I know Bootle, and you've captured it perfectly, Michael. Not aspirational to look at but that coffee shop culture could teach us all about how to live together. Thank you for noticing and sharing your experience.
Oh, I love hearing from someone else who has been there. Thanks so much for the kind words and I agree about the lessons it teaches. Thanks so much for reading!
Thank you for writing this and for the insightful content. I’m ’from Bootle’ and immensely proud of the fact. Am I typical, I don’t know, that’s for others to judge but I was perhaps lucky in that I somehow found my way into a ‘good’ grammar school in the mid-sixties. I was surrounded by boys who were, maybe ‘better’ than me; from wealthier families and living in one of the more prosperous areas to which you refer and the school was located. Did I feel inferior? Yes, each day but ‘Bootleans’ are tough, stubborn and determined so I took my chances, supported by an amazing family, and went on to obtain good school results and a very decent degree. At the end of it I went to work in Bootle and stayed there for 28 years working as a social worker and ultimately a senior manager with the people to whom I belonged. Perhaps the trappings of my success and moving to a slightly better area (2 miles away)made me a traitor but I hope not. I have many people from Bootle who are lifelong friends and the integrity of most Bootle residents is amazing, despite their financial challenges.
I’m incredibly proud of my heritage and very, very proud of being from Bootle
Thanks for sharing your story, Ed. And in no way does moving away make you a traitor IMHO. It sounds like you did a lot of great work there and being so proud of your heritage is anything but being a traitor.
I’m originally from Bootle but I live in Woolton south Liverpool now, my wife is from there, Bootle and you are quite right got left behind after WW2 for redevelopment by successive governments and councils. If you walked down Litherland Road you can still see the war damage in the gas works walls.
Well, at least one fella does! We tried to go into the Strand one Sunday right after it closed, and I was very surprised to hear the security guard use the word with us!
Ha ha can of worms there! These pet names are a feature of British English by region. Nottingham uses me duck and the guys use that with each other. Deffo not common in Liverpool amongst men though and that’s a hill I’m prepared to die on!
There’s a plaque on the back of the Strand that commemorates the links with Bootle and the US given Bootle was the home port in WW2. I’ll take a snap and send it.
My Mum grew up in Trinity Road - I loved hearing the stories of how my Gran with a headful of rollers would run across the road to be a witness at the registry office for some young people getting married!
I used to love going to the Strand - especially to shop in Ethel Austins
"M" is certainly a character...i was sat next to her and her "crew" yesterday - they are hilarious. Michael - the Strand is under re-development which is why many of the stores aren't used at present - compared to whole swathes of the UK High Streets - the occupancy rate is high.
That made me cry, not sure if it was for the demise of Bootle or the moving story of how Iris was cared for in the coffee shop. I was born in Bootle in 1946 and lived there until early seventies. My Mum and her 6 brothers and sisters were all born and bred in Bootle. We were a family of 7, covering 3 generations, living in a 3 bed terrace. I was lucky enough to pass the 11 plus and go to the girls grammar school. I had a very happy childhood, all our neighbours looked after each other, as a little girl growing up, I always felt very safe. Not sure that would be the case now, which is very sad. I wish you could have seen Bootle in the sixties, The Strand was completed in 1968 and it was great to have “big shops” within walking distance and not have to go into “town” (Liverpool) I could go on and on…
Just to say thank you Michael for taking me down memory lane
My in-laws were born and raised in Bootle. Immigrated to the US in their 20s. We’ve been to Bootle, but it was 43 years agoHave heard many stories about Bootle and about being bombed during the war. Glad you found such a good human interest story to take away.
What a heart warming article. I was born in bootle and it is do nice to see the town portrayed in a positive way rather than all the negatives. The complete opposite of Brutal Bootle - where the bugs wear clogs!
I know Bootle, and you've captured it perfectly, Michael. Not aspirational to look at but that coffee shop culture could teach us all about how to live together. Thank you for noticing and sharing your experience.
Oh, I love hearing from someone else who has been there. Thanks so much for the kind words and I agree about the lessons it teaches. Thanks so much for reading!
Thanks lovely
Hello Michael,
Thank you for writing this and for the insightful content. I’m ’from Bootle’ and immensely proud of the fact. Am I typical, I don’t know, that’s for others to judge but I was perhaps lucky in that I somehow found my way into a ‘good’ grammar school in the mid-sixties. I was surrounded by boys who were, maybe ‘better’ than me; from wealthier families and living in one of the more prosperous areas to which you refer and the school was located. Did I feel inferior? Yes, each day but ‘Bootleans’ are tough, stubborn and determined so I took my chances, supported by an amazing family, and went on to obtain good school results and a very decent degree. At the end of it I went to work in Bootle and stayed there for 28 years working as a social worker and ultimately a senior manager with the people to whom I belonged. Perhaps the trappings of my success and moving to a slightly better area (2 miles away)made me a traitor but I hope not. I have many people from Bootle who are lifelong friends and the integrity of most Bootle residents is amazing, despite their financial challenges.
I’m incredibly proud of my heritage and very, very proud of being from Bootle
Thanks for sharing your story, Ed. And in no way does moving away make you a traitor IMHO. It sounds like you did a lot of great work there and being so proud of your heritage is anything but being a traitor.
I luv this gentle portrait of a town and its people. The eccentric name of the town invited me in and your affectionate account kept me reading.
Thank you!
Ohhh, that made me cry ❤️🥹
Me, too!
From a Bootle Bird(girl) Thanks for coming Luv!
I’m glad you enjoyed your time here.
Thanks, Rhiain!
I’m originally from Bootle but I live in Woolton south Liverpool now, my wife is from there, Bootle and you are quite right got left behind after WW2 for redevelopment by successive governments and councils. If you walked down Litherland Road you can still see the war damage in the gas works walls.
TTFN Luv!
Great read.
To delve deeper into Bootle I’d recommend reading up on Frank Deegan. If you can find it his short autobiography is called There’s No Other Way.
The fellas don’t call each other “ luv” though more likely mate, lad, la, or the kids these days saying bro.
Looking forward to reading more.
Well, at least one fella does! We tried to go into the Strand one Sunday right after it closed, and I was very surprised to hear the security guard use the word with us!
Ha ha can of worms there! These pet names are a feature of British English by region. Nottingham uses me duck and the guys use that with each other. Deffo not common in Liverpool amongst men though and that’s a hill I’m prepared to die on!
There’s a plaque on the back of the Strand that commemorates the links with Bootle and the US given Bootle was the home port in WW2. I’ll take a snap and send it.
Hasta pronto
Brilliant and thank you I live 5 minutes from the strand have done for 55 years
You should of had a pint of beer in the Alex pub a few more characters in there but nice characters bootle people
Thank you very much. Next time I will!
My Mum grew up in Trinity Road - I loved hearing the stories of how my Gran with a headful of rollers would run across the road to be a witness at the registry office for some young people getting married!
I used to love going to the Strand - especially to shop in Ethel Austins
Thank you for this
My pleasure. Thanks for reading!
Richie. I always new it as Bootleians in fact the magazine if the Grammar School back in the day was called the Bootleian still have a copy somewhere.
What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing it
Thank you for reading.
"M" is certainly a character...i was sat next to her and her "crew" yesterday - they are hilarious. Michael - the Strand is under re-development which is why many of the stores aren't used at present - compared to whole swathes of the UK High Streets - the occupancy rate is high.
That made me cry, not sure if it was for the demise of Bootle or the moving story of how Iris was cared for in the coffee shop. I was born in Bootle in 1946 and lived there until early seventies. My Mum and her 6 brothers and sisters were all born and bred in Bootle. We were a family of 7, covering 3 generations, living in a 3 bed terrace. I was lucky enough to pass the 11 plus and go to the girls grammar school. I had a very happy childhood, all our neighbours looked after each other, as a little girl growing up, I always felt very safe. Not sure that would be the case now, which is very sad. I wish you could have seen Bootle in the sixties, The Strand was completed in 1968 and it was great to have “big shops” within walking distance and not have to go into “town” (Liverpool) I could go on and on…
Just to say thank you Michael for taking me down memory lane
Thanks for responding, Joyce! I want to think Bootle still has good days ahead!
My in-laws were born and raised in Bootle. Immigrated to the US in their 20s. We’ve been to Bootle, but it was 43 years agoHave heard many stories about Bootle and about being bombed during the war. Glad you found such a good human interest story to take away.
Thank you!
What a lovely story, thank you for sharing that.
Thanks and thanks for reading. 🙏🏻
What a heart warming article. I was born in bootle and it is do nice to see the town portrayed in a positive way rather than all the negatives. The complete opposite of Brutal Bootle - where the bugs wear clogs!
Thanks, Mike. I'm happy to give a fuller picture of Bootle!