Shirburn memories
Here are memories of Shirburn and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Shirburn or a Shirburn photo.
Living at Model Farm
The Edwards family lived at Model Farm from 1953 to 1957. We went to Chinnor School, my brother Stuart went to Lord Williams, Thame. My mother Phyllis started 1st Shirburn & Luknor Brownies and was Captain of 1st Watlington Guides when Lady Valerie Parker was District Comissioner. She also sang in Watlington Church choir. My father Ben was Farm Manager, in his spare time he was a Special Constable. I have three sisters, Priscilla, Kathryn and Bridgid. Our grandmother Daisy Sturt lived with us. My memories of that time are swimming in the corn in the corn stores and sliding down the grain shutes in the dryer. Also putting the chains on the sacks of corn so they could be lifted up on the winch to the top floor of the building. Sheep dipping in the dip by the Dutch barns. walking with Dad at night during lambing time to check everything was ok. Having loads of lambs living in the kitchen if their mothers could not raise them and... Read more
Memories of Oxfordshire
Elizabeth Emma Wheeler
Hi My grandmother was Elizabeth Emma Wheeler, who, as far as I can ascertain, came from Watlington. I have not been able to find much information about her, even from her only surviving daughter. The only indication I have found about her early life was that she had some connection to the Dr Barnado's childrens home. I don't know if she was actually a Barnado's child, and if she definately came from Watlington. I would be grateful if anyone could give me any information that might help me trace her origins, and if there was a Dr Barnado's home in the area. Thanks Ray Mitchell - 08/01/10
George Jones
Hi,
I have recently traced my family back to George Jones born abt 1811/12 in Aston Rowant where he lived with his wife Jane and Son William. Other than the fact that he was an Agricultural Labourer and Jane a Lacemaker I know little else of them. If anyone can help I would love to talk to you, even if you have an old street map of the village or any old photo's. I recently travelled to Aston Rowant but although a beautiful village I would love to know how it looked years ago.
With Kind regards
Sharon Jones
The Stables
As a young arrogant doctor with an imposing E-Type Jaguar, I was privileged to live at the stables with assorted collegues. One a gynaecologist, now in Cape Town, one a London based psychiatrist of vivid eccentricity and one more, whose face I forget. The gamekeeper and his wife lived next door. He was an amusing and amused observer of his young city neighbours. He introduced me to one of the owls he had nursed back to health. Barney would come when called at night and sit on the windowsill and eat apples. I was fortunate to ride with him (the game keeper, not the owl) on occasion, on a magnificent hunter. We had breakfast feasts on the lawn and dinner near a big log fires. In the mornings I frequently had to hoosh out the cows, who had pushed opwn the gate and were chomping on the lawn, that in an early morning mist. One Christmas, my South African friend brought the church to life with a Christmas service. We had parties and... Read more
Kathleen Schlesinger Home
In 1944 my mother was in the Ruskin Emergency Hospital in Oxford giving birth to my brother. Before going to hospital she sent me to the Kathleen Schlesinger Home at Russels Water. I was 4 years old but I do remember bits of my time there. I was there from around 3rd August until 6th September, a long time for a 4 year old to be away from his mother. I have some letters written by members of the staff to my mother.
Russel's Water isn't a very big place and I wonder if the building is still there. Strangely, no local historian, nor anybody at Henley Town Council have ever heard of the place.
If anybody reading this has any memories of the Kathleen Schlesinger Home, please send me an email, rick_n_jane2004@yahoo.com
Rick Wilmot
Ewelme School 1957
I am Mick Phillips and I was at Ewelme School in 1957. Mr Coles was the headmaster and Miss Walker was my class teacher. We were 9 and 10 year olds in the upstairs room and the younger children were taught downstairs by a Miss Lewis, who got married around that time to someone from RAF Benson.
I remember Miss Walker being presented with some flowers at assembly one morning by Mr Coles to mark her 25th year at the school. She was a rather serious Irish lady in her fifties who rapped my knuckles for not understanding fractions and read to us from Wind in the Willows on Friday afternoon. Although probably no record exists, the BBC came to the school and filmed an item which included one or two classroom shots and a studio interview with Miss Walker. I can't remember what the item was about, but Miss Walker was impressed with the BBC's efficiency and timing and suggested how we might benefit by applying the same attitude.... Read more
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