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West Bridgford memories

Here are memories of West Bridgford and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of West Bridgford or a West Bridgford photo.

I Found my Wonderful Wife in West Bridgford

Central Avenue c1965
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In September 1952 I was on my way to what was then French Indo China, now Vietnam. I was introduced to a young lady whilst in Nottingham visiting my parents. The date was September 19th. The meeting was 'arranged' by an old student friend and was in fact a 'blind date' The young lady lived on Crosby Road, West Bridgford, number 42 if I remember correctly, the house was also named Naini Tal. The meeting turned out to be a case of love at first sight and three weeks later I proposed to Grace. We were both 23 years old and despite the misgivings of both parents we married on January the 14th 1953. Eventually I returned to the RAF having cancelled my trip to the far east (I'm not stupid!). Grace and I remained married for the next 57 years, produced three great sons and in 1974, as a civilian with severe spinal injuries (thank you RAF), we were invited to relocate to Australia. I was by then a... Read more

Diamond Anniversary

St Giles Church c1965
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My parents, June Delicia Hancock and V. Neville Wright, now living in London, were married at St. Giles Church, West Bridgford, on 3rd April 1948 and are celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary this week.

Memories of Nottinghamshire

Memories of Sneinton

Betty and I were brought up in Davidson Street, Sneinton just before the Second World War. It was a small back-to-back terraced house with an outside toilet. One of my first recollections was being bathed in the small kitchen sink and the woman who lived next door talking to Mum. It was snowing. Later they made a snowman and put a pipe in his mouth. It was great fun. When war broke out we moved to 3 Hoten Road (Grandma and Grandad's house). We moved because they lived in a three-bedroomed house and if we moved in with them, then they wouldn't have to take in any refugees who might come from London. Mum and Dad had the back bedroom, and Betty and I had the attic. There were lots of arguments because Dad didn't get on with Grandad Brailsford. I recall the night of the blitz on Nottingham. It was pretty horrific. We were brought down from the attic and slept on the floor with Mum and Dad. Then the... Read more

First Show House

My grandparents (now deceased) owned the first show house on the Clifton Estate. They had a picture with the mayor at the time which we have somewhere. The house was on Farnborough Road. I think it was 1951 or thereabouts.

I lived at Southchurch Court in the early 1970s then Conifer Crescent for a year before moving to West Bridgford in 1975.

Clifton is ok! J

Samuel Page - Umbrella Maker.

Pelham Street 1890
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This photo shows my great grandfather's shop, nearly opposite the one owned by Jesse Boot. The shop has (on the left hand side of the photo) the name S. Page (Samuel Page) just above the wooden statue of Jonas Hanway holding an umbrella and the name of the shop was Hanway House; Samuel Page being an Umbrella Manufacturer and Dealer in Ladies and Gentlemen's waterproofs and all kinds of Travelling Requisites. Jonas Hanway brought the umbrella to this country from China and Japan. He was laughed at for carrying such an item as it was considered effeminate. Samuel Page was a noted umbrella maker because of the excellent quality of the silk that he used in their manufacture. He registered the name Jonas Hanway and the name 'Hanway' is found engraved in gold letters inside each umbrella.

The Race Stand, Forest Racecourse

The Forest Racecourse 1893
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My 5x great grandfather, William Roper, Keeper of the Forest, lived at the racestand (LHS of the photograph) from ca. 1813-1852.
During the Pentrich Rebellion of 1817 a mob who were intent in breaking into the racestand to remove weapons stored there were prevented from doing so by William Roper.
The race stand was erected in 1777 and was demolished, I think, during the 1930s.
Are there any photographs in the Francis Frith collection showing a more complete view of the race stand?

Holidays From The Past

I have so many happy memories Of Nottingham. My parents would take me to visit an aunt & uncle there in the early 50s.  My aunt lived in Ratcliffe, my uncle had the Ratcliffe Golf Club and they lived on the premises. I was very friendly with their neighbours, and the one thing that really stuck in my mind was how beautiful Mr & Mrs Kettlebank's garden was, the array of flowers and the perfume from them was so beautiful. When my aunt & uncle left Ratcliffe they went to live in Hucknall and I remember staying with them on vacation and my Aunt Paddy taught me to do embrodery. Many happy memories too of visiting Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle.

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