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My Childhood

I was born to Victor Owen Colman Emmerson and Jean Florence Emmerson at the family home of Garden Cottage, Holmbury St Mary in September 1957. I have an older brother, John and a younger sister Diane who were also born there. My grandmother Catherine or 'Kit' was for many years housekeeper to Dorothea Flower who lived next door in Hurtwood Cottage. I have many memories of growing up in the village, attending Holmbury St Mary primary school, belonging first to the brownies and then the girl guides. Although I no longer have any family connections in the village there are still a number of family friends that still reside there. Some of my fondest memories are that of the special bonfire nights held near the village, the pyrotechniques of which were originally orchestrated by a Mr Bill Narroway.
Garden Cottage is still very clear in my mind, being built on a raised bank directly opposite the rather grand house and grounds belonging to Lady Catto. It was, and still is a beautiful part of the country. As a young girl I can vividly remember being so much a part of this. My mother would describe me as always up a tree! Nature lessons were a big part of the school curriculum. Of the Post Office I recall it being owned by Godfrey Bullen and his wife Rosemary. They had two children Valerie and Stephen.
I'm going to stop there because I could go on for hours - I may visit again with more memories.

Written by Barbara Parkes. To send Barbara Parkes a private message, click here.

A memory of Holmbury St Mary in Surrey shared on Tuesday, 29th August 2006.

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RE: RE: My Childhood

I have stumbled on this interesting site. Having just looked at my birth certificate I see that my birth mother, Marie Dolores Connolly was staying with friends just before my birth in 1950. the address given is Brown Cottage, Woodhouse Lane Holmbury St Mary. I wondered if anyone in your family knew the people living in Brown cottage or my mother and can throw any light on a mystery I am always trying to solve! I have very sketchy details of my now deceased birth mother. Just that she lived in Manchester and came down to Holmbury to give birth to me. I was born at Mount Alvernia Harvey Road Guildford. It sounds as if you have very happy memories of growing up in what looks like a lovely village. Sincerely Anne-Marie Hughes

Comment from Anne-Marie Hughes on Monday, 1st September 2008.

RE: RE: My Childhood

I visited Holmbury St Mary twice with my parent during the late 1970s, the second time we took my grandmother Mary (nee Longhurst) as she lived there during her childhood.

She showed us the cottage where she'd lived and told us about her days at the village school. We walked around the church and churchyard. Her father was killed during WW1 and his name is on the memorial.

Comment from Jackie Woodcock on Friday, 17th September 2010.

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