Castlefield

A Memory of High Wycombe.

BORN IN THE FRONT ROOM OF 49 SPEARING ROAD ON 16/02/53.  I MUST HAVE BEEN LUCKY, THAT WAS WHEN CASTLEFIELD WAS POSH, WHEN THE TALLY MAN WAS UNARMED.  ALL OUR SCHOOL UNIFORMS WERE ON TICK, BUT THE COMPANY GOT PAID.  I CAN REMEMBER GOING SWIMMING ON THE RYE WITH MY WOOLLEN TRUNKS THAT GOT BIGGER THE LONGER YOU WERE IN THE POOL.  I CAN REMEMBER THE COFFEE, TEA, SOUP, AND CHOCOLATE ALL TASTED THE SAME FROM THE MACHINE.  BUT KEEP HILL WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER WAS THE PLACE TO BE.  MANY A YOUNG LOVE MADE OR LOST THERE.  STILL LIVE HERE NOW.  DID MOVE TO NORTH YORKSHIRE FOR FOUR YEARS BUT AS THEY SAY YOU CAN TAKE THE MAN OUT OF WYCOMBE......... I CAN REMEMBER MY FIRST DRINK AT THE VAN INN WHEN I WAS JUST 16.  NOW IF I WAS 16 I WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR A COUNCIL HOUSE FOR ME, THE GIRLFRIEND AND THE KIDS.  AND IF THE FRONT ROOM OF 49 SPEARING ROAD CAME UP I WOULD TURN IT DOWN.  CAN ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER AT CASTLEFIELD, MRS HARLEY THE SWEET LADY, JERRY THE HAIRDRESSER AT THE BACK OF THE WOOL SHOP, THE CO OP WITH YOUR DIVVY NUMBER, THE CASTLE WHEN IT HAD A SNUG.  TO SIT ON THAT WALL WITH YOUR LEMONADE AND CRISPS.  LIFE WAS NOT EASY THEN BUT THEN MAYBE IT WAS.  I AM JUST GLAD I HAD MY DAYS IN CASTLEFIELD AND I REALLY HOPE THE YOUNG PEOPLE THERE TODAY CAN LOOK BACK IN 20 OR 30 YEARS AND SAY 'YES I LIKED MY YEARS IN CASTLEFIELD'.  IT WOULD BE A SAD WORLD IF YOU REGRET YOUR CHILDHOOD.