The Meadows

Kirkwhite Street East

By John Clarke

I was borne in a small mining village on the edge of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire boarders, my father was a coal miner and my mother just a house wife.  In 1950 my pearents decided they would like to try there hand at a small business and cociquently bought a small shop in Kirkwhite street east, number 50a next door to a fish and chip shop and opposit what was then Rexhalls drug Co.  I was 7 years old at the time and so was enrolled at Arkwright junior school where I attended until moving on to Trent Bridge Boys School.  I have fond memories of Arkwright School and the surrouding arias, Ryhill Cottages, Hartford st., Waterway st., lammas st., Atlas st., to name but e few.  The streets were cobbled and when they tarmced them we used to rollerskate on them as there were very few vehicles in those days.

The chip shop next to our shop was owned by Mr Albert Hallam whom had a daughter Sheila. My mother Dorothy Clarke ran the shop and my Dad got a job at Baldwin House on Arkwright Street.  A few names spring to mind Kenny King,  John Whiting, Mick Thorpe, Cynthia Bailey, Peter Truman and I think his name was Ian who's father had the butchers shop on the corner of Kirkwhite st. and Ryhill Cottages.  I have an older sister Janet who now lives at Bramcoat,  We moved from the shop in 1954 due to mothers health to west Bridgeford, I and my family now live in LIncolnshire but have just become interested in this part of my life and would love to hear from any one who knew us at that time. do'es anyone have any photos of the shop and chip shop, if so I would love to see them.