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Garston memories

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Memories of Hertfordshire

Service Quarters Sabine House

The Village c1955
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We had a lovely middle floor flat here, while my husband was at HMS Warrior, RAF Northwood. Our son was born at the then new maternity hospital, Shrodells at Watford.  We had a balcony, and one evening when all our husbands were working, it was three floors, 'The Birds'  horror film was on, so when they started attacking the windows, I went on the balcony and chucked some dirt out of my flower pot up at my friend's window who was watching it with the girl from downstairs, hehehe, you should have heard the screams. I also remember my own fridge going BANG in the kitchen, the kitchen had its own little gas fridge.  I loved that flat, and used to walk up the village before and after the birth of our boy, got home one day with my shopping and suddenly thought hold on a minute, something's not right, argh, I had left the baby up the village in his pram, so shot back up there, you couldn't do... Read more

Pridgeons Ltd, Our Family Shop in Breakspeare Road

Pridgeons Ltd, in Garden Road, Abbots Langley was our family business from the 1940s until it was sold in 1972.  My grandfather Cyril Pridgeon and my grandmother Dorothy Pridgeon started the business. Then my father and mother Peter and Dorothy Pridgeon took over.  It was a grocers.  I used to help my parents during the school holidays and really enjoyed the experience. Once the bigger supermarkets came in there was no call for the small grocers. But I will always have so many fond memories of Pridgeons Ltd.

The Ovaltine And Marlin Square

I'm not too sure of what years to mention apart from some happy memorys of the Ovaltine as a young lad with my mum and dad. David my dad was the village postman for many years and mum Annie was a local florist in the village. Ernie and Edna Edwards lived on the Ovaltine for many years in the main farmhouse, many years of fun and good times with me being found in the paddock with one of the prize bulls to mention just one.
Another memory is of my nan and grandad's shop in Marlin Square (Les and Peggy Marsh) a family-run business for many years like Prigeons grocer's and Creasys bakery. Nan (Peggy) moved some years ago to the lovely coast of Essex.
If anyone has some memories to share with me or my nan both of us would love to hear and talk.

Marlin Square

I lived next door to your last writer, Denise.  Her father was my cousin. I was married in 1964 at St Lawrence Church where my parents were also married. I had my wedding reception at my home in Marlin Square. Denise's parents had all the wedding gifts on show at their house as there was no more room in ours. I had another cousin, Mary, who lived next door to them and we put everyone's coats at her house. It was such fun. We took over all three houses for my wedding day. Paul Edwards is my nephew and he still lives in his childhood home. We have since emigrated and now live in California. I still enjoy going back when I can to remind myself of my happy time living there.

The Odeon

The Pond on The High Street c1955
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I was a member of the Odeon choir and it was around this time that we were taken to I think it was the Festival Hall, to compete against choirs across England and I got a bronze medal, I think it was the Star Festival.  Unfortunately my medal has been mislaid over the years but I remember that we were later taken to a recording studio in London - Tothill Street - where we recorded for an early television programme. Unfortunately, not having a TV I never got to hear the recording. The Odeon was part of our childhood with 6d seats downstairs and 9d seats upstairs. Opposite the Odeon was the Three Kays coffee bar where two or three years later we would meet and pool our money to get into the Jazz Club at halftime if the bouncer was willing to sell us interval tickets.  We met Johnny Duncan and his Blue Grass Boys, Acker Bilk, Ken Colyer. We would then walk home with bare feet as we... Read more

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