Farnham memories
Here are memories of Farnham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Farnham or a Farnham photo.
Hassobury
I used to go to Hassobury School, Hazel End from 1960 to 1962. It was a lovely old mansion but sadly it is flats now. It was surounded by countryside and we used to go for walks with Mrs Lyle and she used to sit us down then read from the book 'The Lord of the Rings'.
On a Saturday we used to walk to Stansted with our pocket money to buy sweets, it seemed like two miles, but perhaps it was shorter. One day a week we used to go in a van for swimming, to Saffron Walden, Mr Lodge used to drive, no relation to my sister-in-law, although she did live in Manuden. On a Sunday before breakfast we had to cross the fields to go to church for communion, we had tea and crackers. I used to like the vicar's son, he was quite handsome. The meals were quite good. I was in Miss Piper's class. One day a week we had cooking. We had to cook... Read more
Memories of Hertfordshire
Wartime Evacuation
The small private school I was attending in Westcliff on Sea was evacuated to Manuden in July 1940. We were established in Cleeve Hall,which became my home and centre of learning until around August 1941, when the school closed due to lack of teaching and custodial staff. During that time my parents (who lived in Richmond, Surrey) and grandparents made arrangements to spend weekends staying in the Home Farm at Hazel End, which was the residence of Alf and Hilda Gillman, who managed the estate farm for the Gosling family. They were a lovely couple who had no children of their own and made a great fuss of me when I spent Sundays with my family at the Home Farm. We maintained contact with the Gillmans for many years right up to the time both had passed away. It was my first experience of rural life and probably influenced the later decision of my wife and I to purchase a 25 acre property, a couple of years before retiring from... Read more
Coopers
I remember this building being Handscombes Ironmongers. And one end of it being a pram shop in the early 80's I think . I bought my parents their 25th wedding anniversary present in Handscombes... a dinner service in a Poppy design. Full service with tureens etc only cost £24.99! This was in 1978. They held their party at the Bell in Stanstead.
A Good Time in Much Hadham
I spent about one year in Much Hadham as German prisoner of war, 1946 till July 1947, working for the Hertfordshire War Agricultural Executice Committee; I specially was engaged in our camp labour office as clerk, under Mr. Wooley and later Mr. Smolenski, two wonderful men. We enjoyed already a lot of liberty, and I really loved this little village, which I visited once again in the late sixties, when I still discovered some remainders of one of our old Nissen huts! These months in Hertfordshire had an immense positive influence on all my further life, especially when I then worked in out of school civic education. Thank you, Much Hadham!
Walter Scharnagl, Dechant-Heimbach-Str. 43, D-53177 Bonn, Germany.
Evacuees
I was evacuated to Bury Farm, to a lovely family, the Oakleys. It was one of the happiest times of my life and I still visit, although most of the family have moved away some still remain. The village has changed after all this time but still has so many happy memoriers for me that I will always love it. I am now in my seventy seventh year and recently went to a 90 birthday party of Doris Tott who is the eldest daughter of the lady & gent I stayed with (Dollie & Charlie Oakley). Another girl was evacuated with me, Dorothy Perry, nee Coney, and we met up again at the party. We both recognised each other. I cannot thank the Oakley family enough for all they did for me and my family. I shall continue to visit Braughing for as long as I am able and look forward to the trip . My mother and father Alice & Jim Fletcher also loved Braughing and visited many times during their lifetimes. I just... Read more
I Lived in Standon from The 1950s Onwards Till 1969 & Then Came Back!!
My dad ran the butchers shop in the High Street from 1951-1969, Victor John Ward. I went to the school at the far end of the High Street (now residential). Headmaster was Mr Eric Norman Butler. I remember May Day, and dancing in the High Street ... more memories than I can write! School journeys? Sports days on the rec...Westwoods newsagents....Catons shop...Emertons shop...Walkers baker...Mr and Mrs Drage in the Post Office, later Dorothy and Frank Pearson... I have loads of childhood memories and of the village people from then.
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- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
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