Originally Posted by semah

Sorry, but Gil Hames was not in the RAF. He was a Royal Engineer. He was also heavily involved with the St John Ambulance in Southport. Did your fathers surname begin with a 'B'

Cheers

Hi the surname begins with H, sorry must have got your dad mixed up with someone else who came round.

My dad, Bill Gray, ran the Slic Poster Service from 1947 to his death in 1973. Originally in Linaker Street, he moved to a better workshop in Sefton Street around 1960, where he had a sign over the door. He hand painted ALL the posters for the Floral Hall and Cambridge Hall throughout those years, plus loads of other work around town, including the backdrops to the Floral Hall bandstand. Does anyone recall him or his workshop? I have no examples of his work, except for some photographs of Excelsior fireworks, for whom he designed many labels.

Hi Phil,
How ye doing? Of course I remember your dad well. The first games I went to at Haig Ave I cycled alongside him and Bill Parker! I was very proud that I knew the man who did the posters for Southport matches that used to be at the entrances to the town. He was a lovely man. He is also hugely important in my history - when I first came to Birkdale from Scotland, it was one of his predominantly red, white and black posters pasted on a board, tied to a tree outside the Park Hotel that alerted me to a 'Cricket Festival' at Trafalgar Rd. Intrigued, I went along and discovered one of the great loves of my life. I came down from Edinburgh in July there to see the Lancashire game - and as we passed that very tree I told my mate about Bill Gray's poster and how it changed my life!!!!!

Originally Posted by jakjo

My father's business was Briggs and Grimshaw in Wright Street, Southport for many years after taking it over from Mr Briggs, I think it was when he retired. It was a printing business that printed tickets and posters for the Little Theatre, general business stationery, wedding invitations, etc (to name but a few things) until my dad retired - but now is no longer there.

During one of my morning distractions I thought I'd look into my past a little and came across your post.
My grandparents worked at Briggs and Grimshaw since some time after the war and until their retirement. Ronnie & Jane Pilkington, you probably knew them. Ahh nostalgia. Back to work now.

hi. i wonder if anyone knew of a wally rimmer, and johnny ball, they had a buisness for short while in the late sixtys, and early seventies.

Originally Posted by suzie_s

hi. i wonder if anyone knew of a wally rimmer, and johnny ball, they had a buisness for short while in the late sixtys, and early seventies.

I used to live next door to Wally Rimmer as a child. My old man also had a spell in demolition with a fella called Eric Chadwick..

Originally Posted by blueman

Joe Boyer mentioned in above thread did he work at southport infirmary as a porter later in life or same time as chippy

Hi just came across this thread, Joe Boyer worked at Southport Infirmary and arranged for the handbell team (of which he was the conductor) to play carols prior to Christmas and we also on Christmas Day in the children's and maternity wards, happy days.

Originally Posted by COZ 76

Hi just came across this thread, Joe Boyer worked at Southport Infirmary and arranged for the handbell team (of which he was the conductor) to play carols prior to Christmas and we also on Christmas Day in the children's and maternity wards, happy days.

I remember Joe very well. I was a cadet nurse on ophthalmic ward, he knew my Dad. I asked him why my Dad had an artificial eye, he told me. I was nearly 18 and never asked my Mum or Dad about it.

Remember Joe & the handbells being played near the boardroom Xmas 1987