Earley memories
Here are memories of Earley and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Earley or a Earley photo.
War Years in Earley
I lived in Clarendon Road until 1954. Does anyone remember the V1 doodlebug that crashed in Whitenights Park, causing a huge crater? In those days we would spend a lot of time in Earley Woods at the back of the allotments at the end of Mays Lane. I went to Wokingham Road primary school and then to Reading Grammar School in 1946. My very first girlfriend was Priscilla Hockey but sadly I lost contact with her and it would be very difficult to trace her now because I assume she married and I wouldn't know her married name. I was married in St Peter's church in 1958. I am 76 years old now and live near Nottingham but have many fond memories of Earley and Reading. It would be nice to hear from anyone that knew me. My email address is lewis-shaw@o2.co.uk
Memories of Berkshire
The Butt Inn
Somewhere, not too far from Woodley, there is a pub called the But Inn, it was somewhat an old-fashioned pub where instead of hand pumps for filling up pint glasses there were barrels tipped on their sides and a wooden tap knocked into the barrel. There was a spill bin to capture any drips from out of the barrels. As far as I recall the brewery was Weatherheads that supplied all the beer within the wooden barrels. The Landlord had a Great Dane dog which often would howl until the landlord opened the living room door; off it went straight to the spill bins and lap up all the dregs and would then get so drunk that it would do the splits on all fours. I was roughly 20 years old and that would make it 42 years since I was in that pub. I know that the pub is on the internet and that it looks as if it is a thriving pub. I don't suppose that the beer... Read more
Sindlesham
Does anyone have memories of Sindlesham from the 1950s till the late 1960s? It would be nice if someone has. It was such a pretty place.
Thames-Side Miniature Railway
The Thames-side Miniature Railway opened in about 1946 and closed in 1954. The station, which had a single platform, stood at the Caversham end of the line. To the east of the station was the engine shed and, beyond that, a turntable. At the western end of the railway was another turntable and a passing loop that enabled the locomotive, once turned, to return to the front of the train. The railway was single-track throughout, and it ran for about half a mile to just short of Cow Lane.
The maroon locomotive was named 'Western Queen' and, if I remember correctly, had a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement. One memorable feature, was the very penetrating chime whistle which could be heard a considerable distance away.
''Fanny'' Hawkins Sweet Shop.
In reply to Keith Hawkins' appeal to anyone that knew of F.W. Hawkins shop on Hosier Street, Reading, I used this shop during the 1950s as a small boy while spending the weekends with my Nan & Grandad who lived at 61 Hosier Street. My Mum & Nan referred to Miss Hamkins as Fanny, I have no idea if this was her real name. The shop was very dark inside with gas light brackets on the walls. On entering the shop as a small boy clutching a few coppers my Nan had given me to buy some sweets with the silence was unreal, the shop was always empty, after a few minutes of waiting to be served and looking at lots of glass cube-shaped display jars with round lids, all full of different sweets, trying to decide what to buy, Miss Hawkins would emerge through the part glazed door (which sported a heavy net curtain) at the rear of the shop, which must have been her living accomodation, the doors were... Read more
Rowing
I think this boathouse was where the Reading Working Men's Rowing Club was based. I remember boys from the Forest Grammar School rowing on the river here and the extraordinary pain in your arms as you rowed the last few strokes of a race!
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