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Long Crendon
Long Crendon photos
Displaying the first of 5 old photos of Long Crendon. View all Long Crendon photos
Long Crendon maps
Historic maps of Long Crendon and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Long Crendon maps
Long Crendon area books
Displaying 1 of 7 books about Long Crendon and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Long Crendon
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memories of Long Crendon.
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Long Crendon 1939-1940
Just before the Second World War was declared we moved to my grandmother's house at Long Crendon, as she felt it safer from us. (Some hope, as Brize Norton wasn't far away, nor was Oxford). Her house was called Lower House. A gardener/handyman called Shurrock lived in a tumbledown cottage the other side of the garden. I don't remember much as only 2 years old. I caught impetigo and the treatment was painful! We had 2 evacuees called Gilbert and Alec. I remember going a walk in the country and passing an army camp. As nothing was hapening we returned to Kings Langley. My grandmother later moved out of Lower house and the RAF used it as a billet. It was sold after her death in 1945.
Buckinghamshire memories
Vicarage
My folks moved out in 1985 - we'd been there from 1960, the year I was born, and much had been done to sort out the huge garden. Mum grew lots of veg and we kept chickens as well. When Mrs. Dupont died, her cottage at the top of the yard was rebuilt as it was very old and the builders gave us a lot of firewood from it. My dad, Bob Collier, used to take a 7:30am service at St. Mary's twice a month, and I was allowed to chime one of the bells and he had to tell me not to ring it too high. The Crendon ringers came to practice once a month (the foreman then was Mr. Tyler) and I ended up a ringer myself elsewhere in 1999. Those days you could help out on the farms - I used to do a bit for Bert Heley at Franklins Farm and for Mr. Tombs at village Farm, and once the annual rogation service was held there... Read more
My Boots in Banks Pond
In 1944 three brothers were evacuees in Haddenham, we lived with an old couple named Mr and Mrs Saw in a house, I think it was named Dolly Cote House next to a farm, this was a long time ago but one thing I know is that one of my boots is in Banks Pond as my brother put it in there, if Banks Pond has not been drained it has been in there for 67 years! One of the best two years of my childhood.
The Ceileidhs at Haddenham Village Hall
A recent visit to Haddenham reminded me of earlier visits to the monthly ceileidhs with Whitethorn Morris. More than 20 years ago I made my first visit to Haddenham and I remember leading the Whitethorn Band on my accordian for the interval entertainment spot in the crowded ceileidh.
Just this month, November 2009, the dancers were invited back to perform again and it was a great thrill to return from semi-retirement and help out with their dance music. Although no longer the band leader, I did bring along my accordian and joined in the tunes. Some of the dancers were also returning after 20 years but most amazing of all was that the hall itself - the village social centre - appears unchanged, and even the evening's dance caller, Hugh Rippon, was the very same person!
It was not only a nostalgic return to a former happy dance venue but also great fun and a chance to see many faces I remember from earlier years. I... Read more
RAF
My first posting in the RAF was 1954 - 1956 to the radio unit set in a field above Lower Winchendon. I was billeted with a farmer and his wife, Mr and Mrs Blake. There were five of us scattered throughout the village. Happy days.
I Lived Here! Ref. Photo O65003
These were Elmwood Cottages in the Worminghall Road. I was born in the far end house, and lived my first 25 years in the 8th semi along. My Mum and Dad would have had our house since new. It seems odd to think that we were probably at home when this was taken. They were demolished in 1984 to make way for brand new houses. The lovely Elm trees that used to stand in front of the houses sadly got Dutch Elm disease in the 1970s and had to be felled. Just in the foreground on the left is the village garage that was owned and run by Aubrey Bristow, and to the right, just out of picture is the Royal Oak pub, I remember the landlord as being Fred Welford for many years whilst I was growing up. The memories come flooding back.
Gran Honour
I recall as a boy living in Thame Road having to pass the church at dusk, having been in the village playing field until late. We had an old lady who had lived next to us, a Mrs Honour, who we called Gran Honour, who had died and was buried just inside the gate of the churchyard. On passing the graveyard in the dark I would call "Goodnight Gran" and run past as fast as I could for fear she might rise up and chase me.
