Frank Barcroft 1948 Longton Stoke on Trent

[Matt James]

I joined the G.P.O.Telegrams Messenger Boys in early December 1948 and was originaly delivering telegrams on a bicycle and then eventually I was one of the first Telegram Messenger Boys to have the (as then new) Motor Bikes at the age of 16 years in 1949.

I have enclosed some photo copies of photo's please see below taken at that time

My branch Office at that time was Longton Stoke on Trent

They were great times and a great bunch of lads, We were all eventually called up for our National Service

Frank Barcroft Badge no 502


starting from top left working left to right then down
photo no 1 Frank Bancroft and the lads Longton Stoke on Trent
no 2 Frank Bancroft 1948
no 3&4 Taken around 1950
no 5 Frank Bancroft passenger on bike no JXY194
NO 6&7 Bottom pic Frank Bancroft 2nd from left
no 8 Frank Bancroft is 2nd from left
no 9 Messenger Boys Longton Stoke on Trent 1948
no10 Longton Stoke on Trent 1948-49 office back yard

[Matt James]

I remember you Frank. I was at Burslem ,started 1949 and then moved to Hanley when we had the BSA Bantams, some of the lads from Burslem moved to Newcastle and rode James's 150cc
On your photo of four of you on two bikes ,on JXY 195 Jim Locker?? and on the pillion Dennis Collier who during his Nat Service was a member of the the Royal Signal Motor Cycle display team.On the bottom photo 2nd one up is Graham Chell, Derek Carliss and Bert Copeland are also in the photos.
Lads at Hanley with myself (Gordon Stockton 1949-1952) were Tom Cope, Ron Roberts, Bert Lowndes, Bill Allport ,Rolf Green, Ken Holdcroft ,Malcolm Botham ,Colin Moore (went to the USA) John Mansell, Terry Martin, John Morris who is also living here in New Zealand.
Oh Happy Days
Regards
Gordon