Dizzy Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Views of Bridgefoot in the 1950's Is the traffic management better or worse now... what do you recon I really like these photos and some great old busses, vans and lorries eh.... all the people in the 3rd pic are apparently rugby supporters on the way back from a match (very smartly dressed ) and here's one of where the skittles are now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Great pics Dizzy and I would say due to technology the traffic management is much better now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Seems we had congestion then too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted November 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Seems so eh So in 60 years not much has changed .... other than dress sense and the design of vehicles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Note the police officers on point duty. You felt like King Canute, not necessarily from the vehicles but at marlet gate when up to 100 people would be straining at the lease to get across one of the pedestrian crossings. Note also the width of Sankey street. I dealt with many a crushed ankle from someone daring to let one foot descend from the footpath. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted November 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Hadn't noticed the police officers Harry and not suprosed there were a few bumped pedestrians. The officer in the top photo seems to being ignored and somewhat lost in it all I guess they wouldn't be able to do that these days due to 'health and safety' Were you in the police force then Harry and was that one of your jobs? If so any chance you can pop down to Bridge Foot tomorrow and 'direct' as it's alway mad there on a Saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Why does the picture not show up in large size when the photo is clicked??? Great photos though Dizzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 I was police officer from 1955. School crossing and point duty made up a big part of the day. . Knutsford Rd/Brifge Bridge foot had a specialist point duty man., manned eight hours a day. At Christmas people would ply them with gifts. Knutsford road opposite the Cenotaph; 4 junctions at Market Gate; Horsemarket street/ Scotland road; winwick street/ Tanners Lane; and occasionally chester Rd/ Wilderspool Causeway; all were manned at rush hours by an officer armed with white sleeves. Oh yes, and Knutsford road/ Forrest street(now Kingsway). I used to love standing on the corner of Forrest street as it was pre motorway and everybody going North to south had to stop at the halt sign. Saw some very famous faces. People used to say most unkindly, that if there was a traffic jam, there was always a policeman on the end of it. Actually, there was nobody more interested in getting rid of the traffic than the poor PC who much preferred to stand on the footpath and wait for any build up. (I think the officer at Bridge Foot was just a passer by rather a traffic controller. you would pretty much never do point duty in a flat cap which my old eyes think he is wearing) Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted November 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Why does the picture not show up in large size when the photo is clicked??? Great photos though Dizzy Ask Gary If your eyes are that bad Baz just right click and 'save picture as' onto your pc. You can then view at larger size and zoom in as much as you like or I'll email you the 4 mb versions if you are really struggling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted November 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Thanks for enlightening us to the word of the the police traffic management in those days Harry. Fascinating to read about especially when it's told by someone who has actually 'been there and done it' Must have been a boring job at times though especially if the weather was bad but I guess the xmas presents made up for it eh? As for the officer at bridge foot you are right he has got a flat cap on...and no white sleeves either... perhaps he was an imposter. Here he is a little closer with the 'real' one shown below)..... Is the lady behind him in the middle on a mobile phone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Is that Adolf talking to that copper?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted November 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Same thought crossed my mind when I saw it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Nah! it,s Clement Atlee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teessidewire Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I was police officer from 1955. School crossing and point duty made up a big part of the day. . Knutsford Rd/Brifge Bridge foot had a specialist point duty man., manned eight hours a day. At Christmas people would ply them with gifts. Knutsford road opposite the Cenotaph; 4 junctions at Market Gate; Horsemarket street/ Scotland road; winwick street/ Tanners Lane; and occasionally chester Rd/ Wilderspool Causeway; all were manned at rush hours by an officer armed with white sleeves. Oh yes, and Knutsford road/ Forrest street(now Kingsway). I used to love standing on the corner of Forrest street as it was pre motorway and everybody going North to south had to stop at the halt sign. Saw some very famous faces. People used to say most unkindly, that if there was a traffic jam, there was always a policeman on the end of it. Actually, there was nobody more interested in getting rid of the traffic than the poor PC who much preferred to stand on the footpath and wait for any build up. (I think the officer at Bridge Foot was just a passer by rather a traffic controller. you would pretty much never do point duty in a flat cap which my old eyes think he is wearing) Happy days Harry, you make me feel very young. I was born in December 1955 and retired as a Police Sergeant in March of this year. Re the officer wearing the cap, a close look at him seems to indicate that he may well be a Special Constable. He looks to have the 'Special' flashes on his shoulders. I don't think they were issued with helmets at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 My feeling also was that it was a special constable. The practice in those days was that if there was any kind of hold-up, you jumped off the footpath and assisted for a short period of time. As far as your retirement goes, the French have a beautiful saying "young old age is the time of your life". Absolutely true for many reasons. Old, old age is O.K. but nothing like as good. Go out, and do all the things you ever wanted to while you can. Best wishes Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Good advice Harry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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