by Malcolm Pheby | Aug 3, 2020 | Bits & Pieces
Like the rest of the nation, Liverpool was a place of celebration 75 years ago in August 1945.h Six gruelling years of conflict in World War II had finally ended with the surrender of Japan on August 15th. Merseyside could begin to get back to normal and, very slowly,...
by Malcolm Pheby | Jul 19, 2020 | Bits & Pieces
Wallasey actor Geoffrey Hughes made almost an entire career out of playing lovable rogues. He started off as binman Eddie Yeats in Coronation Street – always ready with a dodgy deal – and then became Britain’s favourite layabout Onslow in Keeping Up...
by Malcolm Pheby | Jul 8, 2020 | Bits & Pieces
Back in the 1950s, the bright lights of Blackpool and the beaches of New Brighton were always high on Liverpool’s list for a good day out. The rollercoasters of Belle Vue were a powerful draw too, especially at Easter and Bank Holiday weekends. And the ferry to the...
by Malcolm Pheby | Jul 5, 2020 | Bits & Pieces
When crime writer Georges Simenon first met Rupert Davies, he immediately declared: ‘Maigret, c’est Maigret!’ Liverpool actor Davies looked exactly as Simenon had envisaged the famous French detective Jules Maigret in all his books. He was completely bowled over. It...
by Malcolm Pheby | Jun 29, 2020 | Bits & Pieces
A friendly invasion from five nations engulfed Merseyside in the unforgettable sporting summer of 1996. Anfield became the home stadium for Italy, Russia and the Czech Republic in the UEFA Euro 96 football championships – and thousands of fans came along too. Russians...
by Malcolm Pheby | Jun 23, 2020 | Bits & Pieces
They may have been next-door neighbours for a while, but the stage and screen careers of Oldham actresses Lally Bowers and Dora Bryan were often poles apart. Bowers chose the route of drama, film and TV sitcoms, while Bryan made her debut in pantomime and excelled in...
