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East Lockinge

East Lockinge maps

Historic maps of East Lockinge and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all East Lockinge maps

East Lockinge area books

Displaying 1 of 7 books about East Lockinge and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of East Lockinge

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Oxfordshire memories

Evacuation to West Hendred From 1941 to 1946

I was evacuated at the age of 4 yrs with my mother, Catherine and younger brother Alfred. We had been buried alive in a shelter, in Upton Park, East London and only saved when someone heard my mother screaming for help. I don't know how we got to WH but am told my mother arrived in the same dress she was wearing when she was dug out, it was soaking wet still. I wish I had got more information from her before she passed on. My father had to stay behind in London and eventually joined the army for the duration. My three elder sisters, Joan, Kath and Patricia had previously been evacuated to Wantage and in time we all came to live at Alpha Cottage in the village.When we arrived in the village , we were put up at The Vicarage, next to the church, and was looked after by a lady who was known as Lady Gwen Evans. I started school in the village in April 1941 and... Read more

TIRROLD WAY

Atomic Estate c1955
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My parents lived in the house on the right, the end semi-detached house, I can just be seen in the photograph as the light coloured blob in the front garden. Normally I would have been at Garston Lane School, but in the late spring of 1955 I had to have my tonsils removed at Wantage Cottage Hospital, so I had extra time off school. My parents were the first occupants of the house in 1949, we moved to a bigger house on Foliat Drive in 1956. My maiden name is Robinson, and my father worked at Harwell moving to Winfrith in 1958.

Tirrold Way

Atomic Estate c1955
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We lived at 5 Tirrold Way on the Charlton Estate at Wantage just after I was born in 1949. My father George Nicholas worked at the Atomic Energy at Harwell and my parents were also the first occupants of these houses. My mother who is 83 years old feels sure that the Robinson family lived next door and that Susan and I played together and that she went on to become a nurse. If this is fact would love to hear from you!

All Grown Up

Market Place c1965
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Being of a young age by this time, twelve years old, I remember the market square being filled with motorbikes, with each the bike riders wearing leather jackets topped with a cut-off denim with this being decorated with many a metal stud, either coloured brass or silver, and sometimes framing what was a stencilled picture of perhaps an evil looking face or else something of another bizarre description. This congregation of these bikers held a friend and myself in so much fascination that even with our both being at this early age, every evening my friend and myself would be found sitting at the foot of King Alfred's statue joining this party, he wearing his leather-looking jacket and I in my denim jacket covered with a variety of studs purchased from one the local shops and chains used for plugs, either bought or else retrieved by some other means. On the back of my jacket was painted a scull with lightning drawn through its entirety, so making the complete diagram... Read more

Courtenay Road 1953

Atomic Estate c1955
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I moved to Wantage with my parents Ted and Phyllis Willey and my brother Ken and sister Susan. At Garston Lane school one of my first friends was John Campbell who lived in Courtenay Road. We were aged 8. Another friend was Jim "Limmy" Lynch who became well known as guitarist in local bands. We still keep in touch and he still plays guitar at local gigs after 50 years! As a teenager and in my 20's my best mates were Johnny Shepherd, Ken Galvin, Dave 'Pumpkin' Stimpson, Paddy Roche and 'Polly' Perkins. I was one of the boys who frequented the Windmill Cafe on the corner of Grove and Mill Streets. I lived at 32 Wallingford Street which became Youngs House Chinese takeaway. Me and my mates used to go to The Regent Cinema and sometimes got up to mischief there. I worked on the building site at Larkdown for A C Carter then later as a driver for E.R. Miller in Grove Road. I had also... Read more

Motorbikes in The Square

Market Place c1965
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My mate John Lavois (known as Johnny Dustman) had a BSA Super Rocket and frequented the square. Also memories of the late Wilbur Wallace on his Manx Norton and "Flash" on his BSA Gold Flash, Chris Embling (Douglas Dragonfly), Ray Gibbs (Ariel Arrow), Mervyn Joyce (Norman B4), the Wiltshre brothers (Triumph 500s), Me (350 Matchless) and loads of great British bikes.

Matthew Kimbers Cross

As a child I remember a cross made of iron painted green at the roadside between the two turnings into East Hendred. It bore the name "Matthew Kimber". Daffodils would appear there in the spring. Can anyone tell me what it was about?

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