Crowthorne, Berkshire

Cricketing memories at Broadmoor.

A fine cricket ground was included within the walls where Bracknell CC played each year. There was a concert party formed from among the inmates that used to give performances in the villages around Crowthorne: the party travelled with a strong force of warders. Just after WWII there was an occasion when a notorious murderer managed to escape and the alarm was sounded. It was powerful enough to be heard over a range of several miles. The escapee was soon recaptured but there was great local concern about the type of person held in Broadmoor.

Running

My best memory of Little Sandhurst was being able to run freely through Wellington College woods as I was an avid fan of athletics and still am.  I lived in Edgbarrow Rise and can remember people like Peter Searle, John Irwin (now deceased), Peter Barber (now deceased), Derek and David Wood and many more.  My mum used to work in the local post office and her name was Maria.  I went to Scotland Hill school, the old one where the headmaster was Harold Shanks and my teacher was Mrs Huddle and I do believe she is still alive.  I frequently return and am amazed that there are no shops, post office or butchers.  It has become too populated.

Living at the Post Office

When I was a teenager I lived at the Post Office that is now a hardware shop, at the eastern end of the village. I was in the church choir and in the bell-ringers. Used to ride my bike down to the cricket field to watch the games. My father, Harry Gardner, was the Postmaster and ran the associated grocery store. When the steadily growing chain stores got to out-price him, despite his personal service, delivering groceries when people phoned in their orders, etc. he had to let the business go, and moved to Cornwall. He died in 1980. Friends... Sheila Revell, Leonie (Pixie) Parker (still in touch), John Randall, Freddie Moth, Colin Cripps, Billy Roberts. I was sad to read about Freddie's tragic death in Kenya when I was reading a booklet I got form the church when I last visited.

grounds of the Royal Military Academy

While I was growing up in Sandhurst, the grounds of the College was open to the public and we could walk from the village of Sandhurst through to Camberley. This building with parade ground in front is famous for the white horse which always entered the building up the steps when the passing out parades had finished. In front of this building are beautiful grounds with a big lake which was often the place to have picnics in the summer, and in winter - if frozen - we would skate over it. Shame now due to security risks etc, that the grounds are closed to the general public. Such a shame - I am glad I have the memories still.