Nostalgic memories of Child Okeford's local history
Share your own memories of Child Okeford and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 23 in total
I remember many happy days in the 1940-50s spent by the river near the bridge. It was here that I saw my first otter, we also used to fish from off the bridge.
When the 8 a.m train used to go to Blandford, if the driver saw any late travellers coming over the bridge he would sound the whistle and wait at the station till they arrived.
The fields round the bridge were farmed by Alec Cross of Bere Marsh ...see more
I was born in 1940 and was christened and confirmed in the Church. Rev Richard Taylor
was the vicar for most of my scool days.
In 1953 I learnt to ring the bells, we went to Shroton to be taught by Mr George Denis,when we were good enough we rang in the tem with Mr A Hart the captain, Mr C Pike, Mr A Dunn and Mr G Eagle, I learnt to ring with David Wingrove and one or two more boys of the ...see more
I lived and worked at the manor from Sept 1986 to around May 1988, if anyone remembers me and wants to get in touch please email. j.goodwin007@hotmail.co.uk
My sister and I came to Hanford House with the Wimbledon High School at the beginning of the war. After a year the school returned and the owner of the house, Mrs. Lister, collected a small group of teachers and offered to keep on any children whose parents did not want their children in London. We stayed two further years during which time as well as receiving a surprisingly good ...see more
I remember these fields before any building was done in this part of the village. The fields were owned by Mr Fred Bradley and Mr Harry Watts. I can remember going with Mr Watts to see if any cows had calved in the night. At the top of the field there was a large pond that in spring would be full of frog spawn. Mr Bradley would keep his cows in these fields at night to be close for morning milking, but by ...see more
This photo brings back all sorts of memories! The house nearest the camara was the home of Mr Cottle the village harness maker, the double doors next to it led to the butchers yard, in those days they used to kill the animals behind the shop. The butcher was Mr Turner. He was followed by Mr Dyer whose son had the shop till it closed down in 2001? Beyond the pub and not in the photo lived farmer Mr Francis who had ...see more
Hambledon Hill played a great part in the first 15 years of my life as it did for most children of the village. My very first memory is the huge bonfire built on top of the hill to mark the end of WW2, both my Father (Guy Moon) and George Diffy from the Post Office found some fireworks, this was the first time I had seen fireworks. While at the village school we used to be taken on nature walks on the hill and ...see more
HANFORD HOUSE In the early years of the war, I taught at the school which was part of Hanford House. The rest of the house was occupied by a family I remember as the Listers (Colonel and Mrs.). My son-in-law, however, thinks it might have been Captain and Mrs. Sandys, the parents of Duncan Sandys. Mr. Sandys was, of course, later a cabinet minister in Harold Macmillan’s government, and later still, ...see more
During the early 1960s my Aunt Bella and Uncle Alf lived down Ridway lane in a bungerlow called Fernleigh. It was detached, I suspect that it was part of field as the property had a five bar farm gate. Looking out of the bedroom window you could see the cows in the next field trying eat my uncles apples. He love his garden. There were a number of apples it would not surprise me if part of the property was ...see more
I remember the village in the 1940s to 1970s. I went to school at the centre of the village till 1951 then went to Sturminster S.M school. On the walk home from school we used to go into the forge run by Alfred Wolfery (known as Bogey as he was as dirty and sooty as the bogey man!) Across the road from the forge and Post office was Mr Fox's bakery. He would give us wonderful hot bread and iced buns. ...see more
