Ash Street Blitz Memorial

Post your photo's and video memories about Bootle here...
rivermersey
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:27 am
Location: Bootle

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Re-Dedication of The Ash Street Blitz Memorial 1st May 2009 11am.
Any of our members manage to make it?
More pictures to follow....
Born in Bootle 1960 lived on Bailey Drive then the old roan.
PETER CRAIG
Posts: 2545
Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:24 pm
Location: BOOTLE

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Last edited by PETER CRAIG on Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:49 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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rivermersey
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:27 am
Location: Bootle

Hi Peter I've got some more pics of the crowd to put up over the weekend taken with the other camera, your proberly on them :)
Born in Bootle 1960 lived on Bailey Drive then the old roan.
PETER CRAIG
Posts: 2545
Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:24 pm
Location: BOOTLE

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Last edited by PETER CRAIG on Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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King Tonka
Posts: 194
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:55 am
Location: Hell

Glad someone got down there, I had to see a man about a job and couldn't make it. :( Pity as I was gonna bring my camcorder to film it, thanks for getting the pics on so quick guys and look forward to seeing more of them. :D
marielou
Posts: 971
Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:45 pm
Location: Spain

Thanks for the pics Rivermersey and Peter.

Marie.
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We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.
PETER CRAIG
Posts: 2545
Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:24 pm
Location: BOOTLE

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Last edited by PETER CRAIG on Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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daveowe
Posts: 778
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:49 pm
Location: Transient

Peter

The Mayor of Sefton is not a 'Lord' Mayor, just an ordinary Borough Mayor, a resident of Netherton, Councillor Paul Tweed, same guy failed to attend Bootles Rememberance Sunday Service, preferring to attend the Southport War Memorial rededication on that day. There is also a deputy mayor of Sefton, also not in attendance.
The Rev, in the pic wearing dark glasses the minister of Ash St, Baptist Church, Brian Astill, he grew up in Cowper St, off Knowsley Rd.

Dave
PETER CRAIG
Posts: 2545
Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:24 pm
Location: BOOTLE

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Last edited by PETER CRAIG on Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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rivermersey
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:27 am
Location: Bootle

Some more pictures taken this morning...
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The plaque on the Rock
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Some of the good folk of Bootle who were able to make it.
Born in Bootle 1960 lived on Bailey Drive then the old roan.
Ed Davies
Posts: 1127
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:44 pm

Great Pics guys. Thanks
PETER CRAIG
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Location: BOOTLE

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Last edited by PETER CRAIG on Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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BOBHAMO
Posts: 5930
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:20 pm
Location: BIG CITY

well done brilliant pics , isnt it great having so many photos posted, keep up the good work ,,bobhamo ,
lily8
Posts: 10062
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:57 am
Location: Far North Queensland Australia

Well done folks thank you very much



Lily
marielou
Posts: 971
Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:45 pm
Location: Spain

Video's are great Peter, people from N.Z also their, nice to involve the children.

Marie.
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We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.
dorothy834
Posts: 1090
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:50 pm

.Thankyou everyone for posting the photographs and vidio's
Dorothy
dorothy834
emma
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: New Zealand

I used to walk by this spot when I was a kid and was told the story by grownups. Later in the 50s I worked with a woman who lost relatives in there. It was just an small railed piece of land back then.
So pleased to see this place now being commemorated this way and I wish I could have been there to help mark the occassion. Well done those involved in the funding for the project.
Thanks for all the photos.
Emma
rivermersey
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:27 am
Location: Bootle

Hi Peter
Yes I have got a beard. (I was one of the youngest there :D I think )
are you on any of the group pictures?
Born in Bootle 1960 lived on Bailey Drive then the old roan.
PETER CRAIG
Posts: 2545
Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:24 pm
Location: BOOTLE

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Last edited by PETER CRAIG on Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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rivermersey
Posts: 235
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:27 am
Location: Bootle

It's nice to put a face to a name! I was wearing jeans and a dark Green and cream stripped T shirt. :)
Born in Bootle 1960 lived on Bailey Drive then the old roan.
margaret willee
Posts: 3562
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:14 am
Location: denmark

thanks wish my mother could have been there. she told me what happened . she lost lots of friends that night ,,,,,,, Margaret
have a great day .......
Jan
Posts: 6943
Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:34 pm
Location: Bootle

:lol:

Great to see how the memorial looks now, I took this photo and it has been on the site a couple of times, I wonder where the plaque went?

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Jan
marielou
Posts: 971
Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:45 pm
Location: Spain

I remember the photo being on Jan, it was sad to see it in such a state.

Marie
Image
We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.
vera
Posts: 199
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 4:37 pm
Location: Queensland. Australia.

Thank you guy's good photos of the memorial.

yes Jan i remember your post of the plaque.

Cheers Vera
vfc
PETER CRAIG
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Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:24 pm
Location: BOOTLE

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Last edited by PETER CRAIG on Tue Dec 02, 2014 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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cassiecat
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Essex

Thanks to everyone for the photos. My great uncle was an ARP Warden in Bootle and I believe he was injured.
alby
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:41 am

My family lived over Liggets, and on that night we ran quickly into the Co-op shelter and two minutes later it was hit. I am now 82 and still marvel at the whole family survived. Even though it was by way of a drain cover in Back Stanley Rd.
Eddy Lloyd
Posts: 3333
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:04 pm
Location: Waterloo

Nice one Alby :wink: I want an invite to your 90th. :D
tine
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:47 pm

My great grandma escaped through the same drain cover, Alby. What a terrible experience it must have been for everyone.

Tine
Campbell, Duffy, Davies, Melia, Gibson , O'Donnell, Owen and Evans Families.
IanLiggettRiley
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 8:24 pm

Can any one tell me if the Ash Street Memorial is normally accessible (ie being able to get inside the railings)? I hope to come over from Warrington to pay my respects 7/8 May 2016 (this coming weekend). My grandfather, Arthur Riley, then managing director at S J Liggett's (grocers and provision merchants) was killed immediately outside the Co op Shelter in the May Blitz. This will be the 75th Anniversary

I have written to the council and the local councillors to enquire but have received no reply

Ian
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fatboyjoe90
Posts: 5648
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:29 pm
Location: merseyside

Hiya Ian, first of all, welcome to the site. As far as, I know you can gain access 24/7. I hope everything goes well for you. :wink: :)
Cheers Joe.
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BOBHAMO
Posts: 5930
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:20 pm
Location: BIG CITY

Welcome Ian :D :D
these are shops 1938
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i have an address 21 fernhill road A Riley director
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the shop on the corner of ash streetwas liggets still there
bobhamo
bootle born altcar road
IanLiggettRiley
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 8:24 pm

Bob,

Thanks. We only sold the Stanley Road/Ash Street property about 14 years ago (I think) - my great grandfather, Sam Liggett, built it (well ... had it built) including the warehouse at the back facing onto Ash Street. My father (Douglas) ran the business (on behalf of his brothers and his aunt) when he came back after the war until the rise of the supermarkets in the 60s made it very hard work. I often used to be driven round the shops by him on Saturday evenings to collect and bank cash. Thereafter, the freehold properties (including Ash Street, and there were some more outside the Bootle area) were let out and gradually sold off, Ash Street/Stanley Road was the last to go. Dad maintained a small office at the top of the building until about 1999/2000. 21 Fernhill Road was the Riley family home (Sam Liggett moved out to Blundellsands after he had a stroke in the early 1930s) and somewhere I have a letter from my grandfather, Arthur Riley, obviously written immediately before he went out on the night of his death, describing how he put out incendiaries on the roof of 21 Fernhill Road.

Just to bump up, does anyone know about access inside the railings at the Ash Street memorial? Apologies, I have just seen the reply from Joe saying that that he thinks there is 24/7 access.

Ian
IanLiggettRiley
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 8:24 pm

fatboyjoe90 wrote:Hiya Ian, first of all, welcome to the site. As far as, I know you can gain access 24/7. I hope everything goes well for you. :wink: :)

Thanks very much. I will drive over with a small wreath over the weekend. I know poppies are not totally appropriate for a civilian war death but they will clearly last better than flowers.
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BOBHAMO
Posts: 5930
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:20 pm
Location: BIG CITY

Some good memories Ian ,like you have mentioned
all are grocers , where the life line of the community
its great to hear your family history and i hope
your visit goes well ,
just a tip the parking around there is mostley for residents
so your best option is to park on lither land road by ash street church
and walk down ash street
remember stanley road from marsh lane is only for buses
or taxis
bobhamo
bootle born altcar road
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