Reigate, Springcopse Road 1910

Photo ref: 62761

I lived in Smoke Lane, Reigate, for the first 13 years of my life and have very happy memories of that time. I attended North Bank Preparatory School in Smoke Lane from 1952 until 1958 and then Reigate Priory County Secondary School from 1958 until 1964. It was a wonderful area where all the children could play safely in the local woods and we could ride our bicycles along the roads without fear of traffic. ...see more

My Granny and Grandad Weller, in their cramped semi, took me, my mum and dad, my brother and sister plus 2 billeted soldiers under their loving wing in 1940 and I can honestly say that was the most happy household you could ever wish for. We knew things were serious when they installed concrete mini pyramids in the street outside which apparently would stop tanks from advancing. And people flocked to ...see more

I live in one of these houses, and my children play on the green to the right of the photo. There is a great community feeling here. In the Queens 50th Jubilee year we organised a street party on the green for the residents of Springcopse Rd, Cornfield Road and Furzefield Crescent.

The four detached houses to the left of the picture are numbered 2, 4 ,6 and 8 Furzefield Crescent, built by my Gt grandfather, George Elsey. I lived at number four between 1960 and 1978 with my parents. The railings on the right of the picture surround an area of grass and trees, the railings were removed in the second world war.