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Farnham Royal memories

Here are memories of Farnham Royal and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Farnham Royal or a Farnham Royal photo.

Farnham Park 1981

Recuperative Home c1955
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I was treated at Farnham Park for a back problem in 1981. At the time I had been having various different treatments for six months for supposed sciatica.

In 2007 I had an X-Ray on my back, and an old L1 break was discovered. This I think was the cause of the problem in 1981, but had probably healed itself by the time I was sent to Fanham Park.

At Farnham the staff got me mobile again with exercise and intensive physiotherapy. A group of us spent every evening in the pub.
Though treatment seemed hard at the time it certainly worked. I had thirty painless active years. Only recently has the old injury started causing problems.
The sense of being among comrades was great, and we supported each other. I still remember some of the others who were there at the same time.
Does anyone recall the food? Or the early morning back exercises, the dancing classes, the hydrotherapy pool, the gymn?


... Read more

I Was Here in 1973 & 1974

Recuperative Home c1955
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Like the other contributors I was a patient at this fabulous rehab centre, in my case it was twice (1973 and 1974) in restoring a mangled left leg following a motorcycle accident (yet another "sorry mate, didn't see you" driver error).
I fondly remember the camaraderie of the 'inmates'. These were generally people severely damaged by accidents, burns, strokes, cancer. l and the occasional sports person or motor racing driver.
I lived here weekdays from Sunday evening to Friday evening for six months in total, playing snooker in the library most evening, or the occasional escape to the Green Man pub up the road.
I less fondly remember the pain 'inflicted' by the staff in trying to restore strength and mobility. They and the surgeons at High Wycombe General Hospital saved a leg that (by the medical assessment at the time) should have been amputated.
I still cherish one of the hardwood bowls I turned while spending many hours each day on the peddle-lathe. The pool was the high point... Read more

Rehab Centre Farnham Park

Recuperative Home c1955
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This is the occupational therapy workshop of the Rehabilitation Centre in Farnham Park. It was operated by the Slough Estates Medical facility.

Memories of Berkshire

School

County Primary School c1965
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I remember walking to school in the winter from Hedgerley, only to arrive at the gates and seeing this view but the whole car park and playground being flooded.  No school today!!!  Sometimes it was a couple of days before the water had drained away.  Also on the left of the picture is where we used to stand waiting for the door to open for our school disco etc.  Great school, loved Miss Painter, can't say the same for Mrs Benjamin, she was a great teacher but scared the life out of some of us, never did get the hang of needlework !!!,,,,,,,,Pete Cronin

My Home

County Primary School c1965
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My Family moved to the house to the left of the school gates in 1957, before the school was built. I lived there until 1965 when I married and moved to the USA.
My brother went to this school, and I used to cut across the field to catch the bus to my school in Slough. I have many fond memories of growing up in Farnham Common, taking the dog for walks in Burnham Beeches, stopping at the bakery on the corner of Beeches road, and the old pet store which is now the parking lot next to the chemist. I worked at Farnham Common telephone exchange for a couple of years, 1960-1962, it was quite cramped but fun. I belonged to the Hedgerly Youth club, and used to walk to Dr. Wardale's surgery at the top of Hedgerly Hill. My brother loved riding his bike down the hill, but hated the walk up.
I often think of my childhood and teenage years in Farnham Common, when things were... Read more

The Good Old Days....

County Primary School c1965
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I started at the school in 1970, I still think it was the best school ever, we had a swimming pool which I thought was so cool, it was never heated though! But I got my width, length and 7 lengths certificate in assembly. First day at school in a red cardigan and red beret. My how times have changed. The head master at the time was Mr Little, he was a lovely head, I also remember Mrs Benjamin - needlework!!!! yuck. Mrs Hunter, now she was a cool teacher, Miss Painter - she taught French and we went to Paris on a school trip with her. I can remember getting silver and gold stars for my work and if you got 3 gold stars you went and saw Mr Little and you showed him your work and were praised. We had a site agent there who we all called Uncle Herbie...I can't remember why, but he was a nice person. School dinners..omg! We sat on tables of (I think) 8 and at... Read more

Where I Grew Up. Born 1944.

My Mum and Dad moved into the village in the 1930's into a new house in Rogers Lane and lived there for 66 years.  My father was the village tailor working from a workshop in the back garden.  My mother was very involved in the village life, joining the WI and also the secretary of the Old Peoples club for a while.  Also a member of the local tennis club.  My father was a Special Policeman during and just after the war and was a member of the British Legion. I spent my childhood playing in the fields which surrounded Stoke Poges, which now all but a few have been built on.  I was in the Stoke Poges church choir for quite a few years, when Rev and Mrs Bevan where there.  I can remember many things from my childhood, including going up to the common and selecting our Christmas tree each year. On moving into Stoke Poges, Mum and Dad were told they had the rights of the common.... Read more

Walks

I used to walk from Farnham Common down Templewood Lane to visit my friend Viv who lived on Rogers Lane in Stoke Poges. It didn't seem like such a long way back then. This would have been between 1957 and 1960. Both sets of our parents are buried in the Memorial Gardens at St. Giles church. Viv and I lost contact for 40 years, and found each other last year through a website. I now live in the USA.
Stoke Poges holds fond memories, dances at the Village Hall, and flirting with the boys walking down the hill.

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