If you knew Syd and would like to share a story about him please email it to daz.hayes@yahoo.co.uk and I will do my best to include it.

I am going back in time now in fact 65 years when we were all teenagers, that would be the late forties, when we were all fifteen and sixteen year olds. It's hard for our children who are now parents to think that we were ever young enjoying ourselves. We all used to go dancing to a little hall called the Waterloo. It was sixpence to go in, thats old money that would be two and a halve pence today. We danced and jived to records it was run by a Mr and Mrs Chapman if I remember right. We was a  really happy crowd and I cant recall any trouble at any tlme. I used to go with my brother Albert Forshaw, Syd was our brother-in-law. We used to go rain or shine, they were happy days before we all grew up and went our own ways.

God  Bless You Syd.  

Hilda xx

I remember the first time my dad took me fishing I was about 10 and fishing was my Dad's favourite pastime. It was a fishing lake in Rhodes, Middleton and I was patiently educated in the art of putting a weight, float and hook on to the end of a fishing line. I remember picking a float that looked the most colourful from my dad's vast collection and knowing me I would have interrogated my dad on why there was so many shapes, sizes and colours of float never mind all the different weights and hooks. Anyway there I was sat at the side of the lake having asked my dad to put the maggot on the hook and cast off for me (mainly for the protection of all those around me) sitting patiently waiting for my float to be pulled under by a hungry fish. Dad said when this happens I should give a gentle tug on the line by pulling left or right with the rod and then gently reel in the catch. But being 10 I kind of wanted this to happen with 30 seconds and by the time I had been staring at this float for about half an hour I remember feeling pretty frustrated that it was taking so long. So there I was poised like a gazelle until finally the float disappeared and in panic I tugged on the line with so much force I could see a fish travelling towards me at great speed, needless to say this freaked me out so I legged it and it landed right where I was sat. If that wasn’t traumatic enough when I then looked at the fish I had ripped its mouth in half and when dad came over to rescue the situation he told me the fish would not make it. That was the first and last time I ever went fishing, I guess I just don’t get it..... Poor fish!

My dad hasnt just taught me about fishing but right from wrong, good from bad and the importance of honesty and hardwork, I love you dad and want you to know how lucky and privileged I am to have you as my dad. 

Darren Hayes.

Myself and my brothers would go and watch Dad sing when we could but it was during one of the times when we weren’t in attendance that the following fracas took place. Dad was singing at the local club Boarshaw Working Men’s which is still there. Everything was going well and after having he sung his first cabaret spot after a break it was time for Dads dance spot. The dance floor filled with dancers and then someone nudged my Mum in the back which she didn’t think much of at the time till the same thing happened again much to my Mum’s annoyance and after giving the other woman the Methuselah look was elbowed in the back again. At this point Mum decided that enough’s enough and proceeded to show her what happens when she is really pissed off, whilst the melee carried on in front of Dad who was on stage singing he didn’t miss a beat and carried on singing ever the consummate professional. Although Dad has worked hard all his life he has also enjoyed a pint or 3 in his time but never to excess Dad has instilled in all 3 of us the ethic of hard work and it’s something that we will all be eternally grateful for. Over the years I have worked with my father and socialised with him but I have never ever heard anyone have one wrong word to say about him and to me that is the mark of the man, your were my hero Dad you still are my hero and to be honest you always will be.

From being a young boy to growing into a man my dad has taught me many things. Firstly as a small boy he would take me fishing with him whenever he could which I still enjoy to this day although dad would say “he has taught me everything he knows”. secondly my dad introduced me to the building trade at an early age which I have stayed involved with all of my working life from starting an apprenticeship in plastering ,running my own business where as I said earlier my dad used to work for me to where I am now as a manager at holts brewery. My dad and maybe my granddad to a lesser extent also introduced me to the music business where once again I seem to have emulated him as I have been a singer/guitarist for around 36 years and have no plans to hang my microphone up yet. My dad also helped teach me to drive when I was around 17 years of age and I remember giving him some really scary moments in his dark blue Hillman hunter which was his pride and joy at the time i don’t think that in all my 56 years I have never had an argument with my dad as he has always been the voice of reason but the main thing that my dad has done for me is make me into the man that I am today  and for this dad I thank you with all my heart and you work ethics have stuck with me and have even been passed on to my kids so you see dad you have had a huge influence and continue to do so to this day on me and your grand children

Thanks dad I love you with all my heart.

Gary Hayes

Granddad took me fishing when I was about 15/16 on Rhodes lodges. We had a really good day but about half way through granddad managed to get a barbed hook stuck in his finger. There was no way of getting it out. I was telling him we should go to the hospital and get it taken out; granddad didn't want to spoil the day though. He said back in the old days he would of poured alcohol on it to 'numb' it a bit but as we only had diet coke he poured that on it instead!

Granddad fished for the rest of the day despite me telling him not to and went and got the hook removed after he dropped me off!!!

Ben Hayes.

My first experience in a northern social club

I remember it like it was yesterday, Darren and I walked in closely followed by Betty and Syd, there were tables and chairs in rows with a bar at one end of the room and a stage at the other with a set of drums and an electric organ.

I found an empty seat and sat down quickly as I could feel eyes watching me, Darren came over and sat next to me while Betty and Syd said hello to friends, then Betty rushed over and said you’re sat in someone’s seat! So I told her that there were no drinks on the table or anything, then Betty went on to explain that the members of the club had they’re favourite seats, it was an unwritten rule of the club and a definite no no to sit in these seats!!

We had a wonderful night, I couldn’t believe how friendly everybody was but the highlight for me was when Syd, Darren and I decided to have a game of darts and Syd just calmly banged in 180 after 180!! I was amazed, what a talent, but Syd being Syd just coolly took his darts out of the board as if it was a daily occurrence and nothing special!

Judy Borrett