Alton, Staffordshire

Cheadle in the Second World War

I think that we must have moved to Cheadle around 1938, because I was born in Newcastle under Lyme, but my younger sister was born in Cheadle in 1939. At that time we lived on Leek Road. We had various airmen and sailors billeted with us when they were on training courses at the top secret Cheadle Hall, an outstation from... [more]

Better Late Than Never.

I met my wife Dorothy in Northampton. She came from Cheadle. Incidentally I was born at Ryton-on-Tyne. One day Dorothy asked me if I would like to move to Cheadle so I got a map out and what caught my eye was a place called Upper Tean which was about 3 mile from Cheadle. Within 4 weeks we were living... [more]

Cauldon Low Cricket Club

Whilst going through a number of items handed down to me by my late grandfather Ronald Arthur Rayson of Suffolk who passed away in 1982, I found a medal from the Leek and District Cricket League with an inscription 'Cauldon Lowe 1904 Runners Up'. It may have belonged to a member of my distant family, surnames of which are Rayson, Foules,... [more]

Idyllic

I cannot believe I have found this site. My dad used to work at JCB and we stayed in a little cottage (I believe is now privately owned) not too far from the factory. The cottage was originally owned by JCB and occupied for a time by my family - the Dellers - during what was to become my halcyon days.... [more]

Our Local Bobbies with guns.   1941/2

Our police officers, left after mobilisation and known to me, were PC Whale, Stramshall. Sergeants Anderson (Div Clerk), Sgt. Chamberlaind (Great War veteran) and PC Jack Blower, who was called the Black Abbot, I never knew why. All ARP activities were police controlled and during 1941/2 parachutes, clearly German, were found at Bramshall, Stramshall and Marchington. We were then treated to... [more]

AWalk with Grandfather

A walk with grandfather
« Thread Started Yesterday at 2:03pm »   

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A Walk with Grandfather.

I was about 11 years old, one summer's day, when I noticed my grandfather, who lived at Park Hill Farm, New Road, Uttoxeter (Parish of Stramshall) was preparing to go out. He had his walking stick, that meant no horse... [more]

Bombs during the war

Uttoxeter did not suffer much during the war. The first stick of bombs fell in a field at Loxley, and a further stick followed later. The only 'blitz' was on the Bailey and Mellor families, in New Road (parish of Stramshall) - exact date forgotten, 1941/2. I was at home at 57 Park Avenue. My father was on Home Guard duties... [more]

Park Hill Farm, Stramshall Parish

My grandfather was enlightened in many ways. He permitted the children from the western side of the town, to bathe and swim, at The Pipe, boundary with campbells, The Basin, near to stramshall footpath, subject to no litter, and interference with animals. This was permitted long after his death by my family, until 1972, when the farm was sold, due to... [more]