Selborne

A Memory of Selborne.

We lived on the outskirts of selborne, my parents and three brothers and sister, at Lower Noar Hill Farm and Homestead Farm. My great-grandparents, grandparents and parents farmed the land between Selborne Common and Noar Hill for more than 70 years. Before us it was the Ganders, who later emigrated to Canada for health reasons. My other grandparents lived in Goslings Croft in the village.

My father was secretary of the Selborne Cricket Club for more than 20 years and actively involved in the youth club and parish council. My grandparents delivered milk by horse and cart to the villagers in the 40s and 50s. In our time there was the greengrocers owned by Grace and Roy Hayward, and of course Bubbles in the middle of the village. Mr Gallop was the butcher and in the early days there was I believe also a 'supermarket' in what became in my days the antique shop near the Plestor. I opened my first PO savings account in the PO (and bookshop) opposite the Queens Hotel.

As children we had the run of all the area, Noar Hill common; Selborne Common, the village, and had enormous fun on the zig-zag, the Big Slide (for those who know), the bottle dump, the river etc. What bliss which today probably doesn't exist for children of today with parents afraid of everything.

Most of my deceased family are buried in the churchyard at St Marys, great grandparents, grandparents (maternal and paternal), uncle (Waller, Buddin, Sargent).