MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN HYDE: 1945 -1950 part 2

Here is part 2, as promised, from Roger Chadwick.

MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN HYDE: 1945 -1950 (2)

"Just past Glen Wood House on Mottram Road is a drive leading to Oaklands Hall. There, at around 6-7 years of age I met another “Roger”, whose parents, Wilf and Margaret Hirst were the then stewards of The Oaklands Masonic Hall. Roger became my “buddie” for the next 8 years – we were both “only ones” – regarded in those days as spoilt brats because we did not have to share anything with brothers and sisters. But “only ones” were common enough in a time of war: and we weren’t spoilt! Seeing the pictures of Oaklands in the 1960’s on the Hyde Blog, (remarkably little changed from The Oaklands that I knew), brought memories flooding back. We climbed up the drainpipe near the front door so that we could look in at the Masonic Practice Room from a safe distance. We rifled the empty beer bottles, slid down the rails of that magnificent staircase, marvelled at the size of the Dining Room and the large fires made ready in the room to the right of the front door. We toured the upstairs and made ourselves familiar with every nook and cranny of the place. Saturday nights found us in the kitchen enjoying “scallops” (battered slices of potato) fried by Roger’s Dad over the open grate! Roger kept rabbits in the “stable” quarters and these we bred and sold for 2/6d a time to the local kids.

Masonic nights were important occasions. We would wait by the rear door for Ibbotson’s Van to come with the hot dinners and some nights we managed to get fed or at least scrape the plates coming back from the tables when the waitresses weren’t looking. We peeped with awe at all the local gentlemen in the large hall but never got in their way or interfered with their business. That was strictly forbidden. Roger’s Dad could box and showed us clever moves when he wasn’t rolling fags. Roger’s Mum had a superb “Sun” ladies bike and I learnt to ride on it

We went wild in the woods and paths around the Hall. We built dens, scrambled up trees, had mock battles with other lads who played with us. Is Geoff Warner still around? In high summer, Wilf Hirst would scythe the lawns around the building – not much car parking in the ‘50’s. The we would stook and make hay and mess about in hay dens with flies and midges and God knows what else. Suffice it to say, I was at The Oaklands from dawn ‘till dusk and then suffered a good scrubbing down before bed.

In later years, Oaklands Hall imprinted itself upon me in a strange way. Reading Jane Austen and Bronte novels, I would see the characters in the various rooms of The Hall. Oaklands was the “stage set”, if you see what I mean – for the imagination to run riot!

Beyond The Oaklands was a large bungalow set in a huge garden on the banks of a little stream. The house then belonged to a Mr Wilde but we never spoke to him. We imagined him to be a German spy and would crawl and mess about well hidden in his beautiful garden, collected hundreds of beautifully painted “hairy marys”(caterpillars) from the abundant nasturtium plants.

Exploration forays up Brookfold Lane brought us to the Cheshire Lines Railway Bridge and scrambles up the cinder embankment to beg a ride on a C14 Tank engine which would be simmering away at the outer home signal. The friendly engine driver usually told us to b----- off and the equally friendly fireman sometimes lobbed a lump of coal at us. But could you blame them with two filthy urchins pestering them on their well earned break.

That’s another chapter."

Many Thanks Roger !

Excellent stuff !