Long Sutton, Market Place c1950

The changes in lifestyles

I was in school in Long Sutton and worked part time for Phillip Stow the butcher. I had to go round customers' houses in the morning and take orders for their meat requirements.  I then went to school. After school I had to deliver the orders on a trade bicycle with a basket on the front.

The local supermarket was I believe Fine Fare.  I always remember a little three-wheeler coming and parking outside there and a similar model appeared on 'Hearbeat' in the first series.

My father John worked for Parson Bros and Snape coal merchants, and my mother was welfare officer for Lockwoods Foods.

The headmaster of the Peele school at this time was Mr Noone.

The one memory that I always remember is the bombing on The Wash which seemed to go on endlessly.

First impresstion of Long Sutton

I first came to Long Sutton after my husband was given the job of being the local'bobby'We came to live in the local police station, which was an office room in the house. My first impresstion of Long Sutton was how slow the pace of life was after comming from a large city of Birmingham where the pace of life was fast and hectic. I soon got to know the local people and found them friendly and helpful along with the local charictors of the village. Live has now moved on and the village town has grown much bigger,since my husband and collegue retired the police station office has closed down and moved to a larger town.
I am still living in Long Sutton and the pace of life now moves a little faster but only a little. I feel also now that i am not the outsider i once was and with working with the local people have become one of them, only when my Brummy accsent comes out that i give myself away.

Talbot Hotel

I was born in Holbeach in 1958 and lived in the Talbot Hotel, High Street until 1967 when we moved to Moulton. My parents were Frank and Beryl Richmond. I have very fond memories of my childhood in Holbeach. We regularly went to the Milroy for Sunday lunch, best food ever! I was a regular visitor to Pledgers toy shop on a Saturday to spend my pocket money which was opposite our hotel. Franklins grocers was managed by my uncle Walter Jones and there was always a wonderful smell of freshly ground coffee as you walked in, and big legs of ham hanging behind the counter. There is a lot to be said for the good old days when food was just the best. Although I haved lived in Nottingham since I was a teenager I still get sausages from Swepstones whenever I can. My children love them! Unfortunately the Talbot was pulled down many years ago and I have very few photos. If anyone has any photos of the old hotel it would be lovely to see them.