Wal’s memoir explores his memories of growing up in Clifton. Here he tells us more about Clifton Bridge.
October 1963 saw the opening of Clifton Bridge - 50 years after initial talks began - at a cost of £230,000 (£6.25 million today).1 Prior to that, bus routes 2 and 8 were the popular choices connecting Clifton/BSL to Acomb as well as a ferry, the slipway at Water End providing the only evidence of this today.
The bridge provided a whole new avenue of adventure for us Clifton/BSL kids as we were now able to access the sandy bank on the south side of the river which we regularly used at weekends and school holidays. Back then, summers always seemed to be warm and sunny - probably my selective memory kicking in. I was never a strong swimmer (still aren’t) so it was a proud moment when I first swam the width of the river and back
Yorkshire Evening Press, 29 October 1963. Prior to this, a temporary bridge was erected in 1961 to mark the wedding of the Duke and the recently departed Duchess of Kent.