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.

A couple at a laptop

Add a Memory!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • 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:

...and hundreds more!

Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.

Subscribe

Join the thousands who receive our regular doses of warming nostalgia! Have our latest blog posts and archive news delivered directly to your inbox. Absolutely free. Unsubscribe anytime.

Displaying Memories 27921 - 28000 of 36828 in total

I remember being in the choir at the church during the time of my evacuation to Westbury Leigh sometime during the 1939-45 war. I also pumped the organ which was at that time quite hard work for a young lad (but I think the pay was better). The fun was to watch the tell tale small lead weight that showed how much air there was left to play the organ, there was also a similar tell tale that the ...see more
I lived in the pre-fabs built a few years after the war, on Strath Crescent. That would have been around 1953. Later, those 'white boxes' were to be demolished, so we moved to new council semi-detached houses at Persian Sands (I don't know what it's called now) near Greenside (I think that was the name) Park. I recall walks along 'The Broon's Road', playing near The Meal Mill, ...see more
There was a high class stationers which opened around the late 1960s on the site currently occupied by by Mad Lilies florist. They used to stock artist materials and Rowney pencils which as a growing child I used to admire greatly and saved pocket money diligently to buy them. It was a lovely shop to look around, but along with the rest of my family I am desperately trying to think of the name of the shop...can anybody help please?
Does anyone remember me, Tony Smith? I lived on Meriton Road for 25 years. My friends were Derek Clayton, Brian Wilson, Ray Riley etc etc, and our first pints were drunk in the Greyhound and the Freemasons. We also went to the Regal dance hall, and the Creole Club in Wilmslow, all good memories. Please e mail me: tonysmith296@tiscali.co.uk
My dad Lyndon is originally from Gilfach Goch, his dad was called Bill (Billy the book), his mum was Ivy and his sisters are Phylis, Tisha and Doreen, his brother was called Gwylim. They lived in Windham Street and then moved to Danybryn in the 1950s. My dad moved to Sheffield in 1967 but we had some great summer holidays there. We always needed to go for 2 weeks because the first week was spent visiting all the many ...see more
Hi Can anyone help me? Was there a Netherley House in Hinckley Road in the late 1930s/early 1940s? I have a relative who was born there in November 1940 but I cant see any record of the place. Any help would be appreciated. Regards Tracey
A recent visit to Haddenham reminded me of earlier visits to the monthly ceileidhs with Whitethorn Morris. More than 20 years ago I made my first visit to Haddenham and I remember leading the Whitethorn Band on my accordian for the interval entertainment spot in the crowded ceileidh. Just this month, November 2009, the dancers were invited back to perform again and it was a great thrill ...see more
I lived and worked at the manor from Sept 1986 to around May 1988, if anyone remembers me and wants to get in touch please email. j.goodwin007@hotmail.co.uk
Adding to yesterday's input about Hewson Street in Sheriff Hill; I remember it so well! From the west end, at the square where Billy Howarth had his coal business, I remeber Alan Freeland, and his mother 'Boxer.' Then 'Nutty' and 'Ginger Wood. The next along was a Mr Lewis who had a secondhand shop down Gateshead, then Audrey Reece, whose grandfather was the local bookie, and below them lived the Erringtons (their ...see more
My grandfather, A J Hurd, was, for a time, Rudyard Kipling's head gardener at Batemans. He, my grandmother and my mother (now Joyce Richardson) and her sister (now Barbara Wainwright) lived in one of the cottages (which still exists) near the mill adjacent to Batemans. In addition to his responsibilities in the gardens, Grandpa also worked with the private hydro-electric turbine generator (which also still ...see more
I was raised in Twechar but left there when I was 8. I am now 45 and my memories are still strong of Twechar. I am very homesick still. I look at Twechar on google earth and I see the changes. I wish I could come home. I still remember all the people there, and going on a double-decker buss to school in Kirky from Twechar.
It was around 1952 when these tragic accidents happened to to two Millfield families. I remember the day as plain today as it was then. A little boy had fallen into the Dewley Burn and drowned, his mother was Edna Clues who lived at the end of Millfield Crescent. Everyone was out in the back lane with horrified expressions, some crying, others consoling each other. What this poor woman must have been going through, she was ...see more
I was at Wheatley Secondary School from 1957 to 1962 and then went on to Northfield/Littlemore Grammer to do 'O' Levels. Fred Anson was the legendary headmaster, 'Stumpy' Sternberg the Art teacher. 'Chester' Barker and Mr Tong for were the teachers for Science, Ron Green for Maths. Mr Babb was the Music teacher and used to freewheel down the hill on his bike to the school! Class mates included Terry ...see more
I grew up here from 1972-98 then moved to Cornwall. I have great memories of living in Patchway and go back to see friends about twice a year. Andy.
1952 to 1972. bunny park. Portland Crescent. See also southallknowhere site, good.
Greyhounds 1939, when did it close? Martinware end of Havelock. Dominion. Most us lived north. See southallknowhere site
John Nichols, yes many of us remember 1940s, 50,s 60s, see southallknowhere site.
Born in the Dibden Perlieu nursing home in 1943, I then lived in both Blackfield and Fawley. Growing up was a challenge in those days, but we survived. I attended school at both Fawley and Hardley. Summers were spent on the raft at Lepe, fishing for eels in the sluice, or paddling my canoe around to Calshot and back. I worked for KEN Wheeler (Fawley Newsagents) and then did a stint with John Holland (milkman) before ...see more
Hi! I have recently been researching into my family history, and I came across a photograph dated to around the early 1870s in my home. On the back it read Wm Hughes photographer and oil painter in Llangefni and Amlwch on Sundays (something along those lines, I haven't got the photograph with me at the moment for reference). Does anyone know anything about this man? I have googled and googled to find information to no ...see more
Dunno if this is the same place, we called it Harmans Water, on the Ascot/Bracknell road. My Uncle Albert had a little demolition firm, my brother was the driver, they were the only regulars, I as a kid worked at weekends and holidays as did other relatives. First job was to pull down the Victorian Post Office for the Bracknell Dev Corp, it was on the main road (I think. Then we pulled down Lily Hill Farm (funny, ...see more
This is taken from one of my fields, known as Etchingham Banks, on what was then Wedds Farm. It is in fact in Etchingham parish, not Ticehurst, a strange anomaly considering it's half a mile from the church. If you go up there now, the view is almost the same. The field is still grass and still has bullocks and sheep on it. The picture is early 1950s if not late 1940s, as the field in the middle left ...see more
I grew up in Sheriff Hill. My great-gran Margaret Jackson lived on Hewson Street and I lived with my parents in Leeming Gardens in the flats. I used to be sent to the corner shop on Hewson Street. It was called Robbies. We would buy broken biscuits and if my mam was hard up you could run up 'tick' and pay at the end of the week. I used to go to Sheriff Hill School opposite St John's church on Church Road. ...see more
My Uncle Clem built the Lychgate, he was a carpenter who later lived at Cefn Caled Kerry. He was the son of Harry Griffiths, tailor and famous choirmaster from Bettws who lived at Pentre Lifior Cottage. My cousin Ray still lives in Newtown.
What fantastic days they were, despite the hardship. We were a family of 9 Seven children Allan Joy,twins Michael and David, myself Sam and a second set of twins Kathryn and Brian I too remember Mrs Greys shop, also Mr Bach from down the lane towards Wergs post office, he used to deliver groceries around the CAMP, as it was known by the locals we had loads of playmates mostly Polish children as a ...see more
I live in the US. In a desk that we purchased years ago in an antique shop, we found a certificate that says: The Royal Drawing Society's Exhibition, "The Children's Royal Academy" London, Highly Commended, Julie Woodhead (aged 13-14) Convent of the Nativity, Romiley, for Two Pictorial Compositions. 4 Entries, May 1965, R.R. Tomlinson, President. If this is yours, please let me know and I will send it to you. Michelle Witzel witzel@comcast.net
My parents knew a local artist of this name who lived at a place called Windmill in Hullbridge. I was only 4 but got the impression that he lived in the tree in the garden of his mother's house and she kept goats. He always wore an long old tweed coat and painted a couple of pictures of me - one in pastels and one in oils which I still have. I would be very interested to hear if anyone else remembers him?
These days Greylake's claim to fame is the council tip where people get rid of their rubbish, but when I was a little girl it was one of the greatest places in the world to me. If you go a couple of fields past the tip and look through the gateways you will come to a gate where nothing grows properly in a strip down the field. This is where the drove led down to two houses that belonged to my Granny Frampton ...see more
I was 6 years old in 1941 and a native of Glasgow. During the worst of the German bombing at that time, my mother, brother and I moved to Auchnahyle Farm, which was farmed by my father's uncle and aunts, Bob, Mag and Jess Jamieson. My father remained in Glasgow as he was in a reserved occupation. I went to Pitlochry Primary School and made friends. We wandered the Black Spout woods together and fished the burns for ...see more
I was born in St Catherine's Hospital during 1943 and spent the next 22 years living right across the street from it until I emigrated to Canada in 1965. I can remember my mother, my sister and I walking along Derby Road with the empty pram to pick up a bag of coal (in the days of rationing)! The corner shop was Morris's just at the bottom of the hill near North Road - we used to go there for a llb of ...see more
I spent the school holidays at my grandparents' bungalow 'Cartref' in Eastern Road just off the high street during the 1960s. They were Sid and Gert Burton and knew a lot of the local characters like Kipper Tom. I had wonderful times down there running wild around the Island and trying to win a few pence on the machines to buy chips. Happy memories.
I was born at Cockfield station where dad was a guard and signalman, he was also in the Home Guard. My sister Jean and her friend Anne Coates used to walk over the fell to school, there were no school buses then. Last year I received a Defence Medal which was my father George Robson's for his war work in the Home Guard. I am doing a family history of the Robsons that lived at Low Lands and Evenwood and Cockfield and would love to hear from cousins.
I am interested in family history. Many of my relatives surnamed Hunter came from the Townhill Miners Village, the earliest being William Hunter, born 1750. I have been researching the area my ancestors were miners, it was a tough life - "Clackmannanshire Miner Killed - A miner named Robert Hunter (22), married, residing at Ramsay Street, Coalsnaughton, met with a fatal accident in the underground ...see more
Betty and I were brought up in Davidson Street, Sneinton just before the Second World War. It was a small back-to-back terraced house with an outside toilet. One of my first recollections was being bathed in the small kitchen sink and the woman who lived next door talking to Mum. It was snowing. Later they made a snowman and put a pipe in his mouth. It was great fun. When war broke out we moved to 3 Hoten ...see more
I was born in a little cottage in Whetstone in 1938, just across the road from the brook. When it rained it used to flood all the bottom end of the village, and when the buses went through the floods, the furniture in the houses would move with the ripples,. The bus drivers would stop across the road, and there would always be a cup of tea for them from the people in the cottages. In 1942 we ...see more
I used to love The Puddle, I used to go there every weekend during term time from when it opened at Easter every year, until in closed in October. I would try to go every day during the summer holidays, but I didn't always have the money to get in, I would plead with my mum to give me the money to go, I used to do odd jobs to earn some money to go. I remember one day I went and it was throwing it down with ...see more
My wife was living in Northhumberland Avenue when a V1 doodlebug passed by very low, to land unexploded at the top end of the avenue. She lived at number 208. The house number it landed at was about 220 to 230. It was on a Sunday afternoon. The man living there was in the kitchen having his lunch, and walked along the V1 to turn off his gas and water! My wife remembers quite clearly the V1 coming up the street, ...see more
Earlier this year, my wife and I visited St Kitts, which has a small museum; here we discovered that Thomas Warner, son of William Warner 'gentleman farmer from near Framlingham', had landed on St Kitts as the first European settler on 16th January 1628, colonising same for the English, and later the same of Antigua. With him was Thomas Jefferson whose grandson(?) became one of the earliest Presidents. Well my name ...see more
My husband was born in Wales and is a descendant of farming stock going back to the 1700s, but it's only since retiring to Devon that he started Family History. It seems that his grandmother's parents were born and raised in Devon as agricultural labourers. They were the Blake family who moved to 4 Glancelle, Llanafan Fawr in the 1870s. He then strangly became a brick maker. His last child Edith Louisa ...see more
I remember the blacksmith's and his forge just along from the pub (The Swan I think? - could be wrong),also the wild raspberries, red and white, growing on the common across the road from the pub. I spent about one day in the school there in 1948-1950 and cried so much they had to send me home. I went to Cubs a couple of times at the top of Jasons Hill but hated that too, I was very insecure as were a lot of us kids just after the war. We lived at New House Farm.
I clearly remember the school at Whelpley Hill and detouring on my way there to see an aircraft straddling the roar, fuel dripping from its engines and the flight crew washing their hands in the dripping petrol. Another time there was a Danish plane full of cherries in the road and the locals were helping themselves to the plunder. It was common in those times to see planes in the paddock or across the ...see more
I was born in Cresswell maternity hospital at Dumfries on May 13th 1959, my name was Ann Little. My mum came from Clerkhill, one side of the Nith and my dad came from the other, Sandside. They both met in their teens one night at the Loreburn Hall dance, and from there on they got married and had four children, I am the second child and their first daughter. We were brought up and lived in ...see more
Hi everybody, I remember the Piazza shopping complex as my dad owned the butchers shop on there, Harry Hargreaves. We had some great times working there and I have great memories of the good people that lived in the area, including my mate Andrew Watt who lived on Williamson House. Also the greengrocers shop was owned by a friend of our family, he was called Dave Bowden, then there was the chemist which was ...see more
I remember my childhood, going to the chippy and playing on the beach, everyone was nice and happy. I still live in Barassie but now all I think of is how dull it has become with new buildings everywhere (some better than others ). My grandparents have lived in Troon/Barassie now for nearly 40 years and say things have never been the same, it has gone from bad to worse. It might seem as though I ...see more
My paternal grandmother lived in Lovegreen Street and died when I was 11 years old. Her name was Hanley. She was 80+ when she died and had brought up 6 children in this tiny terraced cottage. I used to visit with my dad and do remember that there was a family with name of Loftus. The ferry was no longer in existence then but my mother told me the story of when she was a little girl and lived at Brasside, they all ...see more
I was priviledged to teach at Warnham Court School 1966-7. We spent a lot of time exploring the countryside and doing pond dipping - getting out wellies good and wet! The students in my class found writing difficult but we wrote books and poems.It was my first year of teaching and I found the days long - from breakfast supervision to lights out' on the dormitory floor. I can still remember the aroma ...see more
I am living in New Zealand now but well remember Mum taking my sister and I to see Father Christmas at the Bearmans Dept. store during the 1950's. In fact I came across a photo of my sister and I with Father Christmas which I am sure was taken there. I was about 7 years old my sister about 5. This was our main Christmas treat and every year Bearmans had a different "grotto" theme. ...see more
My family lived in the end cottage in River Row,our garden backed on to the river and railway line beyond.My brother and I were aged 3 and 4 years old and I can remember waving to my father as he went to work in the pits, the train was a bit far away but my dad used to wave a white handerchief at us. My brother fell in the river once and nearly drown, he was about 5yr old and I was 4yr old, I lay down on my tummy on a ...see more
By kind permission of the Lord Ashcombe, the Holy Trinity Junior Boys Club, Wimbledon, camped for four weeks every year on Ranmore Common. Most of us were choirboys, so we augmented St Barnabas's choir for their services twice each Sunday. Lord Ashcombe read the lessons. At that time there was a dairy next to his house, Denbies, and he gave us our milk. (The estate has since been turned over to a vineyard.) The two ...see more
I remember when I used to live in Gilfach Goch, Mount Pleasant, and the old settlement in the High Street. I used to perform puppet shows in the front room and charge one penny entrance fee, I spent the money in Leslie Belben's shop at the top of the High Street. On other occasions I spent my pocket money going to the cinema, either at the 'Globe' which further up the High Street, or the Workmens Hall, which is ...see more
I once bought an old book dated 1795 entitled "The Pocket Magazine", which had several signatures on early pages of the owner: "Mary Pouncy Rushton". Interested in learning more about her I sought her birth, marriage, death etc details in all the "Rushtons" I could discover: no luck. The book went into the roof. The other day I came upon it again and this time searched every page. A few pages in was a ...see more
I was born and brought up in Cowley. We lived at 169 Oxford Road which now belongs to Emmaus I believe. Across the road was a large old cottage which during the war was used to house evacueee and the Post Office was next door. When I was young I belonged to the Better Britain Brigade. I have photos taken in St James Hall if anyone is interested, with Fathers Whye and Beacham. I attended church at both St James and St ...see more
My dad was a lorry driver working for a firm called E Day & Sons, it was a green flatback rigid lorry and his main job was working out of a company called Wolfe Rubber Co. They used to make things for the car trade, most of my dad's deliveries were to the car makers up in the Midlands. The reason why I mention this is because I wonder how many people remember how Southall turned into a Indian community, well ...see more
You know I haven't come across anyone who did their 8 weeks' training at Vindi in the summer months, most people you talk to remember most of all the severe winters. I am no exception, I remember going down to the ship from the camp last thing at night for a couple of slces of bread and butter and a mug of what was supposed to aid sleep. If you remember anti, my fondest memory I think was the latest music they ...see more
I am doing my family tree. Francis Evans was my great-great-grandfather, he was born around 1802 and married a Hannah in 1828, they lived in Staveley until he died in 1876. I am trying to find out my great-great-grandmother's maiden name Hannah ..?, Francis Evans's wife, they had a daughter called Hannah also, she was born 1830/31 and married a George Bates in Staveley, he was my great-grandfather. If ...see more
Rediffusion: about 1958 and onwards. This bombshell hit us like nought else, it meant no interference on our wireless. No more tuning in every ten minutes or so. It was A. B. C. D. E. F. You knew Radio Luxembourg was the station for pop, but it was hell to get on a normal set, we would sit with our hand on the knob and ear to the speaker resetting the dial. But with good old Rediffusion it was crisp and clear. And ...see more
I now live in Low Marnham, I have lived here for about 7 months, and was interested in its history, and so fell upon this web page. I was most interested in Marion Wilkinson's message about her story of her grandmother who had her throat cut. I wanted to know if you know which house it was, because there is something a little odd about my house, that I don't understand and I wondered if there was a conection. If ...see more
Who remembers the good old 1950s in Woking? At this time I was a teenager. I used to go dancing at the Public Hall which was named 'Atlanta'. My girlfriend at that time was a schoolfriend, and we both went to Goldsworth School. Her name was Georgina Burt, and she lived in Horsell. There were a lot of soldiers dancing there at that time. We also went to a dancing club in Brookwood. In my early school days I often ...see more
I lived there as a young child from about the ages of 2-14 years old (1960-early 1970s). As a young child Elmer Road seemed to be at the end of the world. The main road heading east hit a dead-end and went nowhere. For years our world seemed, to me at least, to be the stoney beach, the village, Bognor town centre and nothing else. There was never much to do... nothing ...see more
I too remember the Mexican cacti garden at Worfield. It was owned by Lieutenant General Sir Oliver Lees and was a favourite place of my father's as there was a Mexican band. We used to sit and listen to the unusual strains of the Mexican songs over the Shropshire countryside. Bizarre, but a lovely memory!
I remember going to the Mexican gardens at Worfield, I'm sure they were owned by Sir Oliver Lees and there was a Mexican band.
I was born in Rayne and in the 1950s.I have fond memories of being able to play various sports in the road at School Road with my brother Peter and friend Richard Dodd, gaining a few more players as word got around! We used to mark the Tennis Court on the road with chalk and played many games, sometimes having to vacate to allow the occasional vehicle to pass. Chief Inspector Baker of Braintree was often passing by ...see more
Escaping from his mammoth wife, Gran Con, who could eat a whole chicken at one sitting, Great Grandad Stickland fled Street in Somerset and took lodgings in the F&H. He suffered nightmares, and the person who slept in the same lodging room used to turn him over. One night he did not and that night he died. Perhaps he thought his wife had caught up with him. He was a grand horsemen and ...see more
Stayed here with my parents in August 1966 when it was a Christian Guest House. If there had been a fire it would have been a death trap!!
From my birth in 1945 to my departure from Greenock in 1958 I think I can honestly say were the best years of my life. I was born in Oakfield Terrace, I was the middle of three children. Tough times? Who knew, everybody was in the same boat. My family moved about a bit, to Port Glasgow Road (PADDIES CASTLE) then to Rossbank Road, after which we came south to London, but by then my childhood had gone and I guess I just had to grow up. You know something? I don't think I ever did.
My parents were married in this church in June 1943. My father Ernest was in the Navy (based at Portland) and my mother Joan worked as a secretary at Tilleys Garage.
I was posted to no 7 training unit number 9 troop 5th in February 1953, i did have a troop photo but with 5 house moves over the years they have been lost. If anyone out there has a photo of this group I would love to see it, also any photos of the OTW unit at Marne Lines, or if no photo any memories, as I would love to receve an email. I would like to find out about my best friend Brian Cook, any information would be gratefully received. Bob Brown
My mother - Peggy Barker - looked after Mungo Walker, the grandson of the Heaton-Ellises when he returned from Kenya as a 7 year old in the late 1930s. This was only for a few months until he went to boarding school. She was supposed to be teaching him Maths but I think from the sound of it, they just had a lovely time going on walks and generally acclimatising him to life in England. ...see more
I was based in Inverbervie from March 1957 till March 1958 with 977 Signals Unit of the Royal Air Force. 977 SU operated radar from an underground site on the hill a couple of miles north of the village. Height finding and azimuth aerials were mounted on plinths on the surface. Coming up to the surface to work on the aerials or just for a change of scene was always pleasant, with curlews calling and ...see more
Hi I am researching the Cranleigh Hotel in Cranleigh (presently called the Cranley Hotel). It has also in the past been The Railway Hotel. I have also been told that the hotel was previously in a different place (where the Old Laundry Cottages are now) but I am not sure if this information is correct. Can anyone help me with the history of this hotel? Many thanks for reading this. Regards, LINDA
Westgate opened in 1958 for my last school year. I competed in the discus and cross country, and represented the school in rugby and a decathlon. Great school, followed by Slough College. Later, I emigrated and worked for a company in Australia, then the government. My boss talked me into studying, which later led to university where I met my wife.
I'm only fourteen but still I have some amazing memories of Ferryside, generations of my family have lived here and i'm planning never to leave. Me and my mam, we're looking through all the pictures and everything seemed so simple, I wish it was still like that, I like the look of how things were back then and I really do wish everything stayed the same. Especially the cafe and square, if you ask me there ...see more
Burrow Hill School is now derelict. It closed in 1998 and I have just walked past the boarded-up site this afternoon. Although I have lived in Frimley Green since 1993 and seen one of its main buildings from within a housing estate at the bottom of the hill, I have never known what that building was. Entry into the school is really off the beaten track and in effect the school is really hidden in the local ...see more
My father, Dudley David Wright, who lived in a poor section of Grimsby with his foster mother Nellie Fields and was born in 1924 told me of summers he spent in Dogdyke on a farm owned by a Mrs Vintner. Another person who summered there was Edith STokes, who died in the 1980's or 1990's. My father later emigrated with my mother, sister and I to Australia and has since died and I have no record of his birth parents, ...see more
My parents moved to Pottonin 1937 on the Land Resettlement Scheme from Sunderland. As I was only 18 months old at the time and we were not there long, my memories consist of photographs only and these are of members of my family working the land. Shortly before the Second World War broke out we moved to Bygrave in Hertfordshire. During our time there we had avacuees staying with us and Canadian forces were billeted ...see more
I was only 9 years old. It was my first holliday away from Romania, and for a child it was amazing to live in a completely different world (even if it was for 2 weeks). I remember every day that I spent there and the only thing I regret is that I've never had the chance to be grateful to the family that took care of me all this time. Thank you Mr and Mrs Grigg for your hospitality and I really hope that some day I'll see you again.
Myself and my brother (Simon) moved here with our parents around 1989-90. We both attended Mary Howard School and made quite a few friends, and sadly after just one year we moved away again. It was a beautiful part of the countryside and I would like to get in contact with a few old school mates if they manage to read this. Both of our last names were 'Cummings' but mine has since changed to 'Matthews'. Please get in touch if you remember us, I would like to hear from you.
I moved to Forest Green when I was 2 but my whole family comes from the area. Christine Dendy (my maternal grandmother) was born in the village. Her parents were a housemaid and a gamekeeper/odd-job man for the Vaughan-Williams estate. My grandmother was born in the row of First World War council houses erected behind the village green and she married the son of a village shopkeeper from Ockley. Their ...see more
I lived in Spindle Cottage (now, I see, simply 'Spindles') with my mother from mid-1940 till the end of the Second World War, from the age of five till ten; my father, who was a codes and ciphers officer in the RAF, was captured in Crete in 1941 and spent most of his time in Stalag Luft 3, where he forged documents for various escapes, as he was a commercial artist in civilan life. We rented the ...see more
I was a trainee residential social worker at Elm House, Christmas 1974. I spent 2 months at several residential establishments working for the old Cheshire County Council. Fond memories of matron Dolly Barrett and cook Nan.
I lived in Market Drayton during the war and went to school there, ending at the Grammar School. It was wonderful to see therefore what we called the Big Bridge with a glimpse of the side of our house to the left of the full fronted one. I enjoyed a full varied childhood in the town especially on Market days, playing football and sledging down Salisbury Hill and even chasing girls! I have detailed all ...see more