Ordinary Sheffielders.

[cuttsie]

Fu Fu , 

 

Around 1966 ish I lived on Hoole Streee ,Walkley , just around the corner from us was a pub called The Royal Hotel . it wasn't a hotel it was a pub , A pub with a snug , A tap room and a games room .

 

I was in there one Saturday lunch time having a couple of halfs  when a midle  aged lady walked in and sat next to me on the tall bar stools, She ordered a half of beer from Jack Eyre the landlord ,  As Jack served her he happened to mention that the weather was picking up and the sun was coming out,  She looked at Jack and uttered "Phew "  She then started a conversation with me  and it got around to me telling her that I was going to the match, She looked at me  head on and uttered the word "phew"  or foo or Fu . she supped up and left and Jack gave me a smile and said that I had just met Fu ,Fu ..

Apparently her name was Maggie and she lived on Burgoyne Road just below the school and it appears that where ever she went in Walkley people would cross the road uttering "watch out Fu Fu's here " 

 

Just another little memory  of an ordinary Sheffielder  from times past that means now't to any body except me because both Jack and Fu Fu are both supping at that bar in Sky now .  Oh well IL'e get mi coat .

Edited April 17, 2021 by cuttsie

[trastrick]

Thank you Cuttsie!

 

Jack Simpkins was our sports teacher at Heeley Bank. He used to join in our lunchtime footy games in the playground, but he used to kick at our ankles with his winkle picker shoes, and get the ball away. We used to complain but he just laughed.

 

His dream was to beat Sharrow Lane, but the soccer team we had for the 2 years I played was useless, I think we all smoked Park Drive, and I remember missing an open net which would have tied a game. I still have occasional nightmares about that!

 

Anyway he asked me what I wanted to do when I left school. I said I'd like to be an electrician. Ok, he said here's what you do. You'll need a night school "preparatory" course in Math, Science and Technical Drawing. Then you find the biggest contracting firm in Sheffield, write a nice letter of application to the Personnel Manager, and tell 'em you want to work for them. I followed his advice, and it worked, just like he said. Simple!

 

Fast forward 5 years. Decided I wanted a big car, a house and a telephone, so saved my money and went to Canada where everybody had one. Simple!

 

Couldn't get an electricians job so what to do? I used to pass this big new magazine publishing building, set back in it's own landscaped parklike setting. So I channeled Simpkins, put on my best (and only) suit, went up to the office and confidently asked to see the Personnel Manager. His secretary looked me up and down, a little puzzled, but said I could wait until he came out. He took me into his office to find out what I wanted. Told him I wanted to work for his firm. He smiled, and said, well, we got the day shift or the night shift, and the night shift pays a little more. Ok, I'll take it! Simple!

 

Never again went back on the tools.

 

Always intended to get back to Sheffield and thank Mr. Simpkins, but It never happened for a lot of reasons.

 

He also encouraged my younger brother who had real football talent, to follow his dream of playing pro football. Played with some names at Mansfield Town.

 

But he too, came to Canada, and got off the tools for good.

 

But life was much simpler on those days.

 

Now I retire, but where?  I always dreamed of a tropical island beach in the Caribbean. With palm trees and a beach bar or two.

 

So I went and found one. Simple!

 

Thank you, Jack!

Edited April 19, 2021 by trastrick

[cuttsie]

1 hour ago, trastrick said:

Thank you Cuttsie!

 

Jack Simpkins was our sports teacher at Heeley Bank. He used to join in our lunchtime footy games in the playground, but he used to kick at our ankles with his winkle picker shoes, and get the ball away. We used to complain but he just laughed.

 

His dream was to beat Sharrow Lane, but the soccer team we had for the 2 years I played was useless, I think we all smoked Park Drive, and I remember missing an open net which would have tied a game. I still have occasional nightmares about that!

 

Anyway he asked me what I wanted to do when I left school. I said I'd like to be an electrician. Ok, he said here's what you do. You'll need a night school "preparatory" course in Math, Science and Technical Drawing. Then you find the biggest contracting firm in Sheffield, write a nice letter of application to the Personnel Manager, and tell 'em you want to work for them. I followed his advice, and it worked, just like he said. Simple!

 

Fast forward 5 years. Decided I wanted a big car, a house and a telephone, so saved my money and went to Canada where everybody had one. Simple!

 

Couldn't get an electricians job so what to do? I used to pass this big new magazine publishing building, set back in it's own landscaped parklike setting. So I channeled Simpkins, put on my best (and only) suit, went up to the office and confidently asked to see the Personnel Manager. His secretary looked me up and down, a little puzzled, but said I could wait until he came out. He took me into his office to find out what I wanted. Told him I wanted to work for his firm. He smiled, and said, well, we got the day shift or the night shift, and the night shift pays a little more. Ok, I'll take it! Simple!

 

Never again went back on the tools.

 

Always intended to get back to Sheffield and thank Mr. Simpkins, but It never happened for a lot of reasons.

 

He also encouraged my younger brother who had real football talent, to follow his dream of playing pro football. Played with some names at Mansfield Town.

 

But he too, came to Canada, and got off the tools for good.

 

But life was much simpler on those days.

 

Now I retire, but where?  I always dreamed of a tropical island beach in the Caribbean. With palm trees and a beach bar or two.

 

So I went and found one. Simple!

 

Thank you, Jack!

Proper Sheffielders .

[trastrick]

Hi Cuttsie.

 

My brother Roy reminds me it was Retford Town he played for, not Mansfield.

 

Small world, he says he knows you, and you knew the Humphries at Gleadless. Gordon married my mom.

 

He says to say Hi.

[cuttsie]

On 19/04/2021 at 13:42, trastrick said:

Hi Cuttsie.

 

My brother Roy reminds me it was Retford Town he played for, not Mansfield.

 

Small world, he says he knows you, and you knew the Humphries at Gleadless. Gordon married my mom.

 

He says to say Hi.

Mrs Humphries lived next door to us at no 66 , I remember them well inc  Gordon and his sister Madge ????? I think that was her name , its a long time ago .

[cuttsie]

Jim Wilson . 

 

Jim Wilson was  a champion cyclist , musician , war hero and just about the nicest man that ever walked the Streets of Sheffield , 

After war service Jim opened a bike shop on City Road in Sheffield , he built bike frames from scratch as well as repairing and building up complete new ones .

He ran a semi professional road race team under the name Wilson cycles , the team competed all over the UK as well as in Europe , They won many major road races ,the star rider was a national champion  in the fifty's Ron Coe .

 

Jim managed the England road race cycling team around that time  with great success .

 

Any way , As a youngster as well as a keen cyclist  at that time in the fifties I used to hang around Jims shop on City Road , 

I would just merge into the background of what was usually a crowded shop and out side area where all the top road cyclists from miles around would congregate to swop stories of the latest race or up and coming ones .

 

Jim sold all the best bike gear and  I  Would look in his front window at all this stuff that was beyond the pocket of a 14 year old who had only a paper round to finance any gear I needed , this meant I just had a basic hand me down bike and bike clothing that fitted me .

On show in Jims shop was a shelf full of all the latest Italian cycling shoes , soft leather that simply shouted out try me on .

 

One day I  was as usual stood around just browsing the goods and Jim gave me a smile as I handled the Italian Coppi  brand shoes , He did not say owt until I was leaving  ,then as I was opening the shop door he said "hold on a minute take these wi thi " .he then gave me the lovely pair of shoes , I said "Jim I amp't got any money " Jim just smiled that smile that meant so much to a young hero worshiper like me and said "Who mentioned money ger em on and get off home " .

 

That was Jim Wison another ordinary Sheffielder who was never forgotten by the hundreds who knew and loved him .

Cheers Jim it was an honour to have known you .

Edited April 21, 2021 by cuttsie

[Kedikat]

I enjoyed reading your memories of Mrs. Walters. I don’t know that I would describe her as an ‘ordinary’ person living in Sheffield. She sounds to have been very extraordinary to me.

[cuttsie]

2 hours ago, Kedikat said:

I enjoyed reading your memories of Mrs. Walters. I don’t know that I would describe her as an ‘ordinary’ person living in Sheffield. She sounds to have been very extraordinary to me.

She was , but did not know it just like so many  Sheffielders , I have others  I may mention when in the mood  but hope to hear about other ordinary lives that have effected  others on these threads . Than you for your kind reply .

[Igor]

On 12/04/2021 at 22:38, cuttsie said:

The Navy lads were in full throat , especially one who was telling any one who would listen just what an athlete he was , it turned out that he was the forces champion miler who won every event he entered at any distance , 

 

One of OUR lot decided to challenge him to a race ,although it was not him self he was putting forward to do the running in fact it was Steely , who as all  the best athletes do was quaffing a pint of Stones and smoking a Park Drive .

Steely had no hesitation in accepting the challenge  as long as the winner got. drinks all round for him and his mates  from the losing side, this would have left our lot way out of pocket as the navy lads outnumbered  us by  at least a dozen or so .

So we all trape out side . the rules were set , six times around the City Hall the Lion car park being the start and finish . 

 

To a combined three two one GO , the athletes set off and by the third circuit Steely was loosing it but it was evident to my self who knew him well that he was only playing around I had seen him do just the same on the bike when we had raced at various events .

 

by the fifth the sailor boy was easing up giving the big waves as he passed his crew who were already supping the pints that they were sure were coming their way . 

So we are all stood there waiting for the inevitable and round the corner of Balm Green Steely emerged just jogging along with a big grin on his face followed by sailor boy a good ten yards behind .

We were ecstatic ,"" How did tha do it we shouted" , "I din't do owt " said Steely "the daft sod  slipped on his arse ont bottom corner "  It was easy . 

 

Steely died when he was around 60 years old , they found him sat on his settee with a fag stil in the ash tray ,  he was the greatest athlete I have ever seen  the reason I say that is because he never trained , never took it serious , drank beer and smoked fags and still won most sporting events he went in for . You were a star Ian Steel.

 

 

Hi Cuttsie, was this by chance Ian Steel a toolmaker at Viners?

[cuttsie]

Yes that was Steely  ,A great guy and friend who died to soon .He also worked at the Admiralty .. He used to drop pieces of of silver down a drainpipe and collect it up from the grate later , he also made perfect ten Bob pieces  , all for charity though as he bought us all a pint in the Red Lion on Holly Street when we were skint .

Another pub Ian frequented was the Grapes on Trippet Lane where he would take a seat in the snug and read his belovered Observer news paper .

Edited June 4, 2021 by cuttsie