Ringshall, Suffolk

My Early Years

Hi, I guess it's one of those things you do as you get older, to take a walk down memory lane and to do a little bit of reminiscing. I was doing such a thing when I came across this photo of the village in Bildeston and saw the old house in the High Street that as a child and also in my early teens I lived in with my parents. When we lived there it was the local fish and chip shop. We also had a mobile shop that my dad used to take around to the outlying areas, to Watisham and Lavenham, I believe. Those were good days. There are many memories of my years in the primary school but none more than when my teacher (I can't remember his name) attempted to get me to go to an assembly. I had no idea what that was then and wasn't going to go so when he picked me up to take me in to the hall I kicked him rather hard and he put me back down. Once I learned that assemblies were good things I enjoyed them. I don't remember getting punished for that incident though.

My years at Hadleigh High School are still very precious and my woodwork teacher probably has no idea that it was because of his teaching me the skills of woodwork that I eventually did my apprenticeship in the building trade and built houses here in New Zealand for over 20 years.  

I also remember the great times we had at the local Baptist Church and one of the Youth Leaders teaching me to play the guitar. I still play and have continued to play in the church where I am the Senior Pastor. I have very fond memories of Bildeston and one day would like to return there to introduce my wife and family to the beauty of the Suffolk countryside and one of the greatest little villages I was privileged to live in during the 1960s.

happy days

this is only one  of  many wonderful memories i went to school in needham market the junior school and lived at darmsden we were picked up and taken to school by a mini bus we lived in three places in  darmsden the 2nd place was right next door  to a strawberry  field one of many owned by tarston farms further up our road .When it  was time for  picking strawberrys a lot of my friends were bought up in a lorry   and  i  was put  in  charge   to  make  sure  they  picked properly and  didnt  mess about  i was  the  first  one  picking  and  the  last  one  to  finish  i  was  as  brown  as  a  berry  and  loved  it .  one  day  my  mum  came  over  and  and  said  shhs she  then laid  this  very  real  looking  grass snake  amongst  the  strawberrys  well you  should  have  seen  my  mates run  they  screamed   with laughter when  they  saw  what  it  was.  mum used to  litTereally  drag  me  of  i  loved  it  and  i  earnt quite  a bit  pocket  money  i  was  allowed  to  pick  the  special  strawberrys  that  were sent  to  the  tiptree jam  factory  my  friend  susan  used  to  stay  with  us  she  suffered with  hayfever  funny  though  after  staying  with  us  for  a week  she  never  had  it  any  more.she  would  beg  my  dad  to  do  the  gorilla  he  would  come  up  the  stairs  on  all fours  and  making  sounds like a gorilla  and  then  jump  from  one  bed  to  another  thankgoodness they  were  strong  iron  beds.my  brother  and  myself  were christened in  darmsden  church  we  moved  from  darmsden  in  1973  happy  days,

Josphen Culling

Joseph Culling was my Great Great Grandfather, he was born in Offton in 1819. He married an Eliza who was born in 1802 in Semer, they had 4 children, Charles, Emma, Patience and Dinah (my great grandmother). Does anyone know of this family, they are very elusive and I cannot find many references to them.
Christine Harris

Historical Information

Hi I am from New Zealand and from information I have my ancestors came from Semer the male name is johnson and the Female maiden name was Cuthbert, the only info I have indicates that they lived there in the mid 1700's i would be plesed to know any information about the town etc or if any Johnsons or Cuthberts still live there thank you Don Johnson