In The Fifties And Sixties.

A Memory of Byfield.

We moved to Byfield in May 1952 when my dad got a job on the railway at Woodford. We had previously lived in Northampton and Byfield seemed a whole new world. There was Mrs Davies who had the sweet shop (remembered the coconut chips - a great favourite to spend pocket money on); Fat Smith the bakers where you could take your Sunday roast to be cooked; Jack Bods where you could get (almost) everything, with Doris Bod to help if you didn't know QUITE what it was you wanted! Playground with the witches hat and the slide which burnt your legs and bottom if it had been a sunny day; also Byfield pool which was great for a peaceful walk. I moved away from Byfield in 1974 when I married but recently went back to visit Mum's grave (Joyce Lucas d. 5 July 2020) and was not surprised to see that Byfield was greatly altered since my day.