Alresford, Essex

The Bowling Green, Elmstead Market

My great grandfather William Henry Parkins ran The Bowling Green from the 1920s until his death in 1953. I am aware that the Pub has now closed and the last time I visited (6-7 years ago) it was being converted into a private home. I would like to hear from anyone who remembers my great grandfather or any other... [more]

Daughter of a shopkeeper

I spent most of my childhood in Brightlingsea. My father owned several businesses in the town, Relf's Fruiterers in New Street and Victoria Place and the Happy Shopper shop for a time. I have wonderful memories of sitting on potato sacks in the 'back room' whilst the beetroot cooker steamed away and running up and down Hall Cut on a barrow... [more]

A Brightlingsea Boy

I was born at 10 North Rd in 1936 My grandparents house[Harry & Maude Hammond. My mother Mabel Williams[nee Hammond] worked in James Shipyard during war then Telephone Exchange.remarried George Genever[who was buyer at Aldous Shipyard] in 1947.We lived at 15 Eastern rd then 2 Ladysmith Avenue.Brightlingsea was a great place to spend your childhood,either by the water or in the... [more]

Where  I  was  brought  up

I  was  brought  up  at  110  High  Street  then  at  the  top of  Backwaterside  Lane.  My  Grandparents  were William  and  Louisa  Barrenger.  My  Mum  Mabel  Barrenger (later  Mabel  Dutton)  was  born  at  9  Hurst  Green.  Many  of  my  family  were  all  born  there including  my  sister  and  two  brothers.  One  of  the  things  I  can  remember  about  the  High  Street  is... [more]

Leadership Course

We completed our Lance Bombadier Leadership training in these barracks, we referred to them as cavalry barracks (they are stables now). I was with 52 Bty 45 Fld Regt RA, stationed at Kirkee Barracks. One of my friends (Arnie Mccallion) was on stable duty but was allergic to horses, the BSM thought he was trying to pull a fast one -... [more]

Donkey & Buskins public house, Layer-de-la-Hay

I was the licensee of the above for an all too brief time and had some regular customers who arrived every week-day evening at opening time and were called "The Club". Among them I remember a Ken & Penny Upton and a retired local Headmaster who was known as "Casey".
Time erodes memory, especially re: names, but I hope someone reads... [more]

So sad

This picture of High Street is very dear to me because it is how I remembered it when I was a boy in the 1940s & 50s. In 1955 I was called up to do my national sevice and was posted abroard, when I returned, to my horror, the church in the foreground had been demolished.  

Happy Summer Days at the Pool

This photo' reminded me of those carefree summer days when we would cycle from Myland to the pool, leave our bikes, unlocked, in a heap outside, pay our 6d and go to the dank, cold, changing room under the bridge.
The girls had to cross the end of the pool by a boardwalk to their changing room on the other side.[more]