My Nan.

A Memory of Oadby.

My wonderful nan lived at number 10 Church Street. Her name was Mrs Amy Wheeler. My sister Jane, brother Richard and cousin Janice spent all our holidays with her for as long as I can remember. She was very hard working, and looking back, I can’t remember her sitting down. She did her washing in the wash house in the garden. It wasn’t an easy job as water had to be pumped up. A brick boiler sat in the corner which had to be lit. The large wringer was a heavy weight to be fought.
My friends also lived on Church Street. Sylvia Tomlin, Faith Sansom ( who sadly died in her forties after being knocked down by a car near the off license). Margaret Whitehand.
We went to the cinema on a Saturday afternoon for 7pence old money. The thrill of the week. We had 3pence to spend on sweets from Tunnicliffs opposite.
I lived for some years on Davenport Avenue at no 13. My aunt, uncle lived at no 7. Opposite was open ground which we played on until the built on it. Richard Green lived at the top.
This was long before Chestnut Avenue was built. It was farm land. We had to cross it to get home and sometimes the bull was tied up in the field. We ran like hell. I think it was Mr Thompson or Tomlin that had the fruit and vegetables behind the tall stone wall that was between Sandhirst School and the farm land.
After Sandhurst School I went to Gartree, then Langmoor when it was first built, then back to the new Gartree. Mr Coggins was headmaster, Mr Tomlinson music teacher, mr Newton boys games teacher. He had a good sense of humour. One April 1st we carried his bubble car into the outside toilets. We watched stifling our laughter while he ran around looking for it. He did see the funny side. Mr Dyed was maths teacher. Mr Richards our English teacher. He was a wonderful teacher.

My name is Jennifer Staunton nee Starkie.

---

---