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Frank and Keith Williamson

Frank's story...

Frank Stannard was a typical chocolate worker – finishing school at 16 on the Friday and starting work in the factory on the Monday. He well remembers going home for his dinner and keeping one ear cocked for the two minute siren,Ìýwhich meant a fast sprint along Rose Street - he used to make it from the armchair to clocking in with seconds to spare!

He says the motivation was easyÌýas lateness meant docked pay, and as a teenager he had every penny of his wages spent before it was earned! Along with his closest friends, who were neighbours from birth, Frank was on aÌý quest – to earn enough to be mobile. He and his five mates were bursting with pride when they all got their firstÌý motorbikes as now life was instantly bigger than just the bus routes around their own street!

Peter Johnson's grandfather in 1920

Peter's story...

Peter Johnson's family couldn’t help being well-known to everyone in Rose Street as his family ran the corner shop which was also an off-licence. Peter’s father took over the shop from his father. Peter helped out and recalls neighbours shopping lists and daily visits to the big counter in pre-home fridge days. Draught beer was popular too with both men and women bringing an empty jug to the shop for a fill-up.

Peter alsoÌýremembers the most daunting daily eventÌýof his childhood– the arrival of the girls from Rowntrees for their dinner from the adjacent fish shop and their packet of ten fags from his Dad. They would sit on the wall, dressed in their all-white aprons and turbans, eating their bags of chips and shouting and joking with Peter and his friends, who at the tender age of eight thought the girls the most flamboyant humans they knew!

Rose Street Residents

In 2006 Rose Street held a neighbours' reunion, which was organised by resident Maureen Stannard. Maureen certainly stirred scores of memories of former neighbours when she began planning the event, but she almost gaveÌýup, thinking that maybe not enough people would be interested. But her initial spark well and truly paid off as around a hundred residents past and present attended the event at Huntington Indoor Bowls Club.

One of Rose Street's more famous residents is ex-England football manager Steve McClaren. Steve spent his childhood kicking a football along the kerbs.

Although football commitments wouldn’t allow him the time to attend the reunion, he sent Maureen a letter wishing her every success with the special night.

Maureen’s idea not only brought together people who haven’t seen each other for decades, but has re-kindled memories of friends and neighbours long gone, but very much remembered.