Long Lost Pals

We arrived in Sheffield and visited a lot of Micks haunts as a kid and teen.....His school...Carter Lodge Secondary Modern in Hackenthorpe

.......and where he was born....36 Vale Road

and where he grew up as a young boy to being a teenager  at 12 Carr Forge View......Hackenthorpe

The Village of Hackenthorpe still has some of its atmosphere and history....and of course its pubs that Mick frequented....hic!

One of the highlights of the trip was to meet up with Micks oldest friend from school at Carter Lodge ...Antony John Summers...having last seen each other 47 years ago.....Both Mick and he went to Chesterfield College of Art but at different times... Antony went on to head the Art college at Bradford and Mick to teach in Colleges and schools in Canada.

A tour of Tony's studio is a sight to behold......A magnificent portrait artist and gifted chronolical collater of history incorporated into his pieces...Stunning...quite stunning......Visit his web site Antony Summers His wonderful family....wife Jean ...son Dan and Dan's girlfriend Amanda..(a very funny person)....It was a memorable night of grand feasting with copious ammounts of vino was consummed.....Many hugs and sloppy kisses were exchanged by all....(Tony....no tongue next time!!)

We stayed at the Old Crown in Handsworth....a great pub/inn. Dave the landlord was such a good host....The full english breakfast was huge!!!...lasted us all day....I would recommend it to anyone.

Off we went doing more nostalgia and to another reunion...Micks Auntie Joyce (90) His cousin Stanley and Stanleys son Andrew....All of whom are deaf. It was a quick learning curve for Mick to catch up on his signing skills....and for Claire to fully understand what the heck anyone was talking about!!
(Micks parents were both deaf)
It was a lovely afternoon ....swapping family stories and Mick collecting copies of photos of his parents family to preseve for the future

After the visit it was time to return to Nottingham ...so we meandered (with the aid of a GPS) on the smaller roads seeing the wonderful South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire countryside . We stopped off at a great woody pub and had a nice visit with the landlords...Carl and 'Von at the 'Pheasant Inn on Chesterfield Rod South in Mansfield......Great trip so far    
One more day and then...Paris!!