Pond Street shops

[zakes]

Pond Street, 1975.

 

1. Does anybuddy remember seeing the sightless blind bloke, selling newspapers outside the ‘thrupenny bit’ shop, at Ponds Street bus station? He was stood in full-length, tightly belted greeny-grey gabardine cooat. He usually faced towards the distant Odeon picture palace, with the ‘You Are Here’ button-press thingumabob thing atween him and the Flicks. I often saw this man on Saturday evenings, with copies of the star tucked under one arm, with Green ‘Uns tucked under the other arm. His hands were as black as night, due to the handling of his papers, and also from the metal money he received from his customers. I felt sorry for him.

 

--

 

2. Brook Newsagents. Harold Brook, Sheffield born (thought I’d get that in first) had a few newsagent shops. I think I’ve been in the one on Howard Street, on the left going upwards, just below the Davy’s shop that made tasty tongue sandwiches… spot on with a spot of mustard.

 

Another Brook’s paper shop was in a row of shops on Ridgeway Rooad, bang opposite Hollinsend park. Before playing football (jumpers for posts) on Sunday afternoons, we used to go into Brooks’s shop to buy, spice pop and consumption tubes. I always did enjoy playing football with a lit cig dangling from mi gob. Bobby Charlton, Billy Bremner, Alan Birchenall, Eddie McCreadie and Bryan Conlon smoked, I’ve seen ‘em do it.

 

--

 

Harold Brook had earlier been a football player, playing for Sheffield United. He scored a goal in the original 7-3 Bouncing Day Massacre, against Sheffield wednesday in ‘1951-52’ season. The Blades missed a penalty in that game. In the return game at Hillsborough United won 3-1. Despite conceding 10 goals to United that season wednesday were promoted back to the top division…Derek Dooley scoring a boat-load of goals. United were promoted as champions the following season, with Harold Brook as skipper, and as captain.

 

During Harold’s second spell at Bramall Lane he had a Sports goods shop on London Road. This was a joint venture with Jimmy Hagan.

 

Despite rumours to the contrary, Harold Brook and Joe Shaw didn’t become business partners in a car-dealership called Brook-Shaw, in Union Street nor in Gibraltar Street.

 

--

 

Harold Brook, during his career, had played for;

 

Sheffield United

 

Manchester United

 

Queens Park Rangers

 

Sheffield United – again

 

Leeds United – he helped Leeds to promotion in 1956

 

Lincoln.

 

-----

 

After his retirement from football Brook was a captain and president of Dore & Totley golf club

 

--

 

Thanks for the memories Brooky, although I never got to see you play…mi Dad should have pushed harder, and more often.

 

--

 

I stand to be corrected on any of the above, apart from the last sentence. LOL.

[Geo-atkinson]

Wasn't the supermarket called Thrifty?

 

Supermarket was Presto

[choogling]

down hill from the penny black was a car welding company called fab weld

 

---------- Post added 13-11-2017 at 20:38 ----------

 

Pond Street, 1975.

 

1. Does anybuddy remember seeing the sightless blind bloke, selling newspapers outside the ‘thrupenny bit’ shop, at Ponds Street bus station? He was stood in full-length, tightly belted greeny-grey gabardine cooat. He usually faced towards the distant Odeon picture palace, with the ‘You Are Here’ button-press thingumabob thing atween him and the Flicks. I often saw this man on Saturday evenings, with copies of the star tucked under one arm, with Green ‘Uns tucked under the other arm. His hands were as black as night, due to the handling of his papers, and also from the metal money he received from his customers. I felt sorry for him.

 

--

 

2. Brook Newsagents. Harold Brook, Sheffield born (thought I’d get that in first) had a few newsagent shops. I think I’ve been in the one on Howard Street, on the left going upwards, just below the Davy’s shop that made tasty tongue sandwiches… spot on with a spot of mustard.

 

Another Brook’s paper shop was in a row of shops on Ridgeway Rooad, bang opposite Hollinsend park. Before playing football (jumpers for posts) on Sunday afternoons, we used to go into Brooks’s shop to buy, spice pop and consumption tubes. I always did enjoy playing football with a lit cig dangling from mi gob. Bobby Charlton, Billy Bremner, Alan Birchenall, Eddie McCreadie and Bryan Conlon smoked, I’ve seen ‘em do it.

 

--

 

Harold Brook had earlier been a football player, playing for Sheffield United. He scored a goal in the original 7-3 Bouncing Day Massacre, against Sheffield wednesday in ‘1951-52’ season. The Blades missed a penalty in that game. In the return game at Hillsborough United won 3-1. Despite conceding 10 goals to United that season wednesday were promoted back to the top division…Derek Dooley scoring a boat-load of goals. United were promoted as champions the following season, with Harold Brook as skipper, and as captain.

 

During Harold’s second spell at Bramall Lane he had a Sports goods shop on London Road. This was a joint venture with Jimmy Hagan.

 

Despite rumours to the contrary, Harold Brook and Joe Shaw didn’t become business partners in a car-dealership called Brook-Shaw, in Union Street nor in Gibraltar Street.

 

--

 

Harold Brook, during his career, had played for;

 

Sheffield United

 

Manchester United

 

Queens Park Rangers

 

Sheffield United – again

 

Leeds United – he helped Leeds to promotion in 1956

 

Lincoln.

 

-----

 

After his retirement from football Brook was a captain and president of Dore & Totley golf club

 

--

 

Thanks for the memories Brooky, although I never got to see you play…mi Dad should have pushed harder, and more often.

 

--

 

I stand to be corrected on any of the above, apart from the last sentence. LOL.

also had a paper shop at the side of the Heely palace picture house50-60s era

[melthebell]

Here are scans from the 1974 Kelly's Directory showing some of the businesses etc. mentioned above.

so the chippy wasnt on the row near the arcade at that time, weird

[Ontarian1981]

so the chippy wasnt on the row near the arcade at that time, weird

 

Well it was in 1975, i used it almost every Sunday night. It was the only one around in those days that opened on a Sunday. Never really paid attention what the other shops were as they were all in darkness late on Sunday night.

[melthebell]

Well it was in 1975, i used it almost every Sunday night. It was the only one around in those days that opened on a Sunday. Never really paid attention what the other shops were as they were all in darkness late on Sunday night.

maybe it opened in 75? and so isnt on Mr H's list.

 

What i want to know what was in Arcades back then? space invaders didnt arrive until 1978, pacman 1980

There was a few before those but nothing majorly popular or exciting

[francypants]

maybe it opened in 75? and so isnt on Mr H's list.

 

What i want to know what was in Arcades back then? space invaders didnt arrive until 1978, pacman 1980

There was a few before those but nothing majorly popular or exciting

 

Pinball machines, one armed bandits, slot machines etc.

[hillsbro]

maybe it opened in 75? and so isnt on Mr H's list...

The 1974 Kelly's Directory would have been compiled in mid-1973; the chippy must have opened soon afterwards.

[Ms Interpret]

I was the manager of the car park for some time

 

I seem to remember a crime taking place there wasnt the car park attendant murdered ? I cant remember what the motive was poor man

[DUFFEMS]

There was a Brook's newsagents at the bottom of Well Road Heeley as "choogling" said. Me and my spouse bought all our Christmas/birthday cards etc. to each other from there from 1965 until we married in 1970, I still have them all. This was at the time when quality cards came in boxes. The two old ladies who worked in the shop were so nosey!

Duffems