Byfield 70years Ago And Now.......
A Memory of Byfield.
Looking at modern Byfield I am truly amazed and impressed with the changes that have taken place.
I was born in village in1942 went to Byfield School and then Towcester Grammar School until 1960. The village was very self sufficient ,if sleepy, with grocers Adams,s,Co-Op and Russell's; butchers George Freeman and Tom Montgomery; 4 pubs Rose &Crown,the Bell ,White Lion and New Inn plus the then Conservative Club; Granny Lambs fruit shop,,plus later Tom Browns, a milliners Mrs.Hutt, Jack Bodds., Post Office, Barclays and Lloyds Banks (albeit only 1/2 day per week)Tom Lambs taxis, small convenience stores run by Daisy Smith, Mrs Davies, and Mrs Green; Percy Jarvis,s electrical repairs shop; Judds buses and garage,Alan Pratt,s men's hairdresser,Margaret Lamb,ladies; Thompsons Milk service; our own Police station( PC!s. Jarrett and Grey come to mind) and village cricket and football teams for whom I played I was married In Byfield Church in 1964 and my parents Bill & Betty are buried there along with grandparents Alice and Horace Freeman
A very different village then but as I said at the start, the highly organised modern version with impressive website et al is very impressive and as an " old Byfieldian" it is pleasing to see that it has embraced modern lifestyles and technology
Roger Evans
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Comments & Feedback
My Dad was landlord of the New Inn/Cross Tree 1951-1965
I remember your parents and grandparents.I am sure it was Horace who used to "bump off" one of dad's pigs as required.All my friends used to spectate.
I remember you but as you were 4 yrs older we were the younger gang.
I can remember us driving your dad's convertible car on the runway at Chipping Warden airfield.
Best wishes,
Michael.
Lin Miller
I just was given an old exercise book on the history of the village written by Ken Lamb who owned the Rose and Crown and the five ways garage. I am now working to decipher some of his stories about the village and also the people who lived here.
Tim Boddington August 16 2018