Keyham, Leicestershire

Living at the White Hall, Billesdon (c. 1972 - 1979)

We moved to the White Hall when I was 2, almost 3, and my sister was 5 weeks old!  It was a wonderful house to grow up in - lots and lots of space, inside and out, and were were fortunate enough to have ponies and dogs etc. .. an idyllic childhood!  I remember the huge walled vegetable garden - and... [more]

My Grandparents Kitty & Reg Nichols by Elaine Waterfield nee Merrikin

My Mum Valerie Merrikin, nee Nichols, was born next to the old pub (recently knocked down) in Skeffington. Grandad Nichols worked at the hall and got the sack because he picked up some wood in the ground for a fire. This meant they lost their home and had to go and live somewhere else, 3 Sunrise Cottage, Brook Lane. When they... [more]

the cottage on The Green

The cottage on the left of this photo was where my great grandfather and his ten children lived at the turn of the 20th century. He was a butcher. There was a slaughterhouse at the back of the property. They lived there from about 1895 to 1908.

Allens the Chemist

I think Mr Allen was succeeded by his two sons who ran the chemists for some years. Presumably gone now. I also have fond memories of the swimming baths where I learned to swim with my friend Michael Tunnicliffe and of the old library above the baths. Wonderful times.

Fluids Lane

This was a wonderful wildlife haven for children and I well remember playing for hours on end in the stream which meandered through. We lived in the Vicarage at No 1 London Road and had the idyllic childhood that few seem to remember. I think there were army huts or Nissan huts alongside the run of Fluids Lane and I assume... [more]

Fluids Lane

A demi paradise, Fluids Lane was at the far end of the village towards Glen Road, I think. It contained a stream, and woods. What wonderful memories I have of that place, nothing can compare, we played for hours damming the stream, climbing trees etc., away from home all day. The lane went on to the fields that housed the air... [more]

SWIMMING BATHS

My twin sister and I used to go to the Oadby baths on a Saturday morning with some friends, and we always used to have a race to see who got in first. Unfortunately one week I forgot to take off my watch before I jumped in and so got a good hiding when I got home for breaking it. I... [more]

black pad

We lived on Greenbank Drive and we used to walk to Langmoor School down the Black Pad, which is now called Lawyers Lane. Farmer Steele had his farm down there and we always used to stop and look at his cows, and, if there were any born, his calves. I can smell it all now. He liked to keep people talking... [more]