Abbots Leigh memories
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Memories of Avon
YMCA Agricultural Training Centre Ham Green Pill
In February 1949, my husband Derek travelled from London to start agricultural training at the YMCA Agricultural Training Centre at Ham Green, Pill, on a scheme known as 'British Boys for British Farms'. He arrived at Temple Meads Station, and caught a small train which in those days ran from Bristol to Portishead. Although born in London, he hated the idea of city life, so chose to study farming. One special memory of his time there is of seeing the Severn Bore. He subsequently obtained work at a farm in North Dorset.
Derek would be interested to hear from any other ex-training centre boys. Tel: 01590 681972
Pill Bicycle Shop
My maternal grandfather, Allan Henry Ball, had a bicycle shop in Pill prior to the Second World War. My mother had a photo of herself as a child outside the shop (in the 1920s). I believe that both my grandfather and his wife were born and bred in the area of Pill and Nailsea The window had whitewash advertisedments stating new bicycles at 10/6p. Unfortunately all the family photos disappeared on my mother's death. The family moved to Downend, Bristol at the Second World War and I believe my grandfather worked as an engineer at Parnells, Yate on Spitfire production. I know my mother, Irene Eleanor Ball, worked there also for a time. My uncle, Allan Ball, served in the REME for the war and later lived in Iron Acton until his death. His wife, Grace, died shortly after. They had no children. Another daughter was Roma who lived in Birmingham and was married to Cyril Rowley, I am not sure of their existence now, I do know they... Read more
Howes & Son Butchers
My family owned the house that can be seen on the right hand side of the photo. You can just see the building on the side which was the shop from which the family butchers, Howes & Son, was run. I'm not sure how many generations of the Howes family lived in the house but I know that both my grandfather who ran the business until the mid/late 1960s, his father and my own father, Joe, were all born there. My grandfather, Joe, was in the Home Guard during the war - the original 'Corporal Jones'. On retirement my grandparents retired to Henleaze and the Howes link with Shirehampton ended, although a number of us remain in Bristol. I remember visiting the house and shop as a small child and going into the yard at the back through a pair of large wooden gates which remain to this day. I have some photos of the house and shop, the latter with meat displayed, taken in the early 1900s.
Simon... Read more
RE HOWES AND SON BUTCHERS.
I have many, many happy memories of the 1950s, my dad was your grandmother's brother? Reg Allen. I have memories of your granddad Joe and Ethel and the shop, they were always busy on a Saturday afternoon so I would come with one of my brothers over the Pill ferry from Portishead to play with your dad Joe, and Daisy. I now live in Bath. Your grandparents had a caravan at Redcliffe bay where I also spent many hours with them. Hope you may have a memory of who I am? (Betty Allen)
Happy Days in Hotwells
I was born at 5 Rosemount Terrace, Hotwells, no longer there. I remember Harry Eavans, the paper shop, all the shops. The oub, the spring gardens, the flying fox. Oh happy days. Clifton National School, that was many years ago. I am 82 years old. My name was Pat Smith, now Pat Blake. I wish I could find a DVD of old Bristol.
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