Memories Of Farncombe

A Memory of Godalming.

73,Birch Road is where I lived from 1960 onwards. My family moved there in 1960 and I went to George Road School in 1962 during the coldest winter ever. The toilets used to freeze which was great as we would get time off as the toilets were outside. In 1964 I went to St Johns School and my teachers were; Mrs Ruddock, Mrs Want and Mr Sharp, the latter was my favourite. I used to go to Saturday morning pictures by train every week with Karen Carstairs. I spent most time with my grandparents at 66, Green Lane, they were Bill and Emily Gale. 1968 and after only 2 weeks at Broadwater School my families home was ruined in the '1968 floods' and we were moved to 73, Green Lane. By now I had 2 brothers; David and Andy, Geoff came along in 1970. In 1970 I had my first little job, an evening paper round delivering the London Evening News. I would go to Farncombe Station to pick up the papers, take them to the shop and deliver them to customers for 65p a week. With the money and with help from my dad John, I bought the first Raleigh 'chopper' in Farncombe. I left school in 1972 and was a mans outfitter for Meakers, Guildford. I also worked at Radio Lion where I met my wife Jan; and so I left Farncombe in 1978, got married in 1980 but Jan died in 1993, aged just 38. I often think of Farncombe. My granddad grew up in Catteshall in the early 1900's and it was there one day in 1971, where I was cycling with Vincent Hawkins and we came across a couple of blokes who were doing up a vintage steam engine and they invited us to climb on board and travel with them to Puttenham. It was a lovely day and we had a great time. I also remember Vincent's dad building a remote controlled aeroplane and telling me to be round their house at 7 o'clock for us to fly it. He wanted me to be early as Broadwater Park would otherwise be crowded, I arrived at 7 am.... but he meant 7 pm! I also remember running away with John Piasecki; we saved up our money and one Saturday decided that we wanted to go and seek our fortune. So we bought a packet of biscuits and as it was a nice day sat in Broadwater Park to decide where to run away too. We ate the biscuits then decided that the idea would have to be postponed as John was having sausages for tea and I was having fish and chips; these were our favourites, so, we would run away next week instead - we never did! Farncombe holds great memories.