My Memories of Gateacre/Belle Vale

[Pete]

I moved to Lee Vale Rd. in 1957 from the Pre-Fabs at the bottom of Childwall Valley Road by the Coronation Pub. We lived adjacent to a stream in Cloverdale Rd.(lovely name) The green had houses on 3 sides and a Co-op on the other. I used to play lots of footy on the green.
Moved to lee vale when I was 10 years old. I remember sitting on the back of the removals lorry, it was very exciting. Our house in Lee Vale Rd. was set behind the green opposite another co-op by the railway station. My Dad lived there up until he passed away in March last year (He was 98)
I've so many memories of the village, if anyone is interested.

Pete

[ken]

Hi Pete,
That's the same time we moved to Lee Park, when it was all brand new. I went to Craighurst School in 1960 waiting for the Comp to be built. You probably remember places like Jacko's Pond before the housing estate surrounded it.
That green on the corner of Lee Vale Rd, I used to walk across it every day going to the Comp in the 60's. I suppose you've read my memories of the Co-op, Ma Guy's and all the rest, so you know how much I enjoy reading all the memories that people have kindly added. Everyone has unique stories to tell, and I look forward to hearing some more of yours,

Ken

[Pete]

Thought you might answer Ken. tar.
I remember a tall fence off a field at the back of the prefabs where I gashed my leg climbing over to the stream.still have the mark to prove it. Beyond the stream were fields and you could see over to HUYTON. I also remember vividly falling on a broken milk bottle. My Dad having to carry me home.My mum and older sister trying to dress it, and eventually arriving at Broadgreen Hosp. and getting 18 stitches. Again still got the marks. I had the dressing on when we moved house. My first Mems. of Gateacre are of train spotting, as we lived adjacent to the line I was always up there with my mate Peter Fazackerly. We also used to go to Edge Hill to see the London trains going to Lpool. I went to Our Lady's School (big competitors of the Comp} and played Football and Athletics for them.I was there until 1962, when I left to go to work. I played in goal for Gateacre in the Zingary League. I played with a guy called Grant McCullough, who went on to play for England schoolboys. I remember watching him on the telly. They payed against Germany at Wembley. Playing for Gateacre meant getting changed t the Institute on GRANGE Lane and having to carry the posts and nets from there to 'The Cricket Field' (why they called it that I don't know} thru the village. There is more. Will come back later.
Regards
Pete

[Pete]

Hi, Ken
Have'nt got the hang of this yet. Have a look at the thread.
Pete

[Pete]

In about 1962/3 I remember going to a club at the end of the row of shops opposite the now Belle Vale Shopping Centre. It was known as the Belle Vale Beat Club. I remember singing with a few lads making up a group, don't ask the name, I don't even remember any of the lads names, I just remember singing a few Beatles songs. Yes I remember Ma Guys, do u remeber Sticky Lice?. I started work at 15 in a shipping office on the Strand. I used to get the 79 from the bottom of Lee Vale, but sometimes I could see the bus leaving as I got to the edge of the green in front of my house, I then had to leg it thru Widmore and try to catch the bus at the shops on Lee Park Av. All happy days'
Pete

[ken]

Thanks Pete,
Yeh, chewin' on sticky lice, sucking aniseed balls, gobstoppers, sweet ciggies with the red bit on the end....

The 79c terminus was just round the corner from our house, where Lee Vale Rd used to come to a dead end. Very handy when I started work in 1966.

I'm building up a nice catalogue of people's memories; terrific stuff from bygone times that deserves to be preserved,

Ken

[Pete]

The Co-op. Oh The Co-op. Do u remember your divvy No. ? Ours was 12249. I used to stand in there for ages and ages just watching the gizmos travel around the shop with money in them and they'd finish up in the office above. Great fun. I had a friend, Jimmy Casey, who used to live in the flats adjacent to the sweet shop on Lee Park Ave. Tough nut. I also remember, think it was 1960, going to a hoiday camp at St. Mary's Bay near to the Romford, Hyde & Dymchurch railway. I went with Our Lady's school. It was bus to Lime Street Stn. Then steam train. It seemed to take all day. Most of our faces were black when we got off the train thru. looking out of the open window. Some of the teachers I remember were Mr. Ainsworth [very strict] Miss. Keilty [cor]
Speak to u again.

pete

[ken]

Hi Pete,
That's what sticks in my mind about the Co-op; those pulleys with the money whizzing about overhead, brilliant idea!
The shops on Lee Park Ave; remember the chippy on the corner, me dad used to call in there on the way home from the Black Bull.

Something else I recall is the sheer disbelief when I read in the "Echo" in 1961 that they were going to build those 14-storey maisonettes right across the road from us, completely blocking off our view of the country!

Ken

[Pete]

Hi Ken,
I remember the the chippy all right. We used to shelter under the overhang from the rain and oyur Dad coming from the Black Bull reminds me of where I supped my first pint, a brown mixed at 17 years old. Don't snitch plse.
pete

[dave]

hi the chippie's still there and it has the best fish anywere , i lived in childwall but i met and married a girl from churchfield road so i know lee park very well good memories.

[jimbo]

Hi i`m Jimbo,
this is my first chat so here go`s. I first moved to belle vale prefabs in 1950 with my mum & dad two years later my brother Paul arrived int this world. I went to Joseph Williams school until I was 11 years old an then on to Gateacre Comp and left there when I was sixteen. I have lots of memory's that I can talk about in the future this is just a brief intro about my self, any body out there who was in Mr Adams class @ the comp early 60`s.
Bye for now Jimbo

[ken]

Hi Jimbo,
Thanks for your message. Look forward to hearing those memories! I was at the Comp in the early '60's, and I seem to recall a maths teacher called Mr. Adams. If he's the one then I also recall he was a bit of a nutter!! shouting a lot, wielding the cane, and generally bullying us. And he wasn't the only one! I still remember getting the cane for forgetting my homework; but even so it'll be sad to see the school demolished - I must get over there and take some pics,

Cheers,
Ken

[ingrid]

Hi everyone I went to the comp and remember Mr adams he scared me I remember he broke his pen on my work because I did not get one of my work correct he was so angry I also remember the music teacher who had big lips and spat as he spoke and Mr liddle the history teacher my husband bill mcclure also went the comp and lived in lee park we both went the belle vale then onto the comp in 62. I only lived down the road from the comp just under the railway bridge into cranleigh road we always played near jacksons pond I remember when they started to build the houses that are there now and climbing onto the top roofs and jumping down into a sand pit. Do people remember the Lune company that came round for your washing every week and we also had a van that came and sold cleaning stuff Stardrops was my mums favourite we also had the fishmongers and the butchers coming round of colurse no one had freezers in them days. Thats all ill got to go on for now but will speak again

regards ingrid

[jean1954]

Hi everyone. I have read through all that has been written about memories of Gateacre, it brought so many memories of my own growing up there, I first lived in Endbrooke Road until I moved to Fordcombe Road Lee Park in the early 60's, Growing up in the pre fabs was great, even comming from a big family(6 sisters & 1 big brother) we were surrounded by plenty of mates our house was always full of people. My sisters and I all went to Joseph Williams C.P.
Mrs Davis was a favorite teacher of mine My best freind was called Geraldine and some of the families around us were called Rimmer, Bell, Evans, Woodall, Farrell, Rowe,& Gwilt-Stanner was by brothers mate, I loved bonfire night, roasting spuds on the 'bommy' swinging 'winter warmers' around and collecting stuff to burn for weeks before from our neighbours. We played in Pricketts field, hung out at the Bridge Inn and walked for miles down Wood lane and Naylors Rd. We played on the playing field oppersite the fire/police station (I remember the shops being knocked down for them to be built) does anyone remember the Caretaker who used to lock the gates to the playingfield- we used to call him Billy Tinwhistle'. The Labour Club
and the park ajacent to it were there was tennis courts and a bowling green, and gypsies use to camp there every year, getting the 66 bus from the terminus in Lee Park to go to Woolton Baths.....sorry I am rambling now so many memories have surfaced...I'll finish for now thanks for sharing yours.. I may write more later . regards Jean

[johnkw]

Hi, Pete:

Was just reading your post above. Grant McCullough was captain of the Gateacre Comprehensive football team when I was there, and was the then-beau of the gorgeous Beryl Hall (of the contemporary 4A then 5L forms)...

Ah, the memories...!

Johnkw