Bygones: The best fish and chips for two shillings
Here, David Fitzgerald, of Carver Road, Immingham, shares his memories of growing up in the 1960s
AS A child, my world consisted of the West Marsh, East Marsh, the hundred or so shops down Corporation Road, Flottergate, Chantry Lane, Bull Ring and Old Market Place.
The houses on the East and West Marsh had nothing for modern living. Adults used the bath house in Earl Street and the children used a tin bath which was usually hung on the kitchen wall.
The community supported us. The Artisan and Standard clubs gave the children outings to Skegness and Mablethorpe, with spending money.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Also, every Good Friday, around 50 children would gather at Turner's fruit shop, in Corporation Road, for a bag with an apple, orange and hot cross bun in it.
I joined organisations such as the Church Lads Brigade, Boys Brigade, Army Cadets and Sea Cadets.
Children could attend Saturday morning cinema for sixpence. There would be a serial film, cartoon and singalong, plus the Three Stooges – great.
In summer we would go to the abandoned railway allotments off Boulevard Avenue, where we picked buckets of cherries, blackberries and blackcurrants.
Mother made pies for weeks – yummy.
Batty's fish and chips, in Corporation Road, were the best in the world, for two shillings. The cost of living then was very low.
Mr Lake gave me boxes of cigarette cards collected from the 1940s.
My small world was just perfect. Living in those days makes me appreciate the things I have today, yet I am no happier than I was in 1960.
In the 1970s, the council sent in the bulldozers and swept away a lifestyle that was stuck in 1890.
It had been good enough for three generations, but life was about to change.
Credit cards, overdrafts, loans, expensive foods and poll tax.
It went from being able to live on £300 per year to £10,000 not being enough, but of course you cannot turn the clock back.
Moving into a modern house also meant a modern lifestyle and expectations were much higher.
We have lost cooking, backing, mending holes in socks, and probably common sense.
Comments
by Leveret2
Sunday, November 18 2012, 3:42PM
“I had a job clearing out after Dad and my Mother passed away. They'd kept everything - everything (my first tooth; a hand made radio, made to show me how; my first piece of woodwork) - going right back to Victory in Europe; tools from the 1930's (some of those hand made). Eventually, I went up into the attic, fearing the worst. But all there was was the zinc tub I'd been bathed in by the fire, as a small boy.
Treasured memories, indeed. They could destroy the Corn Exchange and Flottergate, and let the Haven silt up; but they can never erase your memories.”
by EWW01
Thursday, November 15 2012, 4:00PM
“David - excellent sentiments of ' over the west marsh' I was brought up there from the early 50s to late 60s.
I remember Wood's Fish + Chip shops on Gilbey Road and Batty's on Corporation Road and all of the other shops in between - Dines,Gooseman,Howdens,French's,Stanton's,Dollies Lollies to name but a few.Great summer days on the Boulevard.Do you recall the bonfire gangs like the Green Gang and the Ayscough Street Gang.Oh happy days,collecting rags to sell at the Marine Stores.Much better days than now.Can't wait for them to invent a 'clock' that you can turn back.
More memories of the West Marsh the better.”
by wecamethru47
Thursday, November 15 2012, 10:46AM
“What wonderful memories David, thanks for sharing. I use to go to Littlecoates Primary in 40/50s where a corner shop used to sell hot fishcakes from 8.30 every morning! Great days.”