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Alkmonton memories

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Memories of Derbyshire

Evacuated

I remember being evacuated to Doveridge with my sister Brenda we stayed with a family called Lloyd the mother was Marie and the husband was Lou they had three daughters called Jean Joyce and Dawn if anybody remembers my sister and me or the family we stayed with I would love to hear from them We stayed in a small cottage next door to the school in the village about 500 yards from the church with the large so called robinhood tree hoping I get a reply leaving you in expectant mode yours faithfully J Bainbridge

An Ashbourne Childhood

My family moved to Ashbourne in 1942 when I was 6. I went to school at what must have been the last of the old "Dame" schools run by an elderly lady called Ethel Hunter. The school was at the top of a big house in Church Street, owned by a dentist: Mr. Bligh. It was a small school, not more than a dozen children and we were all in the one classroom. We used to have Wednesday afternoons off school, Wednesday was half day closing day. This left us free to explore Ashbourne and the surrounding countryside. We walked everywhere and collected wild flowers which we pressed in books. I used to go home for lunch, running up Smith's yard and down again after lunch. One of the charms of Ashbourne - still there, I've been back - are the yards which connected the town with the upper roads - they are quite steep. At the top of Smith's yard... Read more

The 1950s

I was born at the maternity hospital in 1951, we lived at 3 St Oswalds Crescent and my granny and grandad lived close by on Park Road. I attended St Oswalds C of E School - I had a lady head teacher whose name escapes me before moving up to Parkside Juniors - Mr Lawton was Headmaster. We used to play Shrovetide at school but it was banned for beeing too exuberant. Joined the Church Choir - C Daly Atkinson - organist and choimaster. Open air swimming pool, school dinners. Joined the Cubs - was the first cub to get Leaping Wolf at New Scout Hut. We went to Butlins at Skegness in 1958 - first holiday I remember. Shrovetide - with boarded windows, Woolies and Boots next to it, the gingerbread shop, 2 cinemas - the Empire - saw the Incredible Shrinking Man, The Elite. Left in 1963 - going back Saturday with brother Mick to taste the nostalgia.

Wartime

I was evacuated to Hilton with my mother and grandmother at the outbreak of the WW2. My father was drafted into the army and was sent off to India and Burma when Japan entered the war. We lived in a terraced cottage in Eggington Road. The families next door were the Radleys and the Lands. Opposite the row of houses was the American army camp and my friends and I spent time waving and talking to the soldiers who gave us biscuits an chewing gum.
I started at Hilton school when I was five and stayed there until the end of the war in 1945. On both VE day and VJ day there were enormous bonfires lit in the road opposite the Talbot pub. There were so big that they melted the road.
During the time I spent in Hilton I remember going each morning to collect the milk from the farm . We also had to take the battery for the radio to... Read more

Where it All Began!

My great grandfather John Plant (known as Jack) was the grave digger at Mappleton church, St Mary. He married Francoise Chevenia, a coloured lady bought over from Mauritius to work as a maid at the Manor House in Mappleton. They lived at Rose Cottage for about 13 years. Their son, John Frederick (Freddie), was born after the war in 1920. Although Francoise met an early death in 1928 John and Freddie remained at Rose Cottage. Freddie even brought his Yorkshire-born wife to live here. They lived there for several years but were forced to move because the house was to small for their growing family. My mother Patricia was born at Rose Cottage like her father before her, and still to this day feels a sadness at having to leave. One of her earliest memories is of her and her grandfather walking to the Post Office to collect his pension and get some sweets, her weekly treat.
I recently went to stay at the Bed & Breakfast in Mappleton and... Read more

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