Spencers Wood

My Time at Rapleys, Grazeley Green.

I was born and spent my early childhood at Rapleys, Grazeley Green. My father's farm, James Farm, was at the far end of the Green in James Lane. We had a herd around 120 friesians for milking as well as arable and woodland. My mother had a smaller farm at Goddards Green which had about 60 milking Jersey cows and a bull. My memories are a bit hazy but in those days I used to cycle to Burghfield or Mortimer to visit friends. It was much safer for children to cycle miles on the road then as there was much less traffic. I do remember the 10-ton trucks that used to hurtle by from the gravel pits. They were on piecework so speed limits went out of the window. There was the Old Bell pub run by Mr Gissing. I was much too young to know anything about pubs then; but it was the nearest neighbouring property. The cottages the length of the green were mostly occupied by... Read more

John Hill (the Butcher)

Hi, I wonder can anyone help? I'm looking for a person I used to work with many years ago, his name was John Hill. He lived in Arborfield Cross all his life. He was such a lovely person to work with. If anyone knows John Hill, I would be very grateful if you could let me know. Many thanks.
Brenda Glover (nee Malone).

John Hill (the Butcher), Macfisheries.

Hi, My name is Brenda.Glover (nee Malone). I used to work with someone that lived all his life in Arborfield, he worked as a butcher for many years. He was such a lovely person to work with. His name is John Hill. I would love to get in contact with him, does anyone know this person please? As I said, he lived in Arborfield all his life. Many thanks.
Brenda.

John. Hill.

Hi, my name is Brenda, I used to work quite a few years ago with a vey nice person. His name was John Hill. He lived for a long time in Arborfield, and probably still does. I would love to get in contact with him again, so if anyone knows John Hill, can you please let me know! I would really appreciate it. Many thanks.  
Brenda.

c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

The entrance on the left is to Mortimer Station and the house (red brick) just right of centre is the Old Post Office. The white house just left of centre is Street House. The building to  the right (and slightly closer to the foreground) is the old water pumping station.

The Lane Pauline Johnson

I used to walk to Blands School through the lane with my friend Jean Brookes, we would often stop outside the Clark's (Terry) house and climb up the bank where we could see Jean's house across the field. Then we would continue past the West's house (Peter). We were often late for school as you can imagine! The headteacher at Blands school was Mr Halfpenny, one of the teachers was Miss Tanner, a road leading of off Hollybush Lane was named after her. I remember Dauntless well, my mum worked there for a while in the 1960s, a few of the local lads got married to Wrens. I lived on Clayhill Road and my friend lived in the Close.

Memories of The Lane

I remember the Lane so well. Pauline Johnson and myself used to use it on a daily basis to go to school. We used to dawdle and chat and skip and tease the boys, Terry Clark and Alan Berry being two of the names that come to mind. We used to love the little stream that ran along the bottom and often stopped to look at the brown pebbles and the endless amount of frog spawn. I wonder, is that steam still there ? My friend Pauline and I must take a walk along there soon to check !