Memories of Benson
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Year: 1969
Old caravan field near Benson?
My husband was at RAF Benson in 1969. We got married in November, but could not find any accommodation around the airfield. In desperation we rented a tiny caravan in a farmer's field south of the airfield. There was no running water and the one outside tap tended to freeze in winter. The few caravans were managed by an elderly couple - the old lady I remember vividly, as she had long straggly grey hair and always wore the same outfit: big baggy sweater over a kilt over blue jeans and wellingtons! To get to Benson you came out of the caravan field, turned left and at the end of this lane was a pub, on the main road. In the other direction, turning right out of the caravan field, the lane led to a main road where you caught the bus into Wallingford (I worked at the Institute of Hydrology for a few months). We went back to Benson recently - took photos outside The Shepher'd Hut and drove past the airfield, now with armed guards at the gates ! But the pub on the main road south of the airfield was gone, and we failed to find the field where the caravans used to be - (we were on our way to Heathrow so time was short) nice to see the area isn't covered with new subdivisions though! Can anyone tell me anything about the old people who managed the caravans, or the name of the field or lane where they sat. Also the name of the pub that was demolished? Thanks from Canada! Posted: 12/10/2007 16:14 by Jeanette Clarke |
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Year: 1947
Memories of Benson
My memories of Benson started in 1946/7 when we moved to Sunnyside, which in those days did not have the recreation field. Nor did the village have street lighting apart from a couple in the High Street, one of which was on the wall of Franklin's Farm. The shops in those days were Slaughters Stores, High Street & Chamberlains Stores, Castle Square. There were 2 butchers in High Street (Wm. Lee & the other I can't remember the name), Stan Blisset had the hairdressers next to Slaughters Stores. Tom Shotton was the postmaster. Bill Aldridge ran the greengrocers shop, opposite Crown Hotel, and was later taken over by Wm Turner. Gurneys Garage was a small unit in Chapel Lane. My stepfather, Stan Pether, was born in the house between the Post Office & the Crown Hotel, and was one of the local postmen for several years. I recall Mrs Wharton running the cake/sweetshopin High Street and Eva Small ran a sweetshop in Brook Street next door to the pub. In those days I could tell you exactly who lived where, it was such a small community, and I got to know the people because of both the paper round and butcher rounds that I used to do for pocket money. Riverside cafe was owned & run by the Young family who also ran the small cafe on the riverside. I learnt to swim & dive in the river before it was turned into a boatyard. I have lots of happy memories of my years in Benson, seeing it grow, up to the time I left in 1974. Last edited: 19/09/2006 02:27 by John Webb |
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