David is an author of fantasy novels and a writer and producer of rock music. The site provides information of his creative works and has a regular blog of news of his latest work and insights into his life and past.
When I was little in the late 1950s and 60s eating out was a very rare treat. The usual locations were fish and chips shops when on holiday at Bridlington, … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Eating Out – Bryan’s, Nash’s, Harry Ramsden’s, The Acorn, the Flying Pizza and Indian Restaurants.
My tale this week is a one-off. It was a night that I didn’t expect a great deal from, but was one I will never forget. Whilst in the sixth … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Batley Variety Club, Freddie Starr. Oh, what a Night!
As a child in the late 1950s shopping was a task that my mother did on an almost daily basis. At this time we, and probably most families, didn’t have … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Shopping – Grocers, Greengrocers, Bakeries, Butchers and Other Speciality Shops. Shopping in Leeds, the Leeds Market and the Advent of the Supermarket and Shopping Centre.
I guess that one of life’s greatest pleasures was the ability to get around your world without having to be reliant on your parents. This hasn’t changed as we got … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Scooters, Tricycles, Bikes and Bogeys, Getting Mobile and Staying There.
Somewhere in the mist of time there was a boy with a love of holidays and adventures based on the world that Enid Blyton created. I know that her work … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Secret Coves, Caves, Smugglers, Boat Trips and Lighthouses. Childhood on the Yorkshire Coast.
I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy my time at Harehills CP School. Apart from the caretaker sending me to see Mr Wilson for chasing around the cloakroom, they were … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Stainbeck Preparatory School, Harehills County Primary School, Dip Pens, Inkwells, Pea Shooters, Learning to Write. Happy Times!
For most young people it will strike them as hard to imagine, but in the 1960s and 70s music was a major part of a teenager’s life, in a way … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Piano Smashing, 78s, Singles, Vinyl LPs, Reel to Reel and the Cassette Tape – The Music Era.
Youth clubs were all so well and good, but eventually we progressed beyond them and one local attraction was North Leeds Cricket Club. Now I never played cricket there, but … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – High Ho Silver Lining Always Got Them on Their Feet. – Summer Nights and the Icy Kiss of Winter Frost. Discos at North Leeds Cricket Club!
I am returning to our band history for this week’s tale. Our rock band, Atlantis, was beginning to produce some decent concerts. Rough, yes, but audiences were starting to approve … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Ruining a Wedding and Rocking Up a Storm at the Moortown Synagogue.
For many this may seem to be a very dry topic for my latest tale, but in previous memories I have shared how cars changed the way we lived, how … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Telephones, Phone Boxes, Letter Writing and Postcards. Communication Changes over the 1950s to the 1970s.
Like most children my experience of hospitals was limited to being born in one and the little I had seen on television and that was based on two films: Carry … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- My Experience of Leeds Hospitals in the 1960s and 1970s and Being Run Over by a MG Midget. How Did I Survive?
My mother must have finally passed her driving test by the time I was sixteen as when my birthday came in December 1971 she paid for me to have driving … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- My Adventures Learning to Drive and Taking the Driving Test. 1971 Harehills, Leeds.
