Southampton Nostalgia...

[Ponty]

It was shocking the last time I went there. Microwaved crap off a laminated menu.

 

It may have changed hands since, of course.

[Redondo Saint]

I remember the Wendy House in the corner of that garden, used to be under a huge willow tree. Quite a big garden too, shame they knocked it all down and built flats there.

 

Redondo Saint - I remember the one on Moorhill Road too near Telegraph Road but that one was up a tree.

 

That's it.

[spyinthesky]

Even further back I think that was the site of the original Sainsburys. I remember going there with my mother but I don't think it was a supermarket then - more of a conventional grocer's shop.

 

I remember the Lyons Tea Shop too but my best memory is of May's (later to become Owen Owen I think). My grandfather was in the Merchant Navy and when his ship came in he used to treat us to lunch in May's restaurant. I thought it was the height of sophistication - especially icecream in a silver looking bowl FFS

 

The musty old joke was ..'Why did Mayes go broke?.... cause it was always Owen & Owen...!!

 

Good cafe on the top floor overlooking the Cape Ships at Berths 102-104

 

Remember the Gaiety cinema nearby. Was closed for several years. Still had the fliers for the last showing..'On top of Old Smokey' Not sure if the star was Gene Autrey or Roy Rodgers)

 

Also who remembers occasional treats at the Cadena cafe?

 

When 'boutiques' first came in I used to buy my gear from Gran Moda (if I was in funds)

[SW11_Saint]

Yes remember going in there c1970 after being dragged around town by my mother.It was on the circuit ie Tyrell&Green,Plummers,C&A before we got into the main drag of the High Street,winding our way down to Edwin Jones.Lyons might be a port of call on the return journey before retracing our steps.

 

If I was lucky we might fit Toomers in,and possibly the toy dept of Woolworths in their basement.

 

Torture at the time for an under 10,but sadly realise now how much better the city and its High Street was then.

Classic! I think we did a similar circuit, as I guess did every other So'ton kid in the 70's. My heart used to sink when we went into M&S (not as "interesting" as it is now to kids with toys/food etc.) as it used to take ages as my mum would invariably meet tons of old friends and stop and natter with them!

[SW11_Saint]

I thought it was next to where Woolies was. Before the precinct was built, I used to get off the 15 bus right outside it and you would get hit by the smell instantly. Possibly became WH Smiths?

Re. McFisheries - you may be right. I asked my mum tonight who said it was definitely on the precinct (or actually in those days it was still a road I think). I thought it was on the Lyons side, but I think you may be right.

[SW11_Saint]

Even further back I think that was the site of the original Sainsburys. I remember going there with my mother but I don't think it was a supermarket then - more of a conventional grocer's shop.

 

I remember the Lyons Tea Shop too but my best memory is of May's (later to become Owen Owen I think). My grandfather was in the Merchant Navy and when his ship came in he used to treat us to lunch in May's restaurant. I thought it was the height of sophistication - especially icecream in a silver looking bowl FFS

You've just broken another memory - I remember the original Sainsburys too! Was definitely where you describe. For some reason I remember my mum buying their cans of shandy (blue tin with a picture of a glass on it) - height of sophistication, we used to have a shandy with our sunday dinner!

[SW11_Saint]

If I was lucky we might fit Toomers in,and possibly the toy dept of Woolworths in their basement.

Talking of Woolies - does anyone remember the mechanical coin operated "amusement" they had in the back? It was a Dalek which you sat in and could rotate and move the arms up and down. There may have been another one too (something to do with Batman?).

 

Also, there was the old rocking horse in Tyrrell & Green's...

Edited 20 October, 2009 by SW11_Saint

[SW11_Saint]

I remember the Wendy House in the corner of that garden, used to be under a huge willow tree. Quite a big garden too, shame they knocked it all down and built flats there.

I remember that Wendy House - on the hill up towards Bitterne? When getting the bus over to our relatives in Thornhill, we always wanted to sit on the "Wendy House side" so we could see it!

[saint boggy]

Do you mean the house on Moorhill rd near Telegraph rd West End?

I think it's still there...

 

corner of Bullar Rd?/Lances Hill?

 

I remember the Wendy House in the corner of that garden, used to be under a huge willow tree. Quite a big garden too, shame they knocked it all down and built flats there.

 

Redondo Saint - I remember the one on Moorhill Road too near Telegraph Road but that one was up a tree.

 

yeh, i did mean the one near Bullar Road (next to the library).

i only saw the Moorhill Road one for the first time about 10 years ago, but i'm sure i would've loved that treehouse too had i seen it when i was a kid. It is still there btw!

[RedAndWhite91]

I used to like the children's part of Debenhams when I was little in the 90's. It had a huge talking tree and everything, amongst other things, but they got rid of it a while ago. Shame. Used to make trips shopping enjoyable.

[bridge too far]

I remember that Wendy House - on the hill up towards Bitterne? When getting the bus over to our relatives in Thornhill, we always wanted to sit on the "Wendy House side" so we could see it!

 

I'm so so loving this thread. Marvellous for an expat like me!

 

Talking of the Wendy House, and slightly out of area, does anyone else remember the house at the bottom of the dip between the Windhover and Bursledon (right hand side going towards Bursledon). A house there had a Romany caravan in the front garden. I always wanted to live there (in the caravan I mean)

[View From The Top]

I remember that Wendy House - on the hill up towards Bitterne? When getting the bus over to our relatives in Thornhill, we always wanted to sit on the "Wendy House side" so we could see it!

 

Left hand side, just past the library IIRC on Lances Hill?

[SW11_Saint]

Left hand side, just past the library IIRC on Lances Hill?

Yes, that's the one.

[scally]

I think that Dave was an ex Top Rank doorman? In recent years he had the Riverside Club in St. Denys but suffered ill health and I am told he has passed away.

 

If you are talking about big Dave he is still going.

[Redondo Saint]

Talking of Woolies - does anyone remember the mechanical coin operated "amusement" they had in the back? It was a Dalek which you sat in and could rotate and move the arms up and down. There may have been another one too (something to do with Batman?).

 

Also, there was the old rocking horse in Tyrrell & Green's...

 

Yes I remember that!

 

For a treat we would sometimes have tea and a toasted bun in Tyrell & Green's restaurant -very posh!

 

Remember Basticks next door (also very posh) and being bought a 'Lord Anthony' parker from C&A - not at all posh!

[rpb]

I used to like the children's part of Debenhams when I was little in the 90's. It had a huge talking tree and everything, amongst other things, but they got rid of it a while ago. Shame. Used to make trips shopping enjoyable.

 

Not sure if it was in Debenhams but in the 70's one of those talking trees tried to chat up my wife!

[Redondo Saint]

Not sure if it was in Debenhams but in the 70's one of those talking trees tried to chat up my wife!

 

did you tell him to leaf her alone?

[chocco boxo]

Talking of Woolies - does anyone remember the mechanical coin operated "amusement" they had in the back? It was a Dalek which you sat in and could rotate and move the arms up and down. There may have been another one too (something to do with Batman?).

 

Also, there was the old rocking horse in Tyrrell & Green's...

 

Blimey forgot about the Dalek, yes used that loads of times you could enter Woolies from the car park at the back in those days. Then it was over to Downeys for a ride on their Bambi ride. Being a kid around in the 70's was such an adventure! ;-)

[miserableoldgit]

The musty old joke was ..'Why did Mayes go broke?.... cause it was always Owen & Owen...!!

 

Good cafe on the top floor overlooking the Cape Ships at Berths 102-104

 

Remember the Gaiety cinema nearby. Was closed for several years. Still had the fliers for the last showing..'On top of Old Smokey' Not sure if the star was Gene Autrey or Roy Rodgers)

 

Also who remembers occasional treats at the Cadena cafe?

 

When 'boutiques' first came in I used to buy my gear from Gran Moda (if I was in funds)

They used to do a cake called a "Cream Crisp" about the size of a small dinner plate which was just puff pastry and about 2 inches of cream and jam in them. They were lovely!! Mind you I can feel my cholesterol rising just thinking about them!!

 

I remember as a very small kid seeing a western at The Gaiety. All I can remember about it was that it had the biggest bar-room brawl of any film before or since.

 

Something else that was really magical when I was a kid was seeing in the Echo, adverts for the arious "Santas Grotto`s" that the department stores had, and then getting excited when I was taken to one of them. I think that, for a kid, the Edwin Jones (Debenhams) one was fantastic. Where has all that childhood magic gone nowadays??

[bridge too far]

.......

 

 

Something else that was really magical when I was a kid was seeing in the Echo, adverts for the arious "Santas Grotto`s" that the department stores had, and then getting excited when I was taken to one of them. I think that, for a kid, the Edwin Jones (Debenhams) one was fantastic. Where has all that childhood magic gone nowadays??

 

Oh MOG I have to tell you this

 

When my friend and I were in the 6th form we had Saturday jobs at Debenhams and then Owen Owen. We also used to work during the school holidays and one year we had to be Santa's little helpers at Owen Owen. We had to dress up as pixies and hand the correct present to Santa to give to the child.

 

Nasty kids that we were, we used to give him a 'boy's' present for a little girl and vice versa.

 

We got the sack

[Redbul]

Always used to try and get the front row (AA) tickets for any decent bands that came down to the Gaumont, but it didn't matter if you didn't 'cos you'd just rush down the front as soon as the lights dimmed for the main act.

 

Saw some good bands there, in no particular order;

 

Madness (bit of ska fest, Beat and Selector et al were there, top day);

Stranglers (several times);

Ian Dury and the Blockheads;

Bauhaus;

Siouxsie and the Banshees;

Jam;

The Tubes (bit obscure that one....)

 

I'll think of some more later. Was going to say the Clash but that was at the Top Rank.

[hamster]

did you tell him to leaf her alone?

 

Nice to see you are branching out into comedy now.

[hamster]

Oh MOG I have to tell you this

 

When my friend and I were in the 6th form we had Saturday jobs at Debenhams and then Owen Owen. We also used to work during the school holidays and one year we had to be Santa's little helpers at Owen Owen. We had to dress up as pixies and hand the correct present to Santa to give to the child.

 

Nasty kids that we were, we used to give him a 'boy's' present for a little girl and vice versa.

 

We got the sack

 

Thank you for sharing that, seriously B.

[miserableoldgit]

Oh MOG I have to tell you this

 

When my friend and I were in the 6th form we had Saturday jobs at Debenhams and then Owen Owen. We also used to work during the school holidays and one year we had to be Santa's little helpers at Owen Owen. We had to dress up as pixies and hand the correct present to Santa to give to the child.

 

Nasty kids that we were, we used to give him a 'boy's' present for a little girl and vice versa.

 

We got the sack

SO IT WAS YOU!!!??? I was traumatised for life!!:mad:

[Jillyanne]

I'm so so loving this thread. Marvellous for an expat like me!

 

Talking of the Wendy House, and slightly out of area, does anyone else remember the house at the bottom of the dip between the Windhover and Bursledon (right hand side going towards Bursledon). A house there had a Romany caravan in the front garden. I always wanted to live there (in the caravan I mean)

 

Christ, that takes me back!!!

[Nick65]

Also who remembers occasional treats at the Cadena cafe?

 

 

Yes - orange squash and a doughnut, but always hankered after a (too expensive apparently) knickerbocker-glory.

Brought up near Lymington, so visiting Southampton by train was a big day out.

Remember going past Millbrook, the Canberra always seemed to be in dock and opposite it was a big warehouse with 'Toogoods Farm And Garden Seeds For All Soils And Climates' on the front, which has always stuck in my mind for some reason.

Went to buy a Subbuteo Saints team from Toomers sports shop (I think) and they'd sold out so I got Man City instead - a decision I immediately regretted (what was I thinking of).

Strawberry milk out of the machine on Central station.

Later on - the legendary Henry's record shop (was number 117 St Marys St) , gigs at the Guildhall, my first Chinese meal at some place in Above Bar (no idea what it was called, but seemed well exotic at the time).

[badgerx16]

The Tubes (bit obscure that one....)

"Love's a mystery ( I don't understand) ", "Don't touch me there", classic songs. Did the girls get their kit off ? They got banned from Bournemouth because of that part of the act.

[Dimond Geezer]

Someone earlier mentioned the bouncers at the Rank. Does anyone remeber the McCarthy brothers, I think there were about 5 or 6 of them working on various doors around the city in the late 80s/early 90s. A couple of them were boxers, one even fought for the British (I think) title at the guildhall. The bout was abandoned when his opponents mum climbed into the ring and Mc refused to fight on.

[Ponty]

Eastleigh lads?

[badgerx16]

There used to be a cafe on Portswood Road, just up from the Talking Heads I think. Used to go there with my dad on Saturdays and get a Coke or 7-UP, in the classic bottles, and then up to the shops for a DC comic or a Commando book.

[belgrave]

Always used to try and get the front row (AA) tickets for any decent bands that came down to the Gaumont, but it didn't matter if you didn't 'cos you'd just rush down the front as soon as the lights dimmed for the main act.

 

Saw some good bands there, in no particular order;

 

Madness (bit of ska fest, Beat and Selector et al were there, top day);

Stranglers (several times);

Ian Dury and the Blockheads;

Bauhaus;

Siouxsie and the Banshees;

Jam;

The Tubes (bit obscure that one....)

 

I'll think of some more later. Was going to say the Clash but that was at the Top Rank.

 

 

I was at the Tubes - did the lead singer bring a tv on stage at one point, as it was the night Forest were beating (Hamburg I think) to win the the Europen cup ?

 

Didn't he also get on stage with a motorbike ?? Or was that one too many....

[INFLUENCED.COM]

Someone earlier mentioned the bouncers at the Rank. Does anyone remeber the McCarthy brothers, I think there were about 5 or 6 of them working on various doors around the city in the late 80s/early 90s. A couple of them were boxers, one even fought for the British (I think) title at the guildhall. The bout was abandoned when his opponents mum climbed into the ring and Mc refused to fight on.

 

Steve and Paul were the boxers and bouncers at the Pier and Raffles(ffs), it was Steve who got the stilletto in the head and is replayed on most sporting bloopers shows, unfortunately time has taken its toll and now only do security at Bar mitzvahs and childrens parties !!

[RonManager]

I was at the Tubes - did the lead singer bring a tv on stage at one point, as it was the night Forest were beating (Hamburg I think) to win the the Europen cup ?

 

Didn't he also get on stage with a motorbike ?? Or was that one too many....

 

Was that the 'broken leg in Leicester' tour where he (Quaalude) had his leg in plaster because he rode the thing into the orchestra pit!

 

'White Punks on Dope'

 

 

- excellent stuff.

 

Remember seeing Jethro Tull there. Saints were at home and we ran down after and got in free for the last bit of the gig!

[Jillyanne]

Eastleigh lads?

 

They ran the door at Martines in the early 90's I believe.

[Wurzel]

Did anyone EVER have a Bar 6 from anywhere other than the vending machine at the Swimming Baths. ?

[THINWHITEDUKE]

Did anyone EVER have a Bar 6 from anywhere other than the vending machine at the Swimming Baths. ?

 

Also oxo flavoured crisps chipmunk brand:p

cup of hot bovril:p

 

On the subject of the swimming baths what about those metal clothes hangers with the basket at the bottom?

the "slipper" baths you had to walk through to get to the pool and invariably you managed to obtain a verrucca!!

The viewing windows were legendary, as was waiting for the whistle from the lifeguards to jump/dive from the fourth and top diving boards and realising with fear that everyone in the pool stopped what they were doing to watch you do your thing which you didn't have the guts to do anyway!

Any other memories of the baths anyone?

[Scummer]

Did they reorganise the postcodes in Southampton at some point, or have they always started in double figures?

[Redondo Saint]

Nice to see you are branching out into comedy now.

 

took you a while to twigg that

[Redondo Saint]

Did they reorganise the postcodes in Southampton at some point, or have they always started in double figures?

 

Yes, I think it was about 15 yrs ago

[chocco boxo]

Did anyone EVER have a Bar 6 from anywhere other than the vending machine at the Swimming Baths. ?

 

Orange wrapper?

[bridge too far]

Also oxo flavoured crisps chipmunk brand:p

cup of hot bovril:p

 

On the subject of the swimming baths what about those metal clothes hangers with the basket at the bottom?

the "slipper" baths you had to walk through to get to the pool and invariably you managed to obtain a verrucca!!

The viewing windows were legendary, as was waiting for the whistle from the lifeguards to jump/dive from the fourth and top diving boards and realising with fear that everyone in the pool stopped what they were doing to watch you do your thing which you didn't have the guts to do anyway!

Any other memories of the baths anyone?

 

I remember the baths really well. My uncle, who was a water polo player, taught me to swim there and, within 3 years I was training with Southampton Swimming Club. The trainer was a Mrs Pearce - bit of a dragon I remember but good at her job. I used to have to swim a mile using just legs, then a mile using just arms, then a last mile conventionally.

 

I gave it all up when I discovered boys - tch the folly of youth eh?

 

I remember the hot Bovril but I always went for the hot Ribena and sticky bun. I always recall that the 'boys' baths were much nicer than the 'girls' baths for some reason.

[AndyNorthernSaints]

Always used to try and get the front row (AA) tickets for any decent bands that came down to the Gaumont, but it didn't matter if you didn't 'cos you'd just rush down the front as soon as the lights dimmed for the main act.

 

Saw some good bands there, in no particular order;

 

Madness (bit of ska fest, Beat and Selector et al were there, top day);

Stranglers (several times);

Ian Dury and the Blockheads;

Bauhaus;

Siouxsie and the Banshees;

Jam;

The Tubes (bit obscure that one....)

 

I'll think of some more later. Was going to say the Clash but that was at the Top Rank.

I used to queue all night to get AA tickets.

Saw the Stranglers at least 4 times there.

Stiff Little Fingers

Undertones

Pogues among others i remember

[INFLUENCED.COM]

Any other memories of the baths anyone?

 

The chip machine, 20p if I remember

Getting pushed of 5th "because I was thinking about it for too long"

Fat Andy C the 'lifeguard', bully but like most soon got caught out

Splashing the cold water over you that was in the tiled walkways so when you jumped in 'the big pool' it was warmer and you didn't scream like a girl, the heat of the 'little pool'

[SW11_Saint]

The chip machine, 20p if I remember

Getting pushed of 5th "because I was thinking about it for too long"

Fat Andy C the 'lifeguard', bully but like most soon got caught out

Splashing the cold water over you that was in the tiled walkways so when you jumped in 'the big pool' it was warmer and you didn't scream like a girl, the heat of the 'little pool'

Those big iron clothes hangers (in the days before lockers) that used to revolve (like at a dry cleaning shop) was basically a big wrought metal thing roughly in the shape of the top half of a human body, with a bit at the bottom to put your shoes, keys etc. in.

 

Also of course the legendary "16 ft 6" - used to see those 'waterbabies' through the window as you came in giving everyone the finger, or worse pulling their trunks down.

 

Then there was that unique smell of course...

 

Remember doing my "braids" there vividly.

[View From The Top]

We used to decide what time number 14 to catch and then from Megason Ave to Mousehole Lane we'd pile on.

 

Everyone would do 1st - 3rd board but only the brave would do 4th and 5th!

 

I only ever had the bottle to jump off top, never dived. By god, did it look a long way down when you were up there.

 

The real bonus was the girls in bikinis!

[bridge too far]

We used to decide what time number 14 to catch and then from Megason Ave to Mousehole Lane we'd pile on.

 

Everyone would do 1st - 3rd board but only the brave would do 4th and 5th!

 

I only ever had the bottle to jump off top, never dived. By god, did it look a long way down when you were up there.

 

The real bonus was the girls in bikinis!

 

I'm sure I've told you guys before about the time I jumped off the top board in the old Lido.

 

Too scared to dive but dared to jump - and lost the top half of my bikini in the process :oops:

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

Savages in Woolston, Pittfields hardware in Merryoak,Woolies in Bitterne(now Superdrug)the Pear tree pub next to Sainsburys (now part of)!

Edited 21 October, 2009 by SOTONS EAST SIDE

[bridge too far]

Savages in Woolston, Pitfields hardware in Merryoak,Woolies in Bitterne(now Superdrug)the Pear tree pub next to Sainsburys (now part of)!

 

I'm sure I had my first Rum & Black there, aged 14

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

I'm sure I had my first Rum & Black there, aged 14

You bad girl you! Mine was a Colt45 aged 12, from the offie in Manor road north! :smt040

[Lets B Avenue]

"Love's a mystery ( I don't understand) ", "Don't touch me there", classic songs. Did the girls get their kit off ? They got banned from Bournemouth because of that part of the act.

It was the Skate Guildhall that banned them. Their first UK tour was in 1977 at the height of Punk and the Moral Majority (Mail, Express and Mirror) kicked up in advance. I had to travel to the guildhall to get my refund.

 

They then came back in May 78 and did 2 nights at the Gaumont as we were so more enlightened and still are.

 

I was at the Tubes - did the lead singer bring a tv on stage at one point, as it was the night Forest were beating (Hamburg I think) to win the the Europen cup ?

 

Didn't he also get on stage with a motorbike ?? Or was that one too many....

Absolutely correct and the 2nd tour the following year was all about the "evils of TV" and had loads of sets on stage. When Fee Waybill (lead singer) tuned into the match we all roared and he quickly replied "Its 1-0 to Nottingham". I had a tenner on that score, so was doubly pleased. Later he yelled "Finished 1-0 to England".

 

Was that the 'broken leg in Leicester' tour where he (Quaalude) had his leg in plaster because he rode the thing into the orchestra pit!

 

'White Punks on Dope'

 

 

- excellent stuff.

 

Remember seeing Jethro Tull there. Saints were at home and we ran down after and got in free for the last bit of the gig!

 

The broken leg was during the 78 tour at Reading, a few days after we had seen them. Their punk take-off, "Johnny Bug ger and The Dirtboxes involved Fee jumping from the stage with a chainsaw putting the sheet up the front row. He didnt realise he had broken it till after the show.

 

Have seen them twice over here in recent years, the last being at The Brook. Still one of the best live acts ever.