Autobiography of Neville Bester

Early Years

Life began for me in Altrincham hospital, on 10th September 1957. I was the first son of Vivienne and Brian Bester, and we lived on De Quincey Road, in West Timperley. The 10th of September happened to be exactly two years after Mum and Dad got married. My only memory of our house in Timperley was what seemed like a very high double bed, with a violet-coloured quilt. Duvets hadn’t arrived in the UK then!

I also remember walking up Park Road, towards the centre of Timperley, to a concrete shelter, on a corner, which had a semi-circular roof. Of course I also remember trips to my grandparents’ houses. Grandma and Grandpa Lane (Mum’s parents) lived in a rather grand house on Planetree Road in Hale, called Woodside. Lots more memories there! Picking pea-pods in the back garden; going downstairs to the cellar, where Grandpa showed us his military sword; falling onto a table edge in the lounge, and knocking a new front tooth out (it wasn’t knocked out at all, but just pushed back up into my gum – it eventually grew out again).

Nana and Grandpa Ted (my Dad’s parents), and my uncle Derek, lived on Grove Lane in Hale. My uncle Derek was only 9 years older than me, and he had some great toys, and an air rifle!