I grew up in the Maltsters Arms - my mother and father, Stella and Alan Knight, bought the pub from the brewery in the late 70's and my father renovated it. My sister Joanne and I attended Ongar Comp and my brother Paul attended the village infants school. I rememebr the Silver Jubilee - there is a very funny video on You-tube. (it features my father)

I was born in Abridge in 1964, the last of 9 kids. We lived in The Mead which is no longer there. Abridge was a great place to grow up, we would play outside in the woods or over the shallows all day and only come home when we were hungry. In the summer we would walk to Grange Farm open air swimming pool and then (...Read full memory)

My parents, Rene and Freddie Gook moved to Abridge in the mid fifties. They were eastenders who belonged to a cycling club and used to visit Abridge at weekends - their destination was Brighty's cafe. They were captivated by the village's charm, and bought one of the new bungalows, we lived at 5 Alderwood (...Read full memory)

This photo appears at the back of Essex Living Memories (pages 112 - 113) and in "I Remember When ... Memories of Britain (page 134)".  The two ladies in the foreground with the prams appear familiar - The lady on the left may be Mrs Peagram with her son Colin in the pram, the lady on the right could be Mrs Hockley (...Read full memory)