Let's Go To The Park

Relaxing by the Lily Pond.
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

Memories Of Bentley Park

In the companion article to this one A History of Bentley Park and Pavilion, we looked at the history of the park, its origins, features, decline and re-birth. In this follow-up article we hear first hand accounts of the memories made at Bentley Park. 

Following an appeal on my Facebook group Arksey & Bentley Bygone Years, members kindly posted or sent me their photos and memories of the park. I have collated all the comments and photos and present them here for you now. Also included are some photos of the park that didn't make the first article. Maybe these memories and photos will conjure up a few memories of your own?

For the companion article to this one go to A History of Bentley Park and Pavilion.

For the Facebook group go to Arksey & Bentley Bygone Years.

Contents

• Words And Pictures
• Happy Days In The Park
• Mischief In The Park
• The Pavilion And Baby Clinic
• Events And Bentley Gala
• More Photos
• Photos From Julie Rogers
• Photos From Lynda Pell

Words And Pictures

Original posts have been edited for errors and in some cases, split to fit the headings. Photos have been edited where required to show them at their very best.

Two Bentley Park postcards. 
Photo courtesy of Pat Cuckson

Happy Days In The Park 

'We spent hours there as kids. Walked from Arksey, paddled in the dyke, catching those tiny fish. Hours in the sand pits. Loved the tennis courts, oh and the fair. Very happy memories. Also had our wedding reception at the pavilion.'

Tina Southwell

In front of the paddling pool. 
Photo courtesy of David Buckley

'Our Nanna and Grandad lived in the OAP bungalows opposite the park. We, my brother and four cousins spent many happy hours in the park. We went alone, the older ones looking after the little ones. We played in some kind of brick shelter, it was a hospital, mission base, house... there was a road marked out, we played race cars and emergency services on it. We played in the sand pits... girls in one, boys in the other. We paddled in the pool, if we didn't have swim stuff we stripped to vest and pants! We 'talked' to the 'poor boy' who drowned in it and now lived under it, through the drain grate. We drank water from the big stone fountain, the boys got water for us little ones in their hands. We caught sticklebacks in the stream. OMG I could go on, and on, and on! Sweetest memories of carefree days. Thank you for making me remember.'

Christina Barber-Callender

The brick shelter c.1969.
Photo courtesy of David Buckley

'I lived on Trueman Street as a kid, so all my childhood was spent in the park. We were always the first to go in the clean paddling pool. We managed to be there in the morning when the park keeper was filling it up. I also remember playing 'Putting', it was 20p a go I think. I also remember the tap which you could drink from outside the old pavilion and toilets.'

Joanne Nicholson

The paddling pool. 
Photo courtesy of Brian Holling

'Virtually played in the park every day during the 60's and have lots of memories of it, but unfortunately no pictures. I remember Mr Jackson the park keeper who taught me how to play bowls when I was about 12 years old. Wish I had kept playing as I really enjoyed it. Also remember a small aeroplane/glider making an emergency landing on the big field where the paddling pool was situated. Think it was there for a couple of days before it somehow left.'

Graham Westerman

The sand pit early 1940's.
Photo courtesy of Marilyn McElroy

'I used to regularly play tennis on the grass courts.'

Dean Learoyd

The swings
Photo courtesy of Julie Rogers

'Remember the big roundabout called the 'Bobbies Helmet'. We could really get that going fast, and on some days used to bump it off. This was a regular occurrence done by most groups of lads hanging around the park in the 60's.'

Graham Westerman

The 'Bobbies Helmet' ride

'I remember going there to do my bike safety course, learning hand signals and the lot! I remember playing there, walking through it and smelling the lovely flower gardens... and being a bridesmaid for my Aunty and having the reception there.'

Edwina Brodziak 

Floral displays near the Askern Road entrance in the 1970's.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'I remember when the band used to play in the bandstand on Sundays. Also the summer shows they put on in the tennis court. When we could play in the swimming (paddling) pool [and] also watch the men playing bowls.'

Maureen Smith

The Bandstand in the early 1950's.
Photo courtesy of Joanne Smart

'The park has been of immense benefit to Bentley. Near the Askern Road gate was the park keeper's house, and behind it were greenhouses where he nurtured the plants for the lovely flowerbeds. Every night at dusk he used to lock all three entrances, and open them again at daylight. He cared for a wide domain; there were swings and seesaws at the Cooke Street end, a goldfish pond, sand pits, bowling greens, and grass and hard tennis courts. On summer evenings, the hard courts were lit by fairy lights and used for ballroom dancing. Most Sunday evenings I was taken by my Mum and Dad to the bandstand to listen to various visiting colliery bands. Eventually the pavilion was added. The Mill Dyke flows by the pavilion; it has a big fat partly submerged pipe that countless children have walked across and fallen in! When I fell in, I was wearing my best white Sunday shoes.'

Kathleen Higson

For more go to A Bentley Childhood - Part 2, The Memories of Kathleen Higson

Swings 1951.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'There was an ornate lily pond, complete with a rocky fountain at its centre, you could see goldfish and all sorts of critters when you laid on your tummy and peered over the edge. It was situated at the edge of the tarmac play area. On hot days kids would splash around in it until the parkie came and 'suggested' it was not allowed. The shrubs around the pond then provided cover for cowboy, war or jungle games. 

There were sand pits and tennis courts, bowling greens and a paddling pool, bandstand and more tennis courts, trees to climb, soft tarmac and grass to run across; and the magnificent pavilion.'

Continues below

Seats by the bowling greens, June 1962.
Photo courtesy of Richard Bell

'Beyond there was a shelter overlooking the football pitch. The shelter was used by the football teams as a changing room and a meeting area for teenagers. Enough said. 

In the 60's, near the Park Road end, there was a superb little road system set up for children to learn cycling proficiency. Complete with cross-roads, white lines and the lot.'

Continues below

Playing near the bowling green.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Dickinson

'The park was not just a play area for children; it was a social, meeting, gathering, courting and well-being area for all generations. Born out of the Victorian imagination it was the place to go for many. Teenagers loved it. It was like a magnet on a warm day. Parents loved it. If the swings got boring, there was always the prospect of an ice-cream from the ice-cream van or Shipstones on the corner of Cooke Street and Askern Road.'

Mike Hoyland 

For more go to Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part 5, Cornerstones

A rather frozen lily pond in February 1963.
Photo courtesy of Richard Bell

The Park keeper's lodge and magnificent floral displays.
Photo courtesy of Maureen Smart.

Children's Corner roundabout.
Photo courtesy of Lynne Machray

John Webster 1960
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

Marjorie Webster 1960
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

Mischief In The Park

'Playing bowls [and] tennis. Getting caught scrumping in the orchard behind the tennis courts. The sand pits and paddling pool, and of course the football pitches.'

Ian Dales

The paddling pool. 
Photo courtesy of Donna Marie Jowett

'There are stories I was banned from the sand pit as a one year old for hitting another toddler, but we'll gloss over that!'

Gill O'Grady

Sand pits

'We knew the loose boards on the bandstand and hid inside it to scare people away!'

Christina Barber-Callender

The Bandstand.
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

'The rocking horse that the boys made go so fast we fell off, onto concrete! The brilliant game of taking our shoes off and putting them at arms length round the roundabout, laying on our bellies and then being spun so fast we went dizzy and had to reach out and catch our shoes! Skinned arms and noses, all part of the fun!'

Christina Barber-Callender

The rocking horse ride 1953.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'We were always in Bentley Park when we went to visit my Great Aunt Rose on Swan Street. I remember them as long, happy, sunny days. We used to be warned by Mum about being careful on the rides and my big sister Pat was usually with us to see that we behaved. Behaving was usually something my brother Paul found hard. Even though he was told to keep away from the big 'plank ride', as soon as my sister came to push me on the swing, he was on there. He fell off the 'plank ride' and split his head open, but luckily there was a doctor at the pavilion for the baby clinic. His head was bound up with bandages and he had to lie down as he could hardly lift his head. My brother fully recovered after the hospital visits, but any trouble he got into after that we always blamed on that knock on the head...!'

Nora Platt 

Children's Corner
Photo courtesy of Julie Rogers

'We were wagging DVHS (Don Valley High School) sports day so went to Bentley Park. While pushing my mates very hard on the rocking horse, [I] somehow managed to get head butted by the cast iron horse's head. Cut to my eye and forehead. This was followed by some heavy bruising and a bit of fabrication of the day's events to my mother, think I [said I] slipped getting off the school bus!'

Graham Force

The Rocking Horse ride 1952.
Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'One of my uncles, Mo Griffin, took me to Bentley Park one day where he met up with a whole bunch of his friends. They were in their early teens, strong and boisterous and were playing on this swing which has long been forbidden. It had a horse's head and a series of seats behind it in a long line. It hung from a frame by four corner poles and could be swung back and forth gaining quite a height and quite some momentum. I was meant to stand still while they swung, played and had a good time; however I walked in front of this beast and remember waking up in Mo's arms as he was passing me to my parents back at home. A trip to the doctors, aspirin, bed and in the dog-house again. I carried a cracking black eye for weeks after. On reflection methinks I should have died back then. I was lucky not to.'

Mike Hoyland. Edited. 

For more go to Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part 1

The Rocking Horse ride 1972. 
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

Photo courtesy of Lynn Machray

The Pavilion And Baby Clinic

'I did go to the pavilion clinic as a baby. Funnily enough I don't remember much about it! No photographs or anything.'

Clive Beresford

The Pavilion

'I remember the posh floor had cloth put down on it on clinic days, made it lethal, really easy to slip on. My Mum bought orange juice at the clinic I remember. When I was older I went to a dinner/dance there with Mum and Dad, I'm thinking probably Bentley Tradesmens annual affair. Had to wear a cocktail dress, felt very grown up. Was a bridesmaid at my Aunt's wedding, the reception was at the pavilion.' 

Gill O'Grady

Doncaster Press Ball 1935

'I still lived in Bentley when I had my first son. I took him to the clinic in the pavilion every week. I think it was on a Wednesday, but not certain. We had to sit around the sides of the dance hall and undress the babies down to their nappies. Then we went through to the smaller room at the back, one at a time, for the baby to be weighed. I seem to remember that there was usually a doctor there who would be consulted if there were any concerns with the babies. It was a chance to have a chat with friends who we only saw one day a week.'

Brenda Bennett

Bentley pavilion, unknown performance

'I went to the clinic as a baby and my youngest son went there also.'

Helen Bulgin

Pavilion soup kitchen during the miner's strike 1984

'The clinic was a great place to meet other young mothers, firstly to get babies weighed and talk [over] any worries you had with the nurses, then to relax and chat to other Mums over a cup of tea and a biscuit. You often got good advice from the more experienced Mums.'

Brenda Wayman

Unknown event inside the pavilion, pre-1950. 
Photo courtesy of Alan Walker

'The pavilion wasn't only used for the baby clinic, that's where the kids had to go for their vaccinations and sugar lumps. I remember our parents getting postcards in the post and we instantly knew we had to go for some vaccination or other. Sugar lump for polio and needle for diphtheria. Usually met friends from school as it was usually done en-mass.'

Lynda Pell

'In the 70's I used to love to push my babies in their prams from Arksey to the clinic in the pavilion, whatever the weather. It was the only place I went for some adult conversation whilst my husband worked shifts and I found myself on my own a lot.'

Olwen Johnson

Bentley Football League event 17th January 1958, Bill and Phyllis Singer, seated, middle.
Photo courtesy of Karen Smith 

'I can remember going dancing at [the] pavilion with my Mam, but only when my Dad had gone to work in [the] canteen at [the] pit and when I was supposed to be in bed. It was waltzes and ballroom dances. Later dances to Alex Winston's, good music to jive to.'

Kay Kitchin

Crowning of Road Safety Queen, Pavilion 1954.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Heath

Crowning of Road Safety Queen, Pavilion 1954.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Heath

'I remember visiting the clinic in the pavilion as a young child, my mother came away with a tub of some sort of malt which most children disliked, but I loved it.'

Ian Jackson

'I do remember going there with my Mum when my brother was little to have his jabs.'

Edwina Brodziak

'I had terrible bow legs, and although a quick look at my mother would have shown that this was an inherited condition, the new NHS was determined to treat it. I needed to have my bones strengthened or the bowing would worsen. Ultra-violet light would encourage me to produce more vitamin D, and that would strengthen my bones. Despite the fact that UV light is available at no cost whatsoever by simply going out on a sunny day, a course of artificial UV treatment was prescribed. Me and several other weak-boned infants had to go to the clinic once a week. My other memories of the clinic were that it was held in the pavilion in Bentley Park, but for some reason these UV sessions were held in a hut just inside the park, near Trueman Street. We bone defectives would be stripped except for our nappies, and both infants and mums would don dark glasses. In the niddle of the room was a thing like a short lamp post. When we were ready it would be switched on and we kids would play on the floor in front of it, lit only by its weird and intense violet light. It did no good of course, and to this day I can't stop a pig in an alley!'

Bill Wright

Is that the Park Keeper on patrol I wonder? Sand pits and Bandstand.

Events And Bentley Gala

'We have cine camera footage of a hot air balloon gala, watching them being inflated and setting off. No health and safety to stop us wandering about!'

Christina Barber-Callender

Enjoying the park, 1981.
Photo courtesy of Michelle O'Connor Long

'I can't forget my Grandad showing flowers in the pavilion and us getting excited when he won!' 

Christina Barber-Callender

Park bench near the pavilion. 
Photo courtesy of Ian Jackson

'I remember going to watch steam rollers race, I'm sure this was at Bentley Park?'

Julie Grace

On the Rocking Horse ride, 1972.
Photo courtesy of Kay Wright.

'We used to go to the galas and put our flower arrangements and crafts that we had done into the competitions. They were judged in their categories and then we would go back later on to see if we had won. I think there was a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and if I remember rightly we won money. There were also prizes for the best onions, carrots, flowers and many more things. Brian Birks, my next-door neighbour when I was a child, used to win many a prize with his produce from his allotment.'

Stephanie Mousdell

The Paddling pool c 1957.
Photo courtesy of Marilyn McElroy

'My Grandad used to to have prize winning flowers, he used to put bags over the blooms to keep them nice until show time! I have some of his medals somewhere.'

Christina Barber-Callender

Enjoying a ride, 1981.
Photo courtesy of Michelle O'Connor Long

'I got third prize in the flower arranging, probably around 1974-ish. Think I got a certificate for it. I remember my sister Diane getting a trophy for something at the gala and it was bigger than you would get if you won the FA Cup. Think it was from Bob Nellis trophy shop in the High Street. I never took the flower arranging any further, who knows where it may have led to.'

Graham Force

1970's in the park. 
Photo courtesy of Andrew Grierson

'As well as flowers, Herbert used to show veg and God help you if you picked a straight runner bean or carrot or parsnip in the showing season, you ran for cover.'

Kay Kitchin

The sand pits

More Photos

A selection of photos kindly submitted by readers.

Photos From Julie Rogers

Paddling pool

Paddling pool

Flower beds near the main park gates

A floral display

Photos From Lynda Pell

The following twelve photos were submitted by Lynda Pell. A couple of these photos feature children's rides situated near to Yew Tree Farm, which is a separate area to the more well known 'Children's Corner'.

An early version of the Rocking Horse ride. Yew Tree Farm in the background. 1949.

1949

1949. With the pavilion in the background

1949

By the Bandstand in 1949

With Yew Tree Farm and a climbing frame in the background. 1949

1949

1949

The Bobbies Hat ride

Climbing Frame

The Roundabout

The Sandpit

__________

I think you'll agree that all these memories are testament to the success of Bentley Park. Little did the council know when they approved the building of a 'Public Pleasure Ground' in Bentley, back in 1915, that they would create something that would live in all of us for so many decades. And now the park has been given a new lease of life, may it live long in the memories of our children and children's children. 

I will leave you with this one last memory from Heather Widdowson, who sums up the park beautifully:

'Sun hut and park keepers, Wyatt Earp and his posse of deputies, 'out you lot it's nine o'clock'. Watching Saturday pavilion dances through one of the side windows. Budding tennis stars on the grass/hard courts. Elderly gents playing bowls in the sunshine. Smell of fish 'n' chips cooking at Clarke's chippy on Askern Road. Frank Lawrence behind the counter in Shipstones. Everywhere clean and tidy. We didn't have much, but we had everything, we had the park!'

Children sat on the roundabout at Bentley Park c.1954. 
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

Many thanks to all who contributed to this article and to Symeon Waller for getting me started on this.

If you have any old photos or fond memories of Bentley Park, you can submit them through my Facebook group or by email at: 

arkvillhistory@yahoo.co.uk

Alison Vainlo 

First written 2018, updated 2020