Camberley memories
Here are memories of Camberley and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Camberley or a Camberley photo.
1960s And Prior -London Road Haunts
I was born in Bagshot but moved to Camberley in 1955 when I was 8. I attended York Town Primary School which was, and on checking the maps still appears to be, located on the other side of the London Road, a bit further down from what was once the Odeon cinema. Later on, like Gaynor Henderson (Smith), I went to France Hill School and in 1966 also married a soldier from the RMA. I moved to Australia in early 1973 shortly after my marriage failed and now live on North Stradbroke Island with my new partner. When we talk of our early years I fondly recall my old haunts along the London Road - the Blue Pool and waiting impatiently for opening day on the first of April each year then nearly freezing to death, the Cambridge Hotel and trad jazz nights in the room out the back, Moss Bros shop where as a child I'd press my nose against the window drooling over the saddlery, the Staff College... Read more
Camberley 1945 -53
To Andre Goddard. I read with interest your literary piece about Camberley. I also share many of the memories that you evoked. I lived in Obelisk Street for a year or so with my grandfather before moving to Crabtree Road. I was at the grammar school for six years before moving on and away. I have maintained contact with childhood and adolescent friends but my visits to Camberley are filled with sadness at the current urban sprawl that is now Camberley. I too worked at Mr Weston's papershop and wrote out the rounds along with Bob Tindall. My father worked at the RMA and I would spend many hours and days in and around the grounds of the RMA. I vividly remember all the names of the shopkeepers et al mentioned by Andre. Memories of skating on the lake, swimming in the pool, Mickey Mouse at the Odeon, dancing at the Agincourt, playing soccer on the London Road recreation ground, having a season ticket at the Blue Pool etc are... Read more
Pinehurst
Lived at Pinehurst in Park Road /Park Street from about late 1953-1956. Went to France Hill House School. Did massive paper round from a little paper shop on the Portsmouth Road which went right into Sandhurst and was no fun in the rain when 'old codgers' rang in to say thier papers were wet. But Sandhurst was great fun with its lakes and open spaces, cycling through the woods (no mountain bikes in those days) on self-made ones made from salvaged parts. All like Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' at times. Happy days mostly, all built up now. Whatever happened to France Hill School? Even PINEHURST is now a care home centre.
History Regarding Kings Ride & College Ride Area of Camberley
Does anyone have any memories, historical pictures or information regarding the area of Camberley known as Kings Ride and College Ride?
School Cross Country
This was a right pain, going from Barossa County Secondary School along to the TV mast, sorry, monster thing, and getting lost (conveniently) to be late to avoid the cold showers,. We used to have some good bonfire nights behind the flats but that was allowed then, all the estate would turn out to get rid of rubbish on the big fires, we had great fun. Over the years I spent in the old town I saw many changes but to find out most was either demolished or extended I would get lost. When I moved to Old Dean, Bracknell Road was the first to be finished although at that time I can remember the mound of earth that was later the park, we used to go to the top of the mountain as we called it and roll down it in a 45 gallon drum (now 205ltrs). We got black as the ace of spades, they were good times. I can also remember the opening of the precinct... Read more
Worked in Staff College 1976 - 1978
Whilst in the Army I was on the permanent staff of the College in the Seventies. Had a great time in Camberley with my family.
Help With MacFisheries Website
Hi all,
Can anyone help with memories or anything connected to the great British company MacFisheries 1919-1979/80?
I'm constructing a non profit making web-site dedicated to this long gone major company and any help would be greatly appreicated.
See: www.macfisheries.co.uk
Is Macs in any of the Camberley High Street photos on this site?
Here's hoping
Colin French
MacFisheries
Hi Brenda
Thanks for the reply. You Mac's workers are all just one big family, so to speak. Since I started the site in March this year, I'm amazed as to how many of you seem to know each other.
Oddly enough I'm having talks with Ray Sandys and I'm hoping to meet him and Mr Charlie Caisey in the near furture. Ray's playing with boats in Norfolk now.
Can I ask two things of you.
1. Can you be more percise as to who worked at which job in the store (my list includes their job title).
2. Can I add your 1st comment you posted to this site on the 2nd, to my site 'guest page'.
Oh and one last thing, did Mac's still sell Housewife's Diaries to the public in the 1960s? I have 4 pre-war copies but I'm not even sure they still printed them post-war.
I will mention you and your collegues to Ray when we next speak.
Regards
Colin
Macfisheries
Macfisheries was my very first job when leaving school, in 1967. It was on Camberley High Street. The Manager at that time was a Mr Sandy. I have happy memories of working there, and all the lovely people I worked with at the time, there was - Gerry on the fish counter, and Mrs Hasky, and David Wright, John Brown, and Hazel Biggs on the deli counter, and John Hill, and Elizabeth Armstrong, on the butchery, Mrs Webb, and Alfie Goodrum, on the fruit and veg counter, Jennifer Crowe, Glynis Crowe, Mrs Jordan,in the office, and Fred the delivery driver. What a lovely bunch of people you all were, Brenda and Ted Glover say 'Hello' to you all.
Return of A Native
Camberley, where it all began. Where I lived half of my life so far.
In your head you never leave the place you were born and raised. On a wet un-comforting day I found myself revisiting the town of my past. I was cast into memories of wartime school in School Lane, street play, places where I worked, courted, laughed and cried. I recalled the early life, its geography of fixed points. The past cracked open like an egg. It's no longer the place of my growing up, marrying, building a house, having a practice, knowing Grace Reynolds, the Morris Brothers, Chancellor, Fox and Smallbone, Mr Rowlinson at Sadler & Baker, Verran, Pages, architects Cox, Bob Cole and Harry Barton, Herrington & Carmichael, Mr Keil and so on. To look back only emphasised an awful fragility.
From my knowledge stored in a mental attic I was resurrected in a time warp.
There was old man Roberts and his Park Street shop, replete with his pince-nez, bushy moustache,... Read more
Where my Grand Mother Worked
I have never been here but recently I found out that my grandmother worked in Brackendale Road, the name of the house was 'Calder'. She was a cook there, I guess for some well-to-do lady. Can anyone help out?
Born Next Door
I was born in the flat above the shop to the right and and just out of sight of the photograph in 1944. Home births were the norm in those days. I lived in Camberley and went to France Hill Secondary School. I remained in Camberley till 1964 by which time I had married my husband Andy who was a soldier at the R.M.A. We have travelled widely but have returned to see my family, who all still reside in the area, several times and we have now settled in Yorkshire. My first thought when I saw this picture was of the time when as a young teenager myself and a few girlfriends were asked to leave the cinema for mucking about and giggling and were not allowed back until we had apologised in person to the manager. Oh happy days! - what a different world it was then. Gaynor Henderson (nee Smith)
The Golden Farmer
I used to live in Maultway North - the turning directly to the right of the Jolly Farmer - in the mid 1980's, so I have hazy memories of the pub as a customer. But I remember feeling the place to be cut off from the rest of the world - it was always a challenge crossing the London Road as the pub is smack bang in the middle of a busy roundabout. A million miles away from this tranquil image. The legend of the Golden Farmer (where the pub gets its name) always fascinated me - he was a farmer by day but a highwayman by night who robbed rich travellers on their way to London. Famed for paying all his debts in gold, he was eventually caught and hung from the gibbet which stands outside the pub, where he was left for all to see. His gold was never recovered and is rumored to be buried nearby. My efforts towards finding the treasure remain unrewarded! No longer a pub, The... Read more
Deborah's Bake Shop And Cafe
My mother, Betty Eilleen Staniford (later Cranham), worked at Deborah's bake shop and cafe on Frimley Road in Camberley. I am working on a family tree and I am unable to find out anything about this bake shop. Does anyone have any connections or know anything about this place? I have a letter that shows the address as being 142 Frimley Road. It would have been in the late 1940s or early 1950s that Mum worked there as a young woman. I know that it was still in operation in the early 1960s as Mum used to get letters from the people there. I wish that I could remember the owner's name. Thank you for any info. Tina :)
Kings Ride
Yes, whoever you are - I have memories of this road, having lived in
it in the 60's, my in-laws living there in the 50's and delivering papers there in the 40's.
What do you want to know ?
The Chocolate Box & Smithers Family in The Late 1950''''s Early 1960''''s
My grandparents ran the Chocolate Box in Frimley Road, Camberley (now Camberley Kitchen Studios) and I spent my early life there after my parents' marriage broke down. I remember going to nursery school along a tree-lined street somewhere near Watchetts rec, probably in 1962/3. We were made to have a nap before going home each day and I recall low beds with grey blankets and how I hated that part of the day and could never sleep!
Later I went to York Town school. There was a song we used to sing in assembly which was always my favourite and I've never heard since, it had, somewhere in it, the words were "Do you know how many birds that sing...". Does anyone else know this song/hymn? The tune is still in my head and I'd love to know the rest of the words. I remember two friends I had there, one called Tracy, the other Giselle, though I can't remember their surnames, Giselle went to ballet classes I... Read more
Memories of Surrey
Pinehurst Childrens Home, Park Rd Camberley
Memories of Camberley come from my childhood days as an orphan residing at 'Pinehurst', a Surrey County Child Welfare Home 1949-1953. I was put there as a 9-year-old and recall spending a very happy part of my youth there. I attended a primary school, the name of which my memory refuses to recall (Park Road?). Later on I attended France Hill House School, the headmaster being a Mr Steele. 'Pinehurst' Children's Home was on Park Road above the railway crossing. Next door to 'Pinehurst' was Elmhurst Ballet School and I remember the rumour of famous film star John Mills's daughter, Juliet Mills, taking up ballet there. The grounds around the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst was always an interesting place we visited. Our guardians at the orphanage were Jimmy and Robyn Ewart. I kept in touch with them and visited them in their retirement in Bristol with my wife's family in 1983. They have both since passed away. Knocking on the front door at 'Pinehurst' with my wife on... Read more
Pinehurst Home
David Share was a very good freind of mine. I have a photo of him at the school fete and would love to speak with him. We used to save stamps and do swops together. I still save stamps and have quite a collection now.
Children's Home
My father came home from the war and my mother had been having an affair with an army friend of his and he was living with him so my father was ejected from the house. The council became involved and my two sisters went in to foster homes. I kept asking my mother when will I see them again and one day she said to me you will see your sisters today. We went to the magistrate court at Farnham where I met my sisters we waited out side the court. Eventually my mother came out with a lady and said to me you must go with this lady, I then twigged that it was my turn to go away so I would not get into the car and had one leg ether side of the door but as I was only seven I was not strong enough to resist and was pushed into the car. The lady took me to a children's home in Hindhead called Hill Garth. I... Read more
Memories of Bedford Lane.
This cottage is in Bedford Lane. I lived in the house called Connemara which is still in Bedford Lane. My father Samuel Frederick Richardson and his brother George were both bricklayers. Both were demolishing the cottage and they were burning the thatch. My brother John was playing dare. He walked through the outer edge of the white ash and dared me to walk through the middle. Unfortunately I did and was very badly burned. Mother rushed round all the houses, collecting tea leaves to put on my legs. In those days people didn't empty their pots every brew. They just topped them up with a little more tea and hot water. To this day, I do not know where Mother got the idea of the tea leaves. It certainly worked. Just a few little scars and they are hard to find. After demolishing the cottage, they built a red briick pair of houses. A Mr Fairminer... Read more
Frimley, The Grove
My father was born in Frimley and lived at No 8 The Grove till he married and moved to Dartford, then Wastwater and finally emigrated to South Africa after the Second World War. I visited my late grandparents, Mr H H Finch and Mrs B E Finch, in the early 1970s and had a really good time, visited the White Hart with my grandad, and the local hospital to see my grandmother.
I have very fond memories of The Grove and Frimley village, and it was great finding a picture of it on the internet.
Jane
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