I was in Liverpool again today. More than 10 years ago I was in the City as a student at Liverpool University. Today, I was there to give a talk at Liverpool John Moores University’s Business School.
It was a very short visit. I arrived last night, spent the night at The Feathers Hotel on Mount Pleasant, and left mid-afternoon today. Of course I took some time to visit a few places.
The destination today was Toxteth.
This is 99 Mulgrave Street – a very historic house for many Malaysians studying there in the mid 90s. I think the tenants were all Malaysians from around 1994 to 1999, and there was a small Malaysian restaurant at the basement. I can’t remember the name of the Pakcik who owned it, but it a regular jaunt for us after Friday prayers. During my first visit to Liverpool back in 1995 for an interview at Liverpool University, I spent the night here, at the top floor flat. My host at that time was Zamakhshari Mohamed, five years my senior at Sekolah Alam Shah, and at that time studying Pharmacy at Liverpool John Moores University. I believe Zamakh now is a committee member in Dewan Pemuda PAS Kelantan. The house was also the HQ for HIZBI Liverpool branch for quite a few years.
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This is Roseberry Street, just behind the Ar-Rahma Mosque, off Mulgrave Street. The house I lived in has been demolished but I believe it was opposite the yellow door. My housemates were Dr Rosli Allani and Mohd Hafizul. The house was in a very bad condition even when we lived there. One of the problems we had was water seeping down from the bathroom upstairs to the kitchen ceiling. One morning, we woke up to see the kitchen ceiling had crushed down due to the damp damage. It is not a surprise that it has now been demolished.
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A quick visit to Ar-Rahma Mosque for Zohor prayer. They are building a very nice extension to the mosque on what used to be the site of the Pakistani Community Centre.
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In the mosque, the door is where the bookshop used to be (It was closed so I don’t know if the shop is still there). The shopkeeper during my time was Pakcik Musa (now Almarhum).
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Then, a short walk to the Malaysia and Singapore Community Association on 7 Jermyn Street. It is a shame that it has been boarded up. I wonder where the Malay pakciks meet now…
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And the last visit was to 37 Princes Avenue (the black door). I rented the flat with the satelite dish from Mr Mann, and lived there for a few years before moving to Carlisle.
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Memories….
Filed under: Misc
It took my dad 30 years, before he was back in brighton, where he did his degree. I think that applies to me too. Maybe I would only go back to bristol, when my child has his graduation somewhere in england (if he goes to england).
As a Malaysian, proud of you..
Salam..masyaAllah..many changes.. i was there from 1997-2001…especially Ar Rahma mosque..
what happen to no 2, princes ave?
Assalamu’alaikum
Wan, nama pak cik yang buka restoran di basement Mulgrave St tu Zakariah, Pak Ya. Saya sempat kerja dgn dia 2 minggu sebelum grad 1995. Roti canainya sungguh terkenal sehingga ke Malaysia. Apa khabar agaknya sekarang.
Oppsss, silap. Yahya namanya. Anyway, yg pasti org panggil Pak Ya. Maaf.
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Salam alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatu
I want send all best wishes for liverpool muslim comunity. I am an spanish young boy that embraiced Islam in this mosque five years ago. I am very happy seeing that the mosque is much bigger now. Alhamdulillah. I ask to Allah to visit this place soon.
You went to University of Liverpool? That’s one of the universities I want to apply for in two years’ time. What’s it like there? Is it a good college?
I’d really appreciate it if you could tell me what you thought of it.
Oh, and I’m also glad the Mosque is bigger, though, I’m not Muslim.
i used to stay at 99.. together with matpizul, hj dwen, azuan, kechiq, dr rusli.. 1997-1998, during that time, whoever parked their cars in front on the flat, will either get the screen smashed (eg: prof aziz as sahfi’s) or someone will try to steal the car (putera’s)
I’m glad to hear that you know Pak Cik Mohd Nor. He is my granddad. He went to Malaysia last month. Visit us and attend his granddaughter’s weeding in Jalan semarak.
I miss him so much. May ALLAH bless him always
Interesting reading and very good to hear about Liverpool Malay Club. I know Pak Cik Md Noor and the rest. I was on and off from 1972 to 1983 for my Master Foreign Going Ship. Started at Aigburth [AULIS] in 1972. Moved to N0.5 Jermyn Street next to No.7 in 1978 and in 1982 nearer to Liverpool Poly. Visited in 1997. Wish to visit it soon. Still in maritime field and now teaching seafarers in Sarawak Maritime Academy, No.2 Upper Lanang Road, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Aarright der luv.