Reigate Road c1960, Burgh Heath
Reigate Road c1960, Burgh Heath Ref: B723028
Memories of Reigate Road c1960, Burgh Heath
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Burgh Heath & local memories
Read and share memories of Burgh Heath and Surrey inspired by Frith photos.
Living in Burgh Heath
I remember the doctors and going to see Dr Wade. There was a wooden seat that went round the wall of the waiting room, my legs would just dangle. If memory serves me well, I'm sure there was a farm behind the shops where as kids we earnt money potato picking.
Burgh Heath Methodist School
I went to the Methodist School just before the Second World War, the school closed because we had no shelters, and we were transferred to three classrooms at Picquets Way. I remember Miss Parrott as headmistress and a Mrs Godfrey. We still used the Galleon for swimming lessons, usually in the morning before the pool opened to the public. Yes, it was sometimes very cold! We fished for newts and tadpoles in the pond. As there were no sweets generally available to us we bought Bonio dog biscuits at Privetts store to eat, they were very tasty!
Methodist School
I was at the Methodist school at Burgh Heath from 1950 to 1957, my maiden name was Hopper. I was born and lived in Burgh Heath until 1965 when I married and went abroad. When I returned in 1971 I moved locally to Epsom Downs. I remember all the teachers, the school house and spending play times on the common. The little shop near the conker trees was owned by Mrs Jones and the grocery shop next to the pond was called Privett's stores and run by Mr and Mrs Palmer. The old guy that served Tizer and tea leaves in his coffee from the shop by the alley to Ballards Green was called Fred. Does anybody remember Mrs Stanley's tea rooms which were near the pond, and having to walk over to the war memorial hall for our dinner?
Sugar Bowl
Wasn't this an indoor swimming pool?
Methodist School
I was at Burgh Heath Methodist School from about 1953 to 1956. My mother was Mrs Coleman, who taught reception. Mrs Parrot was headmistress, Mrs Westwater taught the second class. Miss Marshall was at that time the milk lady and lived with her mother in a little cottage at the end of a cobbled path, opposite the school, by the pond. They had gas lighting downstairs and a candle was used upstairs. They had a garden that went down to the pond and always flooded in the winter. My father was a photographer in his spare time and took photos of the years that I was there, which I still have. We lived at Belmont and my mum cycled along the Brighton Road to school every day, with me on the back! We had nature walks around the pond and I remember being warned of the dangers of thin ice in the winter, as a boy, Alan someone I think, drowned when he fell through the ice a few winters previously. Miss Fletcher took... Read more
The Galleon
I also have fond memories of The Galleon. Mum and I sometimes went there after school, and sometimes we went to The Sugar Bowl.
Swimming Lessons
I remember swimming lessons at the Galleon, laying in a 'cradle' that was held by a long pole that the teacher let go of when she thought you wouldn't sink !!! I also remember how freezing cold the water was, the fountain at the end of the pool that we used to play in, AND I remember my sister Frances getting her elbow stuck in the side of the pool !
Dancing Round The Maypole
I can remember dancing round the maypole by the conker trees just down from the pond on May 1st with the Burgh Heath Methodist School, Head teacher Miss Mary Fletcher - and buying sherbert in the little shop nearby which was weighed out on an old set of scales - sherbert and humbugs kept in little glass jars on the shelf - can't remeber the name of the lady that owned the shop but knew her daughter Mrs Freida Day - anyone else remember any of this or what this lady's name was? Also remember hearing stories of the horse and cart that went down the well in the pond - wonder whether that was true -Miss Marshall who lived by the pond (school secretary) told us this story - gosh so many memories flooding back :)
Memory of The Galleon
I remember gooing swimming and getting my elbow stuck in the bar that went round the edge of the pool
The Galleon Swimming Pool
The Galleon swimming pool was all blue with a marvellous fountain at the far, shallow end. Above to the left was a sun balcony and a little counter where you could buy soft drinks and sweets. There was a wavey slide on the left side middle and a spring board at the deep end. Everywhere was painted summer blue. Oh the fun we had as kids and the place was always crowded on sunny days. I still have a photo of me in one of those dreadful rouched swim costumes which were fashionable after the war, sitting on the edge of the pool.
Burgh Heath, Sugar Bowl
I remember the Sugar Bowl very well as I used to swim there. I was a boarder at Red House School further down the Brighton Road, does anyone remember that? Best days of my life (another story), Walton on the Hill for Boys' Brigade, Sugar Bowl for swimming, oh yes, as we all seem to say, if only I could turn the clock back and it's so true!
Playtime
I can remember my nan coming over to the school and passing me and my sister sweets through the fence at playtime. She lived in a cottage opposite the school. I also remember the great Guy Fawkes Night over by the pond and the hot potatoes, and taking wood and sticks over and throwing them on the bonfire to see how big it could get!
Burgh Heath Pond
My memory of the pond was when I fell down a well in the pond with my wellington boots on, and my brother pulled me out. Also on the heath we used to build the bonfires for Guy Fawkes day, that was so much fun, bringing all the furniture and putting the guy on top, also the shovel with the spuds on, yummy. Bertha Deates was a favourite place too. Fond memories. Irene Rogers-weller
Conker Trees
I remember getting conkers from the tree by the little sweet shop and cottages near the Methodist school and being chased by geese outside Bertha Deate's shop near the hills and mountains.
