They came from St Phillips St Judes and the Dings, to a house with a garden and a playground with swings. The fields down at Filwood and all that fresh air, our school with a nit nurse that looked through your hair. The dinner halls at Creswicke, the custard with lumps, a bread roll from Prices’s some chips and some scrumps. Then our head Mr Russet followed by George Hughes, if you played up Roy Brimble you’d go home with a bruise. Mr North used the cane, Mr Stuckey the dap, then there’s the old boys who put the school on the map. Gordie Parr, Alfie Biggs and some boxers as well, Jeff Wilson, Bobby Fisher they all beat the bell. Malcolm Jones, Barry Doyle they all had their wins, don’t forget Matthew Copeland an those Davis twins. Saturdays up the Bug House the old thrupenny rush, Mrs Pearse with her shop bike, those Black Jacks gert lush. Get your coal down the coal yard in an old beat up pram, get your rags down Bobby Bennett’s for a treat of bread and jam. And those characters, do you remember Stan The Man, and outside The Venture Jack sold cockles from a van. Get your hair cut from Sid Elvins he’d have you in tears, for all he would use was a basin and shears. Saturday nights down The Venture Henry and Louis on the mike, Harry Andow asking for credit Idwal saying “On yer bike!”. Playing skittles for money, a chance you might earn, never play Roy Morgan just watch, listen and learn. Have a bet with the Hickorys or old Mark Coyne, and there’s always the youth clubs that you could join. Broad Plain, Eagle House the Saturday dance, filwood Lads, Corner Cottage (a chance of romance). The leaders Vick Martin, Treveor Morgan we all knew, Bert Abrahams, Miss Bazely to name just a few. The early morning specials that left Melvin Square, they were packed to the rafters and a “bob” was the fare. One went to Keynsham where they made all the “chocs”, the other all smoke filled went to Avonmouth Docks. Bought your paper at Woodalls, remember the hard times, a box of England’s Glory and those five Woodbines. With brothers and sisters there’s one thing you dread, it’s waking in the morning with the one who wets the bed. And in my opinion for all that it’s worth, the people of Knowle West are The salt of The Earth.
Ian Bell - Knowle West Resident