Revisiting the Past

In November 2011 four past residents have been invited to revisit their childhood homes on Selby Road.

The Gibbs family left  "Kirmanshah", No. 116 Selby Road in 1964.
After 37 years Helena was interested to see that the porch tiles, that she had scrubbed to earn her pocket money, were still looking good. She also showed us the corner of the kitchen where her mother had raised day old chicks with a wrapped stone hot water bottle to be their mother.
She visited her old bedroom and heard about the children who had last used them.
Her thank you note says "It was so nice to visit "Kirmanshah" and know that the house is looked after and loved by the present owners."


The Foster family left  No.83 in 1980.
No. 83 was greatly extended by Clive Rice, Nottinghamshire Cricket Captain 1979-1987
and Richard had been curious as to how the house had changed inside. 31 years later he found out.
He enjoyed the visit as he felt very welcome and could answer questions about the house and garden. His old bedroom had the bed in the same place but his fitted wardrobe had gone.
He felt "It has not been spoilt at all, and was extended for comfort not to add value." He is now drawing plans of the furniture layout in the old house.

The Gisborne family left No.19 in 1931.
Gerald visited his old home after 80 years. His son came with him and saw the house for the first time.
The old tennis court now has a house built on it and the railway embankment is overgrown, but parts of the house were familiar. He talked about the paying guests that had lived in the house with his family. Visiting his old bedroom he told how an earth tremor had caused his door to open in the middle of the night, and frightened him.
 He said, "You have no idea what an impression this has made on me, being transported back over 90 years. It has been lovely to relive this little corner of my life."

The Teasdale family left No. 9 in 1973.
Visiting No.9 for the first time in 38 years Robert found much the same but it all felt smaller. However the house had been run as two households, his own family's and his grandparent's. Two kitchens, two back doors. These had been altered for a single family.  "We all got on pretty well, don't remember any rows."