Steve Garrison was born in the centre of Warwick on September 3 1953 at 3 The Butts, then a nursing home, and grew up at 39 Smith Street. Here he writes about life in one of Warwick's most characterful streets.

He says: "My late father Bob was a baker and confectioner employed by Mr West the baker, whose premises were next door at number 37 and our house came with the job. 'Dick' West as he was known was a very colourful character and well known in the town.

"The properties were very old beamed houses and at one time rendered unsafe for habitation. At that time there were no indoor toilets - they were some way from the house at the rear of the back yard. Our childhood bathing facility was a tin bath, which I shared with my brother and sister in front of an open fire!

"The Volunteer pub was opposite our house and a Mr and Mrs Dalton kept a hardware shop next door at number 41.

"Their son, Tim Dalton, went on to play international rugby for England.

"A very elderly lady called Mrs Woodhouse lived next to the Volunteer and I have a vivid recollection of her giving me my first tricycle. Further down the road from the Volunteer was a shop, possibly a tea room, called the Galleon and a model galleon sat above the doorway.

"Opposite was the Roebuck pub renowned for superb ham sandwiches prepared by Mr Beesok the landlord. Watneys Red Barrel was the beer of the day.

"Fretwells, which I think was a convenience store, was next to Mr Ottaways the newsagent's. On the corner of Cross Street was Peacocks Bazaar which was a haberdashery, amongst other things.

"Mrs 'Minnie' Buoys kept the fruit and veg shop while Mr Tuckey, whose name may have been Michael, kept a fine butcher's shop next to the bakery.

"A Mr Yendell had a printing business towards the top of the street and had two daughters called Susan and Christine. Mr Thompson, known to all as 'Cocker', kept the watch repair business. "His son has recently retired and sold the business.

"There was a furniture store, possibly a Co-op, on the corner of Gerrard Street, run by a very dapper man whose name I can't recall. At the very top of the street on the corner opposite East Gate was the Castle Inn. Years earlier there had been a very famous incident that involved a tram running into the building.

"In those days the pace of life in Smith Street was much steadier with a real old fashioned community spirit and it was a magical place to grow up.

"There were so many local characters whose spirits I still feel each time I walk down the street."

Readers may recognise some of the dancers in this picture taken by Courier photographer Frank Cooper in the 1950s.

The picture was taken in Jephson Gardens in preparation for the annual event. Mr Cooper said: "Girls from all the dance schools used to take part. They would all dance at the side of the lake.

"It would be interesting to know if any of them were still alive.