People of Moor Pool: Tina Hackett

June 2, 2025
8:42 am

As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, we’re featuring ten ‘People of Moor Pool’.

You can take Tina Hackett out of Moor Pool but you can’t take Moor Pool out of Tina Hackett! We caught up with her recently and asked her a few questions:

How long have you lived on Moor Pool?

I was born on the estate and lived there until I was about 14 years old, though I continued to come back to ‘hang out’ with friends. Then I moved back when I married in 1976. I left in 2010 but again I have continued to come back. In total, I lived on Moor Pool for about 49 years.

My family’s history in Moor Pool goes back to at least 1911, possibly earlier (I need to have a look at the rent logs sometime to check). My grandparents, Tom and Kate Elvins, married in 1909 and were living at 18 Moor Pool Avenue in the 1911 census, with my aunt born 1910. My father, John, was born there in 1915 and he continued living there after he and my mum, Marie, married in 1951. I was born there in 1952. We moved to 6 Wentworth Gate when I was 7 years old. I moved to 60 Margaret Grove when Andrew and I married and that’s where my children were all born and grew up. I joined the Skittles Club in 2011 so still feel very much connected to Moor Pool.

What do you think makes Moor Pool such a special place?

The architecture and design of the Estate encourages a feeling of community spirit, that is not felt in many other places. People know straight away when they have arrived on Moor Pool – it looks different and quirky. In addition, the friendliness of residents just adds to the special feeling that everyone notices as they walk around.

What is your favourite Moor Pool memory?

Oh how difficult was this????

From my childhood – travelling on the back of a lorry, sitting in an armchair when we moved from Moor Pool Avenue to Wentworth Gate – waving to everyone, like a queen!

From later – the amazing Roving Garden Parties we held to raise funds for charity. Several families opened their gardens, some had stalls, some games, some refreshments. We did a treasure hunt for people to do as they moved from garden to garden. The support we had from everyone was wonderful, hard work but a lovely feeling of togetherness.

What is your favourite spot on the Estate?

Another difficult question – Margaret Grove is a beautiful road, especially in the spring and as its where my children grew up, so it is a special place for me. But the skittle alley really is a standout place for its uniqueness, so probably takes the prize.

What did it mean to you to save the community spaces in 2014?

Moor Pool is so special and so much a part of me and my family, the possible loss of the heart of the Estate was devastating so the realisation that ‘we had done it’ and could work to protect the history and continue to promote such an amazing place, was just the best news ever!

Is there anything you’d like to see happen on the Estate over the next 10 years?

I’d hope that all the memories, history and community efforts will have been nurtured, protected and sustained so that even more people will get to experience the magic that’s Moor Pool.

We’re very grateful to Tina and the Hackett family for donating items to our Archive Room, where they will be conserved and protected for future generations.

People of Moor Pool: Tina Hackett

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