Memories of Earl Shilton

Growing up in Earl Shilton

I have fond memories of Earl Shilton around the 1950s. My first school was in Wood Street where I lived in a little old cottage, now knocked down. I remember celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's coronation at the school, wearing a red, white and blue paper dress my mum made for me. We moved later to Weavers Road where I attended Weavers Road School. I have memories of 'Harry's' (or the flea pit) picture house which I frequented on Saturdays with my cousin, to see the old cowboy films, and cheering when the cavalry turned up. It cost 9 old pennies to get in. I also remember when the new roller skating rink opened. Fond memories too of the old station as others have remembered, taking picnics, and also watery gate, waiting for the cars to splash! Oh, and Mrs Lumley's fish and chip shop, Almeys Lane, 3 old pennies for a bag of chips!! Lots of memories.

Earl Shilton

My memories are of Earl Shilton and similar to those of Eric Johnson. I started at Earl Shilton Infant School in 1959 and the headmistress was called Mrs Cloe. When I was in her class she would read Brer Rabbit books to us at the end of each day and if the boys were naughty they had their legs slapped. It was a little school which my grandmother and mother also went to and as Eric stated is now a supermarket. I lived down Elmesthorpe Lane and my dad used to take me to see the steam trains at Elmesthorpe - although they were few and far between at that time, Dad knew when they were due. My next school was at the other end of the village which was Earl Shilton Junior School. There was a little sweet shop on the corner where we used to buy sherbet dips and jubilees. Mr Dowswell was one of my teachers and a memory of him was dandruff constantly over his jacket. I go back to Earl Shilton perhaps once every couple of years and although the shops are different now it hasn't changed an awful lot.

My early years

My memory of Shilton is when I started school at the infant school in The Hollow which is now a supermarket, and then to the school in Wood Street, after that to Heathfield at Bel Vue and we used to play in Dan Asley's sand pit on the home.
After I left school I worked for a Mr Surch at Kesters Nook which is no longer there, and then he went to Australia and I went with him, here I have been for the last 54 years. But I have been back to Shilton a few times as I still have three sisters living in England and I still call it my home. But it has changed so much that I have lost all contact with all the boys I used to go to school with and I hope someone still remembers me.
We also liked to go down to Elmsthorp and watch the old steam trains go through and put pennies on the line to let the train flatten them out. We also loved to go to Harry's picture house on Saturday afternoon.
These are just a few of the best years of my life and I hope that someone else can remember them too.