Thatcham memories
Here are memories of Thatcham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Thatcham or a Thatcham photo.
Kennet School
I went to Kennet Secondary School in 1965 and would like to see photos of that time.
I Lived in No 68 From 1983 to 1985
Of course they had been nicely re-furbished and with all mod cons like running water and electricity. It was a nice experience living in a thatched house and, believe me, they aren't full of spiders and not as much of a fire risk as you would think. We had a very big fireplace in a tiny sitting room and I am a pyromaniac. I remember one day a guy knocking on the front door and, with a very worried look on his face, he said that the chimney must be on fire because it was pouring black smoke. I thanked him kindly but told him not to worry and that I was simply burning rubber car mats!
I Live Here
I've lived in the two cottages on the right of the picture since 1994. Two cottages? They were knocked into one in 1973 when the entire row was sold to a developer and refurbished.
Memories of Berkshire
St Marys Childrens Home 1940,S
My mum, Ann Diamond, was in St Mary's home for girls from about 1940- 1943, then went to stay with some foster parents. She has written some memoirs of her time there, and in the home. I would love to show her any more info or photos I can find of Cold Ash x.
Pound Street
My first main job on leaving school (Shaw House) was as a tea boy-dogsbody at H C James timber and builders merchants in Pound Street. For quite a while I cycled daily from Highclere Castle, approx 4 miles, it took me just over half an hour to get there and one hour to return! Some hills! My duties included running a mess room, making tea etc twice a day and touring the town for cakes and pasties, some of the men were particular as to which shop sold the best! One in Barthlomew Street near the Regal cinema, on round to Cheap Street to Austins for pasties and Nelsons squares, then to the Empire Cafe for lardy cakes, returning via Market Street and Barts again for fairy cakes near Black Boys bridge. After using a cycle for a while my father bought me an ex post office BSA bantam motor bike, painted green, it was purchased from someone my dad knew who worked at Bleinhem Palace. I rode that... Read more
The Kennet.
The river is the Kennet and this view shows the junction of the Kennet river (from low level bridge on the right) and the Kennet and Avon Canal (towards the locks straight ahead). The tributary to the left is towards the West Mills flour mill (water powered). The view is upstream (West).
Shops in The Broadway
I believe this picture is of the local post office/deli next door to the clock tower inn pub, affectionately known as the 'Clocky'. I grew up in this pub between 1956 and the early 1970s.
When I lived here the mayor of Newbury was Mr A W Luff and he owned the post office/deli next door. His son David did the weekly grocery deliveries in their van. David's sister moved to Canada ages and ages ago. My younger brother and I would sometimes go with David on some of the deliveries and once we went to the Heinz (soup) mansion where for the first time I ever saw a lift inside a home!
Opposite was Wilcox's fruit and veg shop and a newsagents. On the corner was a flower shop.
The actual clock tower in the middle of the Broadway had bench seats around and a phone box in the centre, where I remember it used to smell of urine. The old tramps and meth drinkers... Read more
Love At First Sight (corny But True)
This is where I first set eyes on my future wife. = I was working for Wimpeys at Greenham Common Air-Base, about 60 to 70 of us were lodging in an old army camp in Hamstead Norris that hade been taken over by Wimpeys as it was hard to get lodgings in Newbury. Every Saturday night my mate and I would come to town for a meal, drink and a dance in the Corn Exchange. One Saturday night we went into the Catherine Wheel pub in the Market PLace. Lo and behold, two pleasant young ladies were playing darts. We got playing with them, and thats how it all started. We were married for 53 years. Every time I go to Newbury I go into that pub, have one pint and think back. I lost the wife 3 years ago but visit Newbury often to see her family and put flowers on her grave in East Garson. By the way, my mate married my wife's friend, name of... Read more
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Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Croydon, Surrey
- Duloe, Cornwall
- Collyhurst, Lancashire
- Pyrford, Surrey
- The Green, Cumbria
- Bexleyheath, Kent
- Knypersley, Staffordshire
- Rhydyfelin, Mid Glamorgan
- Weaverham, Cheshire
- Stanhope, County Durham
- Bull Bay, Gwynedd
- Pant, Shropshire
- Greystoke, Cumbria
- Thornton Heath, Surrey
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Tenby, Dyfed
- Nazeing, Essex
- Medge Hall, South Yorkshire
- Maidenhead, Berkshire
- Langley Park, County Durham
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
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