Waltham Abbey memories
Here are memories of Waltham Abbey and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Waltham Abbey or a Waltham Abbey photo.
The Waltham Abbey Choir And Other Memories
My family lived in Waltham Abbey from 1955 to 1961 and living there left a lasting impression on me.
I attended Waltham Holy Cross County Primary School during this time and at the ripe old age of 8 auditioned there to become a chorister. The teacher was one Mr. Goodger whom I remember as a kindly old man. (I guess all adults seemed old in those days).
Anyway I passed the audition and went to the Abbey and met Canon AVG Cleall, who taught me to understand Roman numerals and the choirmaster whose name escapes me, but was known by all the boys (it was an all male choir then) as Moppie on account of his long(ish) silver hair.
Well Moppie took me through a whole bunch of scales which I could sing with ease and which made me later think that choir practice was a waste of time. I had no idea other members wanted and needed the practices.
I should explain that I was by no means a... Read more
Nine Hundredth Centenary
I was in the top year at Waltham Holy Cross County Primary in 1966. We took the 9th centenary of 1066 very seriously, given King Harold's connection with the Abbey. I wrote and directed a film for the school children. The sound synchronisation didn't work so we had to also have a voice over script when the film was shown. It must have been dire, but we did our best. There was also a big celebration earlier in the year when Princess Margaret came to open a new statue of King Harold on the Abbey.
I remember Miss Goodwin and Mr Harris at school, real inspirations for the rest of my life. Also the head teacher Mr Hooper, and also Mr Goodyear who did music. We spent most of our school years in prefabs and it was all knocked down soon after. We had an out door swimming pool which took a lot of fund raising; we were allowed to swim... Read more
My Town
I call it my town because it is, it is everybody’s town that lives here.
My wife Patsy and I moved here very recently, in October 1999, this was after visiting the town in previous months, we found the people warm and welcoming, where please and thank you are the norm, this was unheard of back in north London, where we lived in a 2 bed semi off Hornsey Rd N19. Waltham Abbey is like old England, separated from the rest of England by a thin strip of green belt on all sides.
I can remember coming home every day after working in London, coming over the brow of the hill on Stewardstone Rd seeing the town spread out in front of me, the Abbey standing proud in the forefront, sadly now that view is lost due to the warehouses on the Meridian estate.
We quickly assimilated ourselves into the community and the town way of life, meeting great people, and great personalities and we both love it, as... Read more
Waltham Abbey The Place I Call Home
I was born in Waltham Abbey and lived there until I was twenty eight. It is the place I call home, where my roots are. Many times I remember going into the Abbey Church; there is such a feeling of serenity and the presence of God there. As a young person I went there for quietness, to meet with God and on so many times I left feeling refreshed and restored. nowdays when I go back and open the big oak door I am drawn in by the awesomeness and wonder of such a wonderful building. I love the stain glass windows both in the main church and the Lady Chapel, the wax painting (discovered in 1960) showing the judgement day, the engraved pillars, the marks of the old chained Bible, the Rose Window deplicting the days of creation, the reredos showing the story of the birth of Jesus and flight into Egypt, the sound of the large pipe organ, the roof showing the... Read more
Memories of Essex
CINDER TRACK RACING AT HIGH BEECH
My home was in Buckhurst Hill but on saturdays in the summertime my Dad would sometimes take my Mum and I to the cinder racing track at High Beech. My memories of those saturday aftrenoons come back as clear and a photograph. Each one enhanced by the smell of Castrol Oil, the lubricant of choice for the motorcycle Dare Devils. The grandstands would be full, the men selling choc-ices would wander the stands trying to earn a few shillings while getting to watch varoius racing heats. The 'gate' would fly upward and as many as ten young men , and sometimes a young woman, on brakless motorcycles would dive for the first turn. In unison they would lay their bikes down, almost touching the ground. The rider's left knee had a steel plate strapped on it, and their left shoe had a steel toe protector. Races of five, ten or more laps would detrmine who would be in the final. The din from these finely tuned machines was as deafening... Read more
Suntrap Nature Reserve
Does anyone recall the education reserve at Suntrap? I wonder if it's still going today? I visited it on Wednesdays whilst still at primary school, in approximately 1975-1978. The class would be split into 2 groups, one group would be led by Miss Beaver and the other by Mr Britain-Dodd (?). There were lots of wild animals in their natural habitat. Still teaching today? Kids - you don't know how good you've got it!
The Pond
This is an approximate date, my brother was placed in a boarding school when he was very young. We would travel there at weekends. The pond was very near the big white building he was staying in.
1977-1996
Hi, I am Adam. I moved to Nazeing in 1977, aged 3 years old, with my mum and dad. We moved down from Harlow, to be nearer my grandparents. I went to Nazeing Primary School and so did my younger sister Joanne, born 1979. She also went to Nazeing Primary School. Then I went to Cardinal Bourne in Broxbourne 3 years later. Joanne went to Mark Hall in Harlow. I spent a lot of time around the rivers and lakes and took up fishing. After leaveing school I worked as a grade 3 semi-skilled glass maker at Nazeing Glass Works from 1991 until 1999, when I was made redundant.
After my parents divorced I moved to Stevenage with my mum. If i could move back to Nazeing I would, it is a very pleasent area and I loved being around the rivers and lakes. I was also a member of a fishing club in Nursery Road for 6 years.
September Wedding
St John's Church, Loughton is a lovely church much loved in our town. I was married there in 1963.
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