Mum worked in the café
My family moved to 42 Hanover Street when I was six years old in 1962. From the age of 11, I occasionally attended the school in Hanover Terrace, when I wasn’t jamming with my band. At some point the local brewery became a depot, so we were spared the smell. My mum Dotty worked in the cafe near the bottom of Southover Street. I remember that there was a lockup Hoover repair shop just below the Bricklayer’s Arms in Southover Street.
Vi in her blue nylon overall
On the bottom corner of Hanover Street/Islingword Road was Vi’s Corner Shop. I remember her wearing a blue nylon overall, and selling me things like individual sachets of shampoo. Also, as a child, I would be sent down Islingword Road to the paper shop, it is still in the same place – by the old entrance to the Co-Op Dairy, to buy 5 Park Drive cigarettes. We used to kick a football against the Co-Op dairy milk float garages in Hanover Street, much to the annoyance of the wife of the night working taxi driver opposite.
Early interest in girls
There was a greengrocer just up Islingword Road from Hanover Street, and one about three streets up in Southover Street. By about 1968-9 there were quite a lot of parked cars on the upper side of Hanover Street I seem to remember. I remember that I sat next to Val Harper in Elm Grove Junior School. It was a bit young for a boy to admit being interested in girls in those days. I did go out with Theresa Much from Hanover Street when we were 13/14 years old – for a whole fortnight!
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My family used to live in Hanover street with my auntie from about 1940 until about 1960 something. We lived at no 40.
I am your long lost cousin Doris Smith nee Burchell. Your Auntie Norah was my Mother. Your Mother was my aunt Mary and your Dad was my uncle Arthur. I used to come and stay with your parents quite often, and was there when your brother Steve was born. I last saw you and Steve when I came up to Scotland for your mum’s funeral. We seemed to have lost touch with you all over the years. Would love to get in touch again.
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