Figheldean memories
Here are memories of Figheldean and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Figheldean or a Figheldean photo.
Addition to Con's Entry
Being Con's older brother, my memories go back a bit further, having started school about the day war was declared, going to the village school, with Miss Burling(?) - rumour had it that she changed the spelling of her name from Berlin (for obvious reasons). There are a lot of hazy wartime memories as well which would occupy a lot more space. I have memories of winding the church clock, back in the early 1950s, climbing that long ladder into the bell tower, knee deep in twigs left by the nesting rooks. There must also have been quite a stir in the village back in about 1937, though I obviously don't remember it, when Dad won a small fortune (in those days) on the 'Pools'. From the old photo I have we must have been living at Avondale at that time, though we later moved to 279 Ablington, just down the garden from 292 where Gran and Grandad lived, with about 60 chickens and, in the early days of... Read more
Born And Bred
Born in Ablington just after the war we moved to Avon Banks, where I lived until married in 1970. My mother's father, mother and brothers (Fenners) all lived in Figheldean. Having read other peoples memories it brought back probably the most enjoyable part of my youth.
Post Office
The post Office was run by a Mrs Titt in the 1950s and the post lady was to be, in later life, my aunty.
The Mill Pool
I lived at Netheravon from 1968 - 1972 (my father was in the RAF based at Old Sarum) and went to school at St Michaels Figheldean.
I remember we used to go swimming in the mill pool by the weir. I remember nearly drowning there, showing off in deep water under the big tree (still there) near the weir. I was saved by a girl called Sharon Parsons and probably never thanked her and certainly never told my mum when I got home. Other than that experience it was a great place to hang out in the summer and learn how to fish too - starting off on minnows by the footbridge and moving on to greyling and trout (probably illegally). A lovely village and well overdue for a visit. I live in North Oxfordshire so not too far away.
The River
The River Avon dominated most of the kids' lives in the village! I remember swimming 'down the mill' and at Gunville where my Great Grandmother (Sarah Marks) lived. We used to scrounge used inner tyre tubes from Mr Stansfield (who owned the Tourist Coaches next door to the Workingmen's Club) and float down the river on them from the bridge. Also used to get the watercress from the bridge too! So much to do! Making carts out of old pram wheels and bit of plank! Walking miles 'up the downs' and drinking water out of the cow troughs!!! Those were the days! The 'playing field' had two swings and a roundabout - we thought that was pretty good! I remember when the 'circus' came to the village...in the hall! It had a live lion! Blimey...that was a talking point for weeks! Mushrooming and scrumping were other pastimes! Knuckle Sheppard was a genius at finding mushrooms....we tried to follow him... Read more
Figheldean Manor
In 1945, just before VJ day, I moved from Scotland with my mother, to Figheldean Manor, to join my father who was then based at RAF Netheravon. I had never seen houses with flint walls and thatched roofs before, moreover, I had never experienced the type of food that was then available. My first experience of asparagus, watercress, fresh trout and partridge, all food provided to or by residents at the Manor, to supplement the then rations that were available with coupons.
We shopped, such as was necessary, in Netheravon. I remember Sammy the barber with a lisp, who, in winter time, kept his hand held clippers beside the gas fired heater; these would burn the neck occasionally, which he said was just a part of the hair cutting experience, as he puffed away at his Woodbine, numerous of which he smoked continually and were permanently in his mouth.
I remember the breaking up of hundreds of the gliders at RAF Netheravon and the huge parachute drops on Salisbuty... Read more
Memories of Wiltshire
Small Arms Corps, Netheravon 1941 - 1945
I'm wondering if anyone can provide me with the exact address of the Small Arms Corps (I believe this is the Camp featured), that existed during the Second World War? My father was a weapons instructor stationed in Netheravon between 1941 and 1945, and I'd like to take him on a trip down memory lane in February. I believe the Military no longer exist in Netheravon, but if anyone has any memories of the Small Arms Corps (Infantry Heavy Weapons School), Middlesex Regiment or better still can remember Leslie Fordham (known as Wally), then please get in touch. He fondly talks of Jerry Seed and Georgie Best, and it would be wonderful not only to take him back to Netheravon (we live in Cambridge), but to meet up with others from his past.
Rowes of Netheravon.
As a little girl I remember visiting Auntie Alice and Uncle Bill Rowe. They lived in Vine Cottage just down from the SSW Army Camp. Dad was stationed there after the Second World War, that's where he met my mother Margaret Ada Rowe. We didn't vist much as dad came from Whickham, Co Durham. It must have been around the time of the death of her father Francis William Rowe, he died in 1965 in Salisbury Infirmary. My brother and I were playing ball in Vine Cottage's garden, throwing the ball near the shed where our cousin Alexander Peter George Rowe was fixing his bike, he must have been about 17 at the time. Also, I remember my dad going to a white pub a few minutes away, it might have been called the Dog and Gun (I'm not sure). It was just yesterday I had a chance to visit Amesbury, Salisbury and Stonehenge. Such happy memories...
RAF Police Training 1952
I was a young man of 18, I was stationed at RAF Netheravon for 16 weeks police training, I met some very nice people whilst I was there. I have been back to see the place once since, it is not the same as I remember. I remember driving around the perimeter of the station doing my driving lessons then on to Salisbury to take my driving test, my driving instructor at that time was a Corporal Finlason. I will visit Netheravon again at some time in the near future, hopefully to have a chat with the local people.
Police Training at Upavon
I too was at police training school in 1952. After completion I was transferred to RAF Full Sutton in Yorkshire. I was 18 then. I have great memories of my training.
R.A.F. Netheravon
I was stationed here at R.A.F. Netheravon in late 1958 to do trade training for the R.A.F. Police.
I was only here for that duration, and can remember that it was quite cold.
I made friends with a chap called Mike Howard while doing our training, and on weekends he and i used to travel around by thumbing lifts from cars. We were in uniform of course and in those days almost every car that came along would give you a lift, unlike today.
Mike and I hitched lifts to Bournemouth, Salisbury, a village called Mere, and one time managed to get to Stonehenge. Back in 1958 we could walk up to the stones and wander around them. In fact that time that Mike and myself went there we sat on one of the fallen stones and had our picnic lunch that we bought with us from the camp.
On finally passing out after our training was done, I lost contact with Mike, but have very fond memories of... Read more
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