Signs of old leodis

[Si]

I'll have a go. Thanks, Cardi. Thanks, Sean. Thanks, Steve.     

[Arry Awk]

'Arry 'Awk wrote: Cardiarms wrote: Tong Road Sorting Office     

[Si]

Sorry about the cruddy quality, but here's the Otley cafe sign. The chimney stack is between Middlemiss butchers and Mounsey's newsagents, neither of which are cafes, obviously.    

[Si]

Here's a view of the Otley Modelsport "palimpset." I must have taken it coming out of the Manor pub. Without the beer goggles, you can make out "Gold Flake" (middle,) "Three Castles" (top right,) and "The World's Most Famous" (middle bottom.)    

[Si]

This is another one. It's in the ginnel next to the Bay Horse pub. I think it says, "To The Bridge." The bottom sign is getting on a bit now, too. There is no Otley UDC anymore. It's Leeds City Council.            

[tilly]

Si wrote: Here's a view of the Otley Modelsport "palimpset." I must have taken it coming out of the Manor pub. Without the beer goggles, you can make out "Gold Flake," "Three Castles" and "The World's Most..."     Hi there Si im sure i can remember the shop being open it was next door to the very famous cycle cafe any one with a bike stopped there on the way to or from the dales.

[Si]

'Arry 'Awk wrote: 'Arry 'Awk wrote: Cardiarms wrote: Tong Road Sorting Office      'Arry! What 'appened?!

[iansmithofotley]

tilly wrote: Si wrote: Here's a view of the Otley Modelsport "palimpset." I must have taken it coming out of the Manor pub. Without the beer goggles, you can make out "Gold Flake," "Three Castles" and "The World's Most..."     Hi there Si im sure i can remember the shop being open it was next door to the very famous cycle cafe any one with a bike stopped there on the way to or from the dales. Hi Tilly,I was a keen cyclist in the 1960's and, as a teenager, I spent alot of my time in Otley. The cafe was known as 'Tommy's Cafe' at 96 Boroughgate, Otley. For many years it has been known as the Cuccina, and is a pizza/pasta fast food establishment. When it was Tommy's, the one entrance door was in the centre, and not at either side as it is now. The servery was as it is now and there were 'booths' down either side. In the far left corner, was a pinball machine and there was also a juke-box. I can remember the proprietor being a bit of a miserable chap with a moustache and he had a large mole on his face. The place was a gold mine in the early 60's and was always full of racing cyclists and touring cyclists who would call in for breakfast or for tea/evening meal. The place was also popular with motor cyclists. Most of us were from Leeds but quite a few of my friends married girls from Otley, who they had met in Tommy's Cafe.We also used to go to 'Hartley's Cafe' for evening meals. This place was what is now a Chinese take-away called The Great Wall and is situated further along Boroughgate, nearer to the town centre. The cafe was run by Peter Hartley and his elderly mother. Some cycling clubs used to hold AGM's and other functions there. The kitchen was on the right, and the cafe was on the left. There was also a function room/restaurant upstairs. It was a bit more upmarket than Tommy's.Most of the cyclists and motor cyclists, these days, use the Wharfe View Cafe in Bridge Street/Mill Lane, next to the river bridge. It is known locally as 'Dunnies'. This cafe is only open during the working day whereas Tommy's used to be open until around 10.30pm.I can't remember what the two shops, next to Tommy's, used to be which are now occupied by Modelsport.Ian

[BLAKEY]

iansmithofotley wrote: [Hi Tilly,I was a keen cyclist in the 1960's and, as a teenager, I spent alot of my time in Otley. The cafe was known as 'Tommy's Cafe' at 96 Boroughgate, Otley. I can remember the proprietor being a bit of a miserable chap with a moustache and he had a large mole on his face. We also used to go to 'Hartley's Cafe' for evening meals. The cafe was run by Peter Hartley and his elderly mother. Ian Many happy memories there Ian for me as a Sammy Ledgards conductor and driver in those days. You're right in that "Tommy" was never seen to smile, or even smirk, in all the tmes I ate there.The lady assistant was a ginger lass called Kitty who was a bit more amenable, but not much.Turning now to Hartley's - definitely much more up market and very good food at all times of day. Don't forget Peter's dad, poor old long suffering Mr. Hartley, who I'm sure lived in terror of Mrs. Hartley - she was a fearsome sight sharpening her carving knife with the occasional menacing lunge in his direction Joking apart, she was a very pleasant lady and she must have found the long day's work difficult as she was very stout and not nimble. I remember once having my dinner there with my driver - a nice comical middle aged chap who fancied himself as Otley's answer to Errol Flynn - it was busy and so Mrs. Hartley herself delivered the meal with much puffing and panting, and leaned on his shoulder to recover. Seizing his opportunity he "twanged" her private elastic and sighed "Oooh Lena, you and me could really make music together." Totally unconcerned she replied "Nay XX I don't think I've owt to worry about there - they say age is a good gelder !!." The place was in an uproar of mirth, and our hero was totally deflated and morose for an hour or two after that Another key figure at Hartley's was the full time waitress - a nice middle aged lady called Nellie Snowball who in later years worked at the Maypole Fisheries nearby.I was going to say thanks for reminding me, but in fact I've never forgotten those great places and think of them often even now.What happy times they were for sure.Oh, and I think the shop to the east of Tommy's was a self service launderette, one of the first of such places and now the model shop ??    

[tilly]

[quotenick="iansmithofotley"] tilly wrote: Si wrote: Here's a view of the Otley Modelsport "palimpset." I must have taken it coming out of the Manor pub. Without the beer goggles, you can make out "Gold Flake," "Three Castles" and "The World's Most..."     Hi there Si im sure i can remember the shop being open it was next door to the very famous cycle cafe any one with a bike stopped there on the way to or from the dales. Hi Tilly,I was a keen cyclist in the 1960's and, as a teenager, I spent alot of my time in Otley. The cafe was known as 'Tommy's Cafe' at 96 Boroughgate, Otley. For many years it has been known as the Cuccina, and is a pizza/pasta fast food establishment. When it was Tommy's, the one entrance door was in the centre, and not at either side as it is now. The servery was as it is now and there were 'booths' down either side. In the far left corner, was a pinball machine and there was also a juke-box. I can remember the proprietor being a bit of a miserable chap with a moustache and he had a large mole on his face. The place was a gold mine in the early 60's and was always full of racing cyclists and touring cyclists who would call in for breakfast or for tea/evening meal. The place was also popular with motor cyclists. Most of us were from Leeds but quite a few of my friends married girls from Otley, who they had met in Tommy's Cafe.We also used to go to 'Hartley's Cafe' for evening meals. This place was what is now a Chinese take-away called The Great Wall and is situated further along Boroughgate, nearer to the town centre. The cafe was run by Peter Hartley and his elderly mother. Some cycling clubs used to hold AGM's and other functions there. The kitchen was on the right, and the cafe was on the left. There was also a function room/restaurant upstairs. It was a bit more upmarket than Tommy's.Most of the cyclists and motor cyclists, these days, use the Wharfe View Cafe in Bridge Street/Mill Lane, next to the river bridge. It is known locally as 'Dunnies'. This cafe is only open during the working day whereas Tommy's used to be open until around 10.30pm.I can't remember what the two shops, next to Tommy's, used to be which are now occupied by Modelsport.Ian Hi Ian How things have changed in the fiftys and sixtys the main form of transport was the bike.I remember in the mid fiftys me and a mate had an idea to go to Otley from Leeds on a midnight cycle run we were about sixteen at the time.To cut a long story short we were sat in the market place having a drink from a flask when the local police man came up.What are you two up to he asked so we told him his answer was if you were my lads i would smack your ....snow be on your way.Good times.