Hythe, High Street c1955

Dibden Purlieu Newsagents / Mr & Mrs Storey

It was so lovely to see you refer to Mr Storey (Sid) in the earlier post - he was my wonderful Grandad!

Nan and Grandad (Grace and Sid Storey) used to run the newsagents, and as a little girl, I was always in there playing - even now, years after Nan and Grandad have passed on, Grandad's daughter, my Mum Di, still sees countless people who have very fond memories of Grandad, and how he was synonymous with Dibden Purlieu.

Times were great back then, and it's brought tears to my eyes to see another reference to Grandad - thank you.

Vicki.

DP in the early 60's

I can remember Dibden Purlieu just after the Merrimede shops were built and the new shops opposite on the corner were being built (where the Bathroom Acadamy is in 2009). I was abou 5 years old.  In those days I could ride my first bike down the un-tarmacked Watermans Lane (which was a dead end, the Wimpey estate was being built) down the village, leave it outside Mr Storey's shop (the newsagent), unlocked, then walk home with my comic forgetting the bike! I would then walk back and the bike was still there ... and guess what, I didn't see a single car! There was nothing to worry about, I was totally safe (I expect there were dangers really!).

Another memory is my mum taking me shopping and she knew everyone she saw and she spoke to all of them. That 100 yard walk could take hours!

S.A.R.C, Florence Road and more....

Woolston seems to have played quite a big part in the history of our family, so it's appropriate I guess that as an adult I have ended up living here with my Husband!! It started as far back as my great great great grandfather Boxall, my nan's granddad, who was Chief Fire Officer for Woolston for many years, he was based in what is now the 'Old Fire Station' Doctor's surgery in Portsmouth Road, we have many photographs of him looking very handsome, if not a little stern and almost regal in his immaculate old fashioned uniform, adorned with many medals and badges.  My nan Mary was born in Radstock Road, but the family later moved to Hamble which is where she spent most of her life, and her father Jack Bailey was an Instructor at the ATS air training college at the top of Verdon Avenue. On the other side of the family my grandad Ron Carter was born in Marsh Cottage in Hazel Road, one of many brothers and one sister, his father George Carter was the Ferryman on the river for many years and it was the Carter brothers who founded S.A.R.C (Southampton Amatuer Rowing Club), we have lot's of pictures of the brothers in the club surrounded by trophy's and wooden polished oars. It was a big part of their lives and my grandad rowed for many years in lots of competitions at Coalporter's and the like, going all over the place in a bus with the wives and chidren (of whom my mother was one!) in tow. It seemed a really happy time and I can remember personally going to the regattas on Weston Shore and at Mayflower Park, listening to 'Tickle' doing an amusing commentary service, and the lovely apple pie my nan loved to buy from the big food and beer tents!  My nan and grandad actually met in Woolston at a chip van, how romantic!! they married at Peartree Green church, and were photographed in the Echo, as they left the church and walked under a formation of rowing oars!! My first memories of Wooston was going to the Rowing Club with my nan and grandad on a Saturday for a drink, and also going with my mum on the bus from Hamble (where we lived) to a magical  toy shop called Keith Paul's, it was my favourite shop, and I always came home with something!! Now I am living in Florence Road, in what was the farmhouse for Woolson. It was built in the 1800's and was here before any of the other houses, surrounded by fields the cows used to walk down to the river to drink! We would love to know what the farm was called, or any information on it at all, a photo would be amazing!! So if anyone knows anything please can you you let me know?? Leave a reply or e-mail me at tracy@tracythurman.wanadoo.co.uk Thanks.

My Family in Woolston.

My Grandparents lived in Oakbank Road, My Aunt lived in Laurel Road. I can remember going to work with my Nan in the evenings. She used to be a cleaner for Knaptons Bookies and Malizias Bookies (Bridge Road).
My Aunt worked at the Home & Colonial along Victoria Road, my Grandfather, Uncle & Brother worked in Thornies, and another Uncle worked in the Fruit & Veg shop two doors away from Claspers toy shop. Mr Clasper had a dog called Jip.
My Father was the Chief Projectionist at Woolston Cinema. We had many a great time going to the Saturday matinees. One Saturday the Brook Bond Chimps visited the Cinema.
They walked down the Isles all dressed in their best clothes. They handed out little rubber Chimps for all the Children. So exciting.
Then there was the Thornycroft Childrens Xmas party. Excellent. Do you remember Mr Pook who owned the Newsagent in Oakbank Road?? Also the shop on the corner of Oakbank road called Wallers. Opposite Spikin the Electrical shop on the Collonade. John Barvel also had a shop.
My Grandfather Frank Blackman had a Radio shop years ago, along the Colonnade, next to the Bomb Building as we called it.
When we were Kids, we often got a telling off for going down under "the Dens" of the Bomb Building.
At the back of Laurel road was a big green. We used to go up a steep hill and look over the bridge at the trains. Such great memories.
And best of all - The New year. The noise coming from all the great Liners was incredible. Gosh I miss it all.
Then they built a Bridge across it.
If only we could go back........
If any one can remember Frank & John Blackman, or the Sinnotts I would love to hear from you.