Recent Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:
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Displaying Memories 13121 - 13200 of 36832 in total
I remember in the late 50s and early 60s playing in Priory Park and following the brook from Priory Park all the way to Westcliff, including going under the roads, and playing along the brook and swinging across on ropes, constantly falling into the water, lol, good days!!!!
Thinking of my time in the aforesaid Cadet corps I clearly remember an exercise on the Heath when we were playing soldiers. To make things realistic we were using thunderflashes. Unfortunately the weather was hot and dry with the result that the "bangers" set fire to the gorse and bracken and the exercise had to be abandoned. Red faces among the staff, great amusement among the cadets.
I went to Luton Technical College in 1948. I remember the balcony surrounding the main hall. We had to march all the way to Popes Meadow for our sports afternoon, quite a hike as I remember. I spent 2 years there. My main memory was the fact that you weren't caned there, you had to write lines instead, no fewer than 500 times. I can still remember one of the lines although I am nearly eighty, it goes like ...see more
My Uncle Fred had a watchmaker and Jewellers shop in Liphook Square. (F H Payne) Also my Uncle Percy (P W Brooker) was manager of the chemist shop also in the Square. (Smorthwaites)
My half-brother, Ian, was sent to a hospital after his accident. He was paralyzed from the neck down. He was only about 15 when this horrid accident occurred. It was Hexham spinal unit. Was it this hospital does anyone out there know - could you kindly reply back to me. I would like to know if any one worked there at the time. It was many years ago and appreciate that there were many people that came and went to Hexham spinal ...see more
Hi, my grandfather, Hans Major Embleton, was born in Sacriston 1895. He grew up with his brothers and sisters, 10 in total in Victoria Street. He went down the mine at 14yrs, a mine putter, he then signed up for the Durham Light Infantry June 1913, trained and went to war in France. He survived, taken prisoner of war near the end. He returned and went back in the mine, ...see more
We lived in Chalfont until 1961 when we moved to Leigh-on-sea. I lived up the footpath in a bungalow at the side of the garage, opposite The Pheasant pub. I remember putting pennies around the green, and shopping in Paynes shop, where they had a barbers in the back and Paynes paper shop. We spent a lot of time behind the church playing in the Misbourne, also dancing on the village green on May ...see more
Can anybody remember when you walked up the fells at Throckley, half way up you passed on your right a farm or house where a girl called Cheryl Lawson lived. Straight past that and carry on to the top and turn right, on your left was a row of terraced houses and further down was an old stone cottage. There was a bus stop there, right outside that cottage. Can anyone remember what it was called? I think it ...see more
We lived at Anton Mill House above Rooksberry Mill on the River Anton. My father kept cattle during the war in a field below the level crossing and I had to cycle after school to pump water for them in the field. The crossing only served the mill and came down from the Salisbury Road. Sterling Poultry owned the land behind the crossing house.
Idlerocksdeer park has a wind turnie and is getting 440 solur panles
My father was mill manager and a company director from 1937 to 1961, and we lived in the mill house. I was assistant mill manager from 1963 to 1967. My father ran the local Home Guard during the 2nd world war, and was in the auxiliary fire service. I have many happy memories of time spent there, with my brother and sister.
I lived in Lilly Street with my family from 1955-1961. Family name was Briggs. We lived in no 59. Mam's name was Laura. There were seven children in our family, but only six lived there.
We went to St Edmunds school and attended St Edmunds Church, great times although money was short, we made our own entertainment.
Great memories of Whit Week walks, although no photos, sadly, and May Day, making our ...see more
I was at Warnham Court school for 2 years, 1972 until '74, great friends, great teachers, great memories, the school did so much for so many.
Does anyone remember the children's home in Packhorse Road called Crosfield House? I lived there from 1952 to 1965. I don't seem to be able to track down any photos of the home so if anyone has any or even remembers the place, would love to hear from you.
My name at the time was John Hancock and I lived in Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire before Philip Road was built. With fields opposite my home and the Convent Church along the way, it was so idyllic. The horse and cart milkman and the Corona drinks delivery still in my mind. I went to the Waterlooville primary school with the tin huts along the main road and then on to Cowplain secondary School, that ...see more
Stan and Helen Vaughan met me at the Leicester Train station after my long journey from California. I had won a Rotary International Scholarship and the Vaughans were my host family. I was a scared young girl and I immediately relaxed when I met this kind couple originally from Birmingham. They told me we were going to their home in the village of Desford, Leicestershire and my eyes were taking in the ...see more
I resided as a child at The Cedars for 14 years. I would like to know the history together with details of other children that were there from 1953 to 1964.
I moved to Holme on Spalding Moor, just after Easter 1953. My gran had a pub in Hull called The Black Boy, and she retired to Holme to run the Railway Inn in Holme and as I then lived with her I moved too. I was very excited to live in the country, as I had always lived in Hull before, which was a very dirty and sooty place in those days. I went to school in Market Weighton for the last few weeks until ...see more
This memory is written on behalf of June knight.
All my sympathies to Ja Ja's family. I have a lovely poem written in my autograph book from when we were at Arley in 1946.
When the V2 Rockets started to land in London, (June 1944) our whole school was evacuated. We did not know where we were going. We arrived by steam train at Doncaster and were taken to Skellow Village. Various households came and chose children from the tired little souls very late in the evening. I went home with Mr and Mrs Yapp to 60 Xfields Lane and met their son Raymond. I learned a lot from those 10 ...see more
My great grandmother was born in Little Waltham (Alice Eva Hart) and her sister married James Ennos (earlier comment from John) I visit their grave in St Martin's churchyard whenever I'm passing....I need to bring my gardening tools for next time ! Love the village and feel at home there
I first attended this camp in 1954 as a baby of 10 months of age and my first experience of the sea was with my father at that tender age. I attended for at least the next 10 years and learned to swim in the sea at Pagham and often played in the penny arcade and in the dunes behind the beach. I also used to fish for crabs at the old harbour and also fished with my father at the ...see more
Syd and Chrissie Harvey used to live in the flat above the archway when he worked for the town council as the foreman gardener. I lived on the other side of the building. To the right of the archway, on the ground floor, were offices. Previous to this photo there were lovely grounds and mature planting which had been removed to make a carpark?!!! what a lovely resource this was. We played and learned to ride our bikes on the undulating lawns in front of this building.
What was the old swimming pool called?
I was born and brought up in Maresfield and have wonderful memories of a very happy carefree childhood. Along with my brother and sisters we lived with my mum and dad and my dear old Gran. Gran had lived in the same cottage since she had married my grandad and in that 2 up 2 down cottage she had raised 8 children (it would have been 9 but 1 son passed away after an accident), my mum being ...see more
Moved into Long Riding in Jan 1957. I was 15 months old. I lived the other end, in the town houses.
HI
Curious to see if anyone ever reads these memories- before I submit any!! Hate to be reader of my own memories!
GEOF JONES
EX Cowley!
My dad was at the children's home in Mere from about 1952 to 1957/8. I am unable to find any information on the home on the internet, I do know the house isn't there anymore as it was demolished to build a road, but wondered if anyone has any old photos they could upload onto this site. I know my dad would love to see them :)
Born in 1957, I was brought up in Hatfeild Mead near the George public house. Went to school, firstly at Willows nursery, then Morden Primary, then on to grammer at Mitcham. Can remember many happy weekends spent in Morden park, especially running up the big hill at the back of the park. Used to walk down to Morden Court Parade every Sunday morning with my dad to get his paper and my shillings worth of sweets, which ...see more
Got married here on 25th January 1975, wonderful church and I didn't have far to travel as I lived in Hatfeild Mead, opposite.
What I am most interested in writing about is how Highgate Village has changed so much since my school days, growing up there in the 1960s. Today most of the shops are coffee shops, estate agents & charity shops. But in the 60s there were all sorts of shops. There were 2 newsagents, both on the Haringey (East) side of the High Street, one of them is still a ...see more
My dad, Jack Stanley (born 1937 ) told me of a lion which escaped into a back garden when the train it was on was hit by a bomb. I have found a clip on pathe news so I know it happened, but can't find much more information. Would love to hear more about my dad's tale.
The houses at the end of the shopping terrace were my home for a number of years. They were called Giffords Cross Cottages. They were decorated for the Coronation celebrations.
Attended Herd Lane Primary School and then the new school at Stanford le Hope called Hassenbrook.
I played the part of Lysander in A Midsummer Nights Dream with the Hassenbrook Players for the Coronation celebrations in the ...see more
Hi, I'm researching my family history and wonder if anyone remembers Ada and Robert Smith. I think they owned a fish and chip shop but I am not sure where in Salford it would have been in the 1940-50's. Ada and Robert had a son William who went off to war and did not return in 1917. The circumstances I have found out were very sad. They may also have been related to Elsie Smith who is the person I am ...see more
Good times. No electric, log fires, paraffin lamps, everything cooked on the old faithful black lead grate which I had to clean every week.
No running water - my job every night when I got home from school was to get the yoke off the wall and fetch two buckets of drinking water from a communial pump at the end of the lane. The water got to the pump from a fresh water spring a mile away, this was pumped ...see more
Back in 1958, me and my mate who was 4 yrs older than me also visited Gatacre Hall. I too was overwhelmed by the size of the library and the size of some of the books.
I also saw the car. I think it was an old MG. I don't know who told me this or if it is true but I was told he got one of the maids pregnant and did a runner and just left everything. I think he went to India or Africa. I don't know if he returned ...see more
Hello. Just been looking at some of your letters. I remember Jack Hopes farm in Norton, my mate worked for him for many years and also Mr Clowes. I do remember him, I worked down Askern pit and I remember Alan working down pit as well. I started in 1964, after leaving Sutton Rd School on the Friday, went to sign on at Askern Pit the following Saturday.
Stubbs Walden - when my mam ...see more
One of my best friends at school (Archers Court) was Lynn Amos who lived down Westcourt (?) Lane in Shepherdswell. I remember her mother died, sadly, I think whilst we were at school ...not sure. She had an older brother. Lynn would be 55 now, like me. I would love to hear of know how she is. Must be the same family.
Alfred Ellington. 01-06-2013.
My earliest memorys are during the war when we lived in the rear half of the old Star public house. l would have been 11/12 and l remember helping father put earth on small fire bombs dropped by german aircraft the night Fountains Farm on the Benwick road was hit and set alight. A while later my mum and dad were given No.8 Ashbeach Drove and we moved, by this time l had ...see more
I remember two cinemas in Church Road, namely The Rialto and The Albany. The first having a balcony and the Albany being just one single floor. Does anyone else remember this? I lived there between 1930 till 1942. Family name 'Albone'. I am now 85 and the last Albone in line. I lived on Central Hill - number 178. Happy Days . . . .
I spent approximately 2 years as a messenger boy with the then GPO, based in two gracious old homes along Wimbledon Parkside. Their names were Gayton, and Martholme. I seem to remember the address being No's.74 and 76. I understand that one of these homes belonged to one of the Huntley-Palmer families, and the other to members of the Tate and Lyle families. How true these ...see more
The Tavern is a beautiful place to have a drink or bite to eat. This is because: a) it has a peaceful area around it, and b) it is a stunning building itself!
My nan and grandad lived on Wormelow Hill for many years with my uncle Ossy, they always drank in the Trump; have no pictures only memories.
I haven't been on this site for a while....it's soooo interesting! Does anyone know Pat Williams (sister of Irene and Jimmy) who lived on McCauley Rd? Or Valerie Bricknell, or Rita Hayward who lived on Montpelier Gardens? Or John Ward -- the son of Sid Ward of the removal company? These 'kids' have been on my mind so often, as in.....whatever happened to.....?
Had an after school job cleaning graves. Had the fright of my life when the bell started up.. fled in terror and never went back!
This was my school between 1962 and 1965. My memories are of separation from parents and friends, to live a regimented and mildly authoritarian regime at far too young an age. It wasn't awful ...but not nice either. The M4 runs through the playing fields where I suffered many a young humiliation. Thanks for sharing this picture all the same.
Do parents still subject their children to this?
Remembering my childhood memories in Cossall, what fun we had. I lived on The Glebe from 1953 for 50 years. I remember the cold winters, waking up in the mornings with ice on the inside of the bedroom windows, going to Top School and waiting for the little bottles of milk to thaw out, playing on the frozen canal and sledging on a piece of cardboard down the hills where the new housing estate now stands. In the spring, ...see more
Gosh, how the years roll! I used to go to Uxbridge shopping with my Mum in the late 1940's, we used the 455 bus from Denham. I can remember precious tin toys from the Market House. And, yes, when the cash was there, we used to get some of my clothes at Suiters. Windsor Street and the Gardens in Cross Street were gems - Windsor Street had the most fabulous general goods store, the smell of which I ...see more
A dear friend, Miss Reumah Cockshutt, lived with her father, mother, brother and two sisters at 10 Whins Avenue, Sabden. It was a tragic life as her brother Stephen was killed by a kick from a horse whilst serving in the army. Shortly after her little sister fell ill and died and then Reumah's beloved father passed away. Understandably, she used to get deep bouts of depression and decided to ...see more
I need drawings or photos of the gardens at Felixstowe's shelter before it was pulled down.
We lived in Bulford Camp from about 1945 till father left the army in about 1947. Father was in the RAMC and was stationed at the MRS opposite the Kiwi School near to where the Catholic Church now stands. I attended the garrison school in Bond Street till they raised the school leaving age to 15 and we had to go to Tidworth Down School between Tidworth and Ludgershall. We were taken there in a canvas ...see more
I was born in Fishlake in 1952, I was the 10th Henson child born to William and Freda Henson. I loved being in Fishlake as I was free to roam around and everyone knew each other. Summers were spent collecting blackberries with mum's neighbours; mum would bake them into pies and crumbles, and make jam too. Next we collected rosehips for school - we got paid for them. We had no electricity, no hot water and the ...see more
I was born at home in North Street, Stilton; the house is the one on the left, just after the big white one (it was 19 North Street). I lived in many houses in Stilton - 19 North St, 55 North St, 6 Glebe Rd, 14 Norman Drive and 3 Manor Road before moving to Whittlesey. I still go to Stolton every week to see my mother who was a teacher at the school.
I went to the above pictured school. It was called Sir John Talbots Grammar School. One had to pass the eleven plus exam to be accepted there. Don't think John Thomas was even there! Nowadays it is known as SJT presumably standing for Sir John Talbot, the school is far from what it was. I have happy memories and don't think Sir John will be best pleased re his wrongly named school!
I remember being in the Beeches Prep School at the time. Anybody else remember the staff I wonder? Miss Lambert in Kindergarten and Transition, Miss Cutler - Form 1, Miss Reid - Lower 2 and Mrs Cotton in Middle 2. I was 9 when Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, came to visit and we all learnt to curtsey to perfection. The streets were crowded and there was a lot of excited pupils
and staff. ...see more
I recall my dad worked on this house possibly during late 1950`s; he worked for Kingsbury of Boxford as a bricklayer/plasterer.
I lived on Ellor Street for the first 16 years of my life. I went to John Street School followed by Pendleton High School for Girls. I clearly remember the Salford Hippodrome at the end of the street and frequent visits there to see 'The Pantomime'. I attended the Unitarian Church on Cross Lane and after the service on Sunday afternoon would go with my friends to Brays, just further along Cross Lane, for a hot Vimto ...see more
Next door to the outfitters was Glascocks television engineers; my mother cleaned for them. Also had place in Coulsdon.
My grandmother and mother were born at Adwick Le Street. Lucy Simpson in 1916, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Simpson. Lucy married John Sargent from Thyristor and my mother Joyce was born in 1937. They emigrated to Australia where our family is today.
It would be nice to know where my class friends are today and relive them days again. I would like to see Stanley Simms as he was best man 40 years ago.
My parents moved to Wimbledon Broadway in the 1950's. They had a restaurant next door but one to the Gaumont cinema. Between us was a pub and then the restaurant we owned, it was called the Elite Restaurant, if it had any connection to the Elite cinema across the road I am not sure. I do remember riding on the trams in the very early 50's when I was ten years old and they terminated outside the Town Hall then ...see more
I attended the 'boards' training school based at Harold Hill, along with 79 other apprentices during 1960/61... I shared lodgings at Collier Row for the first year of the apprentice training course where we made a basic tool kit and tool box all by hand initially, & from raw steel and drawings, along with relevant machine workshop training. After this we were dispatched ...see more
Our playground was everywhere, such was the wonders of growing up in the area. Hanney Road was lengthy and as is mentioned by others... what joy we had! I collected frogs from the pond with the help of Peter, a Romany gypsy boy, he had great skills in finding them. We would hold frog races on wet days in the ablusions huts. And the big coloured snails were another source of fun ...see more
I remember going to Gwytherin a few times when I was a little girl with my parents and gran in the 1950's. My gran's uncle, Thomas Edwards, used to run the Red Lion a very long time ago. After that his daughters, Kitty and Jinny had it. I never met them, but I remember the village overlooked by the church and graveyard seemed very forbidding at the time. Does anyone have any history of the Red Lion? My great ...see more
I remember living in a terraced Street close to 'Vikky Park' as a child. We used to visit the war memorial after standing in the freezing cold watching my Dad play football... sometimes you couldn't even see the game for the fog. I remember being astonished when reaching up to touch the flags inside the memorial one day, I discovered they were icy cold to the touch and made of stone. I remember I used to stand ...see more
I'm doing my family tree researching the Foster family who lived in Billy Row, Crook in the 1911 census. My mam' s great grandad, Henry Foster, headed the family with his wife Mary Ann. Their children included Robert E Foster who was a dentist and married a Mabel Ellison in 1912. Robert died in 1933 at the age of 43 in The Leases Nursing Home, Newcastle. Apparently Mabel married again and had a daughter, ...see more
Information on the removal of the Felixstowe shelter
I lived in 71 Hailsham Road off of Straight Road till we sadly moved in the April of 1971. I always remember; the Grammar School, at the back of Appleby Drive we used to have Saturday fetes with the small steam train ride, remember folks? And of course turning into Hailsham from Edenal Hill Road - the great blue Tonibell Ice Cream van with the cow mounted on top. These were the picador finned CA vans ...see more
I lived on Peache Road from 1965 to 1978, having been born in Wendover hospital and my memory of the 'pig sty' was that it was actually a slaughter house/abattoir. I am really testing my recall now but I think that they used to run the incinerator on Sunday mornings and if the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, it stank! I also went to Downend County infants and juniors when Miss Bloodworth ...see more
I lived at 90 East Hill just by the corner of St Albans. In St Albans lived all my little pals; Robert Ball, David Shaw, Peter Richardson, Frankie Taylor and Graham Wilson. We played in the street on our tricycles in the early years and did wheelies in front of the Tiger Pub until we headed home. During the days we would roam in fields off East Hill and Darenth Lane with catapults ...see more
We came back to Tidworth in 1944 from South Africa where we had been evacuated to from Egypt via Palestine in 1940. Father had been repatriated from Stalag VIIIB and was posted to BMH Tidworth. We lived in New Zouch Avenue and I went to school, then aged 10, in the Garrison School in the barracks. I remember behind the school was the American PX and the 'Yanks' would throw us ...see more
I was moved to explore the interest in Hatches Farm, Coggeshall Road by Winifred Murray in the first edition of the Braintree book. I was a grandson of Fred and Nellie Crozier during the years of war, together with my mother, Ethel Lewis, 1941-1946 dad (Dick) being away on military duties.
Any chance to share memories on Hatches would be really appreciated and I look forward to any responce from Winifred or her relations. Thanks. Together with news of former pupils of BCHS 1953-1960!
Does anyone remember the Headmaster, Mr Adams, the Headmistress, Miss Hollows, Mrs Dickson and Mrs Ireland putting a tin and milk bottle along I think, with items of the day in the church wall either side of the altar outside? We was told after 25 years, I think, they would take the time capules out and show them to the children and invite the people who, as ...see more
Was wondering if anyone remembers the Francis Family in Ystalyfera? My mother was the youngest Carol, and there was Margaret, Jean, Dorethy and Philip. My grandparents were William John and Margaret Phyllis. They lived in Pen-yr-wern, we now live in England but I am interested in learning about their life in Ystalyfera.
I can remember the arcade very well; there was a chap working in there and was very much like Elvis Presley who had jet black hair with a quiff. There was also a hair salon on site, that is where I had my first grown up hair cut (a paige boy).
I was born at 15 Currie Street in a modern prefab which had electric lights when most other houses still only had gas. We had an inside toilet and bathroom luxuries that others could only dream of then. At one end of Currie Street was Ponton Road, which is still there and which has taken over what was Currie Street, and Woodgate Street, at the other end Everet Street. We had the Nine Elms Rail goods yard on the ...see more
I was a pupil there between 1950-55. I have at home a treasured photo of the school cricket team with Bert Short and Mr Garbett. Members were myself, my cousin Phillip, Andrew Trickey, Martin Case, Martin Balch, Keith Dickenson, Clive Short, Terry Hunt, Terry Redmain, Robin Wall, and Kimberly Fisher(scorer). It was a good all round team but the late Terry Hunt was our star all rounder whilst Clive Short was a good ...see more
1940 - I had joined the W.A.A.F in London and chose to be posted to Nottinghamshire; I was just 18 and my posting was firstly to Hucknall and then to Watnall when the Ops room was ready. 1940 was a dreadful winter but thanks to the snowfalls the whole area was transformed. Our huts, we were told by the locals, had been built on the site which had been the local village pond. The Royal Oak was our local pub, just a few ...see more
I lived in 57 Avenue Road just off Crouch End Hill. I lived with my mother, father, sister Pamela and brother Gerald in two rooms. My brother was 7, my sister 12 and myself, 14. There were 6 families living in this house. Mum cooked on a stove literally in a cupboard. One bathroom was shared by all families. There was an outbreak of polio in the house which two families contracted. ...see more
I was a member of the small printing unit at JSSC during my National Service. Our job was to print the material for the Combined Services Officers course on Atomic Warfare. The Officers were from all the Commonwealth countries and mostly from the higher ranks. The Commandant of the camp was Lt. Col Acland and the Adjutant was a Major Reynolds. The officers were billeted in Latimer House and the other ...see more