Favourite Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
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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Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:
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How the location features in your personal history?
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The memories this place inspires for you?
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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:
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Displaying Memories 1651 - 1700 of 2029 in total
I lived with my family (Matthews) at 223 High Street from 1955 until 1963, brother David, sisters Cynthia and Jackie, parents Rene and Reg. I think my parents bought the house in 1952 as my brother was born in the back bedroom soon after. My sisters were already about 2 and 8 years old by then. We had an idyllic childhood. Very 'Enid Blyton', lots of outdoor adventures and lashings of lemonade! I ...see more
I lived on Whitehouse Way from 1960-65 and attended Enfield College of Technology. My regular pub was the Cherry Tree and I used to take the young Sunday school teacher there for a drink after matins until the deacon found out. What I didn't know then is that my family had lived in Southgate and area for at least 3 hundred years. My g.g.grandfather (1810-1854) was the blacksmith at Chase Side. ...see more
I lived in Oakwood in the 50s as a child and would regularly be in Oakwood park all day on a Saturday. Quick return home for lunch in between playing on the swings, fishing nets at the wild pond, buying a packet of crisps with a twisty blue salt bag at the cafe. The boating lake on a Sunday would be covered in toy yachts one of which my brothers and would frequently get marooned out in the middle. In the ...see more
My name was Beverley Anne Davies and I went to Port Regis for about 18 months in 1952. We lived in East Ham E6 and I had asthma. I remember the nuns were strict and at times cruel. I have a memory of one very young girl being sick and the Sister shaking her. I was in a play whilst there, my memory is hazy except I was dressed in a satin dress as an angel. The nuns names I remember are Sr ...see more
Visiting the Grace Darling Musuem, then her grave in the churchyard opposite, was an annual event while on holiday on the Northumberland coast. Peering through the bars around the tomb I was often reminded of how my grandmother had pulled herself up, slipped and put a metal spike through the base of her chin. As I could never spot a scar between the wrinkles I doubted the veracity of this tale. It was however ...see more
I was born in 1960 in Delham Ave and grew up at 1 the Crescent with my two brothers and sister. My father, Ronald Wykes, took the steam train to Waterloo each day as he was a banker in the city. After he retired he took up a strong interest in local history by chairing the Egham Historical Society.
Egham station, had a brick engine shed and sidings for trucks in the car park. The old signal box used to operate ...see more
My grandfather was a miner in the South Celynen. He started off at the age of 13 and was made redundant when the mines closed! But what's more interesting about him was that he had two hobbies. 1. was the love for repairing old clocks and watches and 2. and the more interesting to me, was his love of walking. My mother would take me & brother down to visit every other Saturday where we would go walking what ever ...see more
Tettenhall was a logistical centre for the Normandy Landings. Americans were stationed in Danescourt House - long since demolished. However several of the troops have returned over the years, some of whom were "mothered" by Auntie Grace - Mrs Grace Green, who at the time was the stewardess of South Staffs Golf Club, situated next to Danescourt. The Golf Club became a central reception centre for ...see more
I was born in a bungalow to the left of this photo; it was my nan and grandad's. In fact the back part of the car that can be seen on the right of this photo could well have been my dad's outside of my nan's bungalow; the bungalow is still there. We lived there for 4 months then we were given a house in Fleet Street, Coryton; my dad worked for Vacuum Oil which then became Mobil.
It is all too easy to look back to the past and remember an idyllic picture of country life and forget how it was in reality, I often think back to when I was growing up in Claverley in the 1950s and 60s.
My parents, younger brother, and I lived in a tied cottage which came with my father's job as a farm worker, this was no picture postcard house by any means, in fact it was a ...see more
The Belton family has a long association with Spaldwick as millers, witnessed by a hill being in the family name, (O.S. map 153), just north of the village. My mother's sister Violet Bass, from nearby Kimbolton, was married to John Belton. John, my uncle, inherited the windmill as well as a further windmill at Alconbury and a *water driven mill at Houghton, now owned by the National Trust. ...see more
From John Moloney; john@moloney.com
I was moved to Oldham as an evacuee from Stretford in 1941 to live at 395 Featherstall Road North. The house was occupied by my great-great aunt, Ellen Farrow, and her son Fred and his wife Maggie. When I arrived I was full of impetigo (at least that's what I was told). I was literally scrubbed from head to toe, then bandaged, over an ointment on the ...see more
Gunsite Farm was at the end of Limekiln Lane, which was a dirt track. On the left were a row of cottages, on the right, bigger semi detatched where the better off lived. The Alan Rutherford family, (loads of them), Brian Cummings, Steve Belcher and I went to Hardley School. My father was the first person to put a caravan on the land directly in front of the end of Lime Kiln Lane, the farmers name was (?), the land ...see more
Photograph No. 1. I was born in July l940 – Virginia Le Roux. The house on the left of the picture was where I lived until I was nearly 13 with my parents. The long narrow upstairs window was my bedroom. My mother’s mother and brother also lived in the house. My uncle - John Grover had a shop to the left of the porch, where he sold fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, some of which he grew himself. ...see more
I lived in Thurlstone from 1962 on Manchester Road and then to Penistone in 1963. I lived at 162 Green Road. My father worked at David Browns as was, and everyday I used to meet him at the gates at 4 oclock when he finished work. I remember possibly hundreds of men going out through those gates all dressed in their navy blue overalls. At the back of our house were some large steps leading down to the lane where all ...see more
My memories are a bit faded now but I have checked things with my older brothers and they can remember more than me. We were evacuated there during the war. I was born in 1943 and have just celebrated my 70th! My mother met her 2nd husband there and his name was William Henry Griffiths. He was an ex miner and suffered a serious chest condition and only had one lung. After the war we would visit Altofts ...see more
I was an 'inmate' of Roecliffe Manor Convalescent Home around 1958/9. I had an operation on my tonsils and went to Roecliffe to recuperate. I think I was supposed to spend about two weeks there but I lasted around five days! I hated the place. You were not allowed your own clothes, you had to wear uniform which for the girls was a bright green long-sleeved woollen dress (very scratchy) with some sort of ...see more
It had just been built and I was in the class of 1960. I struggle to recall the teacher's names but I'm pretty sure there was a Miss Lynn and there was definitely a Miss Kill. She was my first love at age five.
By a quirk of the internet I met online a 'girl' from my class, now in her 50's, who was still in touch with Miss Kill and I was able to get a message to her. Incredibly, ...see more
I was born and brought up in Maresfield and have wonderful memories of a very happy carefree childhood. Along with my brother and sisters we lived with my mum and dad and my dear old Gran. Gran had lived in the same cottage since she had married my grandad and in that 2 up 2 down cottage she had raised 8 children (it would have been 9 but 1 son passed away after an accident), my mum being ...see more
In 1939 on the out break of the Second World War my father was sent to London aerodrome, from Cornwall, to repair bombers and fighter planes. I was born in Cornwall, 12 Dec 1940, and my mother wanting to be with her husband took me to Send, where father had managed to get a shared accommodation with another family, called the Gaigens, spelling may be wrong, together in a bungalow in Tannery Lane. I think the bungalow ...see more
My name is Pauline Stanhope (nee Young). I was born on the Syon Estate, 1944. Growing up there was very carefree. The local park (rec) was right opposite our house. I spent many happy hours playing there with the local children. In the summer Rossi's, the ice cream van, used to come around and all the children used to run home for their 3d for an ice cream. Barbara's mention of the Queen's cinema brings back ...see more
My father’s family moved to Rhyl in 1891 and my mother’s family in 1925. My parents fell in love on Rhyl Golf Links. Even though they settled in Portsmouth after their wedding, family bonds held fast and we spent every summer and chunks of other time in Rhyl in the family homes of my mother in Highfield Park and my father in Conwy Street. I was born in 1935 and even though I do not remember much of pre WW2 ...see more
As village 'Bobby' in the late 1960's early 70's, we, my wife and two daughters, lived in the Police House in Furnace Lane. Sometime about 1970 I called into the village shop (I think it was Fuller's) and the lady there asked me if I would take a gun off her! She said that they had recently gone into the roof space when having a clear out and found a pearl handled revolver with belt and holster. She went on ...see more
I went to Devonshire Hill School from 1940 - 1946 then to St. Katherines College. Always done my mum's shopping when I was little as I lived in Rowland Hill Avenue. We shopped at the nearest which was in Cambridge Road and White Hart Lane. Jarvis was the sweet shop, and during the war he would always let us have 2 ounces off of next months coupons. Loved Sams the fish shop and I remember Sheppys the I went ...see more
I remember going to school, at Gad's Hill Place (Dickens House). It was for girls only and the class was ten of us, not like now! In the gardens they grew veg and fruit, the school had their own gardener who as I remember was quite grumpy - but no wonder with all us girlies!
My family moved to Rochester during the war ( a naval family). We lived in Union Street until it was demolished for the new police station. We had a small gang, four strong and we roamed far and wide during the long summer holidays...mostly up to mischief! The area was mostly in its war time state, anti tank blocks etc.. had been moved to most road sides or removed. I remember the water tanks and ...see more
I was born in 1957 in Victoria Crescent, just off St Anns Road. I also remember the sweet shop that made their own sweets. My brother, sister & I used to stand outside watching the man stretch large pieces of toffee and mint on a marble slab. I went to Seven Sisters Infant and Junior School. I remember the corner sweet shop by the school where we used to buy frozen Jublee's. My brother and I used to ...see more
We were a dyed in the wool London family, some time before World War 11, 1939, we moved from Earlsmead Road to Breamar Road off West Green Road and lived there at number 73 untill 1951, when we moved out into the country to Waltham Cross.
I was born in 1945 and had two older brothers Bill and Brian some 7 and 9 years older than me. Even though I was only 6 when we moved away I have some vivid memories of ...see more
I don't suppose my old Scout group in Brentford still exists? Back in the middle 50's I belonged to the 4th Brentford Scout group based at St Faiths Church in Windmill Road. Our Scout leaders were Alan De Jong and brothers, Wally and Richard Brown. Such enjoyable days with hikes around the Denham area, weekend camping at Chalfont and summer camp at Naish Farm near Highcliffe in Hampshire. And of course the annual ...see more
Hi Lorna and Carole, I may have been at St. Mary's at the same time as you but my memories are not as good as yours. I remember my mother telling me, when I got home, how scared of the nun's I was and if I saw one in the street I would pass wind! (She thought it was very funny). She was also impressed that I could write my own name. I was born in September 1944, hadn't started school ...see more
Not so sure of the date, I was born in the cottage hospital in 1936 and spent all my holidays with my grandparents the Brockbanks who had a pub in North Lane called the Heroes of Lucknow. I had many trips to the Lido with my brother, we walked all the way with our towels rolled up under our arms, the summer was warmer then. At the start of the summer holidays we caught the bus from Reading to spend six wonderful ...see more
Can anyone tell me when the Black Bull and the Cross Keys got pulled down to make way for the Roundabout and junctions of Kendry, Ardsley, Wombwell and Lundwood. It was at the Cross Keys where my wife and I, had our reception, where we'd also spend a few hours within the Black Bull. Just a few yards from there was Wombwell Lane, of which we were living within a guest house. It was whilst living there within ...see more
I was sent to a convelecent home in Broadstairs but I don't know the name. I must have been 5 years old, I lived in London at the time. I remember being put on a coach and being seen off by my parents and wondering why they looked sad. I also can only remember being told I had a shadow on the lung. Regarding the home; I remember the dormitories the curtains used to frighten me because I could make out ugly, ...see more
I was at Port Regis in the 50s. I took the lead role in the Thumbelina play. Does anybody remember the crowning of Our Lady? I have a photo of that event. On the other side of the coin I was put on bread and water for three days for not eating macaroni cheese, I also saw a girl being sick because she did not like porridge and the nuns made her eat it. Sister Theresa hated my long hair and ...see more
I was born in London in 1954 and loved visiting my grandparents who lived in Rose Walk. My first memory during the late 50's was the sight of Radlett Station, it was always well tended, with large painted tyres filled with flowers. The lady station mistress knew my sister and I, and would help us down from the train where we'd meet our lovely grandma. It was a long walk to the other end of Radlett, ...see more
I lived at 33 Craigweil Ave from the 1955 to 1973 when I moved to Canada. Best friends were Jonathan Matthews who lived next door and Chris Allum who lived around the block on Newberries Ave. I went to Fair Field School at the corner of Watford Road and New Road, then St Columba's College in St Albans. Does anyone remember the big old estate at the corner of The Ave and Shenley Hill, owned by Mr Rose (of Roses ...see more
On the lead up to the Edinburgh & Glasgow holidays, my friends and I used to prepare by building our own 'bogeys' out of some pram wheels, then on the Saturday`we would arrive at the train station and wait for the train to come from Newcastle with the Scots, we would ask the passengers as they came out of the station where they were going to stay and offer to take them and their luggage 'on the ...see more
I remember the Town Hall at Cowbridge. In those days there was no one way system around it like today. The school boy interest was the Merryweather Fire Engine that was kept in a garage at the side of the Town Hall. Great fun to see it being driven out bell clanging and the firemen in their then shiny helmets hanging on. A local resident and Fireman was a Mr. Bond who fought fires in the air raid on Cardiff ...see more
Evacuation - September 3rd 1939
The government decided that mothers and children should be moved to the countryside away from areas at risk from bombing. On the 3rd, parents and children all gathered at their local schools; we went to Saint Joseph’s Primary School. Some parents didn’t accompany their children and they were with teachers. We were all given labels with our name on them, tin ...see more
In October 1958 I spent two weeks at Yarrow and have never been able to forget how unhappy I was during that time. I do not remember staff putting us at our ease in the big old victorian building which felt very oppressive to an 11 year old. It was often quiet and you talked in a whisper, I think I thought I was there as a punishment and I remember a constant sense of loneliness and fear. ...see more
I remember breaking and entering on a Friday night in February. Mr Doyle the local policeman rounds us up on Saturday a.m. in his house that doubled as a police station. Father went crazy and ripped up Wales-Australia tickets and threw them on the fire! My family went on holiday in the summer and left me behind with a neighbour. All for a few .22 bullets. I shall not name my co-defendants. This aint my ...see more
As a child I swam in the sea next to the Sandwell Gate and the ruins of The Freemasons Arms which was an old pub that was on the Fish Sands.
I remember sunny days, swimming and picnics with sand in my sandwiches with my friends. One day my friends noticed that when I walked back up the beach after a swim I left 'red' footprints. I had unknowingly stepped on a piece of broken ...see more
My memory of the Baths was getting up at 6.30am to get there for the First Session at 7am. I would swim until 8am then either ride on my bike or walk along the Seafront and Mainsforth Terrace, past the Coal Staithes to Middleton where I was an Office Boy at Richardsons Westgarth. It was great on a fine morning but not so good when it rained. Being only 15 at the time I used to do some silly things, ...see more
I was born in Tean and in about 1957, when I was 8 yrs old, I was allowed to travel to Cheadle alone on the PMT service buses. I was 8yrs old. My gran would meet me at the cinema stop on Butlers Hill. She would always be standing outside the cinema steps. Sometimes I would walk along the High St with her to do some shopping. We always visited on these occasions the market. At the time, the ...see more
The journey up to and across London to King's Cross Station in 1944 for a 4-year old boy was exciting enough, but our adventure had only just begun. Holding my mother's hand tightly, we searched carriage after carriage for our seats on the packed but magnificent steam engine that was to take us at breakneck speed to Newcastle and the safety of my nana's house in Stanhope ...see more
The post from 2009 by (name unknown) reflects on my childhood spent in Talacre, because my father worked for Dora Williams as the baker. His bread and pies were awesome! I also, at the age of 7 or 8, had a job from the bakery, which was also a dairy. I had a pony and cart that I used to drive to a farm down near the main Chester road, where I would collect a big churn of milk and bring it back to the ...see more
Many, many, happy memories of holidays in a cottage on the Warren located next door to old Tynans (sorry if not spelt right) bakery. Waking up to the smell of pies and bread, while being sent to the stand pipe on the old dusty main road for the water. Waiting for the call of the calor gas truck, the excitement of the weeeeooooop from the loud speaker on its roof then CALLLLLOR GAS CALLLING....CALLORRRR GAS ...see more
There were four Italian shops in the town when that nation joined Hitler. Tazioli, Vincenti and Rinaldi had ice cream/sweetie shops. Moscadini had a fish and chip shop, a thriving business. The first three kept very quiet but silly old Moscadini would go down the pub and tell all the lads about what cowards the English were and how brave the Italians were and often had a black eye to prove it! However his fish and ...see more
We didn't need a gym, we got our fresh air and exercise outdoors. Couldn't wait to catch up with friends after school, John, Kevin and myself went to Saint Cuthberts Catholic School, the only Catholic family living there at the time. Church every Sunday, back home, out of or good clothes and off we went. It didn't mater what religion you were, we were all mates. I remember going with Linda, my best ...see more
I was stationed in Morfa Camp in Towyn between Jan 66 and Dec 68. We were more or less regulars at the pub, especially on Saturdays in the winter. The landlord at that time was an Englishman named Len or Les. He was an authority on the history of the British Army. My fondest memory is of winter evenings sitting by the log fire and listening to the 'choir' that regularly entertained. They were led by ...see more
