Foston, Derbyshire

Ford Family in Hanbury 1700s on

We travelled from Sydney, Australia in 2006 to Hanbury, looking for traces of our Ford Family who had lived in the area around 1800.  Our particular ancestor was a convict, John Ford, "Alias Tonks", b. 1801. He was tried and sentenced to 7 years in the colony of NSW, and was never to return, his crime was that of pig stealing.[more]

Summer days

It was a happy childhood, I was born in Etwall in 1954 and our council house in Windmill Road is still our family home. Some of my fondest memories are the simple pleasures of life as a young lad in the 1950/60s.
Always keen to get home from Etwall Primary School (though teachers Miss Smith, Mrs Sanders, Mr Tomlin, Miss Cracksford... [more]

Evacuee during the Second World War

Dear Mr Lord,

My sister Jean Marie Church and I, Marie Elizabeth Church, attended Findern School for four years plus during the Second World War. I was almost 7 years old, my sister almost 6 years old.

As I recall, Miss Cassandra Sanders was Head Teacher. She was my mentor, friend and companion. She took me under her wing... [more]

Is this the name of the ward?

I did my nurse training at Pastures Hospital back in 1981, and I think the name of this ward was Ridgeway (but I may be wrong) - it was a rehabilitation ward then. Sadly, these wards are no longer there, but I have some great memories.
Trisha

Mickleover Village 1955

In the photo of Mickleover Village 1955, things still hadn't changed by 1965 when my mum used to walk us to the village most days to buy food. I remember there was a shop keeper regularly standing in the doorway on the right of the photo. The shop to the left of that, with the bike outside was the Co op,... [more]

FRIENDS

I j oined the Navy in 1947 along with one Ginger Cooper,who came from Repton.
On visits to his home during leaves his family were very good to me,[ food and
things]. His Dad worked at the School.
Ginger claimed the Drum Major of the school band could toss the Mace over
the Arch and catch it on the... [more]

THE VILLAGE BOBBIES' CAR

My late father, Tom Jenkinson, was the village policeman in Repton from the early 50's until near his retirement in 1973. This photograph shows his car parked with others by the Arch. The old Ford Squire 60ARB.. I was very surprised to find it as I was working on the Frith jigsaw of this photograph!!

Rose Cottage

Bretby was 'discovered' by my dad who liked to vary his route in Ashby to work at Burton Girls' Grammar School. Bretby is not exactly the-land-that-time-forgot, but it is a delightfully unspoilt oasis, despite its proximity to Burton-on-Trent. Rose Cottage was a dilapidated house in the middle of the village, near the Green. The house was originally the blacksmith's house, and... [more]