Boscombe memories
Here are memories of Boscombe and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Boscombe or a Boscombe photo.
A 1969 Student
For a very enjoyable year I lived at no 17 in Florence Road, a turning halfway down to the beach and off Sea road in Boscombe (see photo). I became one of the first persons in the country to study for a Higher National Diploma in Tourism. My college was then called Bournemouth College of Technology, situated at the Lansdowne, Bournemouth. One of my classmates was John Donaldson who went on to be the Head of Thomas Cook's, the International Travel Agent.
Sailing Leaf Boats
I was born in August 1939, my brother was born in 1936, we lived at 5 The Crescent, Boscombe and my brother and I used to walk down Old Christchurch Road to the lake in Boscombe gardens quite frequently. We used to try and get the bamboo leaves that came from the island in the lake. If we got one we would push the stalk bit through the leaf and sail them as boats, how innocent and safe it was then even though the war was on. After sailing the boats we would go and play in the pond in the front grounds of the Lido in Old Christchurch Road as we made our way back home. Grand days for kids our age.
14th Bournemouth Cub Scouts (St Saviour's)
I moved to Bournemouth in 1954 when my dad got a job there with Williams Deacons Bank. He bought a house at 84 Petersfield Road, Boscombe. I went to Southbourne Junior School which was about two miles away so most of my friends were the ones I met in the cub pack at the St Saviour's church hall - the 14th Bournemouth.
It was great fun - I was just 8 when I started so they taught me to catch a ball, go for long cycle rides, to skip, to play 'wide games' in the fields and to explore the area. There was so much that we eight and nine year olds could do together on light summer evenings. Sometimes we went as far as Boscombe Pier!
Our cubmaster was Mr Babcock and he had a son in the cubs too. I wonder where all those boys are now as we must all be senior citizens now!
St Georges Youth Club
I was born in 1931. In 1944 until 1952 I lived at the Police Station in Gloucester Road where my father was a Police Inspector. As a regular member of the Youth Club, I have great memories of cycle trips into the New Forest, Friday night dances, and the memorable 'Skipper'. Another member was Bill Wrigley who with his wife Dorothy, also emigrated to Australia in 1952 and lives in Brisbane, not far away from me. At one stage (about 1992), I found that Bill was working in real estate in the office next door to mine, on the fifth floor of an office building. We both had visits from another member and his wife, Bill and Jeanette Dearden. Bill was a navigator with the RAF, and after his service he and Jeanette traveled widely. Sadly Bill died of cancer some years ago.
Youth Club And Cadets
I have had some wonderful memories brought back to me durting the last few days. I attended St George's Youth Club for a number of years and had great fun at Christmas when we produced a pantomime in the Church Hall.
I spent several summer holidays working at the Overstrand, washing up, clearing tables and eventually selling sandwiches, coffee etc. at exhorbitant prices.
My brother played euphonium, trumpet and eventually trombone in the silver band, later leaving home to join the Royal Artillery at Woolwich as a bandsman. He also played cello for his orchesteral appearances. One year he and a mate brought the house down at a parents concert by playing tea for two on harmonising teapots with mouth pieces in the spouts.
Another memory has just popped up, not strictly Boscombe, I was in the CCF at Bournemouth Scool and our annual camp in 1966 was in Germany when England won the World Cup.
Most years the Youth Club had a... Read more
38A Keswick Road, Boscombe
My parents Evelyn and Tom Williams rented this flat from the owners on the ground floor from 1961-1962. It was a lovely place with a marvelous view of the cliff top.
Woodland Avenue
My parents Evelyn and Tom Williams purchased a Guest House on Woodland Avenue around 1946-7 while I was just a toddler.
Memories of Dorset
Summer of 64
In June 1964 a group of us Belfast grammar school boys crossed the sea to Liverpool and took the long coach journey south to spend the school summer vacation working in the Bournemouth beach cafes.
Three of us shared a bedroom at Pat and Alvin's, a short bus ride from the town centre. Our "digs" cost just £1.10s a week each, out of a wage of £5 at the beach cafes. The cafe provided lunch and in the evening we dined at the Golden Griddle in the Square. We all smoked in those days and were able to buy clothes out of our pay packets:the fashions that summer were bell-bottom jeans, pink shirts and grey crewnecks. We grew our school regulation short-back-and sides down to our shoulders.
In the two months we stayed in Bournemouth it rained one afternoon, that was all. Of course we were incarcerated in the dark steamy wash-ups of the cafe during the blazing daytime hours. But the... Read more
Wartme Bournemouth.
Bournemouth is remembered by many as a wonderful holiday venue. A place of golden sands, the Pleasure Gardens, shops, cinemas and theatres. I was born here in 1936, when it was in the county of Hampshire. Pre war memories are obviously vague. As I grew up I saw the effects the war was having upon my home town. The beach was still accessible, however the area of sea had been reduced with the introduction of scaffold bars laced with barbed wire. Designed to prevent landing craft. To the west of the Pier Entrance stood several 'Dragon's Teeth'. Concrete blocks about 4 feet square with a pyramid top. [Anti Tank defences.] In later years a large mine was added, this was in close proximity to the 'Dragons Teeth' and was painted a bright red. On the top an engraved slotted brass disc had been inserted, this was for donations, I think were for the families of the seamen both R.N. and Merchant Navy who had perished. Alongside the railway lines were scattered pill... Read more
Family Connections to 'The Baths'
The Baths was the family home during the First World War. My great grandfather was Albert Henry Milledge, formerly a schoolmaster at a school in St Michael's loft of Christchurch Priory, who gave up teaching to help Alfred Roberts manage 'Roberts' Baths' which were then just private baths, after William Roberts, his father, died. The Roberts were formerly coal merchants. My great grandfather was responsible for building the original swimming bath opened in 1887. My other maternal great grandfather was Henry Newlyn, of Newlyn's Hotel which subsequently became the Exeter, and former mayor of Bournemouth.
My Family
The photo is similar to one in my personal collection. The two gentlemen in the forefront of the picture are my Grandfather & my Great Uncle, two of the ladies behind them are my Great Aunts, the other became my Grandmother.
Speculation
My brother and I think this maybe a photo of our Grandfather and our Great Uncle followed by our Grandmother and our Great Aunts (the two gentlemen with dark jackets and light trousers, one carrying a stick or brolly).
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