Anne Tunney (nee Wrigglesworth)

I write with reference to some of the articles in your extremely interesting and informative Totley Independent magazine. However, as some of the articles were submitted by readers some time ago I do apologise for the elapse of time. Also, I may have got some of the information incorrect. Therefore, I reiterate my apologies but as the adage goes “better late than never”!.

Mrs Anne White did request who the gentleman was who rented the shed adjoining the pig sty where her father housed the pigs. That gentleman was the dear father of my brother Stephen and I. He was a builder and property repairer and his tools and ladders were stored there. Incredibly before entering the shed he had to make a loud noise in order to scatter the rats who resided there! When the beautiful piglets were born my wonderful dad would lift me up to watch them over the door. It was the most exciting sight watching the enormous sow feeding her much loved babies. Dad’s arms would ache with holding me for ages! I always assumed the pigs were the property of the butcher, Frank Thompson. I feel sure that the pigs were permitted the freedom of his field. I am unsure though if the field once was a reservoir. However, I am aware it would flood on occasions. 

As a youngster my father and his brothers lived behind Anne at the bridge in the cottage. Later they would reside at number 43 Queen Victoria Road, next door to the Sharp family whom Anne mentions in her memoirs. I was very young when I would see Freddie and Tommy collecting the eggs of a morning from the chicken coop. On some occasions their sister Martha would accompany them. The owner of their house was a Mr Sharp. He was a conductor on the then number 24 Totley bus and his daughter Jennifer was a kindly young girl.Unfortunately, Jennifer’s little sister was tragically killed whilst playing at the front of the house. In those days little girls would wear a pinafore to ensure their dress was kept clean whilst playing outside. Sadly, a passing lorry reputedly entangled the apron in its wheels. The little child was killed. I recall she was a very pretty child. She had the most exquisite blond curly hair. Such a gentle child and so very sad that she died.

May I compliment you, Anne, on your appraisal of the Sharp family. They were kindly souls and your wonderful mother with her comment that the boys were somewhat different is indicative of her kindly nature. Doubtless due to the perceptions of such a young girl when you penned your amazing poem. How pleased and proud you must be. She was priceless! I have a copy of the poem to retain for my family. Like yourself Anne my cousin Pat and I would pass the Chemical Yard to go shopping. We only once saw the enormous bottles of chemicals when the gates were open one day. It seemed such a secret place. I wonder too Anne, if you recall Pearsons nursery just on Baslow Road near Green Oak Park. Our father made the gates for the entrance. I believe the blacksmith Mr Bradbury made the wheel in order for the gates to swing along the channel for them to open freely. I am aware, Anne, that you will have known Mr Bradbury as his Smithy was nearby. 

My brother Stephen informs me he was a giant of a man. He would let boys watch him working. However, if they got too close for comfort he would cuff their ear to ensure their safety. I believe he forged the runner irons for the sledge our father made for us. I just wish we had ensured we had kept it in the family. 

My father was a proud craftsman and it would doubtless be as sturdy today as it was then. Such pride was taken in the perfection of their products Like Anne, I am so proud and pleased that Stephen and I had such wonderful and kindly parents. Doubtless Anne you would shop on Totley Rise with your mother. My cousin Pat and I would take our ration book coupons to purchase sweets from Mrs Spring, the petite and feminine little lady who owned the shop. As the owner of a ration book was deemed a “Totleyite” we cherish that. My cousin Pat and I and friends would frequent Gillfield Wood. We would climb the trees and jump the rivers and gather the bluebells with a large array of beach leaves, beautiful in a vase! Celandines and wood anemones would adorn our windowsills in spring, delightful! We would spend hours there and the only concern in those days was that we would probably be wet and muddied. Safe and carefree times. 

Our father erected a tree swing for us where joyous hours were spent. Such fun for the kids! My cousin Jean and I we also found the clay in the woods and would spend hours perfecting small jugs and plates etc. A spring in the hillside kept it just perfect. Indeed we became quite adept with practice. We were extremely proud of our expertise. These pieces would be left to bake in the hot sunshine which oddly enough seemed to shine endlessly in the 6 week school vacation! However, on one occasion our priceless pieces had been smashed to smithereens. Perhaps our efforts were not deemed as highly by someone! We never located the culprit. Will they please “step up now”? Only joking!

Come winter we would gather in Salt’s field to sledge. Again countless hours of fun for all. Returning home to a roaring coal fire and the tastiest of home cooked meals by our wonderful mother. Enormous meat pies and large fruit scones and cakes. A truly wonderful and kindly person to all she knew. She was a good neighbour to her treasured neighbours and a wonderful community spirit all around us too It is quite probable that milk may have been sold at Mr Salt’s farm. Is it possible that the name Gillfield was derived from the sale of a gill of milk? I have often thought it was likely. He did keep cows and perhaps the large metal jugs would be used for the sale of the delicious milk, enjoyed on numerous occasions by my parents.

Jean mentioned having never been able to find the milestone in Gillfield Wood. However, my friends and I would paddle the river there. I will look for it again come summer. It was much lower down from the stile. It was located slightly higher on the same side as the now non-existent first scout hut. Then there was just lower down a metal pipe across the river. We would use this to balance across the water, often falling in and going home soaking wet. We were never rebuked as it was another happy day for kids enjoyment. Peace and quiet for mums. Mrs Windle is mentioned collecting firewood near the pool that was on occasions used by the boys. She was another lovely Totley resident. She was also Auntie Tess to Stephen and I. Her husband Claude played the piano along with musicians in my family. 

We would gather for soiree events in one of the houses. Yes, we had some great entertainment in the days prior to television. Lots of fun and laughter to be had. Aunt Tess’s daughters were named Patricia and Eileen. They too were polite and cheerful. Their dog was called Woofy Windle. He was taught a quite remarkable trick. Auntie would tell him he had been run over by a car. He would lay prostrate on the floor. She would say “poor Wooffie a car has run him over and he is dead”. 

Then she would say “but he would not lie down”. He would jump up to delight the children wagging his tail twenty to the dozen. Today he would definitely merit an audition on the X Factor! Totally irrelevant now to my childhood memoirs but recently Dennis Wyatt at the Town Hall has posted requests on the trees and fences at the bottom left hand side of Queen Victoria Road, telephone 273 6677. This refers to finding the owner of the heavily overgrown land at the bottom of Queen Victoria Road. Perhaps a reader may be able to name the owner.