Witley Court Church Interior c1965, Great Witley
Witley Court Church Interior c1965, Great Witley Ref: G143002
Memories of Witley Court Church Interior c1965, Great Witley
Winter of 1963
I moved to Great Witley in 1954 with my family,we lived at the Engine House,which used to pump the water for Witley Court. I attended Witley school from 1954 to 1960, the headmaster was Mr Wyton,a memorable time for me, living on the farm enjoying the freedom that modern society cannot provide.
The winter of 1963 was a long one,and now at the age of 14 I enjoyed sledging and snowball fights with my two brothers Philip and Michael.
One of the greatest memories of that winter was the frozen pool above Witley Court,called the Washing Pool,a popular fishing haunt for midlanders. My father owned an ex army Willy's Jeep and decided that the ice on the pool would support its weight easily,which it did,and almost on a daily basis we all drove the jeep on the pool spinning and sliding around,Philip and I also took our old motorcycles on the ice, spending more time off the bike than on,but fantastic fun,looking back I realise how dangerous it was,but we... Read more
Great Witley & local memories
Read and share memories of Great Witley and Worcestershire inspired by Frith photos.
My School Days Begin
Great Witley school is where it all began,we lived at Ockeridge some 5 miles from Great Witley,but soon after my parents moved to the Engine House,situated down witley court drive, and opposite the Hundred pool.
So i left for school that day from Ockeridge and walked to my new home after school,it was a lovely summers day and i was filled with excitement at the new and adventurous time ahead.
I was not disappointed, what a great place to grow up in,a super school,and a whole 360 acres of playground when i got home each day.
It was part of the witley court estate,and it was covered in huge tree's,oaks,beech,horse chestnut,and sweet chestnut, most of these would have to be felled to make way for the farm land to be cropped.
We had sheep,pigs and cows,chickens,turkeys,not to mention the pet cats and scottie dog, father had a working sheepdog, life did not get much better than this.
I left the school at the age of 11,to attend Stourport high school,but... Read more
Too Much For One go
Mum and Dad bought the Post Office in 1944 and I grew up in Great Witley. I lived there from the age of 7 to 36. Boys had catapaults, and the police (there were 3 of them) took them off us, so we made new ones from nut sticks, the rubber from innertubes and the leather from the tongue of a shoe. Step out of line, ie shooting the cups off telegraph poles or the occassional window - the route was, police to father, and this was daunting! Later there was the Young Farmers, after a meeting, usually into the pub, BUT, the younger of the group behaved with reasonable decorum or they answered to the senior ones. Later the Post Office, Doreen, bless her! We fought like cat and dog but she was wonderful. Jan Francis is taking after her but we never worked together as she is far too young. I could mention so many names and events but the one I would like... Read more
Childhood
I was born in Worcester and brought up in G Witley until I left in 1976. I remember the days at the school, cricket and football; the Easter Monday Red Marley Hill climb; walks in the hills and visits to the court; days in the sun; cycle rides, fishing on the court pools; then the return off leave and the nights at the 100 house. What fun, what a care free existence. Visits are filled with happy memories and the occassional sight of an old familar face.
