Leiston, Suffolk

My place of birth

I was born in No 5 The Coastguards at Sizewell in 1950 (before they put another house on the end). My parents were teachers and I had two sisters and a brother. I played all along the front and in the big sand pit in front of the houses. The Morbys and the Warners lived in the houses. I have sat... [more]

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... [more]

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... [more]

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,... [more]

International Stores

A previous shared memory recalling International Stores reminds me that my father worked there, as a roundsman. He would cycle every day from Leiston,  then do the equivalent all over again in Saxmundham, several times a day as he delivered groceries.

He had his own band - he played piano - and met my mother, Joan Spatchet, at a dance... [more]

blacksmiths

Apparently my Gr Grandfather John Freeman owned a blacksmith shop that was situated just on the left hand side of the road here at the beginning of the 20th century. He also made the 'fences' that protected the bases of many of the trees on the Hurts Hall estate. I've never been able to find any written infromation about him... [more]

THE WOOD AND CHURCH HILL

LIKE JOHN FISHER SAID WE PLAYED IN THE WOODS AND EXPLORED ALL THE SURROUNDING FARMLAND, SCARED OF BEING CAUGHT BY SQUIRE LONG AND LATER MISS ALDOUS.  AS FOR THE OLD WELL UP CHURCH HILL, I CAN REMEMBER DROPPING ROCKS DOWN IT WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND A FLASH WHICH MADE US DISAPPEAR QUICKLY FROM THE SCENE.  I ALWAYS WONDERED... [more]