Knodishall, Suffolk

Sizewell holiday.

As a kid I spent a couple of August weeks in Sizewell, staying in a timber-built bungalow just before the rise leading up to what is now the Power Station. The little bungalow was set back off the (dirt) road, and had no running water -  we went to a pump for water - and no electricm and my mum cooked on a paraffin stove. The bungalow was owned by my uncle, Ted Titlow, who had a newsagent's and hardware business in nearby Leiston. I believe this business is still in the family. Between bungalow and beach a pair of brothers, Fryer, kept a number of old motor cars which were just rotting away in the elements. These motors were generally vintage 1920 and, bless the Friars, they never minded us kids climbing over them and having a whale of a time. The sun always shone, and we often ate shrimps caught locally by Sid Booty who boiled them in his hut on the beach - we bought them by the pint!

Geese used to roam freely, quite a gaggle, and these belonged to a Mr Taylor who lived in the rather large house on the corner. Going north from the hamlet to the top of the small rise there was an imposing house in which lived Mrs Gunthorpe who rode around very upright on a sit-up-and-beg bike. The house is long gone (due to the nuclear power station) and I remember my father complaining that they had built it over the finest blackberries in all England!

I had a wonderful time there, with absolute freedom. I played with children who lived in the first coastguard cottage and we roamed the beach, the sand dunes and the common. We also spent many hours outside The Vulcan (Bert Allom?) eating Smith's crisps and supping Vimto whilst my dad had a drop of Adnam's, he has passed on his taste to me!
Mike Rutty, Somerset.

1969 - I Lived in Sizewell and grew up there

I lived in Coastguard Cottages and used to play in the village with Tim Carl Pryior. Jack Fryer, Noal Cattermole, Willie Free, Paul harrison were the local fishermen, we used to wait for them to arrive on the beach to help with the fish boxes. Frank Taylor was the car park attendant, we called him 'Peanuts' because he ate monkey nuts all day and shells laid everywhere. As kids we walked the beach to collect coal, wood and anything else the sea would bring. I can also remember the sweet shop in the Benthills, it was a great treat to go there. We used to walk to Sizewell Hall, Mr Wattison used to throw us 50 pence as a treat when he won on the horses, for sweets. We had many a great time as kids in the village and we still chat about it.

Frozen Mere

Does anyone remember the very cold November of 1969? I think it was on the 20th that I was riding my motorcycle on the frozen mere. If anyone took a photo I would love a copy.

Family of 14 and still take in lodgers!

John and Charlotte Freeman lived in the white houses by the motor bike. ( I'm sure I have photos of groups outside the house with this bike!).  My great grandfather was a blacksmith with his smithy in Church Road. He made many of the fences that protected trees on the Hurts Farm estate.  They had 12 children.  8 boys (Thomas, George, Sam, Fredrick, Sidney, Percy, John and Bill)and 4 girls (Elsie, Rose, Honor and Kate - Percy and Kate were twins). Thomas was a Lance Corporal with the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and died in 1916 aged 20 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Percy used to cut gents' hair in a shed in the garden in Albion Street where he lived. His brother Sam lived next door. Rose (Hulme) had a laundry the other side of the railway line in Chantry Road and used to have whist drives for the soldiers there. (I think it was later a motor bike shop.) She later lived in Albion Street as well with her sister Honor and brought me up.  Bill and his wife Gladys lived in one side of this house and Kate the other until about the late 1970s.  I had many happy memories of flitting between Mill Road and Albion Street!  ( Carol Allen nee Clark)