The Canal.
I went to St Peter's School, shown by the side of the canal, half way up the picture on the left, and contained in the triangle. It was demolished prior to the canal being filled to create Churchill Road. This was an important site during winter for us local boys. Council workmen would shovel snow from the town and tip it on the canal bank. Snow meant ice and we were able to toboggan down the bank onto the frozen water. Don't forget that in the Fens anything above the horizontal is a great treat!
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RE: RE: The Canal.
I have very fond memories of the Wisbech canal. Born and lived at 6 Chase St I attended St Augustine Sch and then went to St Peters which, as David Carrington has said, was demolished to make way for that dreadful road. The canal was a large part of my route to St Peters school and as a boy, always attracted to water catching newts and small fish almost always making me late for school. In Pop Lathams class I spent many a cold 10mins out in the porch for punishment. More punishment was to follow having arrived home with wet shoes my Mum always knew where I had been playing. Walking towards St Peters school from Ames's garage on Lynn Rd I use to cross the canal over a little foot bridge and from my minds eye picture I now realize that the bridge was over the remains of an old lock. Other boys and myself use to jump from the old lock walls accross the canal on to the muddy bank on the opposite side, great fun. I return to Wisbech for nostalgic trips from time to time and hope to do so very soon. Having lived in Chase St for the beginning of my life with the gas holder at the front of the house and Musshy Friends scrap yard at the back I now realize that the important thing is not where you grow up but who you grow up with. I had loving parents and a wide group of playmates. To mention just a handfull Graham Curtiss- Graham Coates-Charlie Carder-Joanie Green -Denny Bailey( whos dad ran the chippy).
Comment from David Sandal on Thursday, 17th January 2008.
RE: RE: The Canal.
Having just found this site I was very excited to see comments from Martin Kirby and Dave Carrington. I was born in 1937 at Napier Terrace, no. 35, next to Martin and also worked at Ashworths having a paper round before school. I can just remember Martin and his family prior to them moving to Wales. During the war period my dad used to take me and my brother to the park to watch the German planes returning home, the sky being illuminated by large searchlights. Along with Dave Carrington I too went to St. Peter's School, remembering Pop Latham, our teacher, and also the small bottles of milk being kept warm on the mantle shelf over the open fire. The canal was a favourite play area, snow slides in the winter months, and fishing for eels with a garden rake.
I spent many happy hours in the open air swimming pool (remember Percy Gedge the pool attendant) also playing water polo. Happy memories.
Comment from Tony Stebbing on Sunday, 10th August 2008.