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Burnham memories

Here are memories of Burnham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Burnham or a Burnham photo.

Schoolboy Caddy

The Golf Course c1965
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I spent many a happy moment as a schoolboy caddy at BBGC at the end of the 50s and early 60s. It was also a very useful source of pocket money. I regularly caddied for local businessmen, the likes of the MD of Weston's Biscuits, Herbert Greenshield, as well as a number of visitors. The professional at that time was Joe Burnham who was always prepared to buy lost balls we found to help our meagre income. The golf course also played host on occasions to important groups of visitors... I well remember the visit of the Australian Cricket touring side in the 1950s and Lord and Lady Astor were frequent players on the beautiful course. I was introduced to the Club by several of my uncles, especially Sid and Fred and cousin Gerald who was an apprentice pro at Temple, who were members of the flourishing Artisan section at the time. It really was a very democratic club and I hope it has managed to stay that way. Great memories,... Read more

Marriage

St Peters Church c1965
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St. Peters church is where my ggg grandfather John Peck married my ggg grandmother Martha Robbins in 1813.

''''Burnham Beeches''''

.... as a little girl, I always remember going here with my Mum, my Aunt Edith and my cousin Dick.
Mum would say we are going to 'Burnham Beeches today'.  I could never quite understand when we got there, where the sand and sea was ... and I realise now that 'Beeches' meant 'trees' .. and not the 'seaside'!

General Memories

My family were the Elstones who lived in High Street on the 1881 census, although they were all in the Burnham area for many years.
My grandfather was Manager of Websters Coal Yard at Taplow station, but then returned to the village to live in the flats just north of the High Street in about 1960.
I think some of the 'Chant' side of the family are still living there.

Rhodes Green 1779c

My great-great-great-grandfather Rhodes Green was born in Burnham and lived and worked in Church Street. On the 1851 census he is listed as a shoemaker (master) and employing 2 men. His sons are shoemakers and his daughters are shoe binders. My friend Jean's ancester is John Tilbury and he is on the same census, he is also living in Church Street as a shoemaker (master).

My Grandfather Had The Foundry

I am taking a guess at the year, my paternal grandfather was one of the partners in a foundry called Wood and Stannard. The business was at the lower end of the High Street, and oposite the road to the church and the Five Bells pub. Not entirely sure what year he left Brittania House (as that was what it was called),
I have very vivid memories of Dr Summers and his monocle, I was told he was a Colonel in the first war. I remember seeing him riding a HUGE horse down the High Street (well I was only small!).  Although we lived in Cippenham, My Dad's links were to Burnham and I feel more of a nostalgia for the Burnham old days, than anywhere else.  Must just be old age, eh?

Summer in The Country

In 1949 when I was six, my two cousins and I were sent to Burnham Beeches for a holiday. We lived in the East End of London.
We loved it there, it was summer and very hot, to play all day in the fields was such freedom. The family with whom we stayed were called Walters they lived in a converted Nissen hut . The eldest child was named David, also a younger girl. The father worked in a sweet factory which made Mars bars and Spangles I think.
I still remember fondly my first holiday in the country. I wonder if anyone in Burnham remembers three East End kids that came to stay in the summer of 49.

Growing up in Burnham

In this year I was 5 years old, and just starting school in the church hall in Gore Road, which is the road in which I also grew up.
I remember Burnham as a small, close-knit community, we went to church every Sunday, it was friendly and safe.
My Mother's family were one of the first to inhabit Burnham, and are recorded in the doomsday book, the family name was Brookling.
I have many happy memories of playing in the meadows, before the sprawling estates were built in Minniecroft and Lent Green Lane.
We all knew Cleares, Hearns the butcher, the local Doctors, in the High Street, Dr Summers, Dr Daily and Dr Mitchell-Fox.
Clonmel had not been built either, and it seemed all of us kids knew each other in the village.
How it has changed! Now you can walk down the village and not see a soul you know, sad, but that is progress, the pace of life, and community has been lost in the many years since... Read more

Memories of Buckinghamshire

Royal Canadian Hospital Taplow

Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital c1955
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I first knew the hospital when I was admitted there in 1956. It was a beautiful building. I have seen photos online of how it had been left to go to ruin. I have also heard it was going to be demolished for a housing estate. I find it quite sad that a building that has done so much could be just dismissed. I'm sure it could have been put to a worthy cause. When I was in the hospital I do remember one nurse - STAFF NURSE MARSDEN. I look forward to anyone else remembering this place. Sue.

My Local Hospital

Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital c1955
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This is the hospital that my first child was born in.  The year was 1968 and you had to stay in for approximately 10 days. I was also born in this hospital in 1949. The building was very imposing and the staff were wonderful. The matron was very strict and as soon as she came onto the ward the nurses would be in awe of her.

Canadian Red Cross Hospital

Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital c1955
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I was born here in 1949, then both my children. The first in 1967 and the next in 1971. The maternity unit was around to the left in a seperate building. They were very strict about visiting times etc. The staff were great though. The hospital was also the centre for Childhood Rhumatoid Arthritis. The hospital has been knocked down and replaced with a closed gate housing estate.

Born And Raised Here

Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital c1955
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I remember this hospital, being born here. My mother told me it was a lovely summer's day until the day was drawing on and it turned windy and cloudy and a nasty thunderstorm. My mother had not a clue what to call me so the nurse who had delivered me said my mother 'Gail', so that's how I was named. My parents stayed there for a while and moved to High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. My mother fell pregnant again the following year and had my brother born at the Wycombe Shrubbery. It was a shame tht the Taplow Canadian War Memorial Hospital shut down as I wanted my son to be born there. I wished I could have taken a photo of this hosital before they pulled it down and find the nurse who helped me being born.


Taplow Canadian War Memorial Hospital

Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital c1955
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I would to hear anyone who was born in this hospital the same time as me in July 6th 1956, and any nurses and doctors etc that got me delivered. Please write to me by post.
Mrs Gail J Gray
17, Gunthorpe Road
MARLOW,
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
SL7-1UH
England
My mother was called Mrs Diana Pitwell and my father  was called Mr Walter Pitwell.

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