Oare, Wiltshire

Milton and Plant a Tree for 73

A memory of Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire.
Interesting reference to Plant -a-tree-for-73 as I was the person who set this up. I also attended Milton School from about 1946 to 1950 when I passed a scholarship to go to Adcroft in Trowbridge; having passed for Marlborough Grammar School but failed the interview. At the time of the competition I was the Public Relations Officer of the London based Sand & Gravel organisations (SAGA) and came up with the idea as a way for gravel pit owners to shield their working. This was then taken over by the Government and launched Nationally. We lived, Mum Dad and sister Janet Pearson at Corner Close, opposite the recreation ground. The School was run by Miss Pickin, who also had her sister either working or living with her. The shop opposite was call Waghorns (I think) I have a school photo taken about 1948.

1973

Hi, I lived in lots of places when I was young including Pewsey, Marlborough where I was born, Hook near Wootton Bassett, and Wootton Rivers. My memories of Milton were living at No3 The Crossroads opposite the garage, until 1973 when I was around 5 or 6 years old. Me and my brother used to walk to the 2 room school, my sister was only 2 or 3 then.  We could get 2 pink bubble gums for a penny then, half a pence each! The school head was a woman called Mrs Bagshaw I think, and it was always a big thing to be asked to ring the bell to end dinner time! We were taught French at that age, and were taken out on several field trips. I had my first kiss at our Christmas play with a girl called Dawn Lovelace I think! There used to be the New Mill Inn and several other pubs nearby. Can anyone else remember the school sports day at the rec ground, the tiny shop opposite the school or the 'Plant A Tree In 1973' posters? I moved to Swindon when my mum remarried in 1974, then back to Marlborough in 1993, now living in Old Town Swindon. Hate it but my job is nearby. Would love to move back to Milton but these days you need to be wealthy!!

World War II

This picture looks as if it is looking down the street with the church on the right hand side. The Post Office in 1940 was opposite the entrance to the churchyard.
Every Saturday morning I would run to the Post Office through the churchyard to receive my weekly packet of sweets and comics that my mother would send to me from London. I would then run back to the Severals and lie in the field opposite the houses to read and enjoy the sweets. I lived with the Tuckers, Louise the mother, a daughter Ivy, and sorry to say I'm not sure about Mr Tucker's name, but perhaps Bill. I think he had a brother called Dan. For a boy of twelve village life was much different from that of Walworth in London but I have carried the sweet memories of those days over the years with much nostalgia. The last time I saw Milton was in the early 70's and it was a delight to see my boyhood village little changed. Long may it remain so! During those war years Mr Haynes was the prominent farmer with his farm lying at the southern end of the village, his carter, Mr Burden and farmworker Mr Wheeler lived opposite the school where the Misses Pickens sisters taught in the two-room schoolhouse. My sister Edna was fostered by the Wheelers and they became great family friends. During the summer we schoolboys would help with the haymaking and getting in the harvest. Particularly I remember during a lunchbreak lying on our backs and seeing the vapour trails and hearing the gunfire of a day in the Battle of Britain. Later in 1940, or early 1941, I was moved to Melksham to attend West Kensington Central School which had been moved itself from London. In the following years I would cycle from Melksham to Milton to see my sister and my old friends there. I hope that I may visit again before it gets too late. I live in Vermont in a small village that is surrounded by farms and reminds me very much of Wiltshire, including the scent of cattle! Thank you for the opportunity to express my pleasure in memories of Milton Lilbourne.