Life was hard in the 50s if you were on your own with two children. We existed mainly on what was then called The National Assistance. All you did was exist and I find it quite hard to look back at those times. My brother Alan was eight years older than me and I think that he finds it even harder. My Dad left when I was three and I never saw him again for another 50 years. I am glad that we eventually met up again. When you have not seen a parent for so long you are always wondering what they are like and what they look like so a few ghosts were laid so to speak.

I was born in 1947 and lived in Furness Road until 1967 with my Mum Matilda and brother Alan Bitmead. My Mum worked for a while in the Sunlight laundry ironing shirts. When she left there she went charring in Kensington. She eventually moved to Wellingborough to live near me. We didn't always enjoy a good relationship. She could be quite hard work. My brother worked at one time for United Lubricants. I think that they were based in the Stephendale Road area. 

We lived below the Gormans. Dolly Keeble lived next door at no.20 and she was a Captain in the Salvation Army.There was a Spanish family at no 18 called Mantas.The parents were Pepe & Herminia and their two children Rosario & Santiago.  My Auntie Violet also lived in Furness Road with her husband Bob and son Raymond. Their family name was Mayhew. Other neighbours names were Hills, Lewis, Perks, Chown, Broderick, Fiddler, Cooper,Brown, Delaney, Barnes, Macleod and  Drewitt. Most children went to Langford Road School. 

I remember the Fish shop on the corner of Gilstead Road & Furness Road also the corner shop on Broughton Road & Furness Road owned by Bill & Madge Dewberry. There were many shops in Stephendale Road including a greengrocer, paper shop,hardware shop ( known as the 'Oil Shop' ), butchers and tobacconist. 

I have many memories some happy and some sad. I used to work in the office at the Coronet Laundry in Byam Street. I was very sad recently to discover that my old pal Betty Cheeseman had died in 2007. We lost touch about 20 years ago but were close friends for many years starting at the Coronet laundry in the early 60s