Almondsbury memories
Here are memories of Almondsbury and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Almondsbury or a Almondsbury photo.
PUPIL
I was a pupil at this school from 1954 to 1961. I was in Miss Staddart's class. She used to take us to pictures on Saturdays, some of the films which I saw were 'Ben NUr', and Norman Wisdom's films. My friends I remember were Clive Wood, Peter Adams, Maurice Fountain. I can also remember trying to go swimming at nights, and also used to raid the food cellar. We used to play in the trees at the back of the school huts. All the fun I had was sliding down the hill on a tin sheet. My first girlfriend was Linda Yates who had a sister called Pat. I would also like to hear from anyone else who was at the school when I was. Tony Farrer
St Catherine's Boarding School
I have very fond memories of the school and Mr and Mrs Cooper, and I was one of the privileged children to move to Parkstone in Dorset when the Coopers moved there. I was in Miss Stoddart's class and I can still remember the smell of the herbal cigarettes she used to smoke, and on the rare occasion she would share one with the class. At the end of the summer terms I remember us polishing the classroom floor with wax polish which had a really strong smell, not at all an unpleasant aroma. After prep classes in the evening it was a mad dash to the study to see who could be the first one in so that they could pinch Mr Cooper's dog-ends out of the ash trays, so we could re-roll them to smoke at a later date. Mrs Cooper used to read her newspapers in the study( television room) and if you so much as uttered a word she used to glare at you over the... Read more
Very Fond Memories
I have some good memories of that school, Mr and Mrs Cooper and Mr Smith. The teachers that I remember are Mr Partridge ('Birdy') and Mrs V Houston who had 2 daughters Helen and Penelope who came to the school at holiday times. It was a vegetarian school in my day, and it was rare for anyone to be ill. Most of the school marched down to the church in Lower Almondsbury on a Sunday, unless you were Catholic and you got a lift from a neighbour who took us to Thornbury. It would be nice to hear form anyone from that age, I left in the Christmas holidays of 1953.
Godfrey Walley
I Was A Pupil at ...
Does anyone have any imformation as to how to make contact with Alan Melville Cooper, the principle's son? I would very much like to contact him, as we were good chums at school. Many thanks.
I Was A Pupil at St Catherines School......
I was a pupil at St Catherine's School between 1954 and 1962. The school was run by Ralph and Joyce Cooper.
Teachers I remember are Mr Thunder, art teacher, Mr Smith, and Miss Muriel Stottart, who taught class 3b, the juniors.
At the rear of the building there was a large conservatory and a path that ran down to a long hut which served as classrooms. There was also a homemade concrete swimmimig pool. Our playground was a a grass area and a wood and beyond that were two fields. At the top of one field was a very old horsechestnut tree, where we had slung a rope over a high branch to make a swing.
We were given an amazing amount of freedom.
Each Saturday we were given pocket money, which ranged from one and sixpence (7 +1/2p) to two and sixpence (12+1/2p). We were allowed to walk up to the "top" of Almondsbury hill, to the post office/sweet shop to buy sweets and pop. The Swan pub, which... Read more
Almondsbury
I know the above scene well! I attended the Knole Park house - now sadly demolished - which was then a boarding school, St. Catherine's. One weekend we went on a day trip to the shore of the Severn.......fascinating place. Would love to go sometime and spend a night at the Old Bowl Inn. I understand that St.Mary's in Lower Almondsbury is now a closed church.........I remember walking down the hill on numerous occasions and seeing the War Memorial. I was on holiday with a friend in the late sixties in Bristol and took a trip to Almondsbury and my old school, but found it deserted and empty with grass in back of the house much overgrown.......a very eerie experience. The private homes along the left-hand side of the driveway as you approached the building were still occupied, it seemed. Anyone else have any knowledge of memories of this?
I grew up in London (Ealing is my hometown) and moved to Washington,... Read more
When I Was A Lad....
Ahh.. What a rush of memories return to my mind as I ponder the view of the vale of Almondsbury laid out before me. I grew up in the lower village (then known as marshwell crescent). My father's family hailed from the deepest depths of Patchway common, where my Grandfather was the local Cobbler (always making ready the boots of the local gypsies as they prepared to make their yearly trek to Kent for the hop picking season, and paying my grandfather on their return from picking). I have wonderful memories of running, hiding, and enjoying family picnics on the tumps, and enjoying a glass of cool lemonade from the local pub (Swan on the hill), while my parents inbibed a glass of a more portly brew. Every weekend, we local lads would wind our way down to the marshes, to catch our share of elvers who were always there in abundance, living in the myriad of reens that inhabit that marsh area. I can truly say from the bottom... Read more
Knowle Park
I was also a pupil at St Catherine's; 1954 to 1962 were my years. I remember Mr Thunder, art and geography teacher, Mr Smith, Deputy head; later married someone from the Bristol Old Vic, Mr Sydey, ex Royal Navy Captain but unable to recall his subjects. Mr Ross, art and woodwork. We used to go camping at Fowey in Cornwall every summer which is where I probably picked up my love for the place. My sisters Gillian and Wendy were also pupils but came quite some while after me.
I particularly remember the smell of the dog roses that grew in abundance to the western side of the property and down into the tiered woods where many fossils could be found. I recall the old horse chestnut tree in the field at the bottom of the wood where we had a swing. Unhappily I also remember being made to stand downhill from the swing while one of the bigger boys delighted in swinging down on me, sending me airborne into... Read more
Memories of Avon
Patchway
I grew up here from 1972-98 then moved to Cornwall. I have great memories of living in Patchway and go back to see friends about twice a year.
Andy.
School Days
I am looking for anybody who went to Easter Compton School during the 1960s.
Early Days in Filton
Although originally from Manchester my parents were living in Filton when I was born in Cheltenham in December 1941. My father, like the majority of men in that area worked at what was then the BAC. He worked at the Rodney Works as a sheet-metal worker and fitter. We lived in Mackie Road and I attended Shields Road School betwen 1946 and 1953 when I went on to Thornbury Grammar School before going to Teacher Training College in 1960.
I vaguely remember the last months of the war but have very clear memories of the parties held on both VE and VJ Day. The first was held at the top of our road in nearby Shellard Road, which at that time was adjacent fields and farm land whilst the latter was held in Station Road which is now a busy dual carriage way. Most of the children at the VJ party were in fancy dress with myself dressed as a gypsy. My skirt was made out of an old... Read more
Growing up in Filton
I was born in Plymouth of Welsh parents, there was no work in Newport Wales when my Father got out of the Navy, so, we moved to my Grandparents house in 50 Wallscourt Rd Filton, until our house 13 Canberra Grove Filton became available. My Father along with my Grandfather worked for the BAC, my Dad was a Blacksmith, I remember sometimes on summer nights walking up to meet him from work. I remember my first visit to get my hair cut at the hairdresser's above the corner shop in Filton (sweet & newsagents) I remember running up the road at night in the winter to the off licence with the pretty pink lights to buy my Dad's senior service fags. I remember endless summer days over the railway lines near are house or up the playing fields near my Nan's. I remember running past St Peters grave yard (up the hill) some nights, if I was alone I would be scared stiff. I remember walking... Read more
Memories of Blaise
During the fifties my friends and I spent many an hour in the woods and playing around the castle, during our school holidays we would be up there from dawn till dusk a few sandwiches and a bottle of water, those were the days. Many of the old photos bring back memories. My sister and I had to go to Henbury church for Sunday School, the photo of Hallen Road shows the old police station, I can't remember it as a police station but I did go there each week when I was in the Air Cadets, we used to keep the old 303 rifles in the old cells locked away.
One of the first schools I attended was at old Manor House opposite the church. In those days we had open coal fires in the class room. I think our teacher was called Mr Arther, I remember he was ginger with a beard, a very caring teacher. From there it was Henbury juniors, off of Marmion Crescent. I remember... Read more
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