My Place Of Birth

A Memory of Compton Valence.

I was born in Church Cottage in April 1943. My parents were Mabel and Reg Gale. My grandparents Emma and Thomas lived in the same house. My grandfather went to live with my Uncle George and Auntie Doll in Tout after my grandmother sadly passed away. I have many good memories of my life growing up in the village with my brother Raymond and sister Veronica.
My best memories are of the lovely long summers and very cold winters. In the spring the snowdrops that would cover all the banks into the village and they would be a carpet of white for many weeks. Of all the family gatherings at Christmas when all the family would congregate at my grandfather Alfred Willcox's house - he lived in the old School House until his death in 1960. And the many Christmas plays that were held in Mrs Walker's house, I cannot remember the name of it now but it was right opposite the church. There was a great community spirit then, the village has changed so much since. I go back to the village quite a few times as my father, grandparents and aunts and uncles are buried there.

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