Stiffkey, Wells Road and Townshend Arms c1955

Wells-next-the.sea

I was born in Wisbech and lived in the White House, Burnt Street throughout my childhood. My mother Mary Kitson founded the drama group and was the first lady mayoress of Wells. My father George Kitson died when I was 11. He and his brother Frank once owned the Crown Hotel. He also owned the Edinburgh pub. I have two brothers, Michael and John. I attended the Primary School and was particularly friendly with three girls, Gwen Freezer, Tessa Hazelton and Patricia Webb. We would often cycle to Holkham Park. At the age of 11 I was sent to a convent boarding school in Swaffham which I absolutely hated. I live abroad now but visited Wells last month and had a walk on Holkham beach where I spent a lot of my childhood and also walked up Market Lane. So nostalgic! I also visited Rodney Crafer. I went to school with his sister Diana. I am in touch with Don Sheppard who lives in Australia with his wife Caroline and who once lived on Burnt Street. I came across him on Friends Reunited.

Wonderful times spent with my Grandparents

My mother and her family are from Stiffkey. I was christened in the Stiffkey church in September of 1965. My grandparents lived at Camping Hill and I was always visiting them. I have lovely memories of their beautiful garden and allotment, and the many walks down to the marsh to swim in the tide pools and collect the heather. My beloved grandparents passed away in 1987, but I still visit from time to time (it's not that easy as I now live in California). Stiffkey is a beautiful village and I treasure all my lovely memories.

No 489 Squadron flew from RAF Langham

A commemorative brass plaque in the church of St Andrew and St Mary, Langham was erected in memory of these men of 489 Torpedo Bomber Squadron RNZAF (and their comrades in other Coastal Command Squadrons) who were killed in action whilst based at Langham

The No 489 Squadron personnel were:

20 April 1944 – Den Helder

 152293 Fg. Off.  Robert Lawrence WHITE RAFVR
 123025 Fg. Off. Brinley Edward STOURTON RAFVR

14 May 1944 - Patrol Listafjord to Okso Light area, Norway

 NZ415780 Fg. Off. Ivan. Alfred. PETTITT; RNZAF
 151519 Fg. Off.  Charles Harris LOWCOCK RAFVR

19 May 1944 - Anti E-boat patrol

 NZ417145    Plt Off. James Alan Skirrow WRIGHT, RNZAF.
 142554        Fg. Off. William Hugh Iain. CAMERON; RAFVR.
 151384       Fg. Off. Laurie Aubrey WRIGHT RAFVR
 1579216    Flt Sgt Robert MACQUAKER (sic) RAFVR

5 Jun 1944 - Dual pilot day training
 
  89825 Sqn Ldr Stanley William KELLOW, DFC; RAFVR
  NZ414958 Fg. Off. Douglas Launcelot Blackmore CHAPMAN, RNZAF.
  Fg. Off. Sydney FREEMAN RAFVR

14 June 1944 - Holland

 1395012 Flt. Sgt. Thomas Ramsay CLEGG RAFVR

17 Jun 1944 - Anti E-Boat patrol between Gravelines, France, and Hook, the Netherlands

NZ412005 Sqn Ldr Frederick (Derek) Kingsmill MOYNIHAN, DFC, RNZAF
151624 Fg. Off. Cyrus Ralph POLLARD, RAFVR

30 Jul 1944 - Shipping strike off Southern Norway

  NZ413516 Warr. Off William Robert TUCK, RNZAF
  NZ425319 Flt Sgt Francis Magnus LARNACH, RNZAF

8 Aug l944 - Wing attack on convoy off Egersund, Norway

 NZ417058 Fg. Off. Ronald John Wilson HEY, RNZAF
 NZ425977 Flt. Sgt. Gerald Royce CLEMENS, RNZAF
 No 151832 Fg. Off. Frederick Ellis SPINK RAFVR


10 August 1944 – near Kiel

 171580 Fg. Off. Douglas John FRICKER, RAFVR
 141844 Fg. Off. William Robertson WOODCOCK, RAFVR

25 Sep 1944 - Joint anti-shipping strike off Den Helder, Netherlands

NZ421756 Warr. Off.  Mervyn John Lyndon PHELAN, RNZAF


For a limited time, a copy of a history of this Squadron is now available to former 489 Squadron personnel, or their next of kin - Further information is avaiable from davidnzl@xtra.co.nz

My second home

Right from a small child i have grown up loving Wells-next-the-Sea, my dad used to take us on holidays there and we stayed in a little cottage which was a short walk to the quay where my brother and I would wander down to the amusement arcade to play on the 2p machines. We would sit along the edge of the quay and try our luck at crab fishing and then take a stroll down to the beach, which seemed a long way when you are just a child. The excitement was too much when running down the slope which took us straight on to the beach where we paddled for hours, and when the tide was out we walked across the channel where we dug for cockles and then dried off in the beach hut. Then it was time to head back to the cottage where my brother and I carried a bucket with our finds and catches from our day out and cooked them up for supper. When evening came the whelk boats came in and we would stand and watch them unload the nets full of whelks. I remember the smell of the fires burning to heat the water as the fishermen cooked the whelks, when they were cooked the fishermen wrapped them in newspaper and we would walk back to the cottage with our parcel of whelks. I have kept most of this tradition alive by teaching my kids and partner my love of Wells. I would love to live there one day.

Beach, Bingo, Family Memories

I have many fond memories of holidaying at Pinewoods Caravan Park where my now late grandparents (Lil and Bill Potter) used to own a caravan. They would take me up there for 2-3 weeks in the summertime and my mum and late dad (David Potter) would then also join us for a week. I used to sit with Nan in Plattens Bingo on a nightly basis and sometimes pop along to Grays for a game or two there as well. I used to take long walks with my grandad through the pine woods and on the beach, and went on the trampolines about 4-5 times a day. This was when we used to have a proper summer, in fact, my dad would come back browner than if he'd gone abroad! The caravans we had didn't have electricity or running water or even a toilet. I used to go with my grandad to cold water taps that were all over the site to collect water in a barrel which was then connected via a hose to the kitchen sink (from outside).  They used to have to run the black and white TV off of the car battery, light a match to turn lights on at night (calor gas) and use the communal shower/toilet blocks. It was so much fun! I first went to Wells at around the age of 6 and still go now and again today where I hire a caravan. In fact, I am fed up of the Caribbean so am off to Wells today with my husband and young daughter.  Haven't been for a few years and just feel the need to return - hope the sun shines, hope Celia is still sitting on her bingo throne, hope not too much has changed.