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Post by redstriper on Jul 24, 2020 6:22:53 GMT
Great thread this, even for us none participants (i was in Penkridge at the time - it never reached south staffs ears as far as i know), makes you wonder why the scheme was discontinued and whether it would be worth resurrecting ?
glad to hear that none of you got bummed.
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Post by swampmongrel on Jul 24, 2020 7:15:06 GMT
Great thread this, even for us none participants (i was in Penkridge at the time - it never reached south staffs ears as far as i know), makes you wonder why the scheme was discontinued and whether it would be worth resurrecting ? glad to hear that none of you got bummed. It got discontinued because the kids aren’t into cricket matches, bike rides and roller discos anymore. It’s all about monkey dust these days. That and bumming, of course.
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Post by marwood on Jul 24, 2020 19:14:41 GMT
Anyone else take part in this? Ive no idea how widespread it was or for how long it ran (is it still going) but I had some great times in and around Stoke between 1982 and 1986 It cost something like £5 to join for the summer holidays and for that you got half price/free bus travel (cat remember which) plus free admittance to cinemas, theatres, and sporting events Fondest memories were of the pictures. Both the ABC and the Odeon showed free films to members in Hanley. I saw some great movies there, some of which i saw on the big screen for the first and only times. Police Academy, Krull, Grease II, Star Trek III, Boys in Blue featuring Suzanne Danielle (Plus Cannon and Ball), Empire Strikes Back (film theatre Stoke for that one). I say watched, I was present while they were being projected onto a screen, as it was utter carnage in the cinema, like a scene from a 1950s Hollywood movie where all the cool kids run riot As a child growing up in the north of the city, I had never had the occasion to travel to places like Longton and Fenton before. It got me out and about I think it was the first and only time I went to watch the Vale when not playing Stoke. Unless my mind is playing tricks on me, I saw Vale vs Zimbabwe in 83 or 84. of course we were shouting for Zimbabwe. No idea how that came about? Grobbelaar? any other memories welcome Best film I saw through the space scheme was The last star fighter terrible graphics but one of the best sci fi story lines ever. This has reminded me of a sci fi film I saw there with SPACE in 82 or 83, The Battle Beyond The Stars with George Peppard and Robert Vaughan. We all knew Peppard from the A Team and it was weird seeing him as a movie star, years later stranger still to see him as a leading man heartthrob in 1960s classics such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (Hes fat old Hannibal FFS). I didn't click at the time but BBTS is 'The Magnificent 7 in Space' with Robert Vaughn essentially playing the same character in both. So obvious now but at the time the sci fi and space etc completely blinded me. I thought it was great and must see it again to see if it stands up. Other than whoops of 'Hannibal' every time Peppard was on camera, my other abiding memory is of the place erupting with testosterone screams every time the Space Valkyrie appeared, and discussions as to whether she was 'real' or not. I learn through the joys of the internet 30 years later her name is Sybil Danning, and that kind of movie was her stock in trade , and must endeavour to learn more about this talented actress
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Post by callas12 on Jul 24, 2020 23:42:45 GMT
The SPACE carnival was always held at the County Showground in Stafford at the end of the holidays to wrap everything up! Remember Sammy Plank used to do a live Radio Stoke broadcast from there too. Loads of things going on & events taking place in the main arena too.
I remember the SPACE discos aswell, used to get to meet girls from around the county at them! Remember the main dance track at this time was Snap, Rhythm Is A Dancer, what a tune even now!
Think the SPACE scheme was the brain wave of the then Chief Constable Charles Kelly who introduced it to try to cut anti social behaviour down during the holidays & get the police to liaise with the area's kids of that time. They'd of been the days where officers would of been in plentiful supply & they could spare loads to bolster the supervision for trips & drop in centres with the help of volunteers. Sadly can't see this kind of initiative ever being introduced again, in the same format it was back then anyway.
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Post by PotterLog on Jul 25, 2020 2:38:36 GMT
Did it at least a couple of summers running in the late 80s/early 90s. Can barely remember anything about the activities themselves, although I remember they were exciting on paper but then usually either fully booked up or just faintly disappointing.
On the plus side I don’t remember any bummings occurring so overall 7/10
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2020 19:47:21 GMT
I actually feel a bit sorry for my kids. Growing up in the 70s and 80s was ace.
Now it's just bollocks, I'd hate to be a kid again if I had to live my early years in the present day. Shite.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2020 20:43:24 GMT
I made the national BBC news which showed me kicking a Vale fan courtesy of the SPACE scheme. They ran a six a side tournament in Wolstanton (down near where ASDA is now), my side made the final. We were amazed when a camera crew turned up to film a bit for a piece they were doing on the scheme as only Staffs were running it and crime dropped during the school holidays unlike everywhere else (funny that...). The final of a cracking tournament was ruined as everyone went all showpony in front of the camera, generally pissing about . The 'fans' watching (players of sides who didn't make the final) were singing 'can you hear us on the box'. Anyway the only bit that was broadcastable was a midfield melee which mainly involved me ignoring the ball and kicking lumps out of my Vale supporting mate who was on the other side. That cracked me up I distinctly remember going down to Stafford bowling - and getting into a scuffle in birches head swimming pool and my brother punched one of them in the lip. There was king sports camp too but I think that was a lot more saline and less lip-punchy
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Post by lordherefordsknob on Jul 28, 2020 20:44:40 GMT
The SPACE carnival was always held at the County Showground in Stafford at the end of the holidays to wrap everything up! Remember Sammy Plank used to do a live Radio Stoke broadcast from there too. Loads of things going on & events taking place in the main arena too. I remember the SPACE discos aswell, used to get to meet girls from around the county at them! Remember the main dance track at this time was Snap, Rhythm Is A Dancer, what a tune even now! Think the SPACE scheme was the brain wave of the then Chief Constable Charles Kelly who introduced it to try to cut anti social behaviour down during the holidays & get the police to liaise with the area's kids of that time. They'd of been the days where officers would of been in plentiful supply & they could spare loads to bolster the supervision for trips & drop in centres with the help of volunteers. Sadly can't see this kind of initiative ever being introduced again, in the same format it was back then anyway. I remember David Prowse was at one of the show ground carnivals dressed as the green cross code man. He was a bit pissed off though because all the kids kept asking him questions about Star Wars.
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Post by danceswithclams on Jul 28, 2020 22:33:44 GMT
I actually feel a bit sorry for my kids. Growing up in the 70s and 80s was ace. Now it's just bollocks, I'd hate to be a kid again if I had to live my early years in the present day. Shite. Absolute nonsense. There's all the free porn they've got now for starters. If I'd had the kind of ultra-convenient unfettered access to any kind of grumble imaginable when I was a teen, I'd have ripped my nob clean off (and my right arm would be like Lou Ferringo's). They're all doing NOS and watching their classmates fingerblast themselves on OnlyFans these days. Better than drinking ancient ouzo nicked from your mates mum's drinks cabinet and trying to crack one off to the underwear section of the Freemans catalogue. *My favoured metric for grading adolescent experiences is 'Booze x Wanking Opportunity'
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Jul 28, 2020 22:42:03 GMT
I actually feel a bit sorry for my kids. Growing up in the 70s and 80s was ace. Now it's just bollocks, I'd hate to be a kid again if I had to live my early years in the present day. Shite. It is wank but they don’t know any different do they. They think these days are great. I don’t think kids should be allowed to access social media until they’re at least 16. But then I am a rate grumpy bastard according to my 14 year old daughter 🤣
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Aug 1, 2020 21:56:42 GMT
I did the first two years and I'm sure there was something of a forerunner to it that was connected to The Burslem Festival (also awesome in the early days. The cinema trips were epic, and I can remember canoeing at the pond on the estate near Park Hall. The second year I did it I knew the drill so I bagged as many of the best trips as soon as it was possible to book them. I can't remember many of them but shooting pistols at a gun range on the far side of Baldwins Gate will stay with me forever.
I think I had some kind of bus pass too, so me and a mate would just go for adventure trips on (I assume PMT) buses to the far flung extremes of the city.
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Post by danceswithclams on Aug 1, 2020 22:16:53 GMT
I did the first two years and I'm sure there was something of a forerunner to it that was connected to The Burslem Festival (also awesome in the early days. The cinema trips were epic, and I can remember canoeing at the pond on the estate near Park Hall. The second year I did it I knew the drill so I bagged as many of the best trips as soon as it was possible to book them. I can't remember many of them but shooting pistols at a gun range on the far side of Baldwins Gate will stay with me forever. I think I had some kind of bus pass too, so me and a mate would just go for adventure trips on (I assume PMT) buses to the far flung extremes of the city. But did you get bummed?
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Aug 1, 2020 22:34:10 GMT
I did the first two years and I'm sure there was something of a forerunner to it that was connected to The Burslem Festival (also awesome in the early days. The cinema trips were epic, and I can remember canoeing at the pond on the estate near Park Hall. The second year I did it I knew the drill so I bagged as many of the best trips as soon as it was possible to book them. I can't remember many of them but shooting pistols at a gun range on the far side of Baldwins Gate will stay with me forever. I think I had some kind of bus pass too, so me and a mate would just go for adventure trips on (I assume PMT) buses to the far flung extremes of the city. But did you get bummed? I don't recall. I don't think so, but I may be blocking it out. I know I irrationally avoided the Horace games on my Spectrum, so who knows? I did play Horace Goes Skiing a couple of times though.
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Post by NassauDave on Aug 2, 2020 2:06:40 GMT
I don't recall. I don't think so, but I may be blocking it out. I know I irrationally avoided the Horace games on my Scrotum, so who knows? I did play Horace Goes Shop lifting a couple of times though. Really?
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