Bracknell memories
Here are memories of Bracknell and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Bracknell or a Bracknell photo.
Bracknell
Hi Peter, if your dad was a bricklayer I believe I worked with him for Sergents of Bracknell. Let me know, I would love to talk to you about him. Kindest regards, Ron Ponsford.
In The Choir
Chour Master was a Mr Faulkner, he had a great influence on me during my time in the church choir. He had a Morris Minor FRX83, green, I have never forgotten it. He used to pick me up for practice every week, and insisted that our cassock/surplice was always smart. To the right of the gates was where all new members got initiated, they were placed on the wall laying down, then rolled off onto the ground, we thought that was great, or we took them into the foyer and tried to get them to touch the light switch, telling them it was live. I can laugh now, but we all went through it. We got paid as well so we went to most services, I even got to pull the bells, now that was great. Colin
Searl Street
Oh, what a joy to find this photograph. Between the Market Inn and the shop was a little unmade lane called Searl Street. I was born at number five, at my grandparents' house, in October 1945.
Over the years I returned to Bracknell on many occasions to visit relatives, the last time I visited was in the 1980s and I was shocked to find the lane had disappeared, along with the house I was born in.
If anyone out there remembers the Tomkins family please leave a post.
Memories of Berkshire
Forge Cottage (Blacksmith's Cottage)
My family and I lived in Forge Cottage (known to us as the Blacksmith's Cottage) from about 1962 to 1964, whereafter we emigrated to Canada. I have fond memories of the cottage and its low ceilings, the Aga in the kitchen, the huge garden which bordered a school (St Michael's?), and of course the church up the road where we went once a week. I remember playing in the garden and finding pieces of blue/white china hidden in the dirt, the apple tree that came down in a storm, the winter we had enough snow to build an igloo. At that time there were fields behind the house (all built on now). If anyone has any photos or other memories of the house and area I would be interested to hear from you.
St Michaels School
I used to go to the school here - St Michaels. Every week we walked up to the church, two by two, past the farm where Wild Ridings is now. I remember when there were cows grazing there and harvest festival service was relevant to the farmers.
Later I worked at Church Hill House on Ward 4 (1973). The Hospital has gone now and estates cover some of the fields - but not all, grass and trees are surrounding the houses.
My Mother lived in Easthampstead for 49 years. I don't know if we will go back there now.
Once A Month Trip
The trip to the graves was a ritual, we caught the Easthamstead bus sometimes, other times we as kids walked to the Church from Bullbrook (New Road), ever fearfull of the asylum opposite, with strange noises, screaming and shouting coming from it,one of my foster sisters worked there as a nurse. Anyway, the trip was to attend to the Simmonds graves, the whole family had plots reserved from time immortal. We cut the grass (no mowers then) with shears, tiding up and placing flowers before the walk home, I can't imagine children walking that far today. Sometimes on the way home we would pick blackberries, so this made the trip more enjoyable.
Binfield
In 1947 I met a beautiful young girl from Binfield, her name was Bubles Claridge, we met at the Bracknell cinema, I only met her twice and would love to know what became of her, fond memories. Ron Ponsford.
Harmans Water?
Dunno if this is the same place, we called it Harmans Water, on the Ascot/Bracknell road. My Uncle Albert had a little demolition firm, my brother was the driver, they were the only regulars, I as a kid worked at weekends and holidays as did other relatives. First job was to pull down the Victorian Post Office for the Bracknell Dev Corp, it was on the main road (I think. Then we pulled down Lily Hill Farm (funny, my uncle's wife was Lily), then further into the forest (or so it seemed to me) lots of jerry built bungalows one at a time as the people were rehoused, I understand there was trouble about this, is it the same place?
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