My Early Years
I lived in Cressing Road, went to Chapel Hill Primary School and then to Braintree County High School. I left there in 1952 when my father was transferred by Crittall Metal Windows, to Dunedin, New Zealand. I remember the 750th Anniversary celebrations in 1949 and had always said I would like to return for the 800th Anniversary, but I couldn't make it. I would love to hear from some old friends of my early school days - maybe someone will read this and remember me. I have fond memories of my early childhood, even thogh it was the start of the 1939-45 war. My parents used to billet some servicemen, three of whom I remember well - Ron Hamnet, Jimmy Galloway, and John Andrews who all played football for Crittall Athletic. Some old school friends I remember were Douggie Kemp and Malcolm Wassell, and John Mews. Our neighbours in Cressing Road were the Potters (Tony and Jill were my age), and the Foulkes. The Little family had a small general store two or three doors from us and the Humhreys family lied just up the road. I remember going hunting for mushrooms over our back fence. My grandparents lived in John Ray Street (Frederick Rush) and Railway Street (Baron Smith). My brother Peter still lives in Panfield Lane - I have only seen him and his wife once since 1952 - they were brought to Sydney for a reunion with my mother on a local TV show.
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Comments
RE: RE: My Early Years
There has to be some connection. My grandfather was Baron Lister Smith and he was works manager for Critall and Winterton - I'm not sure where they were based. I would love to hear more. Paul Smith
Comment from Paul Smith on Friday, 31st July 2009.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hello Bill Have just come across (July 2011) your comments and memories. As you say, you worked in the Setting Out Dept just across from our Engineering Drawing Office and I can remember you very well, running around for Ron Duncomb and Len Catley. We saw June Daniels (Wade) at a Crittall reunion about 10 years ago. We travelled up from our home in Chard, Somerset where we have lived for 24 years following our early retirement due to ill health. Mr Norton Amery was our boss and immediate boss was Don Davies (deceased). I certainly remember Alan Pitt and his father Jim who was a foreman in the factory. Also Jo Harrington and her husband Colin. The electrician looking after Lily Binks print machines was either Derek Morris or Ralph Humphries. Do you remember Malcolm May in the Setting Out Dept. as I was in touch with him in London last year. Could go on but would love to hear from you. My Email is nortonsmith778@hotmail.com
Comment from Tony Smith on Tuesday, 12th July 2011.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hello Tony, I have just read my comment again & must recap that I am 6 years younger than you, not as suggested earlier. Pleased to read that Paul received my comments & cannot understand why he cannot email me but will try another method. Would you have known any of the employees in Dunedin, Paul? Not many are surviving now but sure is nice to have an earlier contact from both Dunedin & Braintree.
Comment from Bill Cranfield on Friday, 11th February 2011.
RE: RE: My Early Years
It is great to get these comments from a very speculative beginning. I have tried to email Bill Cranfield but so far have had no success. It is interesting to hear that he now lives in New Zealand, where I spent 17 years and my two sons were born there It is great to be able to build some sort of picture of the early years for my sons and grandchildren. Bill's mention of some names brings back even more memories. Hope to hear more from you.
Comment from Paul Smith on Friday, 11th February 2011.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hello Tony, by the date that you left school it appears you are 6 years younger than me. I started at Crittalls in 1952, lived in the flat next to George Ruffords lodge and worked in the Setting Out office just down from the Engineers dept. I remember Wally Scrivener and a chap called Barnard who also worked in there and am trying to picture who you were. Jack Jones used to work with me. As you say, we went to NZ in 1965 and since retiring make an annual return visit whilst the money holds out, retaining contact with some of the old employees who worked at the Manor Works in those good old days. We always visit June Daniels (nee Wade) who was Mr Amery's secretary, Alan Pitt, Jo Harrington (nee Whybrow) and the electician who used to service Lily Bink's print machine but whose name evades me at present. Baron Smith had sadly passed away by the time we arrived in Dunedin but was often mentioned in despatches. We still live in NZ after a lifetime in metal windows and retired from our own Commercial Aluminium company in 2001. t was very interesting to find your own and Paul Smith's comments and hopefully they may stimulate some more. Regards, Bill & Ann Cranfield
Comment from Bill Cranfield on Thursday, 10th February 2011.
RE: RE: My Early Years
You seem to have found some folks with much longer memories (and more pertinent) than mine ... great!!
I'll just say two things:
I also attended Braintree County High School but from 1969 to 1975. During that time it joined with Margaret Tabor Secondary to become the current Tabor High School (a vain sort of attempt at combining elements of the two names!). Although BCHS is no longer in being nor in either of its two main buildings (they are used for other purposes) only the former Margaret Tabor building - in Panfield Lane - is no more. The current school is at what was known as Gipsy Corner (further along Panfield Lane).
You mentioned the Little's store in Cressing Road. Mr Arthur Little died a few years ago, as did his son Malcolm. Still living is Malcolm's widow, Deana (in the village of Cressing). She was born a Broyd - another Cressing Road name?
Comment from Mark Pierson on Saturday, 10th April 2010.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hi Paul I remember you well we were at Chapel hill together but lost touch when you moved to NZ.
Was kept informed of your cricket career via my brother Derek who recently passed away who regularly saw your brother Peter who gave him news of you. Barry Wassell is no longer with us having passed away about 10years ago. Happen to have been in NZ last November and wondered if you were still about. Would be nice to hear from you.
Cheers Dougie kemp
Comment from Douglas Kemp on Saturday, 13th March 2010.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hello Tony -There certainly seems to be a connection.I would love to see a copy of the photo - if could well be me as I did the scorebook for Crittall's for a couple of years, before we went to NZ. Would it be possible for you to scan the photo and send to pcjsmith@optusnet.com.au?. It is great to finally get in touch with someone from my past. My brother Peter still lives in Braintree but I have only seen him once since we left in 1952. An Australian TV programme 'It could be you' brought him to Sydney to meet up with my mother in 1982. I would love to hear more from you - unfortunately my father Baron died in 1962 so I can't offer much furthercomment other than he did work in the Drawing Office in Braintree. He and my mother had been moved to NZ in 1929 but returned to England in 1933 as a result of the Great Depression. He was transferred back to NZ in 1952 as Works Manager for Crittalls in Dunedin. Paul Smith
Comment from Paul Smith on Tuesday, 9th March 2010.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hello Paul
Like you I went to Chapel Hill Primary School and then to Braintree County High School leaving there in 1946. I lived in Albert Road in those days.
I do remember the Crittall footballers Ron Hamnet, Jimmy Galloway and John Andrews. I also remember John Mews and his father George. Also your brother Peter I remember and certainly Baron Smith who worked at Crittalls as I did in the Engineers Drawing Office. I do actually remember Baron Smith emigrating to New Zealand.
I have seen on another website photos of Bill Cranfield and his family who also went to NZ with Crittalls in the 60s.
I have a photo dated 2nd June 1951 of the Crittalls 2nd eleven cricket team. All the players I can name including the George Mews mentioned above. At the front of the photo is a young chap, the scorer who I always knew as Paul Smith and he went to NZ the following year.Would this be you?
Tony Smith
Comment from Tony Smith on Tuesday, 9th March 2010.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Sorry not to comment before this, but I don't knowmuch about my grandfather's past, although I do know that he and my grandmother did live in Walthamstow at some time. Paul Smith
Comment from Paul Smith on Thursday, 29th October 2009.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hi Paul.
I note that your Grandfather was Frederick Rush. My GGGGGrandfather was Williiam Rush 1785-1842 who was born in Bocking and married Rebecca Ardley 1799-1865.
I have 2 Frederick's in my tree.
Frederick 1844
Frederick Harjette Rush 1869.
Is there any connection. I would be pleased to share all my information if it is relevant.
Best wishes
Chris Dutton
Comment from Christopher Dutton on Thursday, 29th October 2009.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Paul, I am tracing my mother's family history - and the surname is Smith. I have hit a brick wall in that my ancestor Benjamin Smith was born in Coggeshall. There is no baptism in the Anglican church there, but there was one baptised the exact year at the Society of Friends (Quakers) giving his parents as Lister Smith and Loveday Barron. Benjamin had several siblings including one named Lister Smith and another named Barron Smith. This Barron Smith was a factory manager at Church Street, Bocking. Just wondered whether you knew the origins of your grandfather Baron Smith.
On my father's side I had relatives, named Cutter who lived at Skitts Hill.
My links with Braintree are ongoing, as my son is getting married at St.Michael's Church later this year!
Comment from Steve Barber on Friday, 31st July 2009.
RE: RE: My Early Years
Hello Tony, so pleased to receive your email and additions to the Francis Frith memories which are proving very interesting. I have now been in touch with Paul Smith, now living in Aussie and who was brought up in Dunedin, New Zealand. Ann and I are actually back in Braintree at the moment, arriving last week, hoping to miss some of our NZ winter but still looking for that heatwave you all experienced earlier this year. Were fortunate however to watch the golf at Sandwich last Friday and have some sun on our backs. We are also enjoying retirement with gardening, golf and a bit of travelling, trusting your health is holding up for you to enjoy some activities. Will drop you a line again Tony when we are back home in 'The Colonies' and meantime take care, will catch you laters.
Comment from Bill Cranfield on Wednesday, 20th July 2011.