Blandford Camp memories
Here are memories of Blandford Camp and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Blandford Camp or a Blandford Camp photo.
Always Good Times.
My family moved to Blandford Forum in 1970 and we left in 1973, my dad was in the Royal Signals. I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers and the time we lived there really was the most fantastic time ever. I have vivid memories of all the fun we had and how safe I felt while living there. We lived at 26 College Road, Blandford Camp, and our garden backed on to the really steep hill that took us to the woods. I can remember Bonfire Night when there would be a huge display and also the greens that went up in what looked like steps, they seemed enormous when you're a kid, and there would be a summer fair there each year and we would be given a ticket to get a plate of food. I have very fond memories of the assault course which we used to play on thinking we could do it better than the pros, lol. I would truly love to go back there one... Read more
Happy Days
The best years of my life, I loved Blandford Camp and everything about it, swinging high on the swings singing songs, going to Blandford primary school (as it was callled then), roller skating around the camp, bike rides to the NAFFI, it was the second time round for me, we lived at Racedown Road when I was born, then when we came the second time we lived in Collage Road, number 32 or 37, I can't quite remmber the number lol. We were so carefree, and all the army kids looked out for each other. Oh God I just remembered, Mr Parrish, I think that was his name, he taught all my family at school, there were 6 of us, me being the youngest, Mr Robert Wish was my favourite teacher ever. My sister Julie and I used to spend our bus fair and walk down that really long hill into town to go swimming in the outdoor swimming pool, then on the walk back we used to call into the... Read more
3 Tons to Blandford.
I was 8 years old when I arrived in Blandford. It was lunchtime on a Sunday a week before the Somerset and Dorset Railway closed on the 6th March 1966. My dad was in the Royal Signals and he was being posted to the 30th Signal Regiment which was stationed at Blandford Camp. My dad and I and a friend of my parents travelled down on the Sunday morning in an Army Bedford 3 tonner with all our belongings from Windsor where my dad had been stationed at Comberemere Barracks where he was attached to the Blues and Royals. Though it was only about 90 miles from Windsor to Blandford this was in the days before the M3 and Bedford 3 tonners do not have very good suspension! We had some lunch in a cafe next door to the 3 Choughs pub just along from the Crown Hotel. We then made our way up to the camp where my parents had been allocated a married quarter which was in Valley Road. Our house... Read more
Memories of Dorset
The New Hospital.
I moved to Blandford to take up a new position, at the time the extension of the hospital was near completion. The hospital was very much a community orientated place where local people were employed and cared for local members of the community. Through a hospital function, I met my current husband John, so I not only have very special work-related memories, but also have happy personal memories, thanks to the hospital.
Many A Good Memory.
Over the few years I lived in Blandford, John and I would take his parents for a drink at the Crown Hotel, lovely relaxing evenings, great atmosphere, good company, what more could you ask for. On my first Christmas in Blandford, the hospital held its Christmas dinner at the Crown Hotel, food and service were faultless and it was a great evening.
Blandford
In the 1960s we used Blandford as our main shopping town, we lived in Child Okeford six miles away. Hobbs were a good toy shop, Frisbys shoe shop, Cherrys outfitters were another must when shoppinG for clothes, indeed both Frisbys and Cherrys used to bring their vans round the villages every other week. We used to catch a Hants and Dorset bus from Steepleton Corner to visit one of the two Cinemas, and after the show there was a great Fish & Chip shop next door to one of them. Thursday was the best day to visit, it was market day and the town square was full of stalls, you could also visit Boots lending library to cHange your books.
Mary Pouncy
I once bought an old book dated 1795 entitled "The Pocket Magazine", which had several signatures on early pages of the owner: "Mary Pouncy Rushton". Interested in learning more about her I sought her birth, marriage, death etc details in all the "Rushtons" I could discover: no luck. The book went into the roof. The other day I came upon it again and this time searched every page. A few pages in was a different clue "Mary Pouncy Fordington". As a Thomas Hardy fan I went straight to the Dorset records and found Mary's birth, in Dorchester on 29 June 1780, daughter of Thomas and Mary Pouncy. A further search shows that she died unmarried at the age of 24 in Dewlish. Very little more research uncovered the mystery of "Rushton". If Mary had the book new, she must have lived in Tarrant Rushton during 1795-1800 or so and been quite well-to-do since she was literate when few were. Perhaps somebody could guess... Read more
Hod Hill
We used to often walk along the lovely River Stour, walk under Hod Hill then over the hill, down to the road, cross over to the lane that led up to Hambledon Hill, up to the top then back to Child Okeford. I think it was in the 1950s that a dig was done on the Roman fort on Hod Hill. In spring the hill was coverd in flowers, including the wonderful Bee Orchid.
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