Great Bowden, Leicestershire

my earliest memories

I was born at Kettering General Hospital in 1942. My father was the village policeman in Wilbarston since 1939 and we lived there until I was five years old in 1947 when my father was posted to the other end of the county. Wilbarston was perhaps the place I have always regarded as 'home' and I still feel a tingle of... [more]

Alma Friston nee Oldfield

I was born in Smeeton on April 23rd 1935. I remember staying with a Mr and Mrs Webb. As you approached Smeeton there were cottages on the left hand side, we stayed in the last one next to a lane. The cows came up this lane everyday for milking, quite often straying on to the garden, it was our job to... [more]

School uniform

When I passed the 11 plus exam I was selected to attend Kibworth Grammar School. The only place that you could get the uniform was the little shop in the photo to the right of the monument in the Square. This meant a trip by train from Wigston to Kibworth. This was quite feasible in the days before Dr Beeching closed... [more]

George Lynns grocers

My dad, Maurice Marsden, started work at the age of 14 in Lynns shop in 1937, after serving in the RAF and Fleet Air Arm during the war.  He returned to the shop to work and finished up as manager.  The shop closed in the 70s.

Fleckney

My uncle Alf and Auntie Mary lived in Main Street, Fleckney. Their son was Joe my cousin.

Just a Kibbuth Lad

For those who have never been to our village called Kibworth, it is worth noting locals call it "Kibbuth". You live in either "Top Kibbuth"- Kibworth Harcourt or "Bottom Kibbuth"- Kibworth Beauchamp. I myself personally, have lived in both and almost on the boundary of both parishes. For almost the past 40 years (man & boy), I have spent many a... [more]

my street

I was born 1953 and lived in No 94 Main Street until 1966, which is one of the small cottages on the right of the photo.  The big house at the bottom of the road was known as "General Jack's", he being a veteran of the Boar and First World Wars.  This road was great in the winter of 62-63 when,... [more]

The wall.

I sat on this wall so often when someone helped me up with 'a leggy'. It seemed so high then! I think it's fallen down now.