Street games: The days when washing lines had several uses

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Before the age of computers and Playstations, street games – and skipping in particular – were popular pastimes for the youngsters of the 1950s. Marilyn Clampitt, of Alvaston, recalls when a little imagination went a long way.

WHATEVER happened to skipping in schools? Do children still do it?

In the 1950s round the West End, at my lovely old school, Kings Mead, on the corner of Nuns Street and Green Street, skipping was something that was often done.

Some child would produce a long washing line which her mum had provided (or unknowingly lent).

Stretched across the playground, held by two friends, you would often find six or seven girls, all jumping in unison.

I was always envious of the girls that could run in and start jumping as the rope was going round.

I tried it once and went flying, much to the amusement of my school mates.

I would always join the line at the start, keeping in time with the others. It got very amusing when the lads would jump in, completely ruining the girls’ run. Happy days.

“Lurkie” – what a name for a game but what fun we had playing it. We would usually start in Green Street, outside Kings Mead School.

One person would be turned towards the wall, slowly counting to 10, whilst the other kids would disappear in various directions.

With its many entries, alleyways and low walls surrounding various back gardens, the old West End, in the 50s, was brilliant for hiding places.

Sometimes, this game would take a while before it finished due to the excellent places one could hide. The clinic in Green Street was a favourite hiding place – that is if you could manoeuvre the fences that surrounded it.

Bleach Yard, nearby, was another favourite hideout, not forgetting the old Bates loading house in Nuns Street. It was a ghostly place to us kids. It was better if there were several of us when we ventured into it.

Even up on the Old Rec in Brook Street, “Lurkie” was a great place to play. With its numerous trees to hide behind and the river banks to hide down, it was great fun.

I envy today’s kids with all their hi-tech entertainment but, although we had nothing but our imagination all those years ago, they were great, free, fun days and nights.

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