Aley Green, Bedfordshire

Luton 1918

My father, Edmund Harris Biggs, visited Luton in 1918 when he was in England during World War I. He visited what was supposed to be the Biggs family home. It was a large house with a circular driveway and possibly a covered portico. He met an elderly lady, possibly unmarried, knoiwn as Aunt Dyer. I would love... [more]

New Tech

I was late for the cutting of the first turf when Luton Technical College was being moved from Park Square to what became Barnfield College.  It was a cold morning and I had overslept!

The University was to expand onto the Park Square site of the 'Tech' and while the initial works were going on we had no playground and... [more]

Building the Tech

Having spent over two years at the old college on Park Square as a student, I started work in 1953 with Seaward Brothers Builders as an apprentice. After two years on the firm they won the contract to build the new Tech. Overall I was there about two years and helped lay the drains, build the walls, point the damp course... [more]

Technical School, Park Square

I attended this school from the 8th January 1951 until the end of March 1953. Every morning all classes would attend assembly in this building and would then disperse to their classrooms which were often at other points around the town. My classroom was in the Weslyan Chapel in Chapel Street where I remember I was when the death of George... [more]

Youth club days

When I was about 13 or 14 I would visit this building which was next to the Grand Theatre on Waller Street. By this date the building was used as a Youth Club. I think there was a nominal charge to enter and soft drinks and snacks were available. On one occasion the main hall was blacked out for a film... [more]

School classes

The basement, or I suppose crypt, of this building was used by the Technical College as an engineering workshop. We would traipse from the main building on Park Square along Waller Street to enter the workshop which was kitted out with all types of machinery. The teacher was Mr Dual, nicknamed 'Jimmy Jewel' after the popular radio comedian.

The Carnegie Library

I spent many hours in this library until its closure in the early 1960s. Immediately inside was the section where books were handed in on return and new loans were issued. No bar codes and scanning in those days, each book had a card inside which was retained by the librarian after stamping the book. When the new library was opened... [more]

New Name

This pub was orginally called "The Mitre", after the Bishop of St Albans.