Childhood
My father was the village policeman until 1958 and we lived in the Police House which doubled as a Police Station (there was a counter for public use at the front of the house). We left for Corby in 1958 when I was 6.
My memories are of the blacksmith's forge (opposite the secondary school), Nobby Brown's dairy (next to the railway station), the picture house, Northrop's butcher's shop, the Fleur De Lys pub (landlady Jean Shrimpton), black topped bread from the bakery, the Fox and Hounds pub, bus journeys on a Bedford OB bus, Saturday shopping trips to Banbury on the train, cricket at Preston Capes and the village primary school.
Other names I can recall are John Kingston (dairy farmer), Francis Cross (farmer from Preston Capes), Len Summers (or Somers), Dennis Raines (who drove railway shunters), John Moore (the vicar) and Les Northrop (the butcher).
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RE: RE: Childhood
There was also of course Mr Hawkes, father of Kevin and Gary. He was the Gent's Outfitter and their garden backed on to the Police House garden. He unfortunately had a heart attack on Guy Fawkes Night after hosting a brilliant bonfire and firework display, making lots of children very happy. They also had one of the first TVs in Woodford - BBC only at that time of course. Consequently they often had a house full of children, not to mention a semi circle of faces outside the window looking in.
There were also some wonderful teachers at the C of E primary school then next to the butchers. Mr Shaw had the top class then Mrs Cobley, Ms Thomas and Ms Stanton. Mrs Broadfoot the chemist's wife used to stand in when required.
Comment from Ann Fitzgibbon on Thursday, 8th January 2009.