Leiston memories
Here are memories of Leiston and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Leiston or a Leiston photo.
My Grandads Forge
My Granddad William Anderson bought the forge when he moved to Leiston from Surrey after the war with my Nan and three children, my mother Yvonne, aunty Ivy and uncle Billy, where he shod horses in and around Leiston, then he turned his hand to iron work, which enabled him to carry on working until sadly nan died around 1960 when I was about 10, about a year or so later, sadly my granddad passed away also. My uncle Billy sold the forge to Peggs of Aldeburgh who were iron mongers. My granddad made the sign himself which is still standing outside the shop to this day which is now a letting agent.
Memories of Leiston
My name is Halina West. I lived with my parents Gordon and Zosia (my mother was Polish) and my brother Antony in St Andrew's Close from about September 1961 to about March 1963. I went to the local primary school for about 6 months when I was 5 until we moved away. I used to walk there, so it must have been quite close to our house.
I have very vague memories of Leiston. I do remember the house which had only just been built when we moved in. Our family was friendly with the Davis (or Davies) family who lived just up the road from us. My brother Tony was very friendly with the son Peter and sadly they lost touch after we moved away. I know that my brother would love to get in touch with Peter and I would be really grateful if anyone knows him or could help me find out where he might be living now.
Fathers Birth
My father, Alexis Alfred Hare, was born at 88 Sizewell Road Leiston in 1916. He lived there with his parents Marmaduke and Kathleen and his brother Alec. He was an apprentice printer for the local newspaper. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers them. Thank you.
PC David Deal
My husband's great-grandfather David Deal was one of the police constables for Leiston and is mentioned in the 1901 Census aged 39 living with his wife Marianna and two of their three children at Valley Road, Leiston. My husband remembers being shown the house in Valley Road by his father Harold Deal, himself a policeman. His grandfather William was indentured by David as an apprentice engine turner at Garretts in Leiston. I would love to hear from anyone who might know of the Deal family.
Memories of Suffolk
Us Air Force Family Living in Knodishall 1968-1971
We lived in Knodishall from 1968 to 1971. My dad was stationed at Bentwaters and we lived at 123 Judith Avenue in Knodishall. We lived next door to Brian and Connie Moore, and they had a daughter named Sarah Jane. I loved it there! There was me, my sister Jacqueline and my brother Jackie. We swam at the beach we got to get out of school to see the Queen when she landed at Bentwaters one day! We shopped in Ipswich, went to London all the time too!I I wonder if the Moores are still living or if anyone remembers us living at Judith Avenue. I also loved going down to the pub and buying fish and chips! My dad is retired from the Air Force now, he'll be 80 years old in December. I live in Dothan in Alabama in the USA and have 4 grandchildren. My email is: cjohorsley@gmail.com
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... Read more
Camping on The Benthills
I too, as others, have many fond memories of holidays in Sizewell. During summer school holidays I travelled from Scotland to London to be with my grandparents. They were well connected with Sizewell and would take me there for their annual holiday camping at the foot of the Benthills just below where the power station is now. The Gunthers House surrounded by a wall did not stop me from sampling the wonderful apples from their tree. I remember my grandmother taking me for a walk through the pine trees where the power station is now, and showing me the ruins of a cottage where she lived during the war when my grandad was away serving in the Royal Navy submarines. It is very true about the blackberries big as gobstoppers, I collected metal buckets full of them for selling to a local farm for pocket money. Uncle Jack Fryer, the local fisherman and his brother Tom, and their mother Mabel have all passed on now but they are still fresh... Read more
Uncle Jack's
My family are the Frees from Leiston. There are too many to mention but my dad is Harry and my Uncle Sperry is mentioned in a few people's memories. We were so fortunate to be able to spend all our summers at Uncle Jack Fryer's cottage. We stayed there from the 1960s until he sadly passed away. Jack was always smiling and nothing was ever a bother. Living at the cottage was basic but oh so comfortable, the log fire in the front room blaring through the summer and the winter. Then dashing outside with your torch to the loo(which occasionally you shared with some furry friends!). I loved that place. Uncle Jack, Noel and Willie are just a few names I remember from all my time there. I also remember the rabbits in the field behind the cottage, the rope swing in the woods. Everything about Sizewell was magical. The memories are all good ones. By the time I was 8 I could easily skin and gut a fish, a... Read 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 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.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,875 memories of 5,951 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Barnehurst, Kent
- Strood, Kent
- Sedlescombe, East Sussex
- Cwmaman, Mid Glamorgan
- Blaenavon, Gwent
- Kempsey, Worcestershire
- Battersea, Greater London
- Oadby, Leicestershire
- Barkingside, Essex
- Glasson, Cumbria
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Dagenham, Essex
- Oban, Argyll
- Dan Y Parc, Powys
- Langley Park, County Durham
- Nazeing, Essex
- Pyrford, Surrey
- Ealing, Greater London
- Crook, County Durham
- Watford, Hertfordshire
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
