*click for larger
Another good, rare image from the Syd Bird archives – so thanks to him.
Here’s St Hildeburgh’s Church being constructed at the top of Stanley Road with both The Green Lodge and Kings Gap Hotel in view to the rear. Today of course it’s The Kings Gap Hotel that is under construction.
Anybody care to date this photograph?
Built between 1897-98′ ish ‘, I think, designed by a Liverpool born architect .Loved singing in the choir there in the 1970’s………ah, happy days!!!
If you look carfully, you will see that it is a copy of St John the Baptist in t Meols. I wonder if the architect got two fees?
I was interested to see the photo of the football team, circa 1920’s. I remember my Dad telling me that he and his brother Rex played for a team called Hoylake Wednesday in the 1930’s, and thought that maybe that was what the “W” on the shirts stood for. They played in the Liverpool Business Houses League on Wednesday afternoons, in the days when shops shut early on Wednesdays, and I believe their home ground was Sandringham Avenue.
Another team was started up after the war called Hoylake Cygnets, and I believe the manager was a chap called Jack Woodhouse who lived in Alderley Road. My Mum received a team photo as a thank you for donating some clothing ration coupons to help obtain the team shirts, but sadly the photo is no longer in my possession.
I remember another team starting up in the 1960s called Hoylake Trinity, and the manager was Brian Williamson from Meols, who sadly died very young. There must be many of that team still in the area.
I would like to thank all your contributors for reminding me of my roots. I particularly enjoy the old photographs. Keep up the good work.
hello mike,
i was just browsing through the internet and i came across this website, and wow you have knock me for 6!! brian williamson is my dad ( i was 7 when he died) i am his eldest son, to your question “yes” there many of the hoylake trinity team living in the area, i have met a few of them and they all speak very highly of him and the football team ( who won cup after cup ) i remember all the trophys in the house even though i was very young. the sandringham avenue football pitch is still there and they have goal posts but sadly there is no football team anymore.
Hello Darren,
What a great surprise to hear from you. I remember your Dad very well. We used to play football after school and at weekends in the park in Meols, before we started playing seriously. Your uncle Mick was always there too.
Your Dad and I were in the choir together at St. John’s church in Meols, and we used to get told off by the serious old fellows when we got the giggles. Mr. Ledsome could quieten us with just a glance.
The people you have spoken too about your Dad are quite right, he was a good friend and a great lad.
I really enjoy this site, it reminds me of my childhood and growing up.
hi mike
my uncle mick is still around, i heard he is living in portsmouth now, but to be fair we lost contact a good few years ago, i remember playing in the park myself all them years ago (not much there then compared to today!!) i have fond memories of staying in derwent road with my nan and grandad, the good old days eh!.
As I recall, your Grandad was a painter and decorator, and actually went to school with my Dad, to the little primary school behind the Railway Inn, before going on to the Parade together.
I had my tea a few times at your Nan’s.. Small world.
Hello Mike,
I have just read your bit about The Hoylake Cygnets. My father Jack Woodhouse was the Manager. I think my brother Ken was the goalkeeper for some time. Jack was a postman in Hoylake during the 30s before starting up The Merseyside Driving School after the war ended and he returned to civilian life.
I would be interested in any information about Jack especially from 1927 on his discharge from the Kings Liverpool Regiment (Regular Army) to his appointment as Postman in the early 30s. He was a member of the “Buffs” and the local T.A. He was not a local man, he was born on Shropshire and Married in the 30s into the well known Hindley family of Hoylake and West Kirby.
Hope you or any of your contacts can help
Thanks, John.
Hello John,
This site never ceases to amaze me. The old photo I remember certainly had your brother Ken in the goalkeepers jersey, and your Dad was also featured as Manager. I think they lived at about no. 54 Alderley Road, and now that you mention it, there is a vague memory of your Dad being a driving instructor. Unforunately, that is the sum total of my recollections, and sadly my Dad is no longer around to ask, as I am sure he would have known him. There are other contributors on here who lived down that end of Alderley Road, who may have better memories that could help you.
Good luck with your search,
Mike.
Hi Mike,
have you seen the c1950 photo of St Johns Church choir ,the Mr Ledsom you mentioned in an earlier post was my father in law and I remember that the choir and church were a very important part of his life.
Hello Syd,
Yes, I have a copy of that photo. I’m not certain when exactly it was taken, but it must have been around 1950/51. I was 8 or 9 years old at the time, and I am seated in front of the vicar, Mr. Hammond. Yes, I am the one with the innocent looking face. There was a chap called Ernie Ledsom in the choir, who was a bit older than me. Any relation? Brian Williamson was on that photo too. Mr. Ledsom certainly took his part in the choir and the church very seriously and expected all us young ones to do the same.
Hi Mike,
Ernie Ledsom was my brother in law and he was born in 1938. My other brother in law Les Pate was also in the choir at that time but he is not in the photograph that I have. I do see Brian Williamson in it and also my Ledsom relatives.
Hi Syd,
I managed to unearth that photo of the choir, and I’m afraid that I can’t remember the names of many of the boys, early Alzheimer’s I think, but here’s what I can remember
L-R 3rd row. Brian Williamson, Barry Evans, ? Peter Eccles, Ken Tinkler, (with Mr. Ledsom behind him) ? Ernie Ledsom, Reg Collins, Arthur Prosser, John Southwood,
2nd Row, ? ? ? ? Mr. Hammond, W.J.Tipping (Tip), Bill Letheren, ? Dave Aldwinkle, Mike Lineker, ?
Front Row, Simon Lineker(cut off) ? ? Nipper Eccles, Self, ? Paul Appleby, ? Billy Dodd, Harry Dodd.
Hope that jogs a few memories for you. I was born 1941.
Hello Mike,
many thanks for your recollections of the names. I`m not surprised you can`t remember them all, it`s a long time ago.
I myself was brought up in Hoylake although I frequently went to Meols to play football in the park there.
Looks as though you and I were born in the same year, despite the war raging about us it must have been a vintage year!!
Nb : Syd / Mike , my brother David Rankin was born in Rudd St. in Oct 1941 , attended Wood St. Gospel Hall and joined the Lifeboat crew , before ” going to sea ” and emigrating to Tasmania . ( as you say , a vintage year ) .
Nb: Syd and Stu. Although I was born in Meols, Bispham Drive, October 1941, I was raised in Hoylake, 44A Market Street, next door to Billie’s cafe, and was schooled in West Kirby, Orrysdale Road primary school, before going on to Calday. I remember David Rankin very well, and seem to recall he went to sea as a chef.
I have a photo of the class of 1953 which David is on.
A vintage year indeed, but I’m not sure whether I would be classed as a rare wine or a mouldy cheese.
Does anyone know who built St Hildeburgh’s? My uncle told me my great granddad Herbert Smith had a hand in building it and sure enough on his three sons’ birth certs his job is builder’s labourer. According to trade directories of the time there was a Simon Lineker and a Henry Lineker who were builders, and further back in Herbert’s tree there were some Linekers (or Linacres/variations).