We’ve had another missive from our regular correspondent Mick Crossley, of Bradford, who shares with us his memories of the 1950s. Fascinating stuff it is, too.

Take it away, Mick...

“I am quite aware that the 1950s may have spelt hardship and sorrow for some in our region, but for most of us, including my wife Sheila and I, those years were very good and really enjoyable.

“I was serving as a police officer in the county’s largest force, the West Riding Constabulary, at Bingley and Otley. In those times, towns such as Bradford, Leeds, Dewsbury, Wakefield and Keighley, had their own borough police forces.

“It was a different world, though. We were more responsible and law-abiding, having respect for policemen, firemen, ambulance and hospital staff, politicians, schoolteachers and our parents.

“We didn’t have worries about drugs, guns, knives, paedophiles, binge-drinking, immigration, being in Europe or dire housing problems. We manufactured all our own goods and traded with the Commonwealth, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

“Our shoes were made in Northampton, our bicycles in Birmingham and our suits in Leeds.

“We still had coal fires and a flourishing coal and steel industies. We also made all our own cars, vans and coaches. The new Ford Anglia saloon, available in any colour, appeared in 1953, selling at £360. Bradford’s own car-maker, Jowett Cars in Idle, brought out their best model, the Jupiter, in these years. The bubble car appeared on Britain’s roads in about 1957.

“Still using pounds, shillings and pence, a new house would cost about £2,000. The average wage was £14 per week. A gent’s suit at Burtons cost 55 shillings, and petrol would be about two shillings per gallon.

“The cane was still used at school for misbehaviour and children played with hula hoops.

“We had a thriving film industry based mainly at Pinewood and Elstree. Besides the large cinemas in our city centres there were smaller picture houses in every district. They were all well-used.

“Theatregoing was popular and you had the choice of twice-nightly variety shows, repertory companies, musicals or drama. Laurel and Hardy appeared at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre in 1954. There were no performances at theatres or cinemas on a Sunday. Public houses closed at 10.30pm.

“Dancing was popular in those days, with every city having ballrooms, and the smallest village would have a hall available for a Saturday night dance. The towns would hold an annual civic ball, as would the local rugby club, cricket club and the hospital. Many St John Ambulance Brigades had their own halls.

“There were large circuses on tour in Britain in these times, such as Bertram Mills, Billy Smart’s and Chipperfield’s. I remember seeing a line of elephants making their way from Forster Square station and up Bolton Road to a circus site, each elephant holding the tail of the one in front with its trunk. I saw a similar procession from Otley station a few years later.

“We had two fine department stores in Bradford. Busby’s on Manningham Lane and Brown, Muff & Co on Tyrrel Street. There were lots of small furniture shops in every city centre, most of them under control of the GUS Group. A three-piece suite then would cost about £30.

“In these years, Yeadon Aerodrome was just a small, private airfield with a modest office and control tower.

“They were years full of important events.” And they have left indelible memories for so many.