Cookridge CP man myself

John Atkinson later moved to Tinshill Rd where my mates dad had the sweet shop - how fortuitous was that then - and Ron Cowan lived on the Moseley Wood thing that leads to the cricket field, our rugby ball would often mysteriously land in their gardens so we could go and ask for them back

Me too.

Here's a pic of me bowling for Cookridge versus Iveson House.

The non-striking batsman is Bob Brady who later played in the same team as me for Leeds Modern. The umpire / teacher in the pic is Archie Barrett.

I'd forgotten about him

I recognise him but didn't have him as a teacher, can't remember what year he took but it must have been the lower ones when I was there as I only did the last three years having moved from Queens Road.

We had pimple head Thirsk to take us for sports at Cookridge, refereeing in his best suit with wellies on, I can't remember ever kicking the ball in any of those games.

Yep

And then Coopers before them.

I did the last two at Cookridge CP after moving from Queen's Road.

The pic above was printed in the Green 'Un and I was mortified because the caption read 'This ten year old has the same fiery look as Freddie Trueman ...' I was ELEVEN, Goddammit, not ten!

The pic was taken by Harry Fletcher then chief photographer at the YEP who live in Hillcrest Rise and overlooked the Cookridge CP playing field.

Harry's son, Steven, was a mate of mine in my class but later died after falling overboard in Hong Kong harbour while serving with the Royal Navy.

I went to school with Steve Fletcher... We were in the same class at Moor Grange Secondary.

and just to keep things OT after leaving I started work at Masons Shopfitters on Gelderd Road and my first pub was the Cattle Market.

The 56 stop outside the city is still called the woodpecker junction, im on about the one next to the st annes .

IIRC the Woodpecker was still there long after the flyover was built.
I think it was demolished to widen the sliproad later on.

The Lloyds Arms was on the corner of York Street and Duke Street with its back almost touching the railway arches.
That's almost opposite the bus station
It was demolished to create another traffic lane under the railway arches.

The Smith's Arms was nearer to Crown Point and demolished to make way for the enormous traffic intersection and hotel complex etc that is there now.

IIRC it was demolished after they put the second fly-over in, and did other road improvements, around 92/93. Originally there was only a fly-over going out of Leeds, and you're right in saying it was still there long after that was built.

Now, to check those details on the Woodpecker I googled it and came across either the best or worse website I've ever been to.

Dull as dishwater, or simply genius, what say you? rlhttps://www.cbrd.co.ukrl Be sure to check out the simulator option, and take the 34 picture tour of the Leeds inner ring road.

Hardacres bakeries have two shops that I know of; both in Horsforth.

One is at the top of Station Road just below the Post Office and the other is on Town Street opposite the library.

Newtons butchers of Kirkstall Road mucky dripping fame had a branch just about where Silk Mill Drive confluences with Tinshill Road and Tinshill Lane.

The Hardacres on Town street has the best value sandwich business that I know of - and almost enough buns to sate my appetite.

Drifting slightly, has any of the Cookridge Mafia recieved their local council election propoganda from a nutter who lives at Tinshill ?

I urge you to visit his web site and I urge you vote for him, he is a wonderful example of your local nutcase, lets get him into office it'll be like having Spike Milligan as your MP

or was it Hintchcliffes - the bakery that is.

Talking of butchers what was the name of the bloke with the converted Transit Mobile butchers who was allegedly banging every other housewife in Cookridge?