Yes it took in the MacDonald's site and the Iceland site. The basement was DIY/electric goods/China and glass. Ground floor was food hall, fist floor was carpets and soft furnishing. Think the second was furniture. Top floor was carpets and soft furnisnings. It replaced an earlier co op grocery store which was roughly where Macs is and was knocked down about 1959.
I always remember how narrow the pavements were in front of the shops then, when trafic went directly through the town centre. The cars always seemed incredibly close if you were being walked at your mother's side.
Do you also remember the large, upstairs, toy shop which once existed above the Wilko's/British Gas site? Think it was called 'Youngsters'.
...and talking about youngsters, who remembers the kid's page in the Wirral News? 'The League of Chums' wasn't it? Were you ever a Chum; did you ever win a prize in one of their compo's, or collect enough runner's up certificates to claim that elusive two pound?!!
I wrote many letters to the Wallasey News, the "Chums" were run by "aunty" Barbara Stredder who had Dame Edna glasses. Here's a pic of the Co-op just after it opened, the glass bubble thing was down by Boots if I remember right, used to facinate me too. Or was it round the other corner? I can't remember.
Last edited by Capt_America; 15th Nov 201010:44pm. Reason: Pic didn't load.
I seem to remember the mosaic being on the wall near Boots, but there may also have been a smaller one on the other corner. There was another odd mosaic on the tiled wall outside Sayers too. Might even still be there, even though I remember it from the 60's/70's. It looked like a wedding party of some discription, with a bride and bridesmaids. Don't know what those 60's town planners were on, but it must have been good! Maybe there was a different shop there before Sayers...?
Hi am new to wirral wiki feeling realy old i lived in mason ave remeber the steel mill being built. I used to play on the rafts before the mill was built feeling realy old now lol
The Chums was run by Aunty Gladys. I won a competition in 1957 with a short story. She lived in Bidston in either School or Lennox Lane. She also used to collect silver paper for guide dogs, I think, which we would take to her house. Living in the avenues gave us easy access to where she lived.
The Chums was run by Aunty Gladys. I won a competition in 1957 with a short story. She lived in Bidston in either School or Lennox Lane. She also used to collect silver paper for guide dogs, I think, which we would take to her house. Living in the avenues gave us easy access to where she lived.
Aunty Gladys was the Birkenhead News, not Wallasey & yes, she lived in School Lane Bidston.
Probably a mistake to give silver paper to guide dogs; would make them ill.
Can't remember Aunty Gladys though, as Barbara Stredder was probably more my era. Maybe she took over from Gladys at a later date.
I do remember getting sent runners up certificates for a few of the competitions, and that if you collected six you could redeem them for a princely £2. Not bad, if you only ever normally got just one or two bob pocket money.
..just a thought, but if you did give silver paper to guide dogs would their doggie-do's come out the other end all nicely gift wrapped? Talk about being well house trained!!
I wrote many letters to the Wallasey News, the "Chums" were run by "aunty" Barbara Stredder who had Dame Edna glasses.
Could she be the founder/singer of The Vernons Girls and The Ladybirds, famous for her specs? She was billed as Maggie Stredder but maybe didn't like the idea of being called Aunty Maggie!
Could she be the founder/singer of The Vernons Girls and The Ladybirds, famous for her specs? She was billed as Maggie Stredder but maybe didn't like the idea of being called Aunty Maggie![/quote]
An interesting possibility!! I hope someone out there knows.
Seems to me that there used to be a lot of 'Aunties' back in those days. Like 'Aunty' Dorothy and 'Uncle' Norm on Joytime in Vale Park.
For a short period of time i worked with John Stredder who was Maggies father, he was a shipwright in Lairds, never ever heard him talk about her other than a singer. I do remember however John nearly losing all his fingers clearing a lawn mower entanglement.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
I think it was called "Kennys". It was a small factory that manufacured model sailing boats (out of wood - not palstic). If my memory is correct, it was quite close to the old peanut factory (sun valley I think). Pics would be great...
Think it might have been Dennys (spelt Denyes) which was next to the star yacht factory.
My cousin reminded me that that they used to have an advert in the window (in the far off days of full-employment) saying 'young girls wanted' .....!
