Stories from a Chorlton bedroom

Now, you can tell a lot by someone’s wall paper.

And if that wall paper has remained intact for nearly sixty years, it can be a show case for what we once thought was the height of fashion.

So when I was growing up, designs derived from popular comics were a must.

My choice was Dan Dare Pilot of the Future, from the Eagle, and with an eye to both promoting the comic and making some money, the owners sanctioned the use of other favourite characters, allowing some kids to chose Dan alongside, The Riders of the Range and Luck of the Legion.

Here in Chorlton, a young Ken Foster went for wall paper of railway locomotives, ranging from the workhorses of the branch lines, to the romantic full on express engines.

And there, tucked away at the top of each roll was the blue diesel, which in just a decade would pretty much kill off the Age of Steam.

At which point I shall refrain from trying to name each locomotive, secure in the knowledge that there will be a veritable queue of people who can reel off the names of the four, offering up details of their specification, dates of coming into service and where they first encountered each.

But childhood choices must in time yield to other interests, and Ken was no exception, and so by the mid 1960s trains had given over to Freddie and the Dreamers which were just added to the wall paper.

I suspect there would have been other idols but they may well have fallen off.

What didn’t, was the painting of the archer, much faded but still there just as Ken painted him.

At which point this may seem one of those trivial stories, but not so, because the wall paper, the furniture and all those electronic bits that we bought, seldom got recorded in situ.

So there are plenty of examples of old tellies, monster stereos, and funny looking washing machines, which crop up in adverts, catalogues and in showrooms but not usually as they would be in the home.

After all if you live with the stuff, why would you bother to photograph it?    

And that is our loss, because most of us make compromises, so we might yearn for the stylish Habitat sofa but we often end up with a mix of hand-downs from parents, and bargains from second hand shops, which make for a miss match of cluttered styles.

My parents saw the striking modern furniture of the 1950s but bought instead into Utility pieces, which actually lasted a lifetime, augmenting these with porcelain flying ducks and reproductions of the Chinese Girl which mum always called the Green Lady.

Of course Ken’s bedroom is a rarity because most people redecorate, but not Ken whose room complete with locomotive wall paper is still as it was, when he lived above his dad’s cycle shop, which he still runs today, and can now claim to be the oldest continuous family business trading in Chorlton, leaving me to wonder if one day he will open the bedroom to the public.

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; Ken Foster’s bedroom wallpaper, circa early 1960s, from the collection of Peter Topping

Ken Foster, https://www.kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk/

Never refuse a tea chest …… you may not have them for long

I grew up with tea chests.  

In south east London and I guess pretty much everywhere they were what passed for storage.

Often used during house moves, and in some cases never quite emptied and always smelling of tea.

My Wikipedia tells me that they were “a type of wooden case originally produced and used to ship tea to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The conventional tea chest is a case with riveted metal edges”*

They were only ever used the once and then passed on to general use, and tended to be handed on to family and friends.

And in the 1950s began to be used as basic basses in skiffle groups.

I had quite forgotten about them until I came across three on offer outside Ken Foster’s Cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road.**

They were selling for a tenner each which is cheap.  A quick trawl of the internet came up with prices ranging from £30 up to £80.

I was tempted to do the aroma test, but that might have seemed a tad odd, so I took the picture instead.

Leaving me to reflect that l will await their reappearance in the new themed bar specialising in tea, tea infused gin, whisky and Guinness and  tea posters soon to open in Chorlton.

In the great sweep of history the story ain’t worth much, but with modern container ships and new methods of storage in transit, I suspect the tea chest will become a little bit of history along with the picture cards which were given away by Horniman and J Lyons.

Location; Barlow Moor Road

Picture; tea chests on Barlow Moor Road, 2025, from the collection of Andrew Simpson and Cetlon, 1944, from the collection of Bob Ward

*Tea Chest, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_chest#

**Ken Fosters Cycles, https://www.kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoqBNA7vgLA0y8JTEXkgfX1QAp1NS3Be_n3PJ4vBQf_CSvsx5a4x 

Happy 70th birthday Foster's Cycles

So how do you celebrate 70 years of service to Chorlton selling and taking care of bikes, giving cycle advice and supporting charities?

Well a a new edition  of the The Story Of Ken Foster's Cycles is one way.

A giant cake is another.

And a cycle run from Ken Foster's to Fallowfield along the Loop has got to be up there too.

Its got the lot.

Location Chorlton

Pictures; heaps of birthday celebrations, 2024, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Chorlton honours its oldest cycle shop

On a wet miserable Remembrance Day over 30 people came together to watch the unveiling of a blue plaque at Ken Fosters Cycle Shop.

 Cll Mandie Shilton Godwin unveiling the plaque, 2023

It was part recognition that there has been a cycle shop here on Barlow Moor Road for over 80 years and also that Fosters is more than a bike business.

Ken Foster, 2023

As many know it is also engaged in charitable work, is a promoter of Chorlton Arts Festival and has opened the back of the shop up as a venue for the performing arts as well hosting history talks and exhibitions by local artists.

So, a mix of friends, the interested, and bike fans gathered for the unveiling by Cll Mandie Shilton Godwin of the blue plaque which was followed by a short talk from Ken Foster on the history of the family business.

Ken’s dad took over the cycle business from two brothers in 1954, and now rank as the oldest business in Chorlton.

The idea of a blue plaque trail has been floating around for a while, but has now been taken up by Chorlton Civic Society and aims to record those people in Chorlton who in some way have made a contribution to where we live, coupled with buildings or events that are part of our history.

They are not necessarily looking to remember the conventional “famous person” or the most elegant property, but people and buildings which are significant in our own history.

The plaque

Chorlton Civic Society has begun to collect suggestions for further plaques and has already attracted a group of keen supporters.

And that is it for now.

Location; Barlow Moor Road,

Pictures; unveiling the plaque, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

 

 

A shop, a blue plaque and …… lots of Chorlton history …. November 12th, at midday

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that any place in possession of a past, must be in want of a  blue plaque.*

At which point some readers will mutter “clever blighter” and others will be appalled at the misquote from the opening lines of Pride and Prejudice.

But it does its bit in introducing Chorlton’s second blue plaque which will be unveiled at Ken Fosters cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road on November 12th at midday.

The idea of a blue plaque trail has been floating around for a while, but the impetus came from Stephen Smith who wanted to record those people in Chorlton who in some way have made a contribution to where we live, coupled with buildings or events that are part of our history.

Ken Foster and his dad and grandfather, 1950s

They are not necessarily looking to remember the conventional “famous person” or the most elegant property, but people and buildings which are significant in our own history.

The scheme is one of the initiatives sponsored by Chorlton Civic Society which has begun to collect suggestions for further plaques and has already attracted a group of keen supporters.

All of which brings us back to Ken Fosters which is the oldest cycle shop in Chorlton, and which has also engaged in heaps of activities for the community as well as acting as a venue for exhibitions, and hosting a diverse mix of cultural events.

So, come and join us at Ken Fosters Cycles, 374-376 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton, Manchester M21 8AZ on Sunday November 12th at 12.00pm.

After the unveiling there will be a short history talk from Andrew Simpson on Chorlton stories followed by light refreshments in the shop.

Location; Barlow Moor Road

Pictures, Ken Foster and his dad and grandfather, 1950s, from the collection of Ken Foster

*"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, 1813

A blue plaque ….. that historic cycle shop …… and a special thank you

It is fitting that the next Chorlton blue plaque should soon be going up on the wall of what is our oldest cycle shop still doing the business of selling bikes on Barlow Moor Road.

Ken with his dad, circa 1950s

Foster’s Cycles opened in 1954 in a shop which had already been a bike shop during the war, and by the late 1950s expanded into selling scooters, and running the successful Team Fosters racing team.

"Over the years the business has supported schools, individuals, and charities, working towards raising funds for good causes. 

Two which stand out are Mark Carroll’s TransAmerica cycle ride for which Foster’s built two custom built Raleigh Dynatech Road bikes, which were used to raise funds for Frances House and the Pendle Witches Vintage Velo raising £30,000 towards the Petal Children Cancer Research and Stepping Sones Haslingden and Rossendale Hospice.

It also runs Cycle Logic Community, a not for profit organizations supporting cycle related initiatives and more recently opened the back showroom for community groups, hosting everything from exhibitions to history talks and demonstrations of defibrillating equipment.”*

And in line with this community ethos the shop repaired the bike of a serving soldier with no charge which led to a letter of appreciation from the commanding officer of the unit and a wall plaque commemorating the act.

All of which is a nice way back to the blue plaque trail of which Ken Foster’s plaque is the second to be commissioned.

The idea of a blue plaque trail has been floating around for a while, but the impetus came from Stephen Smith who wanted to record those people in Chorlton who in some way have made a contribution to where we live, coupled with buildings or events that are part of our history.

To that end there will be a special event at the Bowling Green Hotel on Sunday October 15th at 12.00pm to both explain the project and to unveil the first plaque which records that the pub, having opened in the 1780s, is one of our oldest drinking establishments.

The event will also launch the Friends of Chorlton Graveyard which is a community based initiative to revamp the graveyard and preserve a vital part of Chorlton’s past.

Andrew Simpson will talk briefly about the history of the graveyard and Peter will outline some of the ways a Friend's group could enhance and take forward this very special part of Chorlton.

Location; Barlow Moor Road

Pictures; courtesy of Peter Topping, 2023

*The Story of Ken Foster’s Cycles, Andrew Simpson & Peter Topping, 2018

Celebrating 65 years of retail history …….. here in Chorlton …… one to do..... today

Now every so often the question reappears as to which is the oldest business in Chorlton.

And the title falls to Ken Foster’s cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road, to which Ken and his staff invite everyone to share in that history today from 10. am onwards.

The business has a proud record, not only in the sale and after sale of its bikes and accessories but in its support for the community.

Leaving me just to say as the poster indicates, there will be lots going on, including a preview of The Story of Ken Foster's Cycles.

Location; 374-376 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 8AZ

Pictures; poster courtesy of Ken Foster, and cover of The Story of Ken Foster's Cycles.

Ken Foster’s Cycles,  https://www.kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk/
374-376 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 8AZ
info@kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk  0161 881 7160

The night it all came right in the end in Chorlton

Now most of the time for most things …… it does turn out right in the end, which is pretty much what happened last night in Chorlton at the much advertised and anticipated launch of our new book on Chorlton’s places of worship.

Ken centre flanked by by Peter & me

Over the years we have held launch events in pubs, libraries, and even once on Chorlton Green with a historic walk.

Last night would have been in Chorlton Library, but for reasons yet unclear, all was in darkness, the doors closed, and the staff elsewhere.

The alternatives were a local bar, or an al fresco launch on the steps of the library, but this being a December evening, neither seemed appropriate.  The bars were already full, and the prospect of an open-air event was not attractive.

But then, ever the man to save the day, Ken Foster of Foster Cycles, our guest speaker, offered up his shop which has a large room at the back, complete with a “Peter murial” of the Four Banks which as everyone knows may soon be “Three Banks and a Bar”.

The Distraction

All of which just left us to process along Manchester and Barlow Moor roads, taking in a few historic features, and alerting passersby to the special event.

Once, settled in the shop, our hardy and steadfast audience, listened as we told the story of the book, were entertained by the choral group, Distractions, and enjoyed “festive food and mulled wine".

Added to which, there was the opportunity to ask questions about the book and mingle with fellow authors Graham Phythian, who has recently published a study of Peterloo and Michael Billington whose book on The Story of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme came out in the summer.

At which point, there are the thankyous which in no order, are to Jo and Debs of Chorlton Bookshop who came along with copies of the book to sell, Ken for providing the alternative venue and Linda Topping for mulling the wine and delivering the mince pies.

Our guests included Cllr Dave Ellison from West Didsbury, who was intrigued by the inclusion of the Didsbury mosque and synagogue in a book about Chorlton-cum-Hardy, and the Revd. Ken Flood from St Clements, and lots of old friends.
So that is it.

You can obtain your copy  from us at http://www.pubbooks.co.uk/ or Chorlton Book shop, 506 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AW 0161 881 6374

Location; Chorlton & Didsbury

Pictures; courtesy of Ken Foster

The Czech motorbike, a cow shed and the Beast from the East

Now, I know nothing about motorbikes but I know a story when it trips you up, and today that is what I got.

We were by Ken Foster’s Cycle shop waiting for a bus, and outside was Sean carefully tending a motorbike.

To my inexperienced eye it looked old, and was in fact built in 1974 in the Czech Republic.

It is a Jawa 559 250cc, which Sean found in a cow shed where it had spent 35 years in the company of a herd of cows.

So much so, that one side of the bike was covered in a mix of smelly cow stuff and needed some tender care and attention from Sean to restore it to when it rolled off the production line.

The Jawa 559 250cc was made from 1962 till 1974 and was called Panelka.

And for those who want to know more,  “The Panelka series had the headlamp top nacelle stretched to the end of the handlebar with an oval speedometer instead of a circular speedometer on the headlamp top nacelle. 

For better security, the FAB switch box was used, whereas in the previous models a PAL switch box with nail type keys were being used. As in the previous models the rear tail lamp was made of translucent red plastic”.*

But enough of this technical jargon, and back to Sean who might have called it the Beast from the East, given that when the storm struck the bike was in his garden and was covered in snow.  Undeterred Sean told me
“It started with a second kick once I took the snow off” and despite its links with the East, he prefers to call it “the Cow Shed Special” adding “I regularly commute from Rawtenstall to Chorlton and have ridden it to Holland and back in 2017 to a Jawa Classic Rally”.

So a little bit of Czech history can be seen here in Chorlton and on the twisty roads which brings Sean from Rawtenstall.

And that is about it, leaving me only to thank Sean for providing the pictures and the story.
Location; Chorlton, the Czech Republic and Rawtenstall

Pictures; the Cow Shed Special, or Jawa 559 250cc from the Panelka Series, courtesy of Sean
*Jawa 250/559,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawa_250/559

Adventures in Clayton ........ and a conversation about the Manchester Bee Bike

As adventures go it was a sedate one, but none the less an adventure even though it didn’t really conform to one.

Clayton Hall, 2018

For that you have to be ten, have no real idea where you are going but sustained by lemonade, meat paste sandwiches and a Mars Bar, you go anyway.

By contrast Peter and I knew where we were going, how we were getting there and knowing that there was a cafe at the Hall we dispensed with the provisions.

But still we had to take the tram, change at Cornbrook and alight at the metro stop, before crossing the Ashton New Road and entering Clayton Hall via the bridge over the moat.

We had decided to visit the exhibition on Bradford Pit, take some pictures and think up a story to accompany the chapter on the metro line east to Ashton-Under-Lyne for the new book on the History of Greater Manchester by Tram.

Looking out towards the bridge over the moat, 2018

I had a vague idea of what the story would be, but then while we were there and talking to the Friends of Clayton Hall we discovered that one of the group had known nothing about the place until she saw it on the tram, was  so intrigued that she stopped her journey and went over to the building and the rest you can read in the new book.

The hall was full of visitors, some of whom were retired miners, who had come to see the exhibition and wanted also to offer their memories, which the team are collecting.  The finished project will be held in the Hall which is close to the site of the colliery, and a copy of everything will also be lodged with the Archive and Local History Library in Central Ref.

I suppose we were there for an hour had an excellent light meal at the cafe and then headed back through a very busy city.

And it was while we were passing Holt Town that we got talking about the Manchester Bee Bike which is a custom built, one off bike built by Ashley Stimpson at Ken Foster’s Cycle Shop.

Ashley is the creator of the Frankenbike range of single speed bikes which have become popular with customers.

The Manchester Bee Bike, 2018

This one is unique, in that it was designed, painted and built in Manchester, with custom made transfers and a Manchester Bee Steering head cap.

It is being auctioned on Ebay to raise money for We Love Manchester Emergency Fund which was set up after the Manchester Arena Bombing.

The auction ends in five days time and what I didn’t know was that the bidding is currently standing at £495 which I am sure will be eclipsed by new bids in the next couple of days.

So, there you are, from an adventure on a tram to a bike being sold for a good cause.

At which point I have to say that my old English teacher would tut, and say “Simpson there is no connection here, and you don’t leave the reader where they began”  which is true, but then he isn’t writing the story.

Pictures; Clayton Hall on a sunny May Saturday in 2018, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and the Manchester Bee Bike courtesy of Ken Foster’s Cycle Shop

A Chorlton story ........... The Manchester Bee Bike

Now here is a Chorlton story I am pleased to include.

We are fast coming up to the anniversary of that awful attack at the Manchester Arena.

And here in Chorlton the staff at Ken Foster’s Cycles have produced a special “Manchester Bee Bike" which will be auctioned on May 10th with the proceeds from the sale going to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.**

Sean at the shop told me that “this is a custom built, one off by Ashley Stimpson.  

He is the creator of the Frankenbike range of single speed bikes which have become popular with customers.

This one is unique, in that it was designed, painted and built in Manchester, with custom made transfers and a Manchester Bee Steering head cap”.

The auction began today on Ebay and the bike can be seen in Ken Foster’s shop.

Alternatively you can get in touch with the staff at info@kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk

I saw it on Sunday and it is magnificent.

And that is all I have to say.

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; The Manchester B Bike, 2018, courtesy of Ken Foster’s Cycle Shop and from the collection of Peter Topping

*Ken Fosters, https://www.kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk/

**We Love Manchester Emergency Fund., http://www.manchesteremergencyfund.com/