Memories of Calne

Dr Joseph Priestley

Having been a resident of Calne from 1944 to 1962, I often walked across this little bridge, mainly on the way to the recreation ground. There used to be (and possibly still is) a plaque commemorating Dr Priestley's discovery of Oxygen in this place. I believe the pond was situated just behind Harris' factory but when I last visited the town there was a supermarket there.

The White Horse, Cherhill

At one time a favourite place for picnics. Can anyone remember when the RAF lads tipped tins of paint over the white horse turning it red, white and blue?

Wiltshires

At the back of this photograph is Calne Free Church and just in front is "Wiltshires" the grocery shop.  My father William John Cook worked there for many years.  I can see him now neatly wrapping parcels in brown paper and tying them up with string.  Amongst the many items sold here were large tins of broken biscuits and I have many happy memories of choosing my favourite types whenever he brought a tin home.
Come forward a little and the shop on the right was a stationers, whilst opposite that was Harris' shop.  Bacon, hams, pies, if it contained pig it was sold here!

Station Road

I have very fond memories of walking up this road in order to catch the old steam train to Chippenham, but alighting at Black Dog so that we could visit my grandparents who lived in Stanley. In younger days, I would paddle in the canal which partially ran alongside this road and catch tiddlers in a jam jar. Later I would visit my schoolfriend (also called Judy) who lived in a wooden bungalow on the left hand side of the road. She had a wonderful dressing up box and we would spend hours together "pretending". I then met my future husband who had been on a course at RAF Yatesbury - he and his mates would use the train to get into the "great metropolis of Chippenham". Much more exciting life there than in Calne in those days!! He now jokes that the only good thing to come out of Calne was the train and Beeching axed that. I, too, remember the gas lamplights.

My memories of Calne as a small boy

Please visit www.moonrakers.com/memories.pdf where you can download my humorous account of my rather mischievous childhood in Calne in the 50's and 60's, called MEMORIES OF CALNE.

A copy of this book is lodged with the town library.

1st day at school

I remember walking up that drive in short grey trousers, new blazer, Kerry House tie and a school cap.
The Calnebgs website has moved to www.calnebgs.com
Cheers
Martin

The White Horse pub

I was born in the White Horse pub in Calne in 1952, at No 1 Wood Street. My grandparents, Alec and Dorothy Poole, were landlords at the time. I loved to stay there as a very small child and my room was a cosy room in the attic with a window to the street. They had a budgie called Joey and a dog whose name escapes my memory. I also remember a birthday when I was given a doll nearly as big as me. There was a vegetable garden at the back of the pub. I used to pull up radishes and carrots and eat them before putting the tops back into the ground to hide the evidence ... which of course was pretty fruitless as the tops always wilted.
I believe this pub has now been demolished, which is a great shame because I think we shouldn't pull down old buildings to make way for new, often inferior ones.

Long Service

I remember as a child being taken to see my uncle Ewart who was employed at Calne Railway Station for 55 years. My cousin Jean (his daughter) told me that he also used to use a long pole to put out the gas street lamps when on his way home. As a lad he had worked for Angells greengrocers but had always wanted to go the railways. Sadly the station has now been demolished, probably the demise of the Harris bacon factory played its part. The Harris factory had been a major employer in the town and had made good use of the railway to move its products.

White Hart Hotel, London Road Calne

I worked for Jo & George Thomas (George & the Dragon) at the White Hart in Calne in the 70s. I often had to run up and down between 3 bars to work them all, and sometimes helped in the hotel by cleaning. Jo would say there's only 4 or 6 sheets today Sheila so not worth putting the washing machine on so wash them in the kitchen sink. This was a huge Belfast sink in the outhouses at the back. They had 3 parrots out the back that were quite scary and you daren't put your fingers near them. Although Jo was a bit of a dragon I had some fun there. Sometimes working until 2 or 3 in the morning when they had a lock-in. I made friends with many people including Doug Brittain, Heather & Tony Beamish, Barry Bryant, Bill Pellow and many more too numerous to mention. Oh! to be young again.

Calne,

I worked in Harris's factory in the early 70's, first in the sausage room then in the pre-pack bacon, then into the tinned ham room. Not the best job I have had but it kept the wolf from the door. My! how Calne has changed since then!

Puppet Show

We went to a puppet show inside the Town Hall - organised by Sharpe's Toffees I think. It has to be around 1955 - 58. My father worked at RAF Yatesbury and we lived in Curzon Street. I can remember this view of the Town Hall quite clearly as I think the Calne Junior Infants went to school to the right of the building so we walked this way back from the church. We walked a lot on our own as well and I believe that the library was opposite this building, but that may be a false memory!