As we grow older, we seem to remember more clearly, or perhaps devote more thought to, the place in which we grew up. The environment, its traditions, and people.

As a woman in her fifties, I now love reading memories and looking at photographs of the area of North Yorkshire in which I spent my childhood.

For many people, their own recollections and personal mementos are all they have to remember those times. But others are lucky enough to have available more detailed information, complied especially for local people to enjoy, and add to if they wish.

Residents and former residents of West Bowling are fortunate to have available a local history journal packed with memories and images that will delight and entertain.

The publication is put together by West Bowling-born-and bred Jeff Halmshaw who, four years ago, took the reins from its founder Alan O’Day Scott, who retired from the role.

“Alan began with a newsletter, which became a journal in 2004. He spent a lot of time in the local studies department at the library and interviewed many older residents,” says Jeff, a former driving instructor.

“I bought the journal regularly and love reading about the history of the area, and I recognised some of the people who wrote in it. When I retired I took it on.”

It is a labour of love for Jeff, 71, whose family lived in Ryan Street and later Longfield Street, which no longer exists. He is passionate about this lively swathe of inner-city Bradford , and loves receiving letters and photographs from people who have remained there, or moved away.

“I hear from people from all over the world, and send them the journal,” he says. The publication is sent as far afield as New Zealand, Thailand and Canada.

Jeff generates more interest by asking people questions. “King George Vl died 60 years ago so I have asked people where they were when that happened,” he says, “I’m keen to find fresh material, but it isn’t always easy.”

His persistence in asking for memories pays off, however. In the last edition, distributed in November last year, reader Vera Ward wrote: “I had reached the conclusion that I had no more memories of West Bowling to share...until I opened issue 19.

“Reading Jeff’s leader containing his heartfelt request for those of us whose wells of memory were thought to have run dry to ‘dig a bit deeper’ made me think and wonder if there was just something trapped inside.”

She goes on to describe at length the happy times she spent in the area.

“Back again to Marsh Street childhood. The games we played overlapped those enjoyed by Jeff and his pals, including our delight on a hot summer day being allowed to drag out the big, heavy black wool rug on to the flags in the back garden and over it balance the wooden clothes horse between the house wall and the side of the four steps up to the back door.

“The lot would then be enveloped in large, old heavy bedspreads or spare curtains. The result was a dark, hot retreat in which we would shake up our bottles of ‘Spanish water.’”

Another reader, Pauline Boland (nee Goodall), who left West Bowling more than 50 years ago, writes: “During the war, I lived at the grocery and off-licence at the corner of Parsonage Road and Gaythorne Road which in those days was near the old tram terminus at the New Cross street junction.

“The shop was owned by my grandparents Mr and Mrs Goodall, and grandfather was a fire watcher at Long Close House which was then an ARP station.

“I remember a police box on the corner where on a bad night the duty policeman would nip for a smoke – no vandalism in those days. Across from our shop was Milton’s cake shop where they made lovely cream jam tarts.

“The chip shop at the top end of Gaythorne Road was owned by Freddie Wild, and further down near the post office was the little Wooden Hut chippie. There they charged 6d for a cake and chips. It also cost us 6d to get into the Birch Lane cinema – oh, happy days.”

Jeff loves reading people’s memories. “You always find out something new,” he says. “It is so interesting. Did you know that when I was a boy there were 22 pubs on Manchester Road?”

The last edition of the journal includes a song, Doin’ The Manch, in which many of them are mentioned:

We should have had a nip in the Blue Lion and the Griffin.

Like it or lump it we have missed the Horse and Trumpet.

Trouble now of course is we forgot t’Waggon and Horses,

We missed out all the Bentleys, we’ve not had a drop of Tetleys

So we’ll go back down and do the Manch again.

For more details or to contribute to West Bowling Local History Journal, contact Jeff Halmshaw on (01274) 821541 or 0777 550 2724, or e-mail jeffh@blueyonder.co.uk.