Sydenham

[gerryg1]

Hi DMW.
Henry Berry was a friend of ours and lived behind us, we lived in Invernook Park which as you know has all been changed since 1964 when we left for Australia. I've just found the forum called Tin Town Kids which has been running for a couple of years and am enjoying reading of other people's memories of living in the bungalows, we all love growing up there.

[memorylane]

RayH, I always wondered what became of you. DavidA here - from Sydenham Crescent. I haven't read the string of contributions yet and thought to immediately register and send this off in the hope of starting a dialogue with you. Not sure how it all works, so if you bear with me we'll see how it goes. I left NI in 1969 to further my career so there is a lot to catch up on. I await a response.

[RayH]

Well, well, well, DavidA great to hear from you. I too have often wondered what became of yourself...Where are you living now.. I left N.I. In June 1970 to sail to Australia arriving August 1970 and have lived in Sydney ever since. Have been back to N.I. on only 4 occasions, the last time in 2011. Am now retired and enjoying some travel. Married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren with another one due in Sept. Will be interested to hear further from you if you receive this message..

[memorylane]

Ray. What great news. I had previously tried to find you using fairly basic search criteria - ending up with a roofing specialist among others. Earlier today I had input "Leonard Motum, Belfast". I reckon that more unusual names are easier to pin down. Previously, "Brian Kelata" didn't produce anything of help. Anyhow, we are here now. I am living on the east coast of Scotland and retired since 2010. Married with two children now pursuing their careers away from home, I have time and the inclination to follow-up on this kind of thing. My brother and sister are still in NI so we pop over there from time to time and they reciprocate. Very occasionally I have driven around Sydenham/Belmont  to trigger memories of times past. I recall that you were a St Marks attendee whereas my family went to Strand Presbyterian Church on Connsbrook Avenue. Earlier posts from Des Tedford et al prompt memories of the 42nd Belfast Company of the Boys' Brigade around which a lot of my early life revolved. Conversely, I remember our visits to the Queen's Court in Bangor where the Irish Showbands featured prominently. Alas, that building is no longer there. More amusingly, I recall you getting the free tickets for a dance in the Floral Hall when we were the only males in 'civies' there. Sailors galore. It transpired you had managed to get tickets for a celebration dance for the commissioning of HMS Fearless and the tickets were really for young, non naval women! Enough for now - chores to perform.
 

[DMW]

memorylane - First of all welcome to Belfast Forum, and this Sydenham thread.  I too went to Strand Church- lived on Connsbrook  Ave , same row as the CO-OP. I saw your reference to Des Tedford and the 42nd BB - me too in the 50s -  Des and his wife Eleanor (McKibben) were living in New Zeeland, Sadly Des passed away last November.  If you troll back through this Sydenham thread you can come across some of their posts under the name of - Desandel -   

[memorylane]

DMW - Thanks for the sad news about Des whom I remember well. He was my tent captain at BB camp one year and close to David Mack who, also, is now sadly dead. I find it amazing that although I do not know many of the people named in the thread, somehow I feel I can relate to most knowing the people they know, as it were. The roots about who we are are truly shared!

[jm_ards1]

Hi guys, I have just come across this forum/site by accident!

I am Bobby Houston’s grandson (Connsbrook Park).  I have shown my Granda some of these posts, he was delighted to hear some of the stories from Sydenham and remembers most of the people mentioned mainly -

Jim weatherup (bimbo), Dicky McCann, Stan Sloan, Albert Shepherd, Nancy Livingston, Edwin Jobes, Twins (the millers) the Begg’s, the Redpath’s, Davy Bingham.

He has asked me to post this on his behalf, better late than never! 

[Nick Keene]

Just wondering would you of known my Aunt Joan Galbraith, think she lived on Park Ave facing the entrance to the Victoria Park?

Lovely lady Joan and very much missed by the family, your Uncle Joe is still there, although not in good health, but all the family still there for him.

[[email protected],c]

J ust found this site I used to live in Park Avenue opposite the pumping station.I went to Sydenham school then the Strand plenty of days spent in Mr Rogers office getting canned soon stopped when my Mother went to see him and threatened to use his cane on him,then off to Ashfield Girls I had one Brother Billy Greene and 3 Sisters Barbara Betty and June my name is Helen,living in England nearly 40 years.

[jm_ards1]

DMW -I  recall telling you before that I went to Ashfield when it first opened 1952  I left at 14vyrs to start my apprenticeship with my uncle as a plumber. Your mates would have started the year I left. The guys I remember telling you about  from Connsbrook , were  Bobby Houston , a guy named Shepard, the twins any of this ring a bell . hello dmw

Hi Richard,

My Granda (Bobby Houston Ashfield Boys) was asking for you and said do you remember the aniseed balls?

[Leekal]

Hi RayH

My dad was Brian Kaleta, lived on Park Ave and went to Ashfield. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago but I’d love to hear some stories of when he was young.

[BT41NF]

Hi jm_ards1.
Like your granpa I lived on Connsbrook Park; directly across from him, (me #11, Houstons #10). While I don't specifically remember your grandpa, I do remember a 'Florie' Houston and being in her house many times as a young child. Hopefully memory is not playing tricks on me with the name 'Florie'. I believe that she was a relative of the Close family from #5 Connsbrook Park.

[jm_ards1]

Hi jm_ards1.
Like your granpa I lived on Connsbrook Park; directly across from him, (me #11, Houstons #10). While I don't specifically remember your grandpa, I do remember a 'Florie' Houston and being in her house many times as a young child. Hopefully memory is not playing tricks on me with the name 'Florie'. I believe that she was a relative of the Close family from #5 Connsbrook Park.

Hi BT41NF,

Florrie Houston is correct she was my great grandmother. The Clarke’s lived next door to her and the Houston’s  are related to the close family, granny Florrie’s sister lived at number 5.



My Granda Bobby remembers the Nichols family at number 11 - he may have an old photo. He tells me he shared a few pints with John.


My mum also remembers the Nichols and said that granny Florrie was very fond of them.