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80% => The Nevillew General Discussion Forum => Topic started by: shady on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:10:42



Title: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:10:42
Was a Championship level club
had 2 Wimpy's in the town centre
had John Menzies
had footlocker

Name things you can remember Swindon having?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bogus Dave on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:14:11
Gordon Greer

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: bigbobjoylove on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:15:01
Terracing


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:16:02
A town centre without shitty chain pubs.
Old town was party central
Brunel Room's old Amphi theatre


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:26:10
Rumbelows..for my music,Notton's in Manchester Road and Town(Rudi's now)...cafe/restaurant.
The adver man....adddddva....addddddva :D
Robin's Nest in Gorsehill.....the Tabernacle in the town centre.
The Toffee Apple man......and chippy van.
Scrumps from the chip shop...always free.





Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:28:40
Rumbelows..for my music,Notton's in Manchester Road and Town(Rudi's now)...cafe/restaurant.
The adver man....adddddva....addddddva :D
Robin's Nest in Gorsehill.....the Tabernacle in the town centre.
The Toffee Apple man......and chippy van.
Scrumps from the chip shop...always free.


Old Yap Yap, i remember him. He used to stand opposite Debenhams by the alleyway to the toilets and Kasbah

Didnt he have a kid when he was in his 80's?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:30:55
The adver man....adddddva....addddddva

Nice one Leefer, all nostalgic now


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: axs on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:31:32
Beatties toy shop.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: alanmayes on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:32:34
The Football Pink.

It was a saturday evening sports paper published by the Adver,with a report on the Town
and you could buy it from about 5.15pm.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:32:48
the 69er fanzine


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:33:50
Old Yap Yap, i remember him. He used to stand opposite Debenhams by the alleyway to the toilets and Kasbah

Didnt he have a kid when he was in his 80's?

Yep....ime his lad. :eek:
Also the guy with a guitar who couldn't play it....think he had learning difficulties.
Passed away sadly.
Also remember Pedro's the tattoist in Ferndale Road...had one done there....sadly died as well.




Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: A Gent Orange on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:40:50
Beatties toy shop.
Trents - for those of us nearer 40.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:44:47
Yep....ime his lad. :eek:
Also the guy with a guitar who couldn't play it....think he had learning difficulties.
Passed away sadly.
Also remember Pedro's the tattoist in Ferndale Road...had one done there....sadly died as well.



Really?

Zodiac toys where everyone got their zodiac zipper roller boots from.
The indoor market in the Brunel with a real old school sweet shop/stall. Opposite that was the pepe jeans stall with the pepe key rings


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Huwwy on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:50:21
the wooden seats in the top tier of the South Stand


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Nick Bamosomi on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 18:53:41
McIlroys
Two cinemas - the ABC and the Odeon


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:01:22
Saturday morning kids disco's at Bubbles nightclub 


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:05:12
Olympus sports opposite the brunel centre. Bejams. wasnt there 3 wimpys ?  one where the old burger king was one right opposite where robert dyas is and one where the disney store is. and the old water feature outside debenhams.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:06:42
Brians the barbers in Ferndale Road.

Anything for the weekend sir....i was only 12.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bewster on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:22:18
When Swindon stopped at the Link Centre/Haydon Wick and wasn't full of chavs/immigrants

When you could piss in shrivy road turnstiles at half time and sing Roger Malone songs.

And buy Harrington Jackets from the market that is now House of Fraser

Fuck me I'm old


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Jamiesfuturewife on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:27:54
Carrefore! :) (now ASDA!)

And god the adver man that took me back

Cairos!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:31:56
Swindon Viewpoint...on the tele.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Ralphy on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:35:22
The club shop was an old wooden portakabin by the County Ground hotel !


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Lumps on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:36:05
When Swindon stopped at the Link Centre

I can remember when the West Swindon club in Radnor Street wasn't strangely named, because that area was where Swindon stopped. Toothill farmhouse was actually a farmhouse back then.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:37:07
A trip to Bassett seemed like a day out.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Ralphy on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:38:39
When you could buy Barley Sugar sweets in the Arkells stand! My grandad always bought a bag for us to share !


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: The Grim Reaper on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:38:45
Swindon Cable
Carrefour
The 2 lion statues in town centre
Route 66


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:50:20
Brians the barbers in Ferndale Road.

Anything for the weekend sir....i was only 12.

I remember him. You always had to get there early on a Saturday morning early, otherwise the queue would be out of the door. Didn't he has Parkinsons disease or something, as he always seemed to have the shakes?

Only ever used to have a "number one all over please", as I never trusted the fucker to do anything else..

Rhapsody in the Brunel centre. Had a good tattoo shop in the basement.

The Metal Mesh behind the goal in the Town End to stop coins and other various "missiles" from decapitating opposition goalkeepers / defenders.

The Tramways pub / Bar on Regents Circus.

The Old Vic Bar in the Wiltshire Hotel (Now Menzies) opposite the Old police station off of Fleming Way.

When you could still smoke / piss and swear where you stood in the Town End and nobody would be bothered as every other nutter in there would be doing the same.

Being able to buy two (glass) bottles of Carling Black Label in the CGH and get change from 2 quid.

What has happened to our once great town?



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Summerof69 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:50:41
Saturday Morning Picture show at the ABC in town.
Music shops (Rival Records, Our Price)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Jamiesfuturewife on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 19:55:40
Haha I was racking my brains trying to think of that shop in the Brunel centre - Rhapsody!!! soapy tit wank!!
Loads of amazing clothes and jewellery in there! Remember me & my friend buying clogs!! Hahaha!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:00:17
Haha I was racking my brains trying to think of that shop in the Brunel centre - Rhapsody!!! soapy tit wank!!
Loads of amazing clothes and jewellery in there! Remember me & my friend buying clogs!! Hahaha!

If I remember correctly, they also did quite a good line in rather revealing ladies lingerie.......


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:06:49
I remember him. You always had to get there early on a Saturday morning early, otherwise the queue would be out of the door. Didn't he has Parkinsons disease or something, as he always seemed to have the shakes?

Only ever used to have a "number one all over please", as I never trusted the fucker to do anything else..

Rhapsody in the Brunel centre. Had a good tattoo shop in the basement.

The Metal Mesh behind the goal in the Town End to stop coins and other various "missiles" from decapitating opposition goalkeepers / defenders.

The Tramways pub / Bar on Regents Circus.

The Old Vic Bar in the Wiltshire Hotel (Now Menzies) opposite the Old police station off of Fleming Way.

When you could still smoke / piss and swear where you stood in the Town End and nobody would be bothered as every other nutter in there would be doing the same.

Being able to buy two (glass) bottles of Carling Black Label in the CGH and get change from 2 quid.

What has happened to our once great town?



He had a mirror that i swear had a models head photographed on the back...when he showed you it your hair looked great....got home and you looked like a scarecrow..seemed to remember he loved the railways.
Who can remember Dairy Fresh bakeries.............and the broken biscuits.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:09:00
Terry Warner Sports in Commercial Road..
..and Rimes Travel in Commercial Road..and Rimes Coaches..
..and that funny concrete fountain thing in The Parade..

[url width=203 height=152]http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/images/2008/06/05/let_me_tell_you_swindon_2_203x152.jpg[/url]


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:10:55
He had a mirror that i swear had a models head photographed on the back...when he showed you it your hair looked great....got home and you looked like a scarecrow..seemed to remember he loved the railways.
Who can remember Dairy Fresh bakeries.............and the broken biscuits.

Was that the bakery on kiln lane, off of Cheney Manor road?



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:12:05
 Don't get me started....


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:19:24
Was that the bakery on kiln lane, off of Cheney Manor road?



It was a shop...nationwide i think....used to go to the one in Cavvy Square....a penny got you a gurt big bag of broken biscuits.......with the odd whole one ;D


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Lumps on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:22:44
Is that God-awful statue of the acrobats still outside Maccy D's?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Samdy Gray on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:26:06
Nope.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bogus Dave on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:30:49
They've moved that to st marks park, bizzarely.

The entire St marks area was brilliant when I was little. Rubbish now :(


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:35:36
some crackers already mentioned,nochee in partcular really jogged my memory.i had zodiac zippers  :toocool:
and saturday at bubbles was ace as a kid.
anyway some of mine.....
world of sport.
chinky tunnel.
when you could walk around queens park lake.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:38:08
some crackers already mentioned,nochee in partcular really jogged my memory.i had zodiac zippers  :toocool:
and saturday at bubbles was ace as a kid.
anyway some of mine.....
world of sport.
chinky tunnel.
when you could walk around queens park lake.


Is that the chinky tunnels up by the Wyvern?

You used to see how far you could get before the mad bastards used to chase you out.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Dozno9 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:41:47
Is that God-awful statue of the acrobats still outside Maccy D's?

Isn't it in the Whitehouse Road park now? Near the tennis courts by the Shell garage. Seem it somewhere but can't remember where.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: adje on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:42:43
Ringside seats-wooden benches around the edge of the pitch.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Ardiles on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:42:48
Growing up in West Swindon in the early 1980s and being allowed to go pretty much where I liked on my bike.  Freshbrook and Westlea were still being built, and it seemed as if there were several new streets to explore every week.  The place was growing so fast and (as a kid) really seemed to be on the up.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:45:54
Is that the chinky tunnels up by the Wyvern?

You used to see how far you could get before the mad bastards used to chase you out.

yep.good chase back in the day

i remember brians barbers too.cheap as fuck and rightly so.i went there when i wanted the extra cash given to me to buy fags.his moustached mrs used to sit there in silence and sweep up after every haircut.
waynes or ians on commerical road did much better cuts but cost more.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:46:03
Anyone remember the fullsize floodlit football pitches at the Oasis which were made of gravel?

Also real town centre pubs such as the Lamb and Flag, the Rolling Mills and the original Sir Daniel's Arms.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Dozno9 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:47:15
Black and White floor tiles in the Brunel with the big arched roof overhead.
Lemon Plaice.
Treats.
Speed bumps on Queens Drive, what the fuck was that about!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bogus Dave on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:49:36
The prefab library 8)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:50:43
the octobus.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:51:08
When Swindon stopped at the Link Centre

As far as I'm concerned Swindon stops at the end of Wootton Bassett Road by the Running Horse.

I recall late 60's having got a late night invite to go and stay with a bird out in the wilds of Broad Town.... the road to Bassett was pretty quiet once you were under the bridge, it passed by what is now flats in the old Mannington Farm...then derelict.  It was temporary home to a gang of Hell's Angels, as I pootled past on my Lambretta, I got lashed round the head by a length of chain....I seriously thought I was going to die.  Got the :moped: going as fast as poss, and happily made it for a night of debauchery.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:51:39
yep.good chase back in the day

i remember brians barbers too.cheap as fuck and rightly so.i went there when i wanted the extra cash given to me to buy fags.his moustached mrs used to sit there in silence and sweep up after every haircut.
waynes or ians on commerical road did much better cuts but cost more.

Ians....died a few years back.....used to be one in Manny Road who did quiffs and odd styles.

Lemon Plaice...forgot about there.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:53:07
Strippers on a Sunday afternoon in the Grapes on Faringdon Road.

What they could do with a skipping rope was nobody's business.

Happy Days...


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 20:54:13
Stan Pine.....flower man outside of Mcilroys.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Ardiles on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:00:29
Also real town centre pubs such as the Lamb and Flag, the Rolling Mills and the original Sir Daniel's Arms.

You're going back a long way there.  Thing is, before the chain pub invasion of Fleet Street that happened pretty much over the space of 6 months in about 1997, the town centre was a pub desert (with a very few exceptions)...and utterly deserted after the shops shut.  The centre of town was shopping; Old Town was for going out.  Although the clubs were in the town centre, a good mile+ away from the Old Town pubs, leading to a mass migration of literally hundreds of pubbers & clubbers down Victoria Hill around 9.30pm most Fridays and Saturdays.  The sight of that really sticks in my mind.

Remember a 'trip down memory lane' type article in the Adver from (I think) the early 1990s where they listed out the old pubs in the town centre that, by then, were long gone.  Real town centre pubs were few & far between.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:03:29
The Rolleston was my haunt.....and Level 42?...next door.

Indeed it is where i met my wife....a few moons back now.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bennett on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:04:27
the fakey sport shop at the top of the brunel market was a highlight


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:06:55
The Rolleston was my haunt.....and Level 42?...next door.

Indeed it is where i met my wife....a few moons back now.

Level 3 I think it was called. Got horribly pissed in there one night on Southern Comfort.

I still can't even smell the fucking stuff all these years later without feeling sick.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:14:44
Level 3....of course.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: carbonwhite on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:24:08
GWR   :girlgiggle:


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: joteddyred on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:26:36
Tandys
Oven Door
Homeboyz
Chelsea Girl
Mortimers Fruit & Veg

I remember it being £2.50 to stand on Shrivenham Road and watch Swindon when I was a junior.  We used to get there really early as well, so me and my brother could get near to the front.  My dad used to stand right at the back with all his mates and then come and collect us at the end.  You'd never dream of separating from your kids at a football match now.  How times change.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: axs on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 21:34:13

The 2 lion statues in town centre

One's still there.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Barry Scott on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:00:49
Beatties toy shop.

And Zodiac Toys!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: jutty274 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:04:06
The stones that we used to climb over at Sussex square.
Park youthy & sports hall
Greenbridge Market.



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: LucienSanchez on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:12:02
A fairly recent departure, but one i fondly remember and makes me feel old thinking about it - Mission. Circa 2001/2002 were glory days...


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: PigFarmer on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:18:12
PMH


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: woolster on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:19:10
the arcade called time out next door to lemon plaice where house of fraser is now, they had table top space invaders,
the shop that sold harrington jackets & tonic trousers was called family fashions  :-[ and rapsody was called oxford & bristol before that


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bennett on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:20:48
A fairly recent departure, but one i fondly remember and makes me feel old thinking about it - Mission. Circa 2001/2002 were glory days...
amen brother


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: horlock07 on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:26:30
Trents - for those of us nearer 40.

God that brings back some memories.....

When I was a lad even though we lived near Witney we still went to a dentist in Old Town cos my dad had been going here since he was a lad.

It was always the bribe to get me to the dentis - a trip to the Railway Museum, a visit to Frode and Hext (or something like that) and then finally being allowed a walk round Trents!

Happy innocent days!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:36:38
vadims in old town bloody small hovel soapy tit wank. midland bank and the old coop in wood street. great western cycles and the butchers on fleet street also iirc the abattoir on shrivvy road


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: [email protected] on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:46:59
Trents - for those of us nearer 40.
I remember going to see Darth Vader at Trents.  Good times!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Simon Pieman on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:49:35
The bowls at the oasis


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: wiggy on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 22:52:12
Froud & Hext have moved


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: 4D on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 23:05:00
I remember that enclosed stairway in the Brunel (just outside McD's) it used to cut right across the walkway.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: RobertT on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 23:43:00
There are some good ones on here.  One thing I don't miss is having to queue for hours outside the cinema should you have the desire to watch a film on a Saturday within it's first couple of weeks of release.  Up round the back of Wimpey on occasion.  Watched Back to the Future twice in the same day because the man on the door pulled me in as the last person, leaving my mates stood outside.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Thursday, January 20, 2011, 23:49:57
Milk bar next to the cinema (was it the Empire or Granada up from the railway station?) - only taken there once. Standards of living are so different now. My kids are amazed that going out for a meal was a rarity back in the 60s and 70s.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: 4D on Friday, January 21, 2011, 00:08:32
Duck Son and Pinker


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Huwwy on Friday, January 21, 2011, 00:16:02
Hambro life/allied dunbar


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: 4D on Friday, January 21, 2011, 00:19:21
Eros


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: dave_bambers_right_sock on Friday, January 21, 2011, 00:22:11
There was a sports shop just past where Mcilroys used to be think it was the spot or something like that, also Macfisheries, remember seeing rabbits hanging in the windows there when i was a kid, also there was a cafe next door to rumbelows and what about that petshop on havelock street was it Hinders? Seem to recall Carrefour having a garden centre next to it.
Anyone else remember the 'Celery' song being sung around  the county ground, ended up with loads of celery sticks being thrown around the town end.  Happy days


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: 4D on Friday, January 21, 2011, 00:28:52
I remember most home games that many people were frisked before entering the ground


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Friday, January 21, 2011, 00:34:40
Level 3....of course.

my ol chap was head doorman in there for years and years


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: justboiledover on Friday, January 21, 2011, 01:15:38
He wasn't  called Mell or Mall or something similar was he, I have very fond but very hazy memories of that place mid nineties!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Friday, January 21, 2011, 01:26:27
He wasn't  called Mell or Mall or something similar was he, I have very fond but very hazy memories of that place mid nineties!
No not Mal, his name is Steve. He is twice the height of Mal.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Friday, January 21, 2011, 07:30:51
bar 150


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Jamiesfuturewife on Friday, January 21, 2011, 07:52:53
A fairly recent departure, but one i fondly remember and makes me feel old thinking about it - Mission. Circa 2001/2002 were glory days...

Haha good shout - if you had your mission card you could go on a Sunday night - 66p drinks! Yay those were the days! :)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Samdy Gray on Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:11:43
Hambro life/allied dunbar

We're still here! (kind of)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bennett on Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:24:11
Froud & Hext have moved
didn't they join in with Spot on to make a thoroughly less good model shop in a tiny shop?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Highland Robin on Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:25:43
Froud & Hext have moved
Duck Son and Pinker

I was wondering whether Froude & Hext still existed - a veritable treasure trove of toys in the 60s, especially Brittains soldiers and farm and zoo animals....I loved that place....and then I read Duck, Son and Pinker....and saw that appalling fountain that was put into the new Parade....always decorated with mountains of rubbish, and virtiually no water.....aaahhh what a town it used to be


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Nick Bamosomi on Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:30:58
Nash's (I think it was called) - an old fashioned sweet shop in Wood Street


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Nick Bamosomi on Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:35:41
and just down the road from Nash's - AG Williams - bookshop.

And is Limmex's still there?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:55:48
anyone remember kuzee? he used to walk around town with a ghetto blaster on his shoulders and kuzzee in transfer letters(probably printed at the sports market stall)across his back.

fireballs from the icecream man.
the coupon counter at carrefour-gateway-asda.
the amusement arcade at the bottom of vic hill opposite the college.
the corona man.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: bassett boy on Friday, January 21, 2011, 09:08:27
anyone remember kuzee? he used to walk around town with a ghetto blaster on his shoulders and kuzzee in transfer letters(probably printed at the sports market stall)across his back.

fireballs from the icecream man.
the coupon counter at carrefour-gateway-asda.
the amusement arcade at the bottom of vic hill opposite the college.
the corona man.

I remember him music was always really loud
Question were all the crap Pubs are there was a good men's shop that used to sell Sta press and Fred Perry what was it called?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bewster on Friday, January 21, 2011, 09:11:42
Hardings ???? Went on to be Desperate and Divorced ?

Buying Subbuteo from Trents. And there was that "World of Sport" shop where Sole Trader is now - by where Bejams and C&A used to be.

Used to spend hours and hours in Queens Park having grown up just round the corner.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Friday, January 21, 2011, 09:21:53
Recently, I volunteered to clear trees and other rubbish from the section between Skew Bridge and the watered section at West Leaze.  My reason for doing so was that it brought back memories of playing truant from school.  We would go along to Skew Bridge and cross the canal, sometimes getting wet feet, before going into the withy beds to make crude bows and arrows to shoot at the trains travelling up and down the ‘Old Town Line’.  Nobody is a saint!



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Forza_Swindon on Friday, January 21, 2011, 10:01:26
bar 150

Aaah yes, many a happy hour spent in there doing jelly shots when I should have been at college...

Also remember Rhapsody, could spend hours in there of a Saturday afternoon!
Like JFW said, Cairo's and Carrefour...

And the revolving bar in the Brunel Rooms (RIP).

How about the Mail Coach as THE underage drinking spot?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: THE FLASH on Friday, January 21, 2011, 10:08:41
Went to the Brunel rooms once and i remember the revolving bar...

I can remember the  giant roundabout before the magic one..

Also you used to be able to park near the ground on side streets....happy days.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Peter Venkman on Friday, January 21, 2011, 10:22:54
The adver man....adddddva....addddddva :D


It always sounded to me like he was shouting ye abber de yabber de yabber de yabber.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Highland Robin on Friday, January 21, 2011, 10:48:14
Oh...and yes, I used to absolutely love the Football Pink. Couldn't wait, on a Sat evening, to get down to Walls the newsagent in Aldbourne to get a copy...and when I was away at school, my Dad used to send it to me.....


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: JuliasEastoe on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:21:24
had the original local mural in Prospect Place Old Town, with Diana Dors and Don Rogers together. http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5096514139/


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Sippo on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:23:48
I miss the old shop on 'the lane' aka Rodbourne Road where I could buy a quarter of lemon bon bons. Then by the time I got home they were gone.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: jayohaitchenn on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:24:06
Aaah yes, many a happy hour spent in there doing jelly shots when I should have been at college...

Also remember Rhapsody, could spend hours in there of a Saturday afternoon!
Like JFW said, Cairo's and Carrefour...

And the revolving bar in the Brunel Rooms (RIP).

How about the Mail Coach as THE underage drinking spot?

You just described my adolesence.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:24:46
Great shot Julius. Who are some of the other folk depicted? Brunel?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:29:56
Great shot Julius. Who are some of the other folk depicted? Brunel?

scroll down below the pic.some names revealed


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:32:24
Cheers Arriba

Bruce the Charity Dog??  :clap:


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: stfcinbmth on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:36:37
http://www.kenwhitemurals.co.uk/murals.html

They are really rather good


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: shady on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:39:22
Cheers STFC in Bournemouth. Off down to Wetherspoons shortly, bored out my skull at home!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Peter Venkman on Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:43:48
http://www.kenwhitemurals.co.uk/murals.html

They are really rather good

Superb stuff.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Honky McCracker on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:24:03
Beatties toy shop.

I spent my childhood there. Fantastic shop.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Honky McCracker on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:26:58
I can remember when the West Swindon club in Radnor Street wasn't strangely named, because that area was where Swindon stopped. Toothill farmhouse was actually a farmhouse back then.

I went to the youth club at the farmhouse, good times.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Honky McCracker on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:30:07
some crackers already mentioned,nochee in partcular really jogged my memory.i had zodiac zippers  :toocool:
and saturday at bubbles was ace as a kid.
anyway some of mine.....
world of sport.
chinky tunnel.
when you could walk around queens park lake.


Chinky Tunnel, fuck me that takes me back.
Good shout


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Honky McCracker on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:33:37
Tandys
Oven Door
Homeboyz
Chelsea Girl
Mortimers Fruit & Veg

I remember it being £2.50 to stand on Shrivenham Road and watch Swindon when I was a junior.  We used to get there really early as well, so me and my brother could get near to the front.  My dad used to stand right at the back with all his mates and then come and collect us at the end.  You'd never dream of separating from your kids at a football match now.  How times change.

I worked at Mortimers after school, cash in hand, Get in.



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: land_of_bo on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:34:27
Fleet Street Market - is it still there? I used to work on the fruit and veg stall saturday mornings.

Footloose - cheap shit shoes (Arriba !! the owners kids were at school with us)

And yes, yappity yap adver man was a legend and chinky tunnel was scary as fuck when you were 12, but taught you to run fast.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bewster on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:43:53
Somebody enlighten me as to what the Chinky Tunnel is ?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Don Rogers Shop on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:49:06
Flickers


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: land_of_bo on Friday, January 21, 2011, 13:58:22
Somebody enlighten me as to what the Chinky Tunnel is ?

It was a load of tunnels under the Wyvern...you know the round pillars at street level, they open up and there are stairs down to the tunnels. There was some sort of chinky kitchens under there and you could walk along a fair bit before the mad bastards came out chasing you with machetes and carving knives etc...


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bewster on Friday, January 21, 2011, 14:05:05
It was a load of tunnels under the Wyvern...you know the round pillars at street level, they open up and there are stairs down to the tunnels. There was some sort of chinky kitchens under there and you could walk along a fair bit before the mad bastards came out chasing you with machetes and carving knives etc...

Ah yes - the kitchens of the rendezvous ?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: land_of_bo on Friday, January 21, 2011, 14:06:59
Ah yes - the kitchens of the rendezvous ?

More than likely, yep.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Forza_Swindon on Friday, January 21, 2011, 14:12:18
You just described my adolesence.

 :nod:

Those were the days... I seem to remember a lot of the same people always did the Cairo's Thursday - Brunel Saturday thing too.  Ahhhh the nostalgia!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bumpkin on Friday, January 21, 2011, 15:30:21
Chinky Tunnel.  Wow.

Beatties  = Trents.

Devon Savouries. Mmmmmm


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: jimmy_onions on Friday, January 21, 2011, 15:49:33
cosmic and ripple skin tight jeans from the brunel market. The changing rooms facing out into the whole market with curtains that barely covered the room. The humilation.

Oh, and being chased by some chinky from the kitchens with a machete, always seemed to happen to a mate of a mate....urban myth?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Friday, January 21, 2011, 15:51:34
cosmic and ripple skin tight jeans from the brunel market. The changing rooms facing out into the whole market with curtains that barely covered the room. The humilation.

Oh, and being chased by some chinky from the kitchens with a machete, always seemed to happen to a mate of a mate....urban myth?

I always thought that.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Friday, January 21, 2011, 15:59:53
hahaha at the skin tight ripples.not fogetting the flintstones jeans too.

chinky tunnel was not a myth.i got chased down there quite a few times.saturday afternnons were not the same without a chase from the mental chefs.
the aim was to keep going through the tunnel as it brought you to a spiral staircase which brings you up to ground level.
i achieved that feat once.the other times ended up running back the way i came.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: land_of_bo on Friday, January 21, 2011, 16:02:47
hahaha at the skin tight ripples.not fogetting the flintstones jeans too.

chinky tunnel was not a myth.i got chased down there quite a few times.saturday afternnons were not the same without a chase from the mental chefs.
the aim was to keep going through the tunnel as it brought you to a spiral staircase which brings you up to ground level.
i achieved that feat once.the other times ended up running back the way i came.


And I'll vouch for that. Wasn't there when you reached the holy grail but have high tailed it out of there with you.

Skin tight ripple flecks...sweet


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Friday, January 21, 2011, 16:07:30
we used to buy faggots from devon savouries and throw them off the top of the car park at people.
those cheesey things they sold for about 8p were lovely.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Friday, January 21, 2011, 16:57:42

40 in a class.. always wearing short trousers....ink wells and dip and scratch pens....if you made a mistake with spacing or blotted your copy book, the teacher would deliver a rap on the knuckles with her stick.

Getting caned for various misdemeanours....but never for a really good punch up, it was kind of accepted that boys would be boys, hence separate entrances and playgrounds for girls and boys.

Outside bogs...making cap bombs out of British Rail nuts and bolts....bogies, not snotty noses but these bad boys...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4887507583/


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: joteddyred on Friday, January 21, 2011, 16:59:59
we used to buy faggots from devon savouries and throw them off the top of the car park at people.
those cheesey things they sold for about 8p were lovely.


I'd forgotton about them, they were effectively cheese flavoured pastry.  What were they actually called?

Also, didn't there used to be some of bridge/walkway above the Parade somewhere by the John Murray building or have I imagined that?  I seem to recall hanging around on it.

You used to be able to walk across a little bridge from the Brunel car park into the Indoor Market.  


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bewster on Friday, January 21, 2011, 17:05:42
Pepe keyrings ?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: nochee on Friday, January 21, 2011, 17:09:27
we used to buy faggots from devon savouries and throw them off the top of the car park at people.
those cheesey things they sold for about 8p were lovely.


Are these what you mean? We get them from a Brazilian store in Munich, they are lovely!

http://www.google.at/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DS25lQerVvI/TIosblf-UmI/AAAAAAAABXw/S1ALvWox1wI/s1600/pao_de_queijo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://aromaeartesanatos.blogspot.com/2010/09/pao-de-queijo.html&h=960&w=1280&sz=256&tbnid=ARRFPEwVBhYPKM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpao%2Bde%2Bqueijo&zoom=1&q=pao+de+queijo&usg=__ilWddouYQYgFhLlPgdfQC8025Eg=&sa=X&ei=ZL05TajFJpKKhQfe-ZnkCg&ved=0CCAQ9QEwAw


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: le god cuervo on Friday, January 21, 2011, 17:17:21
had the original local mural in Prospect Place Old Town, with Diana Dors and Don Rogers together. http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5096514139/

That whole flickr album is pretty good! I remember the big train mural from when I was little
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5096512787/


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: erictheexile on Friday, January 21, 2011, 18:28:27
Kempsters Records, Flashback Records and Red Carpet records.  Trying to get into Saks (I think it was called before it became Bubbles) and failing, but getting served in the Cross Keys. 


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: oakleigh2010 on Friday, January 21, 2011, 18:30:03
Plum Records?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: erictheexile on Friday, January 21, 2011, 18:45:38
Plum may have been after my time (I'm an old f*cker).  Do remember the 2 second hand shops at the bottom of Viccy hill though.  Regularly trying flog shite albums in them both..


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: jimmy_onions on Friday, January 21, 2011, 19:19:15
Kempsters Records, Flashback Records and Red Carpet records.  Trying to get into Saks (I think it was called before it became Bubbles) and failing, but getting served in the Cross Keys. 

Our price.

and Chelsea girl, purely for the frontage (a little gay being a girls clothing store, I know)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: woolster on Friday, January 21, 2011, 20:54:28
this i bugging me, the merlin pub was once called the oxford, arround 1992 it changed names for  a short time and was done up as a trendy pub, does anyone know what it was called :hmmm:


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:07:29
this i bugging me, the merlin pub was once called the oxford, arround 1992 it changed names for  a short time and was done up as a trendy pub, does anyone know what it was called :hmmm:

Was it..The Malt and Hops?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:07:55
quote author=woolster link=topic=42401.msg914723#msg914723 date=1295643268]
this i bugging me, the merlin pub was once called the oxford, arround 1992 it changed names for  a short time and was done up as a trendy pub, does anyone know what it was called :hmmm:
[/quote]  along the line of malt and hops iirc


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:08:16
Was it..The Malt and Hops?

great mind soapy tit wank posted together


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: woolster on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:10:24
great mind soapy tit wank posted together
cheers you 2 ;)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:11:06
great mind soapy tit wank posted together

Weird...i would never have remembered that.


Who can remember Tin Town(Pinehurst)...was the place not to go when i was young.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:13:18
still is tin town soapy tit wank


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:18:04
grans shop nest to the market sold all powdered ingredients for cake making in fecking massive cardboard drums


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Nick Bamosomi on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:40:10
Timothy Whites - used to be down the bottom of town nearly opposite the Lamb and Flag
It later became something like Supreme Electrical and I bought my first telly from there!!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Nick Bamosomi on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:41:09
Oh and Fine Fare Supermarket in the parade opposite Debenhams, - And Liptons.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Nick Bamosomi on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:42:13
Also - I'm really going to show my age here - Horders in Old Town and a Grocers called Masons - I can remember my Mum taking me in there when I was really small


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:43:01
charlie browns second hand shop up vic hill


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:44:33
The dodgy second hand shop in Fleet Street...by the amusement arcade.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: cavpete on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:45:10
unigate dairy


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Don Rogers Shop on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:49:08
Don't get Leefer started on Unigate


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Friday, January 21, 2011, 21:56:02
Don't get Leefer started on Unigate

Fuck me yeah!

Remember doing the round in Park North one night...just getting light when this black BMW was coming towards me flashing its lights....well it was a friday night..which was collecting night.
Fearing the worse and in blind panic i put the milk float in reverse and tried to escape the black BMW...15mph max!
Anyway a few flames and blue smoke ensued and the dodgy looking occupants approached me now on foot...i grabbed around £20 out of the bag and started praying.

They had been clubbing....and wanted some milk.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Dozno9 on Friday, January 21, 2011, 22:11:30
Good times = Captain Coconut


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Batch on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 08:41:36
Being from Ciren I don't have many unique Swindon memories, so my favourites from when I could come over on my own on the bus are:

The adver man....adddddva....addddddva :D
Beatties toy shop.
Rhapsody in the Brunel centre. Had a good tattoo shop in the basement.
Was it Rhapsody that also sol second hand records downstairs?
the fakey sport shop at the top of the brunel market was a highlight

The only thing I can think of adding is the dive of a video games arcade just round the corner from Beaties IIRC.
Good for filling in time for the bus home though.

And moving on in age, not quite as in famous as Goldiggers in Chippenham though!:

Cairos!
Route 66
---------------------
On a personal memory level, my and my mate still use it in the context of Swindon ladies now ( all in jest :))

Was walking up towards Lloyds bank, some schoolgirl got pushed over by another girl of a
similar age, who kicked her and ran off to the screams of "I'm going to knife you, you slag"..

Me and my mate looked at each other and said "yup, we're in Swindon"..


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Benzel on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:08:44
Jungle Bungle.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: The Grim Reaper on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:24:09
11 pages and no-one recalls the famous 'Swindon Air Hooter' for the GWR workshop workers? I'm sure as a small boy in the late 70's when living in Newhall Street it was a daily occurrence.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:26:23
11 pages and no-one recalls the famous 'Swindon Air Hooter' for the GWR workshop workers? I'm sure as a small boy in the late 70's when living in Newhall Street it was a daily occurrence.

Funny i remember the early morning blasts well....it was just the norm.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:44:20
Does anyone remember Sid the Kid?  Never paid to look at him, he would down you for sneering or so he thought!  Did a bit of door work at the Moonrakers, last I heard of him he was in an old people's home in Wroughton.  Re Froud and Hext, was run by two brothers on Vic Hill.  One of them still lives there, but they have got Spot On Models on Fleet st. now, where Great Western Cycles used to be.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:48:25
Does anyone remember Sid the Kid?  Never paid to look at him, he would down you for sneering or so he thought!  Did a bit of door work at the Moonrakers, last I heard of him he was in an old people's home in Wroughton.  Re Froud and Hext, was run by two brothers on Vic Hill.  One of them still lives there, but they have got Spot On Models on Fleet st. now, where Great Western Cycles used to be.

Sid is still around......walks around with a hat complete with feather.....muttering cuckoo.
Not seen him for about a year though.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:49:13
Normans furniture shop - and they also had the secondhand furniture shop where Walkabout used to be.  RE Football Pink, we used to travel into Swindon for footy on the train and the Football Pink man used to come down the platform as the train was about to leave, this was after we had had our fish and chips from the shop in Wellington Street.  Didn't Nottons also have a cafe situated about where Focal Point is now?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:50:17
Sid is still around......walks around with a hat complete with feather.....muttering cuckoo.
Not seen him for about a year though.

That's the guy, lives in Markham Place at Wroughton I believe now.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:52:53
11 pages and no-one recalls the famous 'Swindon Air Hooter' for the GWR workshop workers? I'm sure as a small boy in the late 70's when living in Newhall Street it was a daily occurrence.

We've had hooter threads before...those as well..

One of Gazza's finest

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,37342.0.html


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 10:55:09
Normans furniture shop - and they also had the secondhand furniture shop where Walkabout used to be.  RE Football Pink, we used to travel into Swindon for footy on the train and the Football Pink man used to come down the platform as the train was about to leave, this was after we had had our fish and chips from the shop in Wellington Street.  Didn't Nottons also have a cafe situated about where Focal Point is now?

That wasn't Nottons....Nottons were ware Rudi's is now.....a rather posher establishment than the famous cafe in Manny Road.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Batch on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:00:30
I think somebody mentioned it in jest before, but that hooter would be great to run out to at the CG instead of some crappy song.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Costanza on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:02:02
As a non-Swindon native, my main memory of Swindon is the old guy selling the Advertiser in the town centre using that odd noise (for my young ears anyway) as his selling technique.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:07:23
Normans furniture shop - and they also had the secondhand furniture shop where Walkabout used to be.  RE Football Pink, we used to travel into Swindon for footy on the train and the Football Pink man used to come down the platform as the train was about to leave, this was after we had had our fish and chips from the shop in Wellington Street.  Didn't Nottons also have a cafe situated about where Focal Point is now?

You may be thinking of Beale's Ronnie....an ace establishment, beloved of mods, rather than the grot of say The Titanic in Gorse Hill, it was tastefully turned out, with proper Italian expresso machines. Pin tables weren't the best.....but you could buy purple hearts (not over the counter)

Beale's is somewhat curiously remember by a street name amongst the plastic and glass shite that got dumped down there.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:08:26
That wasn't Nottons....Nottons were ware Rudi's is now.....a rather posher establishment than the famous cafe in Manny Road.

Yeah, and still run by the Notton family!  What was the one I referred to called then?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:09:18
You may be thinking of Beale's Ronnie....an ace establishment, beloved of mods, rather than the grot of say The Titanic in Gorse Hill, it was tastefully turned out, with proper Italian expresso machines. Pin tables weren't the best.....but you could buy purple hearts (not over the counter)

Beale's is somewhat curiously remember by a street name amongst the plastic and glass shite that got dumped down there.
Thanks Reg.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:10:18
Reg or Ronnie.......can you remember the Tartan cafe in Commercial Road?
Vaguly remember was run for years by an excentric Scotsman............can remember pinball machines and a strong smell of coffee............but not a lot else.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: @MacPhlea on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:12:29
The original indoor market


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:13:35
Reg or Ronnie.......can you remember the Tartan cafe in Commercial Road?
Vaguly remember was run for years by an excentric Scotsman............can remember pinball machines and a strong smell of coffee............but not a lot else.
Don't remember than one, do remember that large pet shop in Commmercial Road, and Morses department store in Regent Street.  Bit like McIlroys, they also had a guy who came round the villages with his Morses catalogue and you could buy from him and pay weekly.  That's what my mum used to do, and hide away when he came knocking each week!!!!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:14:16
sid the kid was still out and about in wroughton until recently.he was a regular at wroughton games at the weekends and in the club after.age is catching up with him and he isn't out as much nowadays.

mad rad was another bloke who was in town daily around the late 80's to early 90's.
he'd push a trolley around full of junk and have shouting arguements with his imaginary friend.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:15:59
Bretts was the pet shop.
Ref arriba....remember him,would walk to Coopers(EMR now)....remember his shoes were massive!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:16:43
that's the fella


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:17:06
Reg or Ronnie.......can you remember the Tartan cafe in Commercial Road?
Vaguly remember was run for years by an excentric Scotsman............can remember pinball machines and a strong smell of coffee............but not a lot else.

Not one I went in...another was The Ring in Cavendish Square, where I used to go when skivving off school (Park)....The Ring was pretty cool, good range of pinballs and that frisson of excitement, of knowing a few faces, who were proper naughty in a Cockney sort of way.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: DV on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:30:32
Sid is still around......walks around with a hat complete with feather.....muttering cuckoo.
Not seen him for about a year though.


If its the same mad person who walks around with a hat complete with a feather and muttering cuckoo, then he threatened to kill me once!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:39:37
If its the same mad person who walks around with a hat complete with a feather and muttering cuckoo, then he threatened to kill me once!
:D

Was a nutcase when younger...led a gang of Teddy Boys i was reliably informed that terrorised Regent Street in the 50's.



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: DV on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:42:13
When I was at college he was always around the top of town cuckooing away.



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: 70stownender on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 12:03:41
berti mee said to bill shankley,, have you heard of the boys from highbury, shanks said no, i dont think so, but ive heard of the swindon aggro             and   we're forever blowing bubbles pritty bubbles in the air,they fly so high,  nearly reach the sky, and like west ham they fade and die, bristols always running,oxfords running too,so are the swindon boot boys,running after you ,du,du,du du du, SWINDON , SWINDON,                                                                                       GOOD DAYS 70S


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: 70stownender on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 12:11:46
PETER DOWNSBORO ROD THOMAS JOHN TROLLOP STAN HARLAND ARFUR DOBIN HORSFIELD DON ROGERS BUT TO NAME A FEW 20K CROWDS LESS THAN A POUND TO GET IN 'COME ON YOU CARTERTON BOYS'


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 12:19:30
berti mee said to bill shankley,, have you heard of the boys from highbury, shanks said no, i dont think so, but ive heard of the swindon aggro             and   we're forever blowing bubbles pritty bubbles in the air,they fly so high,  nearly reach the sky, and like west ham they fade and die, bristols always running,oxfords running too,so are the swindon boot boys,running after you ,du,du,du du du, SWINDON , SWINDON,                                                                                       GOOD DAYS 70S
:D



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Hitchinred on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 12:54:26
And Zodiac Toys!

My Dad owned the toy shop between Rhapsody and Wigfalls with the train set in the window.  Also remember adver man expanding his vocabulary to include "Late Special"


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 13:11:48
If its the same mad person who walks around with a hat complete with a feather and muttering cuckoo, then he threatened to kill me once!
That's Sid!!!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 13:15:20
mad rad was another bloke who was in town daily around the late 80's to early 90's.
he'd push a trolley around full of junk and have shouting arguements with his imaginary friend.

Remember him well, everybody used to avoid him like the plague!  Language was colourful to say the least.  Was in Nottons in Manny Road one day when he came in, complete with trolley full of scrap metal he had picked up.  He cursed most people in the caff, smelt like a sewer rat, then asked the lady serving for a duster so he could clean the seat before he sat on it.!!  He used to live at the old folks home in Moredon but there were so many complaints about him the council moved him on.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Simon Pieman on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 14:32:42
Beanies Fish and Chip shop on Commercial Road. Did the most brilliant burgers too.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 14:35:56
Beanies Fish and Chip shop on Commercial Road. Did the most brilliant burgers too.

What part of Commercial Road Sie.....can't place it?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Simon Pieman on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 14:40:16
On the corner next to the entrance to the big pay & display car park. Has a mosaic on the building.

Not sure it was open for very long, seemed to discover it in the late 90s and it closed 1 or 2 years later.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Bogus Dave on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 14:45:02
As a non-Swindon native, my main memory of Swindon is the old guy selling the Advertiser in the town centre using that odd noise (for my young ears anyway) as his selling technique.

I remember him! By cheltenham and glucester?

Assume he must be dead now


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 14:45:43
Cheers,think i can remember it now.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 15:33:20
the slide at queens park.
penhill park and paddling pool.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Don Rogers Shop on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 15:34:28
The cock robin
The worthy


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: chalkies_shorts on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 15:57:44
The cock robin
The worthy
Both shitholes. The Cock Robin was my local years ago.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Don Rogers Shop on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 15:58:32
But they were my shitholes. Loved those pubs


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: SwindonLibrary on Monday, January 24, 2011, 17:21:59
Bretts was the pet shop.

Bretts: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4276182135/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4276182135/)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: SwindonLibrary on Monday, January 24, 2011, 17:36:45
McIlroys
Two cinemas - the ABC and the Odeon
McIlroys: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4976886394/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4976886394/)
Odeon Cinema: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5208474593/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5208474593/)
and: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4031772459/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4031772459/)


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Monday, January 24, 2011, 17:38:10
have you got any photos of chinky tunnel?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Monday, January 24, 2011, 17:40:21
 Ace....the TEF has got its very own archivist....it's a bit strange mind that a building can post on the internet.

 Can I see a pic of the cacti and terrapins that used to be in the Queen's Park hot house please?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: SwindonLibrary on Monday, January 24, 2011, 17:44:12
Ace....the TEF has got its very own archivist....it's a bit strange mind that a building can post on the internet.

 Can I see a pic of the cacti and terrapins that used to be in the Queen's Park hot house please?
Sorry for the impersonal name - just a small team of us rather than one person!

We do have lots of Queens Park pics - I'll see what we have.
In the 90s those terrapins were seemingly wild in the ponds confusing drunks and students...


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: sheepshagger on Monday, January 24, 2011, 17:57:46
The Jacobs Ladder in Ermin Street - now that WAS a pub :)

Always remember had been drinking in there for just under 2 years - Bondy (landlord) says to me one night - "Hey Mogi - you seem happy tonight - what are you celebrating" ?

I turn round and say "my 18th" !!!

He slapped me HARD round the back of the head - then bought me a pint !!!


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Monday, January 24, 2011, 18:32:51
Sorry for the impersonal name - just a small team of us rather than one person!

We do have lots of Queens Park pics - I'll see what we have.
In the 90s those terrapins were seemingly wild in the ponds confusing drunks and students...

I can imagine fB thinking he might be living in a real Ninja Turtle world...


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Monday, January 24, 2011, 19:26:15
Bretts: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4276182135/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4276182135/)

Surely Bretts was Commercial Road...not Cromwell Street?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: bassett boy on Monday, January 24, 2011, 19:30:55
Hinders pet shop
Cloud full of Bananas


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: chalkies_shorts on Monday, January 24, 2011, 20:38:33
This is one for the oldies. My memory may be playing tricks on me but I have a vague recollection of there being animals on display ( a very mini mini zoo ) in one of the larger department stores - McIlroys / Debenhams building in the late mid / 60s.   
Can anyone confirm or am i talking shit as usual?


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Monday, January 24, 2011, 20:46:32
This is one for the oldies. My memory may be playing tricks on me but I have a vague recollection of there being animals on display ( a very mini mini zoo ) in one of the larger department stores - McIlroys / Debenhams building in the late mid / 60s.   
Can anyone confirm or am i talking shit as usual?

I remember there being a big pet shop of some sort on the corner where McDonalds is now. Was that Hinders?

They had a fucking big tank full of Pirhana's in there which were Ace.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Simon Pieman on Monday, January 24, 2011, 20:47:08
Surely Bretts was Commercial Road...not Cromwell Street?

I dunno, it's next to Normans in that photo.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Monday, January 24, 2011, 20:51:50
I dunno, it's next to Normans in that photo.

Maybe there were two stores..the one i remember in Commercial Road was bigger i seem to remember.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: steptoe41 on Monday, January 24, 2011, 20:54:48
Maybe there were two stores..the one i remember in Commercial Road was bigger i seem to remember.

There was certainly a Bretts in Commercial road. I poked my fingers through a gerbils cage in there when I was about 8 and the little cunt bit me. It bled like fuck and I got a bollocking from the old dear.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: ronnie21 on Monday, January 24, 2011, 21:14:46
Maybe there were two stores..the one i remember in Commercial Road was bigger i seem to remember.
I'm with you there, thought it was a double fronted shop.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: leefer on Monday, January 24, 2011, 21:23:57
I'm with you there, thought it was a double fronted shop.

Almost certainly moved from Cromwell Street to Commercial Road then i reckon...bigger premises.



Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: erictheexile on Monday, January 24, 2011, 21:52:14
I remember there being a big pet shop of some sort on the corner where McDonalds is now. Was that Hinders?

They had a fucking big tank full of Pirhana's in there which were Ace.

Was the pet shop called Toomer's?  May well be talking b*llocks though.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Batch on Monday, January 24, 2011, 21:55:27
Was the pet shop called Toomer's?  May well be talking b*llocks though.

There is/was a Toomer's pet shop in Ciren, so highly possible.

edit: in fact, there is still a Toomers in Swindon

http://www.toomers.co.uk/contactus.php


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: Arriba on Monday, January 24, 2011, 22:25:23
the one on commercial road was definately called bretts.i remember the goldfish were kept in a tiled pond which was in the floor of the shop.


Title: Re: o/t I remember the days when Swindon...
Post by: SwindonLibrary on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 11:00:41
What about this pet shop?
Hinders - on Commercial Road.
Not sure of date (1960s?):
Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5387318128/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5387318128/)

I had a quick look in our collection of old phone books and directories and Bretts was also on COmmercial Road in the 1980s.