Gillingham, Dorset

Stour Row

My family were friends of the Vowles who lived in Green Lane. We stayed with them in 1935, I have a photo of them and me as a baby. My memory is of staying with them in the war years and going to school in the village, I seem to remember carrying a plate  to school each day for my dinner.... [more]

Shaftesbury's bad reputation!

Shaftesbury's position high on a hilltop with only a meagre water supply meant that water had to be brought up to the town from wells at the bottom of the steep slopes, usually by horses and donkeys carrying barrels. Water sellers then went round the town's houses selling water by the bucketful. However, Shaftesbury's position at the crossroads of several main... [more]

Hovis Hill

This is the hill that appeared in the Hovis television adverts - supposedly in a northern town, but in reality in deepest Dorset! At the top it is about 700 feet above sea level. It is now the scene of the once a year Gold Hill Festival in July.

In Loving Memory Of Ernest Cyril Langford

MEMORY PAGE TWO OF THREE

Continued from previous memory about Ernest Cyril Langford and Semley in Wiltshire:-

After returning from overseas, and while posted at Aldershot, Ernie met and dated Vicky Pearson, who was at that time serving in the A.T.S.  Ernie and Vicky married on 6th July 1946, and the newly-weds moved into Myrtle Cottage, Semley, where they... [more]

In Loving Memory Of Ernest Cyril Langford

MEMORY PAGE ONE OF THREE

In Loving Memory of Ernest Cyril Langford
MEMORY PAGE ONE OF THREE

As I have said in my other memories, this is the story of the life of my late father, Ernest Cyril Langford, of Semley in Wiltshire.  
                               
In loving... [more]

My memories of Semley

My memories of Semley in Wiltshire when I was a boy are good. My late father (Ernie Langford) owned the village shop and post office from 1946 to 1969. The village shop was started at the Bennett Arms by my grandfather in the 1930s.
After the Second World War, my father bought a plot of land opposite the school and had... [more]

In Loving Memory Of Ernest Cyril Langford

MEMORY PAGE THREE OF THREE

Continued from previous memories about Ernest Cyril Langford and Semley, Wiltshire:

Those who drove up in cars were reluctant to get out of their cars when they saw Gizzy attacking the car tyres. Someone reported Ernie for allowing a dangerous creature to roam the common; the local police issued an order claiming that action... [more]

Going to school

I well remember going to the Catholic church as between 1948 and 1954 I attended St Mary's Roman Catholic School. When I first went to the school it was the old school and in 1953 a new one was opened close to the church and we all thought it was great as we had inside toilets and everything was new. The... [more]