Stapleford Abbotts memories
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Memories of Essex
Racing at Stapleford Tawney
I was born in Chingford prior to the Second World War. In the early 1950s I became an avid cyclist and participated in several massed start cycle races on Stapleford Tawney aerodrome. If I remember right there was a downhill stretch on the circuit unkind to flesh and machine being mostly gravel. I wonder if anyone else remembers. About that time I belonged to the Unity CC in Highgate. Also at that time a fast run from Chingford to Bishops Stortford and back along the Epping road several evenings a week proved good training for time trialers.
Abridge Picture A106012
This photo appears at the back of Essex Living Memories (pages 112 - 113) and in "I Remember When ... Memories of Britain (page 134)". The two ladies in the foreground with the prams appear familiar - The lady on the left may be Mrs Peagram with her son Colin in the pram, the lady on the right could be Mrs Hockley with her son, Kenneth. The couple with the child in the pushchair outside the butchers looks like and could actually be my parents and me. They might have just stepped off the No.10 bus, the back of which you can see parked by the Blue Boar Pub on the left. I believe, the No.10 bus route at peak times went all the way to Algate East, non-peak time buses went to Stratford, Leyton or Leytonstone. At the time this photo would have been taken we weren't yet living in the village, but my parents formed the Leyton Self-Build Group which started with 100 members and was left with... Read more
Abridge in The 1950's
I moved to Abridge in 1950 when I was ten years old. My parents bought the white cottage on the London Road, which had a wooden building next to it. This very soon became The Poplar Cafe, my mother’s dream of riches!
I attended the little village school for a year until I passed the 'Scholarship' and went on to Loughton County High School for Girls in 1951. The head teacher, Mr Garner, took the top class (the oldest children) and I remember him quite well. He seemed a very kind man but very old to me. I imagine he must have been close to retirement age because a new head was appointed a few years later, who had several huge, Airdale dogs. Mrs (Daisy) Barr, who taught the youngest children was related to my aunt and uncle, Kath and Vic Barr, who lived next door to us at no. 1 Bayles’ Cottages. At no. 2 Bayles’ Cottages was my uncle Vic’s mother and younger brother, Jim.
When... Read more
The Poplars The Maltsters Bottom of London Road
This is the view looking down to the end of London Road where it meets the village. The road does a sharp turn to the left into the Market Place and behind the large tree is 'Top Bayles' grocers shop. Mr Bayles had served in 'Top Bayles' since he was a boy. He was a lovely old gentleman and very kind to the children. Tins of biscuits fronted the counter and there was a bacon slicer at the back. I would pop in to buy a Jamboree Bag on the way home from school, having saved my thrupenny bit for this special treat.
'Bottom Bayles' was another shop in the heart of the Market Place at the top end of Silver Street. The proprietors were Mr Bayles's two sisters and was mainly a hardware store with a small toy section at the back, and a haberdashers off to the side. They lived in a bungalow a short way up the London Road.
On the left of the... Read more
Happy Childhood Memories
I was born in Abridge in 1964, the last of 9 kids. We lived in The Mead which is no longer there. Abridge was a great place to grow up, we would play outside in the woods or over the shallows all day and only come home when we were hungry. In the summer we would walk to Grange Farm open air swimming pool and then after walk onto Loughton to the Chariot for fish and chips. Lots of the old time Abridge families such as The Flacks, Taylors, Mays, we would make our bikes in the summer and then break them up in the winter to make sleds. The Log Cabin was a favourite haunt with Old Mary cooking in the back, we would take bets when her cigarette ash would fall off but she always managed to smoke it down to the butt without an ash falling. Holt and Day shop was down by the two trees, legend had it they were haunted by some kid that was... Read more
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