Leek, Staffordshire

Childhood memories of Rushton Spencer

My name was Susan Ralphs and my brother is David and our grandfather ran the Fox Inn in the early 1950s and later retired to the cottage opposite the pub. David and I have many happy memories of staying with our grandparents which was usually at holiday times. I remember the Crown Inn and playing with friends who lived near by.... [more]

my maiden name

I would like to add that at this time my name was Judy Thomas

christening

I have visited the church many times, I was christened there in 1943. My parents rented a weekend cottage situated down a lane opposite the Crown Inn. They rented it prior to the war and during. After they gave the cottage up we used to stay at the Fox Inn, which was then owned by the Ralphs family. I had some... [more]

Living in the Fox Inn

My Mother, Annette Mercer, lived here with her parents Margaret and Harold Mercer and siblings Roger, Lynda, Bruce and Carolyn in 1953. From here they went to Denton, Lancashire. Annette worked in the office of Wood Treatment in Biddulph. She was age 16 at the time.

Evacuation

My brother and I, aged six and a half and five, were evacuated to Wetley Rocks at the outbreak of war in 1939.  We only stayed for six weeks but the time is imprinted on my mind.  We were billeted in a farmhouse which belonged to, I believe, the Ridgway family who lived in a grander house nearby, now demolished.  Miss... [more]

Good Old Days

I was born in High Lane Brown Edge and lived there until 1963. I have lots of memories, everyone knew each other, they didn't need to lock the doors in fear of unwanted intruders, in fact during the war years neighbours became family. I had a fabulous childhood - times were spent in the fields playing ball games in the summer... [more]