Simpson, Buckinghamshire

Happy days

When I was about 4 or 5 I moved from Water Eaton to Fenny. We lived with my gran, Mrs Gibson, in Church Street. We - my two brothers and myself, used to go to the Salvation Army Sunday School, we were only few doors away, and felt grown up walking the few yards away. I used to play the tambourine there (well, I used to rattle it about a bit). It was always nice and clean looking and felt homely. Next door was a 'house' that was used as a Catholic church, then next to that was our local fire brigade, all the kids used to gather round when the siren went off on the council offices, knowing lots of men would be running like mad from wherever they worked - mainly as cooks in the brush factory in Victoria Road. A year later I was old enough to go with my brothers to the County Cinema, just through a walkway opposite the house.
My gran was one of the first people around to have a TV, on Coronation Day there were people standing in her front room and sitting on her wall at the front with the window open and the sound turned up. A few years later, Mrs Dick started up a beetle drive, I went with her every week and helped her put the tables and chairs out, waiting for the people to arrive 99% of them were ladies. Although I was young they were all local, so we all knew each other. It was always a very friendly evening, even now, writing about it it brings a smile to my face, and that was over 50 years ago (I'm only 61 now!) - happy days and pleasant memories.
I've only been using a computer for a few weeks. I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I would ever be doing this. It's good INIT??  I will be back anbother day.                                                                    
Hi again. Sorry, I forgot to say the men doing the running to the fire station, were all volunteer firemen. Bless em!

Approximately in 1950.

During the Second World War my gran owned a grocery shop at 7 Stoke Road, Water Eaton and my grandad used to take a barrow round the streets selling slabs of salt. I remember looking out of my window (at about 3 or 4 years old)and watching the foxhounds meet on the green, it was a bit scary for me being so young. I also used to like walking up Stoke Road to see an old horse called Kit, he was very gentle and seemed to love people. We'll never get those lovely peaceful, trouble-free, friendly days back, it's such a shame. When I was about 5 we moved to Church Street in Fenny, and I started at Bletchley Road School, then to Western Road, I was older then and could go out on my own (safely). I used to like going through the central gardens and seeing all the pretty flowers in little 'gardens' scattered in the lawns and the sunken 'bandstand', then all the tennis courts and pavilion, then out on to Bletchley Road, to the left was the cinema, with the open-air pool behind it, and to the right was Weatherhead's wooden record shop, then a garage and petrol forecourt, and opposit ewas 'dear old Woollys' - happy days!
Margaret Hogg (nee McCracken).

Daneswood Convalescent Home 1958/9

I was a pre - Nursing student at Daneswood for two years. I hailed from Bolton, Lancashire and it was my first time away from home and town. I fell in love with Woburn Sands and enjoyed my time at Daneswood, to this day I have lovely memories of the place and friends made there.
I have lived in Canada now for the past 45 years having retired from teaching, nursing, and travel extensively. However, we have not managed a return trip to Woburn sands but will do so next year. I imagine the place will have changed from the sleepy village I remember and I believe Daneswood is no longer there.
I fondly remember some of the sisters there, Sister Robinson who hailed from Scotland and Sister Munn whose husband was the gardener {what a garden} and Mary the wonderful cook.
I used to love taking long hikes through the woods and the summers seem to me now idyllic.  Woburn Sands definately has a large place in my life's book.
Kathleen Hagan {Kathy Orrell}.

Reminiscing

I was born in NW London. My first visit to Woburn Sands was about 1950 when my Uncle Ted and Aunt Ada moved here. They lived at the 'Dene' Aspley Hill. Aunt Ada did the housework for Mrs Russell the owner of the 'Dene' and my uncle drove a lorry for Marston Bricks. My school holidays were spent here cycling around the district. Then in 1955 my father Charles Batham bought 'Quarry Cottage' in Sandy Lane, Aspley Heath. At that time there was no electricity or sewer. Mum cooked on a wood stove and we read by oil lamps. No TV or radio. The toilet was the outhouse. I met my wife Barbara while travelling to work at Bletchley. We married in 1960 and in 1961 we purchased the 'Quarry Cottage' and half the land from my father who built a bungalow which he called 'Charlesdene'. It was then that electricity and sewers were connected. Two of my children were born there. I worked at Woburn Engineering for a few years. (can't find any reference to it now). My father died in 1967 and in 1968 I emigrated to Western Australia. No doubt many changes have taken place since then. I still have many happy memories of the village.  Roy Batham