishes

Chris Clegg (Birmingham)

(California)

Thanks again for the memory recharge.

Tony

I was born in Liverpool and have not been in New Brighton for over 50 years. As a small child I crossed the Mersey many times to play in the sands of New Brighton.

My uncle had a toy store. I believe it was in New Brighton, Egremont or Seacombe. I don't know if I have the spelling correct. I could not open your picture of the Ferries. But I remember taking the ferries from the Liverpool pier head or going through the Mersey tunnel. Thanks for the memories. I book marked your page.

Best regards

Hy

(California.)

Regards, Jeanette. Kansas City, USA

Reference to an earlier posting on your site.........yesterday we arrived back in the US after taking our 9 1/2 yr. old grandson from St. Louis, Missouri on his first visit to my homeland. What a thrill it was to see this child running on the sands of New Brighton, the very place where I spent endless happy hours many many ago. I think New Brighton and the Ferry boat ride were the highlights of his trip. We have 7 more grandchildren waiting in the wings (oh my!) WONDERFUL just doesn't seem adequate.

Jeanette, Kansas City, USA

I am an American but spent a lot of my childhood in New Brighton. It brought back some great memories, especially the castle and the ballroom. Just need pictures of the Red Noses -- where we used to play on Sunday's -- to complete the memories.

Great Web Page,

Nick

Pamela

I came across your site tonight after a call from my nephew, Dave.

Congratulations ! In my book it`s a winner.

I`m 52 and was born in Wallasey, with New Brighton being a continual source of enjoyment to me up to my late teens. I spent many a happy day there with family, friends, or just alone.

I would dearly love to see some regeneration of the old place but I really think that the Council is just paying lip-service - but you never know - here`s hoping.

I wrote a song some years back called "Where`s New Brighton Gone ?" I think it says it all.

Anyway enough of that, I`m going all melancholy.

Interesting site, well laid out - I`ll visit again.

Regards,

Ian

I think what has happened to places like these is that air travel has made any destination in the world more accessible -- so why go to a place a short ride away when you can fly to a Caribbean, Mediterranean or Pacific island.

But -- it is important for us to remember the wondrous things our grandparents experienced (certainly wondrous to them) -- or, perhaps, built.

Best regards,

Alan

NY, USA

I remember in 1960 when the chairlift was being built, my brother John and I were the first children to go up on it before it was open to the public as the men who built it lived in our road.....we lived in Balmoral Road. When I was in my teens the place I used to go was the KRAAL, later it became the Golden Guinea I dont know if its still open it was in 1996 when I last came home.

I used to work in the Chelsea Reach in 1972 when it first opened I think its called RJ's now?

I now live in Australia (Brisbane) and have done for quite a few years but I love to come home and walk on the Prom and walk in Vale Park (do they still have "childrens showtime" on the bandstand) and have a drink in the Mags and Pilot thats where I did all my courting. We are coming home next year in October i can't wait !!!!!

Best Regards

Suzanne

Australia (Brisbane)

thank you

Angela

Brisbane, Australia.

I loved your site. I was raised in Egremont and spent many happy hours in New Brighton. I also lived there on Shiel Road, when I got out of the Army. I worked there as a member of the Wallasey police in the 60s, before I came to Canada.

Bob Taylor

If you have any suggestions or comments regarding this site, I would love to hear from you!

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