Nana And Grandad 1950 Onwards

A Memory of Theddlethorpe St Helen.

My Nana and Grandad Evelyn and Tom Gordon Walton, my dad's parents, retired to Alder Cottage, Crook Bank, Theddlethorpe. As a child I lived in a cottage in the grounds until moving away. But my brothers and I spent every school holidays with them. We visited after we were married right into 1976 when alas they both died. But I took my children and now my grandchildren, I was there with them 2 weeks ago, it holds so many memories for me.
All are fond memories, spending the days on the beach looking for shells hidding in the dunes, making sand castles. The only thing that kept us away was the red flag flying on top of those tall lookouts for when the RAF had their bombing practice, firing at the wooden targets out towards the sea. Fishing in the dyke for tiddlers and falling in, ending up at the other side all wet with a field full of cows, my grandad had to rescue me.
A day out at Mablethorpe, travel by bus one way and return walking along the beach, I think the bus fare was 1 penny, we had a pack up and it made for a good day out.
My Nana cleaned the church which we had to attend on a Sunday, sometimes twice a day. I used to go with her to polish it until it shone. She also cleaned for Miss Coward down Brickyard Lane, Mrs Robinson in the very old house next to the church and Mrs Hook whom she told me her husband worked in India and others with names that I cannot recall.
A Miss Roberts had a farm near to the railway line as you travel to Mablethorpe I think she ran it with her brother.
Mr and Mrs Clark ran the only store and post office on the main road until they retired, building a bungalow next door to the shop and moved in.
My Nana rented out her two cottages during the summer season and we would meet up each year with the holidaymakers, one couple, Mr and Mrs Parks, loved it so much when Rose Cottage next to my Nanas was for sale they retired out to Theddlethorpe. I would pop and see them for a cuppa and a gossip long after my Nana died when I was taking my own children to the beach.
Mr Janney had the farm next door and it was great fun to help him feed the pigs, I would ride on its back, not frightened, don't think I would do it now, and help milk the cows. Before he got his tractor he had a grand Shire horse to pull the plough. Other farmers we knew were Mr Smith and Mr Sears, their farms were down Sea Lane. There was a farm right at the end of Crook Bank that is no longer there farmed by a Mr Gibson, we played with his children. Another house nearby no longer there along that road belonged to a Mr and Mr Panton.
One year the Scouts held their camp opposite Mr Gibson's farm and my Nana took us along to sing songs and eat the food that was laid out. Potato picking in the summer holidays was back breaking but earned us some pocket money.
A night at the Beetle Drive was fun, walking there in the pitch black in all weathers to win some chocolate. The memories go on and on, treasured and passed down the family.
Myra Turner, Grimsby