Sheffielders share happy childhood memories of 1940s Crookes

Leonard Friskney, who now lives in Scarborough, wrote to mark his and twin brother Norman’s 79th birthday.

Maureen Nugent-Burrows wrote: “I lived at 81 Bole Hill Lane with my late sister Margaret Cleary. Carol and Susan Hill lived at 87. David and Elizabeth Platts lived at 91. Cedric and Haydn Johnson lived at 93 and Stuart Saynor at 95. Pat and Susan Tingle just around the corner from you.

“The Bole Hills and ship rock are still there. Western Road school is still there, now known as Westways.

I spent many hours in Rivelin and the surrounding woodlands.

“In the 1946-47 terrible winter, we had very little coal as the coalman lived at Walkley so it was impossible to reach us. We spent the winter on sledges complete with wet clothes and chilblains.

“I can remember the Friskney family leaving for Scarborough and we were very impressed as we had spent many holidays in Scarborough.

Thank you to the Friskney twins for bringing happy memories of my childhood back. I am still living in Crookes.”

Brenda Wilkinson from S10 wrote: “The houses you ask about on Bole Hill Lane are still there, maybe slight alterations. You and your brother are just a year older than me.

Twin’s Crookes wartime boyhood

“Can you remember the Cocked Hat Cottages on the Bole Hills? My dad and his brother and sisters were born there and lived there until they married. His name was Joseph Broomhead. Also in those cottages was Ken Unwin and family.

“The coal wagon you mentioned, could it have been Hoales? My dad worked for them as a very young man.

“The school you mention, should it be Western Road School? It is still there, but is now Westways.”

Finally, we heard from the other twin, Norman, who said thanks for the original story. He confirmed that they attended Western Road School and said his son, Robin, is a staff nurse at the Northern General Hospital.