Oakmead Cobham

Hi Carol, I've just discovered this site, and am going mad with old memories being stirred. My Mother, Joyce, worked for the Eagle Star, in fact somewhere I have a photo of her sitting in the grounds of Oakmead House, I had forgotton the name of the place until you reminded me. I think she was there round about mid 1940s until it relocated. Knowing how gregarious my Mum was, I would say if your Dad and Mum were there at the same time they would certainly have known each other. My Mum and her friends also used to cycle around the area and go to the dances at the village Hall, I think when the Americans were based around that area there some quite saucy goings on happening. I also used to go to dances at the village Hall in the 50s, and learned to Ballroom dance there.Shame none of our parents are around to ask for more details.

Hi Trevor, I was so pleased to read your comment I had written off anyone replying! Your mum must have known my mum Grace as everything you mentioned your mum did were things that mum told me about (well nearly everything!)when dad was called up just mum was there until the end of the war and really had a wonderful time she cycled with her friends all around the area and to Ripley (good pubs she said !)and Leatherhead where she had a cousin.Life seemed to be going to pubs and especially the "goings on"with the Americans

Hi Trevor, I was so pleased to read your comment I had written off anyone replying! Your mum must have known my mum Grace as everything you mentioned your mum did were things that mum told me about (well nearly everything!)when dad was called up just mum was there until the end of the war and really had a wonderful time she cycled with her friends all around the area and to Ripley (good pubs she said !)and Leatherhead where she had a cousin.Life seemed to be going to pubs and especially the "goings on"with the Americans

continuation of above - in the village hall I wish Id found out more I just know they were all very happy.I wonder if they kept in touch not as easy as it is today.If you ever find the photo she might be in it and I would love to see it.Could give you my email add?anyway thank you.

Hi, my name is Lorraine. I lived on Canada Road in Cobham for the first five years of my life, 1953-1958 with my parents, Brendan and Doreen Doyle and my grandparents Thomas and Dorothy Lowe. My nan and grandad were professional ballroom dancers who hosted the dances at the village hall and elsewhere. The surname Stannard rings a bell with me; did she live on Canada Road also? If so, she may have lived in the house adjoining us. I remember the sweets shop - i can envision being taken there in my pram even and being spoiled rotten. My dad's family worked the Cobham Stud - in fact his cousin Mary is still there. Our family emigrated to Canada in 1967, my grandparents came the following year; we lost them in the '70s and '80s, and mum two years ago. Mum was Miss Cobham back I suppose in 1950. I have great memories of the high street and the village. I have never been back but have been advised it is very different. Ah, the memories.

My name is Brian and I too lived on Canada Road from 1939 - No,25. The Lowes lived a few numbers back and I knew Doreen. I believe there was an elder daughter who went to America as a war bride. The Stannards lived at the only standalone house in the Street and was next to the Lowes. Most houses were seme detached and there was also a row of bungalows which by their very nature are detached.
I also worked at the Eagle Star at Cobham Park in the Accounts Dept before being transferred to the Head Office in Threadneedle St thence to the LawCourts Office in Chancery Lane and finally to Dartford when we parted company and I joined an Australian Life Company who eventually transferred my and my family to Sydney Australia where I still reside.
I played cricket for Stoke D'Abernon and was watched by Bob Willis who later also played for S.D before joining Surrey and playing and being captain of England. We met up on one of his tours to Australia and I found like me, he had also done a meat round for Humpreys, the butchers in the High St.

Your post is very interesting when my dad returned from Burma be commuted from Essex to Cobham Eagle star (a long way by steam train)then he transferred to Threadneedle sreet too,
His name was Les Harvey (Perfitt-Harvey) he was a keen cricketer and played for Westclff .
Mum was called Grace. Best Wishes .

My name is Brian King. I didn't remember Oakmead, but I do remember Cobham Park. I have a vague recollection that my mother worked at Cobham Park, maybe for Eagle Star. Her name then would have been Moira Clarke. Spookily I worked at Cobham Park for a small computer company in the early 1970's, and my brother Graham worked there for a different company 6 years earlier as a draughtsman. Picking up on some of the comments above, I also played cricket for Stoke d'Abernon and went to school with Bob Willis who went on to captain England. He was in the 6th form when I was in the 1st form. He bowled to me in nets at school and I didn't even have time to lift my bat! We lived opposite the Stannards on Coveham Crescent, but I seem to remember they bought a house and moved - may have been to Canada Road. There were two children, Nigel my age, and Julia a couple of years older.