Puckeridge, Hertfordshire

I lived in Standon  from the 1950s onwards till 1969 & then came back!!

My dad ran the butchers shop in the High Street from 1951-1969, Victor John Ward. I went to the school at the far end of the High Street (now residential). Headmaster was Mr Eric Norman Butler. I remember May Day, and dancing in the High Street ... more memories than I can write! School journeys? Sports days on the rec...Westwoods newsagents....Catons... [more]

The Picketts of Standon

The majority of my father's family lived in and around Standon from 1600 onwards and one of them was the Sexton of St. Mary's and another was the innkeeper of The Three Horseshoes at Farnham in 1881. My Grandfather was born in the Three Horsehoes. Does anyone have any connections with the Pickett family?

A good time in Much Hadham

I spent about one year in Much Hadham as German prisoner of war, 1946 till July 1947, working for the Hertfordshire War Agricultural Executice Committee; I specially was engaged in our camp labour office as clerk, under Mr. Wooley and later Mr. Smolenski, two wonderful men. We enjoyed already a lot of liberty, and I really loved this little village, which... [more]

Looking after Mungo Walker at Wyddial Hall

My mother - Peggy Barker - looked after Mungo Walker, the grandson of the Heaton-Ellises when he returned from Kenya as a 7 year old in the late 1930s. This was only for a few months until he went to boarding school. She was supposed to be teaching him Maths but I think from the sound of it, they just had... [more]

My Grand Parents Wedding

My Grand parents - Christopher and Dorothy McHugh nee Roblett, of Archers in Buntingford. They married here sometime between 1940-1950, the church was open air and they married on Christmas Eve. They have three children, Christopher, Bernadette (my mother) and John. They passed away over 20 years ago now.

The Bell Hotel, Hare Street, Buntingford

I have recently discovered that my Great Grandfather John Main originally from Devon (a shoe maker) and then in Brixton, London as a Dairy Manager owned the Bell Hotel in Hare Street around 1905.
My Grandmother lived there as a little girl and would often tell us stories as children about how it was haunted and about secret panels etc and... [more]

Memories of the Red Lion

I was born in 1966 and lived in the Red Lion. My dad and mum were married in 1961. My dad lived in the village all his life, moving to the Red Lion on his marriage. My dad was formerly of Temperance Hall, down the road from the village stores.
Mum and Dad lived in the Red Lion in one room... [more]

Visits to Wareside 1964 - present

My dad was born at Hillside Cottages in Wareside in 1929 (I think). I remember visiting my Grandmother there up until she moved to Ware round about 1978/9. She lived in the house with the "Hillside Cottages" sign on the front. I remember going to visit every Saturday afternoon. The front garden was a typical cottage garden where I would collect... [more]