Lavenham, Suffolk

Family

My maiden name is GAME and I've just started researching that side of my family tree, unfortunately due to the fact my dad didn't know too much about his dad's side of the family I had to send away for my Grandad's birth certificate. On receiving the certificate it placed his birth in Brent Eleigh and I was then away. I discovered my family went back to about 1750 in this delightful village, it could go back further but I haven't yet looked.
I visited Brent Eleigh and St Mary's church and what a lovely place tucked away in Suffolk, the church is set in a small area surrounded by trees, it was so peaceful. I found my GG Uncle and Aunt's grave and a few more "cousins" and also there were two of my cousins on the war memorial in the church.
My GGGG Granddad Thomas Game was 96 years old when he died and his last residence was the Almshouses at Brent Eleigh.
Out of my 4 blood lines 3 originate from West Suffolk in the Cosford area, this was my last one to find and along with the others. It's such a beautiful place.

Growing up in the 1950s

Dad was the village policeman, PC 39. Our family name was Moss. We lived outside the village near the T junction to Little Waldingfield (two farm houses, we lived in one of them).  Dad, mum and my 4 sisiters.  We all attended Gt. Waldingfield school (next to the church then).  Miss Bowers was the teacher.  She lived with her mum and brother in a bungalow near to the Shop.  I sang in the choir at church.  We walked to school (1-1/2 miles) every day.  Some days we took short cuts through the fields.  One day a swan landed on the pond at the bottom of the school lane (but the pond was in a field).  Miss Bowers took us to see the swan, then we came back and drew it in pastel. I remember it like it was yesterday.  Sometimes when we came out of school, the cows were being driven home for milking.  The farmer had a black dog to keep the cows walking towards the farm.  I remember catching sticklebacks in a pond near to where we lived.  At weekends, or in the holidays, I would roam along the hedges and ditches looking for unusual things.  The plants in the hedgerows that fascinated me more than anything, had a long mauve spike in spring and red berries in the autumn, and shiny oval shaped leaves.  Once I lost a packet of fruit gums whilst out wandering along the hedges.  I retraced my steps the same day but never found them.   Mr. and Mrs. Sagon ran the farm next door.  Betty, their daughter, was our family friend.  I was a Brownie (gnome pack) and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Miss Bowers was our brown owl.  we never had a television so we made our own entertainment.  Reading, writing, sketching, we did all sorts of things in the short space of time before going to bed after listening to the Archers.  We had no electricity, so we went to bed with a candle.  That was a wonderful experience.  Mum taught me at a very early age to gut a pheasant, and when Christmas came round I always helped her by drawing the pheasants.

Memories of Three Happy Years

I, Bill Rodgers was in the United States Air Force stationed at RAF Wethersfield. My wife Phyllis, son Michael and I lived on the Heath Estates, Great Waldingfield from 1962 to 1965. Michael, age 5 attended the Folly Road Primary School in Great Waldingfield. Our daughter Michelle was born in the Sudbury hospital in 1964. We had a wonderful time in Great Waldingfield, with wonderful neighbors. We visit England at least once a year. My wife is from Leicester, England whom I married in 1959.

Two years ago we attended our friend's (old neighgbor) 50th wedding anniversary in Red Lodge, England. We frequently visit with our friends durning our trips to England. We still have other friends in Great Waldingfield with whom we stay in touch with.

My Early Years

Hi, I guess it's one of those things you do as you get older, to take a walk down memory lane and to do a little bit of reminiscing. I was doing such a thing when I came across this photo of the village in Bildeston and saw the old house in the High Street that as a child and also in my early teens I lived in with my parents. When we lived there it was the local fish and chip shop. We also had a mobile shop that my dad used to take around to the outlying areas, to Watisham and Lavenham, I believe. Those were good days. There are many memories of my years in the primary school but none more than when my teacher (I can't remember his name) attempted to get me to go to an assembly. I had no idea what that was then and wasn't going to go so when he picked me up to take me in to the hall I kicked him rather hard and he put me back down. Once I learned that assemblies were good things I enjoyed them. I don't remember getting punished for that incident though.

My years at Hadleigh High School are still very precious and my woodwork teacher probably has no idea that it was because of his teaching me the skills of woodwork that I eventually did my apprenticeship in the building trade and built houses here in New Zealand for over 20 years.  

I also remember the great times we had at the local Baptist Church and one of the Youth Leaders teaching me to play the guitar. I still play and have continued to play in the church where I am the Senior Pastor. I have very fond memories of Bildeston and one day would like to return there to introduce my wife and family to the beauty of the Suffolk countryside and one of the greatest little villages I was privileged to live in during the 1960s.