Loughborough, Wards End 1954

newtons

my grand parents Frank and Hilda Newton lived at 20 Wards End Loughborough
the house was several hundred years old and used to be a public house
but cannot remeber the name I have a written history of thge house it was
pulled down to make way for Storer house. My Grand Father and his Father had
a sign above the front door as they were chimney sweeps. Both my
Grand Father and Great Grandfather were vergers at Emmanuel Church.

snow on the university site

I remember when the snow was really heavy, I was about 6 years old and I lived with my grandparent and mother on New Ashby Road, just over the road from the Loughborough University. My uncles and Aunts took me over to the university with a sledge, we had a wonderful time sledging and making a giant sized snow man...

Evacuees to Normanton in 1941

My elder brother, Alan Crook, and I were evacuated from Sheffield during the blitz of, I think, 1941. We stayed, as far as I can recall, in a large house, I believe the Manse, attached to the Church. (St. James ?). I was about 6 at the time so my memories are a little hazy ! We were looked after by the Vicar, and his housekeeper who was very kind to us. The vicar had a grown-up daughter who used to lend me her doll's pram. I remember a beautiful garden with an archway leading to the church grounds. It was a very traumatic time for my brother and I but I would love to find the place again as I have many questions but very few clear memories. I would appreciate any contact with anyone who was in Normanton during the war and who remembers any details.

HEY UP ME DUCK

1953 were a special year for me and Great Britain - we climbed Everest, the Coronation, the parties. We had just moved into a new council estate, they were all prefrabricated houses after the war and supposed to only last a few years to help the housing shortage, but they are still standing. The estate had a green in the centre of it, we played football from dawn to dusk and met all my new mates.

My Beautiful Grandmother

My beautiful grandmother was just that and hailed from Woodhouse Eaves or so I think. I am trying to find history regarding my family and found this site which may be useful. I remember Grandma talking of her past, youth, friends and relatives and as a child used to be enthralled with this lovely lady and seeing those magnificent photos of her when she was about 19, 20 years old and having the tiniest of waists. Her maiden name was Jordan and married Bond. She moved to the North of England in early mid life and was always homesick for her village in Leicestershire.

Fond Memories

I grew up in Woodhouse Eaves from 1943-53, living in Beacon Road, number 65. My grandfather Handley lived in the last house in that row of white cement-rendered houses, it had the only garage in the row in which he kept his Austin tourer circa 1930. Mum, Dad and myself used to sit in the dicky seat which was the boot for our day trips to Cleethorpe and Mablethorpe. My uncle Harry who was the village chimney sweep lived in an old cottage in Main Street. My grandparent originally lived in the old almshouse on the corner of Main Street opposite the Co-op. I remember it had a water pump at the bus stop. I attended St Paul's during my primary schooling and definately remember Mr Hughes (Taffy) the headmaster as I was the recipient of 6 of the best a couple of times. I have not so fond memories of the school dinners which we marched to at the hall in Main Street just past the almshouses, it put me off sago for life. As children it was a wonderful time to be growing as we used to play up the Beacon where you could eat chestnuts, hazelnuts, wild pears, crab apples etc. For vegetable we used to raid the allotments for carrots, turnips etc. I also remember the Hanging Rock, the windmill, all mystical places. My family left in 1953 to go to Cyprus for 6 years and came back in 1960 for a couple more years, living in Birdhill Road just below the Windmill. I joined the RAF and disapeared to foreign places, but went back for a visit from Australia in 1990 and walked the Main Street, across the windmill and up the Beacon. It was stilll a wonderful village but not as rustic as in earlier times. The blacksmith had gone, also the shoemaker. The allotments and the Beacon had been cleared, the school was no more and the playground overgrown. The Bulls Head bicycle speedway track was now a carpark. It was a nice visit with fond memories but most of my of my acquaintances had now moved on and my relatives are long gone.
Michael Handley, June 2009