Golden Mayo days on ‘The Road’

by Auld Stock

WHEN I was a young lad on McHale Road, the majority of parents had large families, some as many as 15 children. My parents had 12 children.

They were wonderful people, totally dedicated to the welfare of their families and made great sacrifices on their behalf.

There was no television in those days and few radios.

Charlie Guthrie, who lived at No. 21, and Pat McGreal, No. 110, owned the first two radios on McHale Road.

They were big yokes, manufactured by a firm named Pye.

If they were around today their owners would probably have to apply for planning permission because of their size.

Hundreds of children playing on the street generated a great deal of laughter, shouts and noise.

Once 8 o’clock arrived, the mothers came to their front doors with the clarion call ‘time for bed’.

One minute earlier the street had been full of laughter and noise.

Then, as if a switch had been flicked, the street was a sea of silence.

Over eighty years later I have never forgotten that moment.

Today there are fewer children on McHale Road, the old folk have gone to their final reward, as have many of the children who romped and played on ‘The Road’ in those golden days of yore.

Happy memories of happy times.