Alderton, Suffolk

Holidays at Grandma’s

Memories are the garnish of our later years...

During my extreme youth, the closest we ever got to a summer holiday was a week spent with our maternal grandparents. My father would trundle us through to their near-seaside town in the family car; a vehicle of indeterminate age that he had lovingly restored, but to... [more]

Raymond Edward Shaw

My father lived at Southbeach Mansion and apparently died in Ipswich Hospital in 1997.  I have been searching for him all my life.  I was hoping that someone would remember him and perhaps have some memories or memorabilia that they could share.  He was in the RAF.  Loved motorcycles, and as I remember when a child he had red hair.  My... [more]

Boulge was my home

My family owned the Boulge Hall estate at the time of your photograph. I was christened in Boulge Church in 1940.
I am the 3rd Baronet of Boulge Hall and the last of the line.
The summer house on the right of the picture was built by my grandfather Sir Robert Eaton White.
I remember Boulge well throughout my childhood. How... [more]

The Castle

This photograph features someone sitting on a bench in the foreground of Orford Castle.  It is a strong possibility that it is my Uncle Jim (James Ellis) Smy.  This was his favourite spot and he could be found sitting there catching up with his friends.  

There are several legends attached to Orford Castle.  The most famous is that of... [more]

The Gates to 'Hell'

I remember Shotley Gate 1954/55. I wish I could erase it from my memory. 12 months of sheer Hell at the infamous Ganges. I enjoyed my Naval Service and I did well, but Ganges almost defeated me. I danced a jig when they demolished the place!
JW

Family History

My ancestors owned this public house in the late 18th century. Prior to this they were tenants of the Duke of Bristol and the head of the household was the ferryman. He was mentioned in a letter to the Duke from a disgruntled customer claimed that his attitude was unbecoming!
We have visited the area many times during my search for... [more]

HMS Ganges

Until the mid '70s Shotley Gate was the home of HMS Ganges, a Royal Navy training establishment. As 15 year old boys under training in 1964 we were allowed to visit the Post Office (see photograph in this collection) to draw money out of our Post Office savings books - usually to buy food of some sort as Ganges food was... [more]

Samuel Wright

I am researching my husbands family tree. His great grandad was Samuel Wright who was a coal hauler in Grimsby in 1883, on looking at the census further I found he came from Sudbourne in Suffolk. Terry [my husband] had no idea that his Wright family had originated from there. Does anyone know of any of Sam Wrights family still around... [more]