Hi Gary, 

I came across the web site this week and I'm hooked. Congrats to all involved.

I used to live on Hillside Crescent in the late 50`s early 60`s. I attended St Paul's and Brierley Grimethorpe Secondary Modern schools, leaving in 1964.

You can imagine how the names and faces got my memory into overdrive once I started searching the photos and letters.

I now live in Ontario, Canada, and have done for the last 32 years.

I still return to South Yorkshire once every year or so staying at my Mother-in-law's (Lily Cavanagh on Hilltop)

Will gladly reminisce more in future Emails if interested. Would it be possible to post some photos on the

site for my family to view here in Canada?  Schools 15,43,95 and 97 are of particular interest.

At present I'm going through some old photo albums and will gladly pass on any memories that I think will be of interest to you.

Keep up the good work!! It really IS appreciated. Thanking you in advance,

Ken Waters and Family Ontario Canada

Hi Ken, I have placed the photographs you requested on line. it was a really pleasant surprise to receive your email. You probably don't remember me but I was brought up at 5 Hillside from 1959 (slum clearance from Joseph street). The reason I recognised your name was that I can recall every family that lived on the Hillside estate right up until about 1970. There is only Gordon and Joan Brown (2 Hillside Crescent near the main road) left there now from the original first families. I believe your brother was the relief steward at the club last year some time (was his name Dereck)?. Have you seen the Three Horse Shoes photographs (under social) with your father on them? My mother Edith worked at the Three Horse Shoes for a while in the 1960s. You may remember my older brothers and sisters better than me, Janet, Alan, Ernest, Brenda, Kenneth and Peter Sheard. I was the youngest and was a half brother to them all. I remember a James Cavanagh from Hilltop who would be about 46/7 now, and also his father who liked to dance, is this the same family? Regarding your memories, I always appreciate any additions to the Baipip archives and it would give me great pleasure if you could write me your memories of your time spent in Brierley (with photographs if possible) or better still an article for the Where R U now page. Can you remember Gary Wilson who is on there? If there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to write and I look forward to hearing from you soon with hopefully a possible addition to the web site. Enjoy the photographs.

Hi Gary

A few snippets from the war years. We used to go up on the flattes and watch them bombing Sheffield. There also was a searchlight battery in direction of Monkton. A very large bonfire was built on the flattes out of railway sleepers and fired on VE night. Very impressive.

All for now

Jim Hoyland Canberra  Australia 

Thanks for that Jim, I am still waiting to hear if you are interested in writing your memories of living in Brierley or better still an article for the Where R U now page. For those of you that are not sure, the Flattes were where the Grange Road estate is now overlooking Barnsley.

The photograph is on line Betty. Don't worry about hearing from Jean as it as only been a couple of months and these things take time.

Hello Gary

My name is Shelly and I live in Evington nr York. I am building a website about the history of the village and I would like to confirm that Clement E Hoyland lived here in 1928. He bought a property called Brinkworth Hall, and donated the organ to the church. I have a copy of land search for 31st July 1928 for Clement. If you would like a copy please email me and I will send you it. Would it be possible to use some of your info on the Hoylands on my site?, if not I will place a link to your site

Shelly Evington York

Hi Gary

On photograph schools 2 top row second left is my brother Robert Evans.  Bottom row third left is David Burdett. Also on schools photograph 138 back row to right of Alan Thorpe is Peter Goodhall.  Front row second left is my brother Robert Evans. Also I am fairly sure that second left in the middle row is Molly Harrison.

Regards

Christine Cheetham (nee Evans) Royston

Thanks very much Christine, the information as been updated.

Hi Gary

I've just been up to the cemetery taking flowers for my brother Darren and had a look around for Jack Smethursts grave while I was there. He is buried with his wife Sarah who died on Sept 6th 1960 aged 58 His name is John Thomas Smethurst and he died on May 5th 1967 aged 63. Their grave is opposite the one of their daughter Joyce and son-in-law Cliff Tomlinson. I can vaguely remember Jack from when I used to visit my Grandma up on Hodroyd Cottages in the early 60s.I knew his grandson Nicky very well when he worked at Grimethorpe Colliery. He was an underground fitter at Grimethorpe. Sadly I heard he had suffered a really serious illness and don't know his whereabouts now. 

Hope this helps a bit.

Keep up the good work mate the website is a credit to you and all your hard work

Regards Gary Wilson Brierley

Thanks for the information Gary. I have passed on the details to Diane and her reply is below.

Hi Gary

School photo No.19 on your web site.  Milefield Middle School 3rd. Form c. 1971. The girl second left, the one between Janet Hulme and Julie Armitage is Christine Bywater.

Geoff Govier, Shafton.

Thanks for that Geoff, the photograph has been updated. Thanks also for your interest shown in the web site. I believe you are an avid collector of old Shafton photographs. Perhaps you might think about kicking a web site up for Shafton.

Hello Gary

I received a phone call from my son, living in Cudworth, who said I had apparently played football.

I checked your site and sure enough I am named as one of the team. Sorry to disappoint you but that aint me. Possibly one of the other Loring's who lived in the village, (unless I have a namesake in the village)

    Regrettably, my only connections with the village was doing my training at brierley pit when it was a training site, before starting work down at Grimethorpe, (about 1954) and of course having enjoyed dancing with a couple of gorgeous girls from your village at the 'Bop'  always under the eagle eyes of Harold Naughton.

Certainly , the happiest memories of my life revolved around the area, dancing until 11pm in Grimy, then walking to Cudworth for the dance that started at midnight, happy days.

I left the area in 1956 to join the RAF but returned regularly, well, who wouldn't ,the only RAF bloke in the village.

    Oddly enough, a couple of years later I met a girl at a dance in Scarborough and when she said she was from a small village called Grimethorpe, that was it, Fate gave me a beautiful wife.

I suppose in some ways I am connected to your village since I believe some Lorings still reside there ( should you publish any of this, please feel free to give my e-mail address to anyone who asks)

Trevor Loring Leyland Lancashire

Thank you for your email. I think you are referring to photograph number Sports 11. The T Loring is I think Terry Loring but I never put the full names if I am not too sure of it. Thank you for your kind comments regarding your memories of our village and neighbouring Grimethorpe.

Hi Gary, 

Please thank the lady who emailed about Jack Smethurst.

He may not be connected to my family but my dad had a feeling that he was as he had a conversation with some one called A Garbett who was in the Grimethorpe band and he said that Jack  was buried in Brierley Cemetery.

My Smethursts came from Bury Lancs but some of them moved about a lot. I don't know when he Jack died just that he was 80. It would have been about 5 years ago that my dad spoke to this man. If anyone can help me further I would be most grateful especially if I could find out Jacks year of birth

Diane Chambers Lancashire

The lady (Christine Cheetham) who wrote last time as pointed out that when she heard Jack in the attic he was actually giving music lessons. His daughter Joyce married a Clifford Tomlinson and they had a son called Nicholas but apparently Joyce died when Nicholas was young and Clifford not long afterwards. I will check the cemetery again when we get a fine day.

Hi Gary,

I believe the lad on the back row third from the left on the mining photograph is none other than Ray (Tashy) Pointon. Sorry to hear that you have been unwell, get well soon the girls at Butties and Blooms are missing you

Your big bruv Al      

Thanks Bruv, I too am missing them (or more the lovely food they cook)  

Dave Scholey Newcastle upon Tyne dscholeyuk@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks for your interesting email David. I have forwarded a copy to Kevin Scholey in York which I am sure he will find interesting and may contact you.

Hello Gary

You may remember me.  I came to your excellent exhibition recently and brought you a school group photo.

I have been looking through old photos belonging to my mother and have put a few together which may be of interest. There are a couple of me when I was the Brierley Sing Queen in 1962? which I had completely forgotten about. Also a few of my brother and myself with various friends at various ages taken in the long gardens behind Hodroyd Cottages in the late 50s/very early 60s.

Look forward to your reply.

Christine Cheetham

Royston

Thank you Christine, I will arrange to pick the photographs up next week. I have also forwarded a copy of your email to Diane who requested the information on Jack Smethurst. I am sure she will find it interesting.

Hello Gary

I found your site by accident. Very impressive. I was born in Brierley in 1928  and lived at  Number 23 Barnsley Road until 1963 when after a stint in the merchant navy we emigrated to Australia. While there I worked for nearly 40 years for N.A.S.A until retirement. I noticed in the Baipip archives index that on photograph number streets 2 my father and grandmother  were  mentioned.  My Father died in 1941 and I would be grateful if a copy of the photograph could be published presuming someone may have one

I now live in Canberra  Australia 

Regards  Jim Hoyland

Thank you for your very interesting letter Jim. The photograph in question is now on line at your request. The letter that accompanied the photograph stated that a Mrs Hoyland was on the photograph with her babe in arms son Alec.  I have tried in vain to find a baby in the ladies arms but no luck. Would you like to send in photographs of your time in Brierley and how you are now for the Where R U now page? Or perhaps you could write a few memories of your time in Brierley? Perhaps you may remember John Steele and his family. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hi Gary, It's me again , Jillian Wilkinson. I sent you an email yesterday and I forgot to tell you about the photo on schools 137 1956/57. It has my brother Geoff on it. He is first left on the middle row, then there is Joy Midgley fifth from the left on the back row. Greg Lawton is in the middle of the front row. I hope this of help to you.

Thanks again for this wonderful site.

Regards Jill Gamewell (nee) Wilkinson. South Hiendley

Thanks for that Jillian, I have updated the photograph

Hi Gary, Jillian Wilkinson here again. I was glad that you were able to get in touch with our Steve. He told me that you had a good chat about the old times you had together. I was looking at a photo of you and him , taken at Brierley Infants School. You both must have been 5 yrs old. You were holding finger puppets and I must say it brought a tear to the eye. I am one of the older folk of old Brierley1940s.I was sad to here about Pete Dean, I remember him and his family well when they lived in Hilltop. I remember a lot of Steve's mates.

I was wondering if you know of two cottages that used to be across from the shop at Hilltop? a good friend of mine lived on the left called Pat, she lived with her sister Doris , mother and Granddad, their names were King (nee) Prosser.I would love to know where Pat is now ,I have not seen her  since 1957.She had a daughter  who she named Carolyn , her married name was Thorley. I would be very grateful if anyone can give me any info. About her, I think she went to live in Grimethorpe

 Thanks again for all your good work.

Thanks for putting me back in touch with your Steve Jill. I will put the details of the family you are trying to trace on the Peoples Search page 1

Hello Gary,

              Nice to here from you again, Yeah I had the same problem as you, I got a virus and my computer  crashed. I still haven't got all my  data back. I didn't know Pete Dean had died, poor chap. Do you know what he died of?. Mum (Freda) has moved in with our Linda down in Cudworth, she is having a granny flat built on to her house. I don't seem to get much time to get over to home, but the next time I do, I will send you an E-mail. I'm still driving buses in Grimsby, I have been for 9 years. 

I still support the Reds. I went to Cardiff for the play offs. Brilliant. Are you still the Caretaker at Brierley Hall?

Do you here from Dave Steel any more?. The person I want to find on the web site is Lynn Woolridge. Do you know anything about her whereabouts? Dave Reece is another one. He used to live on Pit Row. There are so many people I 'd like to catch up with. I haven't been on the web site for ages since I lost all my data. But now I've found it again I will go on it regular. I hope we keep in touch this time.

Till next Time, See ya   Stephen Wilkinson  (Bruff) Grimsby     

Dear Gary,

Many thanks for the information about the web site.  I have just had a look at it is great news to see Dad's book there. The book is also available from the internet at Amazon.co.uk, if this could be added. I will have a look around your web site now I know it exists.  It is a terrific contribution to the village and I'll do my best to be at your exhibition on the 14th September to meet you.

Thanks again, Best regards, John Nixon

Your welcome John

Hi Gary. I am trying to put a family tree together regarding the name Vamplew. My dad came from the area around Brierley. His name Was Wray Vamplew and also my granddad had the same name. The time before them I know very little. If you or anyone could help me I would be very grateful. 

Regards Andy Vamplew France

There are still a number of Vamplew's living in Brierley who I am sure would be related to you. I will make some enquires for you. Keep in touch with the email page for any updates.

Great site, very up to date and interesting, as usual you are working hard for charity in our community. Could I be so bold as to offer you some of my writing to be bidded for at your next charity auction? I must stress that it is robust and of an adult nature, not dirty, but hard hitting. There are poems and short stories. I have featured on BBC radio Sheffield and YMCA radio Barnsley. I have had good reviews, but as yet no publisher, never mind I will keep on trying. I will put all my work in to one book, i.e., a one off book of poems short stories and one liners.

Thanks for all you have done, and in deed still doing for our community.  

Alan G Sheard Grimethorpe (THE MINER)

Thanks for your generous offer Alan. I still have some of your poems on the Your Contribution page. It was a coincidence receiving your email because I have just started reading a copy of your book "From shovel to rifle" and had to force myself to put it down to get some work done ready for the exhibition. It is a really good book (so far) and I would recommend it. Also thank you for your kind words, it is nice when you are appreciated. Good luck in finding a publisher.

Hi Gary, Thanks for the email and the offer of the book Mothers Apple Pie to go on the Brierley website that would be great.

I have attached the flyer and also a jpg of the cover of the book. I can drop you a copy of the book off if you let me know what time would suit you. Thanks again it's nice to know local people are interested and that it will go in the archives for Brierley,  and by the way I love the Brierley Website!!

Regards, Barbara Smith (nee Nixon)

It was the least I could do Barbara. I sometimes get angry at the youth of today when they have no respect for our elders especially brave people like your father. I hope you do well with the book and at keeping your fathers valuable memories alive.

A big thank you for the photographs unfortunately they have in fact come to late for the exhibition which is only 21/2 weeks away. I am working frantically at the moment to get it all ready and I am really behind. The other problem is that age has damaged a couple of the photographs that you have sent and I do like to repair them before they go in the archives. There is also a few further questions I would like to set out for you re the photographs but this would now have to come after the exhibition if this is ok with you. You are right with the date which is the 14th September from 10am till 9pm. The exhibitions have proved so popular in the past that I am allowing the first two hours for the disabled and the elderly although if this is the only time you could get I would make an exception with you travelling from York. Once again thank you for the photographs and I look forward to meeting you at the exhibition.

How lovely it was to receive your email. I know your family very very well indeed. I went through school from the infants with Stephen and was in fact his best mate when we left school. If you look at the email pages from about 2002? he has actually sent me an email. I also worked on the buses for a while with your father Nat. Emails from your Stephen dried up after a while which was really disappointing as he had promised that we would go for a drink when he was over next. I believe your mum still lived in Hilltop then. I would appreciate his email address (I have lost all my old addresses after a virus) because the last time I saw him was about 1975 just before I got married and it is his round. I remember all your family except yourself (sorry). Your Jeff, Peter and Linda were friendly with my brothers and sisters within their age groups (Sheards Hillside). Your mum Freda and sister Linda were at my first ever exhibition at the Three Horse Shoes in 1998 and there will be photographs of that at this next exhibition. Please don't forget to remind me to your Stephen or send me his email address. PS I have all the photographs that you mention in your email. You may purchase any of these at the exhibition where I look forward to meeting you. I still can't get over not knowing you or your Stephen mentioning you. Is your mum ok?

Thanks for your email. I can't understand how you have got the old address for Bob because I updated the web site with his new address (below) last year?

I knew a Roy and Rex Kelsall from Shafton, are they any relation? I also have an old newspaper cutting from the 1940s with an Arthur Kelsall playing in goals for Shafton.

Give my regards to Bob when you write to him.

Hello Gary,

My name is Dave Nicoll and I used to live at 7 Park Avenue Brierley (1945 to 1968).I now live in Pogmoor Barnsley. I can help with a couple of names on photograph number Schools 28. The boy next to Mrs Horton is John Hawley and the one between Alan Fleetwood and Anthony Spaxman is Geoffrey Bell and not George Kerley (Gordon Steele was doubtful about this).

I will try and work out the others but no promises. Thanks for a great site and I will try and contribute some other memories

Dear Gary

My name is Sam Bestial. I lived in Brierley 4 years ago and I moved to New York where I am currently living. I am 16 years old and attending school over here. It is a lot different to school in England. If anyone remembers me please feel free to email me

Bye for now Sam in New York.  

sammyb7@msn.com