My mother worked at this fish and chip shop for years, she used to ride her old black push bike down Norton Avenue to Ragworth most nights at 12.30 never had any problems even though the bottom end of Norton Avenue had a bad reputation for gangs. I even worked at the fish shop for two years – mixing batter and carry potatoes from the back yard to the shop to be sliced. I think the patties were the best around!
Aki-Pole was David Pole, whose father was landlord of the Brown Jug in the 60″s before moving to the Grenadier pub in Acklam in the early 70″s. He had a brother John and sister Helen. I used to knock about with David up until mid 80″s. Recently gained access to 244 Norton Rd, whilst plumbers replaced pipes someone had a greater need of, how we all fitted in there amazes me, although at the time it seemed big, we moved when I was 9 years old.
I have recently found your site: I have really enjoyed reading the comments and seeing the pics, they bring back so many memories. We lived in Larkhall Square (near the Brown Jug pub), but moved to Scotland when I was 11 – I’m 50 now and still living there. I remember Peter Chisholm (who seems to write regularly in these pages) – who could forget the Chisholm’s – there were so many of them! As a kid, we (Stanley Blenkey, Michael Alabaladijo, Homer, Ian Chisholm, Aki-Pole (I can’t remember his first name)) would play on the common or down at the Rec. – We would go down to this chippie on the corner of Norton Rd. and Belle Vue, for a ‘bag of chips ‘n lots of scraps please ‘ or come October/November we would hang around there with our lovingly made Guy, with a cry of ‘penny for the guy mister’ – who could resist! – Happy Days!
Hi Mike, been a long time since Willum days! Also since the days your dad used to pick us up and take us all to Ayresome Park. Yes, its a great site and many many happy memories ….
Hi back at ya Mike – very long time, no see!! Glad to hear you”re mending nicely from Willum! I think you were the only person scarred by her. And yes, this chippie was the best. Worth going home for. This is an awesome site, I esp enjoy Roy Parkin”s memories……. they are all very similar to my own. Did the photo of the Redbrook footie team ever get to this site yet? I know my sister sent it in but I haven”t seen it yet…..
Hi Lesley, Hi Lynda, Hope you and the family are well. The wounds inflicted on me by your cat, Willum, have nearly healed now, you”ll be pleased to know! This is a great site isn”t it…..lots of memories. Getting back on topic, I lived in Brinkburn Road at the bottom of Trent Street when I got married, and used to walk to this chippie regularly. Best chippie for miles around.
Peter Hodgson – hi to you too but I”m not the Lesley Booth that you knew. I went to Redbrook School and then on to Grangefield Grammar, as did my sister and brother before me.
Best chippie around! And Sonny always remembered me even when I”d been away for years at a time. Always teased me about coming a long way for my fish and chips (I”d be visiting home from Canada – Lynda, mentioned above, is my sister). Chippie isn”t the same without him.
To Peter Chisolm,I can”t remember Sonny”s other sisters but thanks for reminding me of Marilyn”s name, we were the same age and went to the same school Tilery, I do remeMber her being a bonny lass,I haven”t seen Sonny & Barbara for a few years hope they are both well, many thanks Peter, all the best Derek
Derek – Sonny had three sisters: Ella, Kathlene and Marilyn (they all lived next door to us). Ella emigrated to Australia I think, Kathlene went into the “Halls Fish & Chip Shop Empire” with her then husband (she still lives in Norton) and Marilyn (the one you are thinking of) went off to be a show dancer. Last I heard (late 1960s) is that Marilyn trained as a croupier. Cheers, Pete
When Sonny”s dad & wife ran the fish shop i was just a kid who could never see or reach the top counter so used to shout over ” bag of chips with scraps on please ” i can always remember sonny”s dad having a big smile for every one, then when sonny & Barbra took over things were just the same accept sonny knew every lad from Swainby and Danby rd, i remember sonny having a sister she went to Tilery girls, she knocked around with Jean Todd, some one said she went off to London to study acting, dont know if this is true, can still see her in my minds eye, all in all just a very nice family, all the best Decca Casey
Lynda – you are correct. Sonny and Barbara Hall owned the fish and chip shop for a number of years. I used to peel the potatoes in the back wash house for them a few days a week after school. Sonny”s parents (John & ?) owned the shop previously for a number of years and used to live next door to us – us at 244, Norton Rd and them at 242.
My parents used this fish and chip shop regularly, seem to remember the name Sonny? They lived in Mount Pleasant just round the corner, backing on to the old Belle Vue greyhound track, long since razed to the ground and re-developed into a small housing estate.
Re Greyhounds – The road to the right leads to Belle-Vue Greyhound racing track, the trees are in the race area. A house on Swainby Estate, right sky-line .
I AGREE WITH YOU, ANON, A GREEN COLOURED FISH SHOP – TWO OLD LADIES RAN IT – YOU COULD GET A SMALL FISH FOR 8d.
Mill Street west, on the corner of Howden St. – the best chippy!
The best two Fish & Chip Shops were in VANE STREET and the corner of SYDNEY STREET.
THE BEST CHIPPY ABOUT WAS THE REGAL FISH SHOP AT NORTON NEXT DOOR TO THE SKATING RING.
My mother worked at this fish and chip shop for years, she used to ride her old black push bike down Norton Avenue to Ragworth most nights at 12.30 never had any problems even though the bottom end of Norton Avenue had a bad reputation for gangs. I even worked at the fish shop for two years – mixing batter and carry potatoes from the back yard to the shop to be sliced. I think the patties were the best around!
They called them The Blue Hall Black Hand Gang.
Aki-Pole was David Pole, whose father was landlord of the Brown Jug in the 60″s before moving to the Grenadier pub in Acklam in the early 70″s. He had a brother John and sister Helen. I used to knock about with David up until mid 80″s. Recently gained access to 244 Norton Rd, whilst plumbers replaced pipes someone had a greater need of, how we all fitted in there amazes me, although at the time it seemed big, we moved when I was 9 years old.
I have recently found your site: I have really enjoyed reading the comments and seeing the pics, they bring back so many memories. We lived in Larkhall Square (near the Brown Jug pub), but moved to Scotland when I was 11 – I’m 50 now and still living there. I remember Peter Chisholm (who seems to write regularly in these pages) – who could forget the Chisholm’s – there were so many of them! As a kid, we (Stanley Blenkey, Michael Alabaladijo, Homer, Ian Chisholm, Aki-Pole (I can’t remember his first name)) would play on the common or down at the Rec. – We would go down to this chippie on the corner of Norton Rd. and Belle Vue, for a ‘bag of chips ‘n lots of scraps please ‘ or come October/November we would hang around there with our lovingly made Guy, with a cry of ‘penny for the guy mister’ – who could resist! – Happy Days!
Hi Mike, been a long time since Willum days! Also since the days your dad used to pick us up and take us all to Ayresome Park. Yes, its a great site and many many happy memories ….
Hi back at ya Mike – very long time, no see!! Glad to hear you”re mending nicely from Willum! I think you were the only person scarred by her. And yes, this chippie was the best. Worth going home for. This is an awesome site, I esp enjoy Roy Parkin”s memories……. they are all very similar to my own. Did the photo of the Redbrook footie team ever get to this site yet? I know my sister sent it in but I haven”t seen it yet…..
Hi Lesley, Hi Lynda, Hope you and the family are well. The wounds inflicted on me by your cat, Willum, have nearly healed now, you”ll be pleased to know! This is a great site isn”t it…..lots of memories. Getting back on topic, I lived in Brinkburn Road at the bottom of Trent Street when I got married, and used to walk to this chippie regularly. Best chippie for miles around.
Peter Hodgson – hi to you too but I”m not the Lesley Booth that you knew. I went to Redbrook School and then on to Grangefield Grammar, as did my sister and brother before me.
Hi Les are you the same Lesley Booth from Newham Grange days ?? If so hello and happy days .. Good luck to you and yours Lesley.
Best chippie around! And Sonny always remembered me even when I”d been away for years at a time. Always teased me about coming a long way for my fish and chips (I”d be visiting home from Canada – Lynda, mentioned above, is my sister). Chippie isn”t the same without him.
To Peter Chisolm,I can”t remember Sonny”s other sisters but thanks for reminding me of Marilyn”s name, we were the same age and went to the same school Tilery, I do remeMber her being a bonny lass,I haven”t seen Sonny & Barbara for a few years hope they are both well, many thanks Peter, all the best Derek
Derek – Sonny had three sisters: Ella, Kathlene and Marilyn (they all lived next door to us). Ella emigrated to Australia I think, Kathlene went into the “Halls Fish & Chip Shop Empire” with her then husband (she still lives in Norton) and Marilyn (the one you are thinking of) went off to be a show dancer. Last I heard (late 1960s) is that Marilyn trained as a croupier. Cheers, Pete
When Sonny”s dad & wife ran the fish shop i was just a kid who could never see or reach the top counter so used to shout over ” bag of chips with scraps on please ” i can always remember sonny”s dad having a big smile for every one, then when sonny & Barbra took over things were just the same accept sonny knew every lad from Swainby and Danby rd, i remember sonny having a sister she went to Tilery girls, she knocked around with Jean Todd, some one said she went off to London to study acting, dont know if this is true, can still see her in my minds eye, all in all just a very nice family, all the best Decca Casey
Lynda – you are correct. Sonny and Barbara Hall owned the fish and chip shop for a number of years. I used to peel the potatoes in the back wash house for them a few days a week after school. Sonny”s parents (John & ?) owned the shop previously for a number of years and used to live next door to us – us at 244, Norton Rd and them at 242.
My parents used this fish and chip shop regularly, seem to remember the name Sonny? They lived in Mount Pleasant just round the corner, backing on to the old Belle Vue greyhound track, long since razed to the ground and re-developed into a small housing estate.
Re Greyhounds – The road to the right leads to Belle-Vue Greyhound racing track, the trees are in the race area. A house on Swainby Estate, right sky-line .