PART SIX
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RON MOLYNEUX'S STORY
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Old Etonian and ex Royal Marine Commando Ron Molyneux formerly of 19 Eton Street kindly supplied some fascinating photographs from the pre-wartime and post-war  period  together  with interesting comments about  his Eton St days.




Copyright © 20011 Ron Molyneux. Permission granted to distribute in any medium, commercial
or non - commercial, provided author attribution and this copyright notice remains intact

 

27th November 2011

Ron writes:

Above is my most recent photograph taken in Canada, visiting a former Royal Marines buddy. In my lapel is the Commando badge from 42 commando. Under that is the Australian one ANZACS given me by another buddy who emigrated to Oz. On my tie is the Globe and Laurel, our badge. I am now 81 born 1930, my brother in 1929 and my sister is Doris, My Grandparents Harris lived in 13 Lind St, all seven of them. In 1934 they moved to 19 Eton Street. My Great Grandfather Harris lived in 26 with wife Evans. So my brother and I went to Gwladys St and finally Priory Rd. In 1940 us kids where sent to Ludlow on evacuation.

We did the off and were in Eton Street all through the blitz. After the war, my Mother was divorced so us kids were put in Dr Barnardo's. I attended WNTS. Watts Naval Training School in Norfolk until I was 14 in 1944.

Aunts and Uncles married as happens, my Grandma Harris died in 1946, I was working in True Form shoe shop on the corner of Oxton Steet/County Road. Then Pendleburys butchers by Costigans Neston Street for 15 shilling a week.

Finally in 1947 I joined the Royal Marines Commando and was shipped out to Hong Kong, then Malaya. I left the Corps in 1955, and at that time I married and still lived in 19.

I moved to Kirkby but my mother remained in Eton Street and was among the last to leave after about 65 years there. I personally closed the front door for the last time.

Good days in that Street, before the houses even had electric and gas lamps to swing from.

Mrs Duncan and her son who owned the corner shop in Neston Street carried on for years.

Playmates:

No 3 was Les Tyrer, 8 was Ray Billinge, 14 Celia who I am still in touch with. 18 Ronnie Blackler, 20 Fanny Wooley lived into her nineties. 22 The Maineys. 26 Marcall (After my Gt Grandad moved out) and Grandparents of Celia I mentioned. 34 Doreen Gregson, friend of my sister Doris and married Jackie Chambers from 13. 66 Tommy Bradley. The other side 11 Stan Butcher, 13 Betsy Chambers mother of Jackie, Eric, Norman. 15 Annie Cruise, 17 Mrs England related to the Blacklers in 18. She was after my grandad! 19 us lot.21 Archie and Nellie Mckie, Archie was in the navy. 23 The Snapes Val, Margaret and one more. 41 Tina Lello and Cyril Lello -  with sons Tommy and Roy. Cyril finished up in a home with dementia. And so it goes.

Our Living Arrangements:

One uncle Jim back bedroom, grandparents middle bedroom. Front bedroom three aunts, my mother and three kids. Cor, and the toilet down the yard !! I am rambling. At the moment I am in my sons in Telford, returning home to Fuerteventura on Dec 3rd. I divorced and bought a house in Elphin Grove, remained there for 35 happy years. Just recently left to live in the sun. Well that was a nice ramble eh? I have many more tales to tell. Cheers Ron.

In between the air-raid shelters. Left the Sergeant my Uncle George.
Right my Grandad next to Tommy Blackler, woman standing Mrs Marcall No 26.
Everton's Football Stadium can be seen in the far background.


Left my Aunt May behind her standing is my Mother talking to Mrs Mckay
Right by my grandmother sitting wearing glasses standing tall right, Mr Blackler.

Pure info: on the "Corps". I joined in 1947. Trained as SBS. Then served in Hong Kong and Malaya for two and a half years. Back in UK serving on landing craft. I came out in 1955. Still in touch with many buddies world wide. We have 42 Commando reunions in Blackpool every year, this next one is July 6th. We have in the region of 400 old fogeys there. We invite 10 serving 'Royals' from those in action abroad, or here wounded. Very emotional.


Granddad making a carpet. 1946 My grandma Harris c 1943
Me and my son on the step 1957 My mother and daughter 1966
Granddad in my uniform 1947. My son and daughter 1958
Norma McKie from No 21 with my son 1957    My mother c 1960

My mother with my son in the pram 1955

On a different tack now. I got a phone call from Celia who lived in 14. We had a good old chat when I told her of you Jud. She also lived in Lind St moving to Eton St using a hand cart as transport. At 16 I got my first suit from Daglish's pawn shop on City Rd. I was also married in St Lukes in 1952. Gwladys St school did cop for a bomb "I figure they where after Evertons ground". But I very clearly remember walking City Rd with all shop windows blown in. Climbing on roofs looking for shrapnel, as kids we knew the difference between bomb and shell and did swaps, just like 'Ollies' in peace time. Must not ramble to much. Heading off with my son to visit my sister in Wigan, one never knows when its the last time. I wish you all well. I shall ramble more soon. Quick P. S I do have my Molyneux family tree going back to 1612. 254 of them, starting with my 7 x Gt Grandfather. All living within about 10 miles of Walton. Later on some in Winslow St and Delamore St. Small world.

Who knows, when I was a snotty nosed kid of ten, I may have shouted at you as a snotty nosed kid of five. As you said in those days age mattered. Also who knows, you have have had relatives in the street party photo I sent.

I am now back in El Sol and getting back in my routine. My next trip over will be end of June. Commando reunion in Blackpool 6th/ 9th July. Should you pass that way. I spoke with my sister Doris when I was about, she lives in Winstanley with husband Jim.

I told her of our little chats. Her memories are of my brother Eric and I taking her fishing in Stanley Park, definitely string and pin stuff. Getting "Jackies" out of the water by hand under the rocks by the boats, some "Gudgeons"too.  We used to put them in a jam jar to take home. Doris fell in the lake, only about two foot deep. But did we get in trouble at home. 'Stanny Ark' as it was known was our adventure playground. Sad to say we where destructive of the trees and bushes, I do so regret those things. Chased by the ducks many a time. And the Cocky Watchman on his bike. Health and safety would have loved our swings, slides and roundabouts. All shackled together at night with big locks.

Starting a Gwladys Street Infant School -  it was just a doss house. Given grey woollen blankets, on little camp beds, and told to sleep until play time. My Auntie Millie b1920 was in the 'Big Girls' and passed us sweets through the railings. Then it was back to bed. There was a sweet shop next to the school used to sell cinnamen sticks, we used to try and smoke them. Also lucky bags with mostly liquorish in them. 1p wooden top and 1p for the whip.


Bunking in the "Collie" ¹ for the Saturday rush, Flash Gordon, Tom Mix etc. And a big fella on the door in green uniform used to clout us. But life was all one big game.

Then the war and evacuation to Ludlow for a short period. Tramping war torn streets of Walton, still only a game to us kids. Arnot Street School used as a makeshift morgue when the likes of the houses there 'got it' by a land mine that was after the railway line. The night Spellow Lane also got it.

We moved up in life and started going to Wally Hall park. The boats had 'steeries' on, dead posh. The ducks would leave the same time each night to nest in Stanny ark. We always went home dirty and hungry. Only the tin bath in the yard, used once a week, used to hate it !


Husband Jim (left)  with Doris and her brother Ron December 2011

Making winter warmers out of old tin cans and a bit of wire to swing around. Streets thick with smog or fog, chimneys belching black smoke. How did we survive? Nicking apples from Waterworths outside tables, caught by a scuffer, man they where big in them days. And a good clout never came amiss, no complaints then, you took it. Well Jud, I am going to sit in the sun with a cuppa. Trust all is well. Cheers, Ron My sister Doris with hubby Jim and of course me. Taken last week.
References:


1. "Jackies."   Jack Sharpes - Small fish found in lakes. A corrupted translation of the Gaelic kickshawn.The word was then shortened to *Jackies. * Shaw. Frank.  "Dialect of a Seaport" Rhymes, Games, Pub Names." The Journal of the Lancashire Dialect Society* 1960 pp. 30 - 42.
2. "The Collie." The Coliseum Cinema on City Road.  Now The Everton Supporters Club
3. Wally Hall Park"   - Walton Hall Park" (about a mile away from Eton Street.)
4. "Stanny Arc"  Stanley Park.
5. "Scuffer" - a policeman. The name is said to be based on the scuffing of their heavy boots when they were arresting someone in a "jigger," which is the narrow "entry" at the rear and in between the back to back houses.




NEXT - THE STREET - BACK TO  PART ONE