Dunstable, the Civic Hall c1965

Whitethorn Morris dance at the Dunstable Folk Festival

Whitethorn Morris danced here at various town centre sites and pubs along with St Albans Morris Men, Caddington Blues and Bedfordshire Lace.

It was all in support of the Dunstable Folk Festival which was organised by Dunstable Town Council. A surprisingly enjoyable day was had by all!

Memories of the Civic

My first memory of the Civic was that awesome ceiling, seen for the very first time at a do hosted by the then new Evening Post newspaper, for all the delivery boys & girls. Probably not long after the hall opened. The entertainment was none other than the Bonzo Dog Doo-dah Band.

Next, the heady days of the 70's when the Civic was one of the best venues for what has come to be called Classic Rock. We just called it rock then. Any band worth their salt played here along with one or two that weren't. Some names that come to mind are Pink Floyd, The Who, Wishbone Ash, Deep Purple, Quo ... the list goes on. I should write a book :)

I understand the site is now an Adsa. Ho hum, Dunstable is what Dunstable does.

Orange rolling

Orange rolling, Good Friday afternoon up the 'orange pit'. There used to be crowds of people all chasing little oranges down the hill. Never quite sure what you did if you caught one, I'm sure it wouldn't have been fit to eat!

Is this peculiar to Dunstable? I know of cheese rolling, where they chase a double gloucester cheese down a hill in Leckhampton (near Cheltenham) but haven't come across anything else similar elsewhere.

Living around the corner

I used to live in Sundown Ave, just around the corner from these shops. My friend Michelle lived to the right of the bus. My Mum used to work in the sweet shop at the end of the parade to the right. There was a supermarket on the far left with a chemist next door. I remember buying my Mum some rather stinky Yardley perfume there for her birthday one year for about 1/6d I went to school at Downside CP which you could get to by walking down the road to the right of the photo. People I remember living near theses shops are, Michelle Loggie, Steven Johnson, Michael Lithgo, Tim Francis, ELizabeth Graham, Angela Farrow, Janice Read, Bev Simpkins, Cecilia Atkins...and many more I am sure.,..

My lovely family, bill joan and paul harris

This was the year my son Kevin was born, we all used to go here usually on a Saturday.  Paul has just died , he was so special to all his family.  While he was in hospital he opened his eyes and said 'I have just been to Dunstable'. He used to work at Waterlows printing factory now long gone so did dad Bill Harris. Remembering them all with much love also Nobby and Nellie clarke, Cyril and Alice Collier.