Brilliant piece of filming; my - like a lot of us old fogies - lamenting the passing of the Old Ashton, with all it's familiar, now near-forgotten totally-Lancastrian culture and landmarks.Now, most of this has been razed-to-the ground...leaving only hollow echoes of yesteryear, and the ghosts of a fleeting but wonderful experience, for those who lived and worked in this proud and grand capital of *King Cotton* in its magnificent heyday; this, before the blind bullying bulldozers and the unconscious concrete-mixers of Metroland moved-in !I spent the best, and the first, 30 years of my life here; first as a blissful D-Day school kid at Mossley Road, Infants, then from aged seven to 13, at Saint Mary's RC School, Newton Street, and finally from September 1952, I was a Building Course, student, at the old Ashton Junior Tech, in Old Street, when the principal was Colonel HCW (dubbed *hot and cold water*), Venning.As a school kid, aged 13, in 1952, I took newspapers for newsagent, Harry Pollitt, on Whiteacre Road; delivered meat for Wilf Cleary, in 1953, (Coronation Year), whose shop was on the corner of Egerton Street and Whiteacre Road, and even spent my Saturday's working for gentlemen's outfitter, Harry Sladdin, at his small shop in the Clarence Arcade. For a time, I also helped fairground-barker, and general dealer, Abe Star, who sold everything from cheap nylons to canteens of cutlery; his wearing the jungle solar topee (or pith helmet), that he wore while on active service in Burmah (the hatband of which was stuffed with white fivers), and sporting a dozen wrist watches up each of his arms, as he drew massive crowds with his quick-fire Jewish comedy repartee and barker's patter; all the while doing a roaring trade, selling with no let-up, from the tailgate of his massively-stocked Pantechnicon van, on Ashton's then cobbled-set Market Ground.I served my time as a reporter on the Ashton Reporter, in the now long-gone building, that once held pride-of-place overlooking that market ground, where I spent my first three years in Journalism as a staff reporter, before moving to Oldham Chronicle and thence to London.Returning in 1960, from regular service in the RAF, on Christmas Island, in 1962 I then became an officer in the 9th Battalion The Manchester Regiment (TA), and five years later landed a job as an Army Information Officer; one that saw me travelling to all the world's *trouble-spots* where I reported on, and photographed, the activities of regular units, involved on active service.Since then, I've worked all over the world, as Army Information Officer, civilian reporter and finally actor, yet - in all that time - I have never experienced anything to match the degree of genuine warmth, fascination, joy and true friendship that I found in my beloved Ashton-Under-Lyne (not Tameside. Damn-it !), all those years ago.I'm now nearly 77, but - if there's anyone who might remember me - I'm Gerald Nicholas (now Gerry George, actor), who once lived at 186 Mossley Road, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire; that being the correct address just before I bade my hometown a reluctant and tearful farewell, in August 1972.Thanks, once again, to those who made this film, and chose the wonderful music that you can hear in the background.It really is a masterpiece, and one which promulgates the changes that - alas - have to come,. with the passage of time !
@@CrowhillCrazy Thank you for taking the time and effort to do it. I have since posted it on twitter to a couple of American friends and they have enjoyed it. One is coming over next year to check it out. Yes I have told him about the changes. Once again, thank you.
Just come across this vid I was born in bread in Ashton lived there 20year And moved to Australia 20years ago I haven’t been back , nice to see me old town
Only just viewed this and what memories it brought back - spent many happy hours with friends in the Prince of Orange, the Angel and the Feathers - are they still there? And yes - a great choice of music!
Great video.good for future generations to know what Ashton was like in 2011 pity there is no earlier vids great music.what is it? Ashton may not be the prettiest town in England but its my town where i was born and all my memorys are here,and i love it and always will the people are friendly and down to earth,with no pretensions Keith Kilbourne.
its sad really, i look back on what the place i was born used to be and it is almost a completely different place. nowadays, there is litter and roadmen everywhere, its sad to see the state its in now.
Lived in bow ST opposite the open market above Howards chip shop in grot for want of a better discription in 1950 went to gatesfield school the only school friends I remember were Eric Rider and Sonia Speakman Lived in Tavistock Devon most my life butI will always have strong memories of ASHTON.
Brilliant piece of filming; my - like a lot of us old fogies - lamenting the passing of the Old Ashton, with all it's familiar, now near-forgotten totally-Lancastrian culture and landmarks.Now, most of this has been razed-to-the ground...leaving only hollow echoes of yesteryear, and the ghosts of a fleeting but wonderful experience, for those who lived and worked in this proud and grand capital of *King Cotton* in its magnificent heyday; this, before the blind bullying bulldozers and the unconscious concrete-mixers of Metroland moved-in !I spent the best, and the first, 30 years of my life here; first as a blissful D-Day school kid at Mossley Road, Infants, then from aged seven to 13, at Saint Mary's RC School, Newton Street, and finally from September 1952, I was a Building Course, student, at the old Ashton Junior Tech, in Old Street, when the principal was Colonel HCW (dubbed *hot and cold water*), Venning.As a school kid, aged 13, in 1952, I took newspapers for newsagent, Harry Pollitt, on Whiteacre Road; delivered meat for Wilf Cleary, in 1953, (Coronation Year), whose shop was on the corner of Egerton Street and Whiteacre Road, and even spent my Saturday's working for gentlemen's outfitter, Harry Sladdin, at his small shop in the Clarence Arcade. For a time, I also helped fairground-barker, and general dealer, Abe Star, who sold everything from cheap nylons to canteens of cutlery; his wearing the jungle solar topee (or pith helmet), that he wore while on active service in Burmah (the hatband of which was stuffed with white fivers), and sporting a dozen wrist watches up each of his arms, as he drew massive crowds with his quick-fire Jewish comedy repartee and barker's patter; all the while doing a roaring trade, selling with no let-up, from the tailgate of his massively-stocked Pantechnicon van, on Ashton's then cobbled-set Market Ground.I served my time as a reporter on the Ashton Reporter, in the now long-gone building, that once held pride-of-place overlooking that market ground, where I spent my first three years in Journalism as a staff reporter, before moving to Oldham Chronicle and thence to London.Returning in 1960, from regular service in the RAF, on Christmas Island, in 1962 I then became an officer in the 9th Battalion The Manchester Regiment (TA), and five years later landed a job as an Army Information Officer; one that saw me travelling to all the world's *trouble-spots* where I reported on, and photographed, the activities of regular units, involved on active service.Since then, I've worked all over the world, as Army Information Officer, civilian reporter and finally actor, yet - in all that time - I have never experienced anything to match the degree of genuine warmth, fascination, joy and true friendship that I found in my beloved Ashton-Under-Lyne (not Tameside. Damn-it !), all those years ago.I'm now nearly 77, but - if there's anyone who might remember me - I'm Gerald Nicholas (now Gerry George, actor), who once lived at 186 Mossley Road, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire; that being the correct address just before I bade my hometown a reluctant and tearful farewell, in August 1972.Thanks, once again, to those who made this film, and chose the wonderful music that you can hear in the background.It really is a masterpiece, and one which promulgates the changes that - alas - have to come,. with the passage of time !
This channel is amazing thank you
I live in Ashton under lyne and let me say you have put together a wonderful video.
I'm just sorry it took me so long to find it.
Thank you
@@CrowhillCrazy Thank you for taking the time and effort to do it. I have since posted it on twitter to a couple of American friends and they have enjoyed it. One is coming over next year to check it out. Yes I have told him about the changes. Once again, thank you.
Just come across this vid
I was born in bread in Ashton lived there 20year
And moved to Australia 20years ago
I haven’t been back , nice to see me old town
IKEA was not there when I was there
@@deanattard6974 I wish they would take it away, it's an eye sore
Brown or white bread 😅
Vanessa, great video and your choice of music makes it an experience to watch. Love your work.
Only just viewed this and what memories it brought back - spent many happy hours with friends in the Prince of Orange, the Angel and the Feathers - are they still there? And yes - a great choice of music!
Yes, they are all still there.
@@CrowhillCrazy 👍
Great video.good for future generations to know what Ashton was like in 2011 pity there is no earlier vids great music.what is it? Ashton may not be the prettiest town in England but its my town where i was born and all my memorys are here,and i love it and always will the people are friendly and down to earth,with no pretensions Keith Kilbourne.
its sad really, i look back on what the place i was born used to be and it is almost a completely different place. nowadays, there is litter and roadmen everywhere, its sad to see the state its in now.
Sad about all the boarded up shops but I guess that is the world we live in, the world we created.
Love the humour in fitting the crescendo to IKEA. Great video.
Thank you. The music is Concerto in B minor No2 opus 104 (Allegro Moderato) Artist, Anne Gastinel
Thank you, I was pleased with how the music worked out at the end.
The good old days of ashton under lyne
I live very close I know everything you showed
So do I.
Nice work
Lived in bow ST opposite the open market above Howards chip shop in grot for want of a better discription in 1950 went to gatesfield school the only school friends I remember were Eric Rider and Sonia Speakman Lived in Tavistock Devon most my life butI will always have strong memories of ASHTON.
nice
Excellent HD video
Can everyone pray that my aunty finds a husband.