Just to change the topic from Timothy Tailor's 'Landlord' ale. When first this KBGS lad visited Adelaide in Australia in 1982 I was delighted by the local ales offered in Adelaide. I can't remember the names but they were good. But outside the main railway station in Adelaide late one night I enjoyed a sublime snack known as a 'pie floater'. Any other KBGS chaps experienced it.

A lovely city, is it still the same?

Yes,a beautiful city,the local beer is quite good(as far as Australian beers go) but the "pie floater experience" cannot be compared with a Lunds meat pie(or two)washed down with either a pint or two of Taylors bitter or Landlord at the Boltmakers in Keighley.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 57-62

Current location (optional) keighley

This talk of pies takes me back, my uncle used to own Cleg & Wrights the butchers. Wright was a kbgs boy. Friday afternoons I used to finish school and go to work in the shop delivering meat, getting home about 10:00. Saturdays and school holidays, I used to make pork pies, steak and kidney pies, stamp pies, you name em, I made em. I used to try to count the numbers I had made to try to get to sleep.

I really missed pork pies, Australian pies were always a bit ordinary. A few years ago some enterprising soul started to produce pork pies, I lapped them up with relish, shocking people by insisting on eating them hot so the jelly ran, instead of cold the way they do down south. I was totally disapointed when I bought a pork pie in London a couple of years ago, the Australian pork pie was superior.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-61

Current location (optional) Haworth now Blue Mountains in Australia

I always thought they were called Stand Pies .... or are Stamp Pies yet another variation on the great Yorkshire pie.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-65

Current location (optional) Leeds

If my memory serves me correctly, John, the youth Wright was known as "Clegg" at KBGS. Another example of the perversity of KBGS scholars?

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 52-60

Shaun-the Stand pie is the LARGE variety,made to feed the family.My mother made a cracker and in the 50's my Aussie mates just loved it.She gave her recipe to the local butcher and also the recipe for potted meat. Cheers.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 47-51

Current location (optional) Auckland,NZ

Bill-In the London area Stand Pies are called Raised Pies, and that's because the pastry has to 'stand up' on its own rather than clinging to mould of some sort. They are usually made with hot water pastry which enables them to'stand' unsupported in the oven. Hence 'Stand' Pie!
In the past they were specially ordered by families for the Christmas Season (and still are) and were traditionally the centre-piece of the festive table on Boxing Day.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 45-50

Current location (optional) Keighley

Thanks for that David-you are so right- it was always a feature at Christmas. Cheers.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 47-51

Current location (optional) Auckland,NZ

So where does "hand raised" come in to the equation? Don't the pie persons use their hands to mould the pastry into a "raised" circle which was subsequently filled with a mixture of "savoury viands", capped off and baked till the juices ran. For me, the luxury is not in the pastry - but in the mixture of cuts of meat and herbs. Am I biased in my preference for pies produced principally in the regions west of Leeds?

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 52-60

Yes, Terry, try a genuine Melton Mowbray pork pie from Dickenson and Morris

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 41/46

Current location (optional) Isle of Man

Where does one go for a decent growler in Keighley since the demise of Midgley's on East Parade?

The best meat pie in Keighley can be found at Stables Butchers on North Street - they are tremendous.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 59-64

Current location (optional) Keighley

The best pork pie I ever tasted was in Leeds market recently. Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Sainsburys are rubbish. The one in Leeds was scrumptious. And cheap.

Speaking as someone who has literally made several thousand pork pies after school and at weekends in Keighley. The pastry is stamped into the pie tin using a hand operated gas heated pie press. The pastry pieces are dropped into the tin, the press then "squashes" the pastry so that it fills the space between the stamp and the pie tin. Meat is then spooned in, lids which are precut are put onto the pies and put through another press that crimps them on. Pies are glazed and put in the oven. The gellatine is put in after the pies are cooked otherwise it would boil over. THis is the same process that was used at Clegg and Wrights no matter what size the pie. I managed to burn myself on the press at least once an hour. I think that I used to get about 5/- for working till 10:00pm an Friday nights and from 7 till 5 on Saturday. Mind you, I could eat the occasional pie

Don't the Aussies call a growler ---- "A rat in a coffin" ?

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 57-62

Current location (optional) keighley

haven't heard of a rat in a coffin, where we live we call them mystery bags because nobody knows what is in them

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-61

If there was a pie on the clock, what time would it be? Summat to ate.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-61

I lived in Aussie for a number of years and I try to get over there every 18 months or so and I have never heard of " a rat in a coffin"- cheers.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 47-51

Current location (optional) Auckland,NZ

Further to John Felvus' post above. I was recently in Ainleys confectioners in Headingley and an old fella in fornt of me asked for 'a great mystery of life' . The assistant knew eactly what he was after - s growler.
My grandfather used to call meat and potato pies '10 to 1 ers' ( ie ten parts potato to one part meat)

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64

Current location (optional) Wirral

I made use of my visit to the Old Boys' Reunion (for which I thank Robert Bracken and the Keighlians RUFC) to test out my theory that the best pork pies are produced in the region west of Leeds. I had little time - but my search was researched - in that I looked up David Boddy's claim for Stables’ Butchers on the interweb and found some very fervent support for Stanton's pies from Skipton. So, my trip was via the A1 and sharp left at Boston Spa and up the Wharfe Valley which was as appealing as I have ever seen it - still rich variants of green and pleasing undulations under a blue sky that stretched from horizon to horizon. First stop Skipton for a mission to Stanton's - to which I was directed without malice by a self-professed vegetarian female person. Pies a plenty - both cold and warm were on offer. I tried a couple of warm specimens, anticipating, without disappointment, that warm sensation of pie liquor running down to and dripping off the elbow. I sat on a seat across from the shop to encourage other would-be hedonists to indulge - but the call of a pint of Tetley's Best soon drew me into a nearby pub. On to Kegley, via the "new" "flood-proof" Aire Valley Freeway and a search for 128 North Street and Stables' butchers. Two more pies (cold by default) were garnered in - but kept for later consumption. After an absorbing hour at a "reader" in the Reference Library beside our well-known local historian and Old Keighlian, Ian Dewhirst, I lowered the flag for the day and shot off to the arms of the family.
At the "Reunion" (Utley not Indian Ocean) we were treated to a first rate buffet in fine company - but little evidence of the "growler par excellence". Next day,en route for home, I shotover Alma, dipped into Wharfedale and homed in on Otley's favoured Weegmann's pie shop. The beautiful aroma o'erpowered the 4x4(16Ö) fumes at the crossroads' lights and I ventured in to purchase both instant gratification and future provision. I was only offered warm pies - and they were top'o.
So, fellows, my assessment on three pies on three days (other pies may be sampled) is as follows
I relished the Stanton's; adored the Weegmann's; enjoyed the Stables. But Midgley's would have given them all a run for their money.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 52-60

Current location (optional) Lincoln

Terry I think you mean Stanforth's pies at Skipton.
There were several brothers called Stanforth one of which is my cousin Reg who is now 91. The shop was taken over some time ago but kept the name as it is well known in the district. According to my cousin the pies they make today "are nowt like what we used to mek" and a dam sight dearer I expect.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1959-64

Current location (optional) Keighley

Sorry about the mistaken identification - any rooad up, lad, they were reight welcome. We have 2 Boddy "authorities" on pies with initals "D" - RU one and the same? I've heard there's a butcher up Worth who does a mean pie - any verification of this?

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 52-60

Current location (optional) Lincoln

Re Stanforth's pies. Rated by those who know no better to be the best in Yorkshire. They aren't even the best in Skipton. Drake and Macefield's, on Otley St, beat them into a cocked hat.

Do any Cobbydalers remember Mitchell's Pork Shop in Kirkgate? Best pies ever. In the early 70's, the proprietor gave the shop and his prized recipe to his daughter and her husband. He buggered off with another woman, the shop closed and that was that.

Anonymous endorsements don't count.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 52-60

Current location (optional) Lincoln

I agree Terry. But I do think the pork pies in M@S, Sainsbury's Tescos today are just awful. The best ones I ever tasted were in Leeds market. Dark red meat and salty. Another thing about the Leeds market area some time ago is that the pubs used to be open from 8AM -- for some reason. Not that I am advocating early hours imbibing but if you had just got off a tiresome overnight bus from London it was a very refreshing morning pint before caching a train to the Aire Valley.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1961-68

Current location (optional) Ireland