Orloff

I remember that company in Vulcan Place as the Orange Garage, car repairs and servicing. My friend John Stewart got a job there when he left Westridge at the end of fourth year, I had to stay on to do a fifth year no matter how much I protested!

I've always thought that "working to rule" was a good way to let your feelings be known to bosses and general public alike. Just in case some do not know what I mean, no overtime and only doing what you are contracted to do as in your contract of employment which by law every employee must be given after 2 months. (I think it is 2 months). I realise it may take longer to resolve issues but at least you are being reasonable.

On a different but similar note, back in the eighties, Thatcher went to China on a jolly with some sidekicks on the pretence to boost trade with China. Nothing much came of it with the exception of Mark Thatcher's company who scored big time!

Keith, Sym is right about insulation and ventilation, but if room is heated more, the wall will be warmer.

Decades of political indoctrination is what we are all getting now, and as for Blair, well he was more right wing than the Daily Mail, that's why he did not do anything,

Desa did have a sister called Andrea! She was a few years younger than him. Desa lived just across the road from me and we used to hang about together a lot, skate and book down furnace bank and the hairpin, mess about in black bridge and all sorts of things that got you into trouble with mam. Last time I saw him was in 1974/5 while on a visit back home he was in the market place club.

The power companies are privately owned, that's why Mr Blair never built nuclear power stations!!!!!!!! The Evil Witch privatised nearly everything. To quote her own words all businesses "should stand on their own feet and sink or swim". Since the rail was privatised it is costing us more to "prop it up" so the spongers can get their share payments (bonuses), than it ever cost us under state ownership, no matter how some people will twist the facts and have you believe anything else. Don't get me started on NHS "trust fund status" now too many chiefs and not enough Indians, it is so obvious it hurts!

L.O.L.!!!!!

Hi Keef 2, I remember Brian Chivers, he used to go to Westridge, and I also remember him fishing on "Coopen Spoots". Stocky built lad as I remember. I think we are at an age where it is apparent that we will start dropping like flies, the more dropping as time goes by. What did he die of Keef 2?

Nice to see you back HPW, you have been missed.

I remember the Gallons 'cause our garden backed on to the side of theirs, well a bit of their garden at least. I remember their dog Prince he was a Rough Collie and every Saturday he used to come to our back door to get a cup cake from my mam,

Has anyone heard anything about HPW? I for one miss his stories.

Haha, nice one Symp.

That should put the cat among the pigeons Symp, the truth normally does!

Mrs. Orloff was a Humanist Funeral Celebrant until she recently retired. I went to a few of her "gigs", they are very good. Once at the end of a "gig" a retired bishop who was a family friend of the deceased tottered up to Mrs Orloff on two sticks, rested his hand on her arm, leant right into her and said "THAT was wonderful," (always ready for the BUT) "but, I didn't like the music". So that was HIS only criticism.

I have heard a rumour that in the miners strike the "police" that were used to break the pickets were in actual fact military. My source said that bus loads of troops were taken to the same place as loads of spare police uniforms were delivered, and bus loads of "police" came out to be transported to where needed. A small give-away was the amount of mounted "police there was and also the tactics used by the "police" were more like squaddies to me.

That was not a "stalinmobile" it was a Fiat 126 and that when Fiat had done with it they sold all the tooling to the USSR, so it was from a country that was right wing like we were (are!) when Thatcher was in charge, and now under Dave. It's scary when folk can't try life without blinkers!

The Oval shops, houses and most houses including Terrier Close were built by the Council by a novel thing called direct labour, where the Council employed tradesmen directly, - hence the name! This was scrapped by Thatcher's mob, because they reckoned it was better to sub out the work to a private company so that it cost more!!!!!!! Got rid of union members, so that made it OK then!!!!!!

My Mum was cook there for some time in the sixties, her name was Doreen.

I'm no gardener but it looks like a wild rose to me!

Welcome back HPW, sorry to hear you've been poorly. you take care now! I for one look forward to your stories, it takes me back to when I was little and used to hear stories from my family members. I think I can speak for most on hear that we could never get bored with your tales.

L.M.A.O.!

Sorry, don't remember anything as I was too young. Thanks for the pics though I remember pics that me Mam had of the huts. I'll try and track some down, maybe my sister has some.

Hi Anne, I don't know the name of the camp we were in as I was only 2 when we moved to Poplar Grove. But our address at Hartford was 23 Moorside. The piggery rings a bell as I remember mam and dad talking about it. Hope this helps.

Piss pot raa was Phoenix Row, and it was roughly were Claytons ballroom is/was.