Sandhurst memories
Here are memories of Sandhurst and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Sandhurst or a Sandhurst photo.
Tea Under Fire.
During the Second World War I was sometimes taken by my mother to stay with her grandmother, Mrs Bevis, at the house called Rivermead, about 100 yards downhill from the church, by a sharp bend to the left. Mrs Bevis must have rented it early in the war, having left her home in Jersey before the occupation of the island. I was about 4, when the Germans were still in the ascendent, and we were enjoying tea out in the garden when we heard a small plane, rather low, and idly looked up. "It's one of theirs !" It was; and it appeared to be languidly circling around us. We rapidly abandoned the tea-table and scuttled indoors as fast as my tiny legs and Big Granny's bigness would allow. In my memory she was nearly spherical, and I remember the sight as I followed her, dragged by my mother. Scarcely were we in the... Read more
Simon's Well, Scotland Hill
My father was in the US Navy and stationed at Blackbush. We rented a wonderful place known as Simon's Well. It had big English roses, a garden with rubbarb and such. I attended Yately Hall. These times were the happiest memories of my childhood.
I had a nanny named Rose and I taught her how to make popcorn. The only thing is, my instruction as a child on popcorn making was a bit off. She put too much oil and popcorn with no lid. Because she had been in WWII with bombs, when it began popping everywhere, she and I hid under the kitchen table. My parents found her unglued and me eating popcorn off the floor as it was landing! Is the place still there? I would love to see a photo of it today. I have photos but I don't know how to upload them on this site.
Broadmoor
In 1958 I was a bricklayer working for Sargents of Bracknell, we were putting bathrooms on staff houses at The Terrace at Broadmoor. We could not work because of bad weather and I saw the Broadmoor staff going to work all wrapped in warm clothes so I went over and applied for a job. The man on the gate said "Can you fight?". I said I could hold my own. I got the job. I did 3 years as a pupil nurse then became a registered nurse for a further 7 years, when I left and brought my family to Australia. I enjoyed my 10 years at Broadmoor and made many friends and would love to hear from any of them.
Little Sandhurst Shop
This is more or less as the centre of Litle Sandhurst appeared in 1958 - very little changed from 1939. We lived on the other side of this photo at a row of houses called (I don't know why!) Gibletts Folly. To the left of this photo is the bottom of Scotland Hill, which towards the top was very steep and the tarmaced road stopped before the top, replaced by a stony track. At the very top was Scotland Hill School (since demolished) where, in 1958, Mr Shanks was the headmaster. The shop in the centre of the village provided all the groceries you needed. A bus stopped out side but I think it only ran twice a week. We had to walk over to the main road, or walk the mile to Sandhurst Railway Station (trains to Wokingham) on other days.
When the dinner ladies went on strike at the school, we had to get dinner at home. The strike stopped, but my brother and I were happier... Read more
Grounds of The Royal Military Academy
While I was growing up in Sandhurst, the grounds of the College was open to the public and we could walk from the village of Sandhurst through to Camberley. This building with parade ground in front is famous for the white horse which always entered the building up the steps when the passing out parades had finished. In front of this building are beautiful grounds with a big lake which was often the place to have picnics in the summer, and in winter - if frozen - we would skate over it. Shame now due to security risks etc, that the grounds are closed to the general public. Such a shame - I am glad I have the memories still.
Childhood Memories
This is the street where I was born in 1940, our house is just out of sight, but when I left school in 1955 I worked for a short while in the shop adjoining the post office. Sadly my father, who was in the Army, was posted to Colchester, Essex and so we left Sandhurst in June 1955. But it was a lovely place to grow up in and will always be home to me. I still have family living in the area.
Wedding Day
St Michael's Church, where I was christened in 1940, I was married there in June 1960. A beautiful church set in the countryside just out of the village.
My Home
I was born at 1 Mount Pleasant Road, corner of Sandy Lane - the 7th of eight siblings born to Francis George Martin & Rose Emily Long. Unfortunately, I had to leave Little Sandhurst when 5 years old. Fortunately the memories I left with have been with me all my life. The Guy Fawkes fires on the 'Common', the Christmas parties at Wellington and Sandhurst Military Colleges and the Methodist Church, the gypsy coming around the village roasting chestnuts and potatoes for the children, the swimming hole near the rail tracks, Scotland Hill School with it's heating stove, a blanket to lay on the floor for a nap, the dentist's office down the hill, the Christmas carrolling on Longdown Road, the trails to Crowthorne and Ambarrow Hill and the neighbour with the ferrets to catch rats with. Breakfast often included fresh mushrooms from the nearby farm and there was always chestnuts the family gathered to eat or play 'conkers' with. Having made several visits back to Little Sandhurst over the years... Read more
Living at The Post Office
When I was a teenager I lived at the Post Office that is now a hardware shop, at the eastern end of the village. I was in the church choir and in the bell-ringers. Used to ride my bike down to the cricket field to watch the games. My father, Harry Gardner, was the Postmaster and ran the associated grocery store. When the steadily growing chain stores got to out-price him, despite his personal service, delivering groceries when people phoned in their orders, etc. he had to let the business go, and moved to Cornwall. He died in 1980. Friends... Sheila Revell, Leonie (Pixie) Parker (still in touch), John Randall, Freddie Moth, Colin Cripps, Billy Roberts. I was sad to read about Freddie's tragic death in Kenya when I was reading a booklet I got form the church when I last visited.
Memories of Berkshire
Running
My best memory of Little Sandhurst was being able to run freely through Wellington College woods as I was an avid fan of athletics and still am. I lived in Edgbarrow Rise and can remember people like Peter Searle, John Irwin (now deceased), Peter Barber (now deceased), Derek and David Wood and many more. My mum used to work in the local post office and her name was Maria. I went to Scotland Hill school, the old one where the headmaster was Harold Shanks and my teacher was Mrs Huddle and I do believe she is still alive. I frequently return and am amazed that there are no shops, post office or butchers. It has become too populated.
People in Picture
Hoping you can help me identify two of the people in this photo. I have an old postcard with the same photo.
Here is what I know:
Standing (left to right) Princess Victoria, The Duchess of Connaught, Queen Alexandra, Prince Christian of Schleswig Holstein, UNKNOWN?, Princess Patricia of Connaught, UNKNOWN?
Sitting: (left to right) The Duke of Connaught, King Edward VII, Princess Christian of Schleswig Holstein (otherwise known as Princess Helena, sister of Edward VII)
If you have any idea who the unknown people are please email me at burkescot@gmail.com Thanks!
Father Was Secretary of East Berks Golf Links
My father Godfrey S Duckworth was Secretary of the East Berks Golf Club from 1950 until 1953.
My Childhood 1942 - 1963
My family owned the Victorian pile that incorporated the chemist opposite the Iron Duke. I was born in 1942 at the house (if it's still there) that was built as a wedding present for my parents at the top of the property and moved to the main house when my grandmother died, somewhere around 1945. Myself and my 3 brothers were packed off to boarding schools when we reached 7 so were only around in school holidays. They sold the place around 1962 as I started to hitch a round the world. On the way I fell in love with Australia. On my return in 1968 I bought my future wife here to show her where I was born, it seemed a bit alien and it was the last time I ever came back. I have lived in Australia for the last 40 years in an area that seems very similar, funny that. Interestingly many of my visual memories have been a bit warped and as the alterations to the village has greatly... Read more
Cricketing Memories at Broadmoor.
A fine cricket ground was included within the walls where Bracknell CC played each year. There was a concert party formed from among the inmates that used to give performances in the villages around Crowthorne: the party travelled with a strong force of warders. Just after WWII there was an occasion when a notorious murderer managed to escape and the alarm was sounded. It was powerful enough to be heard over a range of several miles. The escapee was soon recaptured but there was great local concern about the type of person held in Broadmoor.
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