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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Lifestyle
Jess Molyneux

17 things Mancunians remember from their childhoods that you don't see anymore

From taking and Orange bus to spending the day at Belle Vue, many of our favourite childhood past times can no longer be enjoyed today.

But, that doesn't mean we can't look back over our childhood with fond memories and admire the former traditions which were once considered the 'norm' across Manchester.

We put a call out on social media and asked what was the best thing about growing up in Manchester that you don't see anymore - and we were inundated with responses.

Read More: Great photos of Manchester matchgoers - some haven't been seen for years

Here are 17 things Mancunians will remember from childhood that you don't see anymore.

The list below isn't intended to be comprehensive, we selected asked for your suggestions on social media. But, if there is something you feel we should have included, let us know in the comments section.

1 - Orange buses

All the local authority bus fleets were taken over by SELNEC (South East Lancashire, North WEst Cheshire) Passenger Transport Executive in 1969. The buses it inherited, like these Stockport ones, were repainted in orange to mark a fresh, a modern start (Museum of Transport Greater Manchester)

The iconic orange double-deckers are now a thing of distant memory in the region.

At one point in time, Manchester buses were as associated with orange as London buses were associated with red.

Manchester Evening News reader John Deakin suggested orange buses, whilst Jo Cutch said: "Orange buses, as a kid if we had been away I always knew when we were back in Manchester."

2 - The rag and bone man

For those who don't know, a rag and bone man collects unwanted household items to sell on themselves.

Known for travelling on a horse and cart, the rag and bone man would collect anything and everything that homeowners no longer wanted.

Rose Catlin and Stephen John Hanks suggested the rag and bone man.

And Karen Glaiser commented: "Rag and bone man with his horse, Peggy."

3 - Kids playing out in the street

Children playing football in Archie Street, Manchester. June 12, 1967 (Mirrorpix)

Before the days of Iphones, game consoles and social media, the main way to socialise with your friends was playing outdoors.
And whilst children playing is something you still see in Manchester, some people said they don't see it nearly as much these days.

Tracey Platt said: Kids playing on the street in safety no mobile phones stuck in hands."

Marie Brady commented: "Kids playing skipping with a washing line in the streets."

Kathleen Wild commented: "Kids actually playing on the streets without a care in the world!!!"

Dawn Beveridge wrote: "Playing out all day! Home when the street lights came on!"

Mark Cox posted: "Kids playing kerbie"

4 - Red phone boxes

An unloved red telephone box (Birmingham Mail)

Red phone boxes are something you don't see nearly as much in Manchester and other cities across the country anymore.

Before mobile phones, residents across the city would rely on these when on the go.

Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.

Reader Gary Berrisford commented: "Putting 2p in a phone box or reserving the charges to your mum in the red phone box."

5 - Belle Vue

Belle Vue park in Manchester during the August Bank Holiday, August 1949 (Mirrorpix)

Belle Vue welcomed generations of thrill seekers poured through its gates not just for the animals, but for the theme park’s legendary funfair rides and circus shows.

Once described as a 'showground of the world,' it closed its gates in 1982.

Harry Kelsall said: "The days out at Belle Vue growing up a kid."

Billy Hickey, Alan Bennett, Brenda Paul Robinson, Tom Smith and Paul Burns also suggested Belle Vue.

6 - Green Shield stamps

A worker stacking shelves at a Tesco Store in Middleton, Manchester. Signs for Green Shield Stamps in the background, 1972 (Mirrorpix)

Many will remember Green Shield stamps going back to the 1960s.

The reward scheme saw customers awarded with stamps as they spent, which could then be exchanged for a range of great value goods from a Green Shield catalogue.

Tracy Oldham suggested Green Shield stamps, as well as the Dutch Pancake House.

7 - Dutch Pancake House

The Dutch Pancake House, Manchester (Julian Brown)

The Dutch Pancake House closed just over a decade ago and is remembered for its massive menu and giant plates.

Based on the corner of St Peter's Square and Oxford Street, it was a popular place to visit before a trip to the Odeon cinema two doors down. It was opened in 1996, but closed a few years later in the early 2000s.

Rhonda Morgan-Farrell suggested the lost venue, as well as Rob Wood, who also mentioned Allen's Fried Chicken.

8 - White dog poo

Possibly the oddest on our list - many readers mentioned white dog poo to be something from childhood you don't see in Manchester anymore.

Due to a change in dogs diets from meat and bones to tinned food, dog poop is no longer white in colour because there is less calcium contained in the food itself.

M.E.N readers Sean Murphy, Stephen Hill, Craig Mark Lawton, Heidi Roberts, Darren Sankey, Gary Jane Flop, Paul Wilcox and Thomas Stevens all suggested this on social media.

9 - The 'pop' man

Although milkmen do exist still in some areas, the pop man is something you definitely don't see anymore.

Also referred to by readers as 'the mineral man,' these workers would deliver fizzy drinks on the streets.

Helen Marie Brown said: "The Alpine Pop man! Sarsaparilla, Dandelion & Burdock - and mum letting us have the 10p bottle return for a mix up."

And Ayleen Hulme wrote: "The mineral man with his lorry full of earthenware brown heavy dandelion and burdock.. prams left parked outside front doors and shops."

10 - Whit Walks

The little girl who brought her dog along to walk in the Whit Walks was Diane Pugh, aged three, of Manchester. With her is Anne Grimley aged 11 and Judy the Yorkshire terrier. June 1960 (Mirrorpix)

The annual whit walks are a tradition stretching back more than two centuries.

At their peak during the 1920s and 30s, over 40,000 people took part in the procession in Manchester and in surrounding suburbs and towns.

Steve Robinson said: "Whit Walks. Live overseas now, so not seen for years."

Carole Easey also suggested this, as well as sitting in Piccadilly Gardens on a weekend.

11 - Old night clubs

Rockworld Nightclub, Manchester, August 14, 1992 (Mirrorpix)

Other readers reminisced about the clubs they used to love that are no longer with us.

Do these awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

Claire Gnatiuk said: "The Venue. What an awesome club!"

Lu Lou Such wrote: "Discotheque Royales."

Joanne Eagle commented: "Hacienda."

And Steven Green posted: "The nightclubs. Pips ,rotters,fagins , placemates, cellar vie, brahms and lizt, band on the wall, Tommy ducks....etc etc. Great days.x"

12 - Wimpy

A UK Wimpy restaurant (Mirrorpix)

By 1970, Wimpy was a global favourite and there were more than 1,000 outlets in 23 countries around the world - including a number around Greater Manchester.

Today, the closest Wimpy to Manchester is the ones in Huddersfield or Birkenhead and the chain has just 67 restaurants in Britain, down from over 500 during its height in the 1970s.

Jenny Gilworth and Deborah Starman Ankers both suggested Wimpy on social media.

13 - Underground market

Manchester's 'underground market,' The Market Centre (Manchester Local Image Collection)

Market stalls and indoor markets were a go-to place for almost anything needed on a shopping trip, and Manchester’s Underground Market offered exactly that.

Just off Market street, this marked another city centre hotspot for top fashion.

Readers who suggested the former market include Andrea Paull McDowell, Andrew Whitmore, Jan Hunter and Jason Mark Phillips.

14 - Quiet Sunday's

Sunday trading restrictions have changed over the years, and many will remember when everything was shut - or barely anything remained open.

Peter Swindells said: "Everything being shut on a Sunday."

15 - Lost shops and department stores

The interior of the Lewis's department store in Manchester. September 17, 1957 (Mirrorpix)

Like elsewhere in the UK, Manchester has seen shops, outlets, and eateries come and go - many of which we still remember fondly.

Wendy Eachus said: "Meeting outside Chelsea Girl to go out on a Saturday."

Jacky Johnson wrote: "Saturday shopping in Lewis's and C& A and lunch in the Old Shambles. Happy days."

GeeGee Jo said: "Being able to go in to town for a mooch in Shelley’s at 13-14 without parents supervision."

Angela White posted: "Going into Manchester to buy whitsuntide clothes from C&A."

Sara Land said: "Department stores."

Si Carvell said: "Manchester Underground Records."

Koon Tung Ian Ho wrote: "Warner Bros, batmobile just outside the shop."

16 - Bonfire celebrations

From popular firework displays in the city to huddling around the bonfire in your home town, we all have our own memories from our childhood to the present of the November night.

But health and safety regulations were very different in previous decades and today, Bonfire celebrations are different to those of the past.

Rachel Wardle said: "Bonfire night .. proper bonfires."

17 - Piccadilly Gardens

View of Piccadilly Gardens. August 31, 1979 (Mirrorpix)

A number of M.E.N readers also suggested spending time in Piccadilly Gardens, which has changed a lot through the generations.

Kacy Kc, Linda Fearnhead and Todd Robinson all suggested Piccadilly Gardens.

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