Bude, Barrel Rock 1893

Photo ref: 31915

I was born in Flexbury Park Nursing Home, Bude in Nov 1942. My parents lived at the time in Breakwater Road. Does anyone know where this nursing home was ? It appears that when my father returned on leave from the RAF they asked St Michael and All Angels to Baptize me on a Wednesday.When this request was denied my mother informed the vicar that there was a war on ! I was duly baptized on Wednesday 17 Dec 1942 ! G Thompson

To all it may interest: I have discovered among the effects of my late father, Roger B Vincent, of White Lodge, Hingham, Norwich, Norfolk, a letter dated March 8, 1947 from the manager of the Grenville Hotel, Bude. Mr R Williamson, replying to an inquiry from my father about reserving a room for his honeymoon following his marriage to my mother, H Joan Harrison, of Scarning, Norfolk, It reads: ...see more

I remember reading about The Welsh Collier Llandaff in about 1898 trying for the safe haven of Summerleaze Beach being wrecked on the reef at the back of The Breakwater a year ago she was saved from a similar fate at in another location but the reef rocks are very sharp here which possibly was the result of Her not being able to be saved.

I remember the primary school and the little banks behind it which seemed huge to us then! We used to go mussel picking on the rocks and walk along the downs with buttercups and daisies, sadly now much reduced due to soil erosion. The cottages were old and tumble-down the further out you got. There was an old cobbler called George Bickles on the edge of the canal. He was there for years in his little shop, just a ...see more