Recent 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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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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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 20801 - 20880 of 36864 in total
I am searching for any Saint family who lived in the New Cross area of London, maybe running a car lot called Saint's Auto's around the Camberwell - New Cross area of South London.
Hi, I am researching my Family History in and around Howden le Wear/Witton le Wear/Crook/Weardale and I have had contact from a member of my Great Grandmother's Brother's family who were living in the area of Witton Park in 1901 and 1911. On the 1901 Census, Charlton Liddle Pearson and his family were living at:35, Garden Street, Witton Park St.Paul, in the Parish ...see more
Those were the days when we could go to the Waterfalls and play all day long without any fears. Paddle in Earby beck and catch tiddlers, play hide and seek beheind the Empire Picture house, go for bike rides to Malhem Tarn. Take the dogs for a walk up the Moors. Go thru the fileds towards Bristol Tractors, boys played soccer in those fields. Going to the Local farms and Haymaking , having ...see more
I worked for the Bank of England's Glasgow Agency from 1969 to 1978 and remember that ,on really hot days in the summer , the Agent would give some of us an afternoon off to enjoy the weather. These became known as "sunny offs" and we all hoped the good weather would last a few days so that every one in the office benefitted as they were given to only two or three people per day. The office was run ...see more
According to 1901 Census my grandfather, Charles Thomas, was a footman at Hopedene. I would love further information about the house, the family and staff if possible.
I'm only a soft southener, but my several times great-grandparents were from 'up north' in cotton, my great-grandmother married a vicar in Dorchester, in the 1890s, had 8 kids. Can anybody tell me anything about the Rodgetts or Bashalls? Thanks
I recall being taken to JJ's on many an occasion over the years during the 1960s /70s by my parents and great aunt Chris, went back in late 1980s or early 1990s with my mum, son and step-daughter and the waitress that worked there when I was a kid was still working there, which was amazing. As kids, Frances and I used only to manage starters and puddings.
I have been told by my mother that I was born in St Mary's Hospital in South Croydon and I am not sure if it still exists or if there are any photos of it. Can anyone help?
I remember singing in the church choir with Miss Stanley. Also going to school with Brenda Hopkins, Beryl and Sybil Pither. Derek Hale was MY brother. He died aged 21. I remember dressing up as a flower with Jenny Winters for the Coronation.
I was born in Abbey Road 1935 and I can remember air raid shelters being delivered by horse and cart, was it Carter Pattison? That name rings a bell. I can remember going out into the road after an air raid to collect shrapnell.
I left Croydon aged 23 when I got married, My memories of my early life were great despite the worries of the air raids.
Wandle Park was a great place to go and play, but ...see more
Under the title "The Birth Of Easington Colliery", a 6,000 word article of mine has recently been published in the Journal of the North East Labour History Society,Volume 42 (2011). The article covers the period from 1899 when efforts were first made to sink the pit, until 1911 when the local Miners' Lodge was finally established. In that time, the population around the immediate mining ...see more
I remember going on a Friday night with my friends and going in the ninepence seats and calling in the chippy on the way home.
We lived in Aldershot from 1970 up until the late 1970s early 1980s, we lived in 371 Williams Park. I went to Heron Wood School and loved every minute of it. My best friend was Peter Hedicker who joined 3 Para and lost his life on the 12th June 1982 at the Falklands, God Bless you Freeko!!! I also spent a lot of time in my teens at 155 Victoria Road, my friend Tony had a shop there, Spares And ...see more
This may seem morbid, but my wife's brother died in infacny, in Ulleskelf. He was born in 1951, and died, tragically, on Boxing Day, 1954. We are desperate to find his burial place, in order that we may visit. His name was Leonard Ainsworth. His father was Basil Ainsworth, who was in the R.A.F., based locally in Church Fenton. Any information would be gratefully received.
Col Gill, Derbyshire,
Tel: 01773874994//07875752998 e-mail: cgill4@sky.com
I was a policeman in Newmarket from 1962 -1970 and well remember having to stand in the glass tower in the middle of the roundabout controlling the traffic using the part-time traffic lights on each of the 5 entrances to the roundabout. This caper was mainly carried out on Summer weekends when the traffic coming back from the coast would be particularly heavy coming down the Bury ...see more
This has been writen by my 90 year old mother Amber Lloyd who stayed several times at Pinchaford farm in the 1930-40s: I was at Pinchaford Farm in 1944 when it burnt down. We were having lunch when someone said "the thatch is on fire!" This was later blamed on an electrical fault in the roof.
Beacause of the strains of the Blitz, the London Fire Brigade was being sent to the country for respite and ...see more
I moved to Southall when I was 5 with my family, went to live at Cornwall Avenue and then went to Lady Margaret School, left there when I was 11 went to Dormers Wells, at 12 we moved to Trinity Road, I still went to Dormers Wells but my brothers went to Featherstone Road then to Weston Road.
I started dancing at the hall that was over Woolworth's in Southall High Street at 13 till I was 21, I was in pantomimes ...see more
I moved to Alexandra Road with my family when I was about 2 years old and then went on to attend St Jude's infants school, actually in my road when I was 5. Friends at the time were Sarah Miller and Yoland Cawley. I loved school and would get 3d from my nan to go to Jarmans the sweet shop on St Jude's Road. The butchers was on the corner of Alexandra Road and St Jude's Road, gone now I think. At the top ...see more
I was born in Crag Road, we moved to West Royd in 1955. I remember the Windhill Church School back in the 1960s. Once a week we saw the steam train come past the bottom playground and pick up several trucks. The engine driver always tooted the whistle and waved to us kids. A sweet shop was at the side of the school where we bought a penny worth of sherbert and a licorice stick on the ...see more
My grandfather William Haines lived in Yateley Grange Lodge and was the coachman and eventually chauffeur to the lady who lived in The Grange, a Miss Thoits. He was also gardener and handyman and, strange as it may seem nowadays, made the gas for both the Grange and the Lodge. I am now 82 and recently found the grave of my grandfather and grandmother in St Peter's churchyard in the village.
My mother and father were also married in St Peter's Church.
Robin Porter
I can remember taking part in the Easter Parades, hundreds of children would walk or ride on the beautifully decorated floats, we would walks round Tupton on Ankerbold Road, Station Road on towards the Royal Oak up Ashover Road and end up at someone's house were we would all have a drink of pop and a bun. I was born and bred in Old Tupton and lived up Martins Lane I can remember helping Mr Wright from Wrights Farm on Martins Lane deliver milk to the houses.
I think perhaps the school being referred to is Goldbeaters. I attended this school in the infants and the juniors, until 1960 when I transferred to Woodcroft Girls School. Yes I too remember vividly, the live eels at Mac Fisheries. Tonibell , The Don Hair Salon where I had my ears pierced for 15 shillings. The markets stalls, John Fords (the old lady with thin hair who served on the ...see more
As Anne Tilbrook, I was a pupil at Pippins and then Shute, from 1950-53. I vividly remember Feb. 6, 1952, when the girl who rang the bell for change of classes brought us the news that King George VI had died. We all cried and Mrs. Clapp, our math teacher, led a spirited lesson on lung cancer. Few linked it to smoking in those days. I had a pash on a girl called Helen Roth - all very innocent in those days. ...see more
I was born in Lower Bedfords Road and as a young child I can remember cattle coming down the road to go in one of the fields in Bedfords Park. My mum used to shoo them out of the garden with a tea towel. I played over there all the time as a child. My children also loved seeing the deer over there, as do my grandchildren now. Sadly my father passed away 3 years ago so I can no longer go to my family home in Lower Bedfords Road. But it was a lovely area to grow up in.
Our first house was in River Way and we moved in in January 1964 with our baby son. It was cold and being "brand new" the house was still drying out, so condensation was a problem. Happy days! Ken Cook
My mother and father had a newsagent's shop on Tatton Street. They were Jack and Gladys Ackerley. We lived there until the mid 1960s. The shop was opposite The Duke Of Edinborough public house. I still remember lying in bed at night and listening to all the noisy people coming out of the pub at closing time. After I left Ordsal School I worked for ten years at Stratton Pharmacies, a chemist's shop which was at the top of ...see more
I lived in Somersham until I was 14 years old. We lived in Park Hall Road, and played in the fields opposite where we could climb the trees and see into the garden of the Manor House. The owner of the house at that time had 2 or 3 English Bull Terriers and they barked a lot at us safe in the chestnut trees. Sometimes in the evenings we would go to Manley's fish and chip shop for 2 pennyworth of chips and go and sit on ...see more
Nice to see a Daimler LCC Ambulance, presumably being driven up Denmark Hill, from Camberwell Green, on its way to King's College Hospital.
I travelled in these Ambulances on a number of occasions as a child.
My longest trip was from my home in Nunhead to a Sanitorium in Brentwood, Essex, when Doctors thought I had TB!
Fortunately I didn't have TB. Upon my discharge I travelled home by bus!
Ken Cook
With my future wife and two friends we often went skating at Streatham. We weren't very good skaters and had no skates of our own. In those days the skating boots that you hired at the Rink were not always in good condition and were "baggy" around the ankles, so that no matter how tightly you tied the laces, your ankles were not well supported.
By 9 pm there would be plenty of puddles in the corners of the ...see more
Some time soon after the Second World War, with our next door neighbours, we walked down to Queen's Road to watch the King and Queen drive by.
We stood near Evan Cook's Depository. I assume that their Majesties visited a lot of London's suburbs at this time, in order to cheer people up after the war.
Ken Cook
My name is Brian Boustead. Our family moved from the stinking smelly Teams, we lived 100 yards from the Tyne Flemming Streett Teams. In 1955 I was 7 years old and we moved to 100 Blackhill Crescent, Springwell. I have a twin brother called Ken, a brother called Robert and a sister Angela. We were called the terrible twins. What a fantastic place to live when you were kids. Our gang were Peter Fairless, Gordon Napier, ...see more
My family lived in Manor Cottage, the house on the left, when I was born in 1959. It was such a friendly village. I knew everyone who lived in the lower half of the village. I was able to walk safely down the road to the village school until it closed in 1968. We then had to travel by bus to North Marston school. There were less than 20 children in the school when it closed. We all played together in the small ...see more
Born in 1949, was brought up in Maesycwmmer, lived in Vale View, went to the primary school, and later to Ynysddu Sec. Mod. My parents were Tom and Violet, siblings were Robin [who still lives in the village], Roger R.I.P. and Jane. I do recall the school annex being demolished and half the village found a source of "sticks" for the next few weeks, much to the disgust of Jack Yearsly the local ...see more
This certainly brings back some memories.
I can remember my father plus a number of other people going to the Clock House Dairy in the High Street, to collect the milk, during the bad winter of 1963 when the snow prevented the milkman from delivering it.
I would love to hear from anyone with whom I have subsequently lost touch,
Evelyn Nicholson, nee Constable.
I once saw Kitty come down Pulvertoft Lane to visit her in-laws: she came in a chauffeur-driven car with a man who they said acted or sang with her. When she left the house she gave a few photos to some of the children who had gathered outside.
My then boyfriend worked on Saturdays selling ice creams, I used to go up there to see him and sit in the sun looking at the stunning views.
Where would this have been - any ideas? I don't remember a military hospital in Guildford?
Where is this?
I have just found that my family on my grandmother's side came from Wisley. Some lived Ripley, Byfleet, and Ockham, but most Wisley.
1841 1851 records onwards. Their name Woodger worked Park Farm.Pond Farm. The Hut. Wisley Lane. Wisley Farm. Wisley Common. There was a James 1786 Ripley. John 1791 Ripley. And a Richard 1775 West Horsley. All worked on farms and in service.
Great-grandmother, name Emily, same ...see more
I lived in Warminster from 1940 till early the 1950s. My grandfather's family have lived in Warminster over 100 years. Went to Trowbridge Girls High.
I remember the large house near where I lived that the Americans lived in Lupeans. Molly Butt's store, Mr. Syms store near the Cock pub, used to help him count food coupons, he has a son Ralph who taught me to ride my 2 wheeler. Very sorry to leave and return to London after the war. My friends still live there.
R.
I remember going into the Prompt Cafe with my parents along the High Street. As a young child, I can recall seeing loads of little mats or coasters on the wall. Yes, I also remember the strong smell of the roasted coffee beans. Every Friday in the 1960s my parents had lunch in the Regal, now the Odeon, by the roundabout. My dad used to say the lunch was very cheap there. I used to ...see more
My Dad, Ray Hall, was born in Hutton. His dad John Hall was a tailor and his cousin May Hall ran the post office. I would come to the village as a child and often played with Basil, who lived with May. One winter I remember sledging down a long hill and eventually sliding straight across a frozen ford, I assume that it was this watersplash in the summer! My grandad lived at Scarborough house. When May ...see more
When I lived at the Pound I was a lot younger and at 28 took the licence of a closed rundown empty pub called The Pound, that morning I pulled my first pint in a pub in Oxford for the Oxford Mail to get a look of the new landlord of The Pound, ‘a recipe for disaster’. That night I pulled my first pint for real and handed it to the customer, he said "Can you squeeze a double scotch into that?". Looking at the ...see more
Happy memories indeed. For an eight year old living in the village in the mid 1950s it was heaven. Long summer evenings and school holidays playing in woods, open fields and on building sites. Or cycling (yes at eight) to Overstone park or down to Castle Ashby station to watch the trains from Northampton and Wellingborough come past. No nanny state in those days, no parents worrying about their ...see more
We were married in 1964 and in July we went on holiday, returning to floods which had just happened the day before. My parents' greengrocer's shop on Water Street was a mess and the cottage was even worse. The first thing we saw when we got off the bus by the Conservative Club was a huge pile of tar washed up from the roads.
We stayed up Red Lion Street and our house had been washed through with the flood waters. What a ...see more
My parents lived in Merllyn from 1947 till 1996 when they had to leave. An idyllic childgood with many characters about....Dic Dun who wnadered about and slept in hedges, a fascination to a child. Will Tom from Glan yr afon who was a mine of information to all. Tic, a southerner, a mystery man who lodged at Nanw Jones. Cyril Jones, my friend Hafwen Dad. Bryn Williams who was the minister and ...see more
I have just discovered this website tonight and the strange thing is that I was thinking about Surrey Street market only last week. I moved to Croydon when I was a small child in 1955. My grandmother and I would always go to the market and buy our fruit from a young dark haired man that we knew by the name of "Bananas", his stall was at the top right hand side as you went in from the Kathrine Street end.
I came here from Austria with my sister to work as au-pair girls in this boarding school. We found an ad in a German newspaper for girls to help with domestic chores etc. My sister and I wrote to the Mother Superior, (Mother Magdalene John) applying for the job(s), and to our surprise we got a reply back within a week from Mother Superior, offering us both jobs straight away! Needless to say we were ...see more
My mother just turned 100 October 6th. Her name is Brenda Preece (Walters) and was born in Brynhyfrydd 29 Hillside, Crumlin. My Nana once owned the grocery store opposite and the house was next to the church. Her first cousin was Iris Collier who owned the boot shop further up the hill. My memories were coming to stay with my nana during the summer from London and being so impressed with the Colliers having ...see more
I was born in Victoria Place, Prescot in 1940. Does anyone remember Jonny Mather's sweet shop? I remember the street party when my dad painted Cictoria Place white, and the first car in our street, it was an Austin 8 owned by Mr C Fairclough in no 1 Court. And the Christmas that our Christmas tree caught fire and burned down, it was run off an accumulator because we only had gas. I 'remember 'pegleg' ...see more
I lived in Wilton Gardens No 26, No 22 was Robert Turnbull and his brother Jim, when we first moved there only one person in the street had a car.
I went to school at Guay Primary School - 1948. Teacher Miss Coombes. In my class were John Macdonald of Raer Lodge, my brother Iain Stanton of Ballintuim Farm, cousins Helen, Sheila, Muriel Findlay of Ballintuim Cottage. Picked spuds in a freezing October. Ferrcin hans sair back, big snows start in late October. I remember taking wee John Macdonals home every night up the the Raer Lodge. Got ...see more
I grew up in Seacombe in Wallasey, when your neighbours were like your family, you played out in the street till your legs fell off, top and whip, hoolahoop, kick the can, shammy knockanose, twist. We would save bonfire wood and hide it for Guy Fawkes Night. What memories, you got a swipe if you were naughty ha ha. We would go to the swings, or the local cinema, the Embassy in Borough Road, MARINA, ...see more
I have just been back to Wakefield for a short break. I knew what to expect before I set off. But still don't know whose idea it was to do away with the old Bull Ring which I thought made it look more like a city. Why take away such a good market? It was one of the best, plus the indoor where I used to buy my records in the 1970s. But overall I thought the place looked clean and tidy when I visited recentley. ...see more
I think my dad said his father's (also a Bill Hill) relatives came from Medmenham, my dad was born and lived in Cippenham, Slough all his life and mentioned uncles and aunts at Medmenham, are there still any Hills there?
I am not sure if this is the hospital, but it looks very much like it. I left the hospital in 1957, aged 13, and remember the school on the same site and two boys taking it in turns each evening to polish all the shoes. I was very happy there.
I still have the stool and ladder made in Mr Dods woodwork class. Some of the teachers I have fond memories of Mr Baker rural studies, Mr Horsnal. That bully of a teacher who seemed to like slapping the girls. He stood them on a chair first. The gardening teacher who lived in Aylesford. Mr Butcher the music teacher. Almost all with fond memories. I have lived in France for 20 years and have lost contact with all the class of 4B1. I was born in 1940.
Alan Guntrip
The children of the unemployed were taken to school camp in Govilon for a week. At the time there was an R.A.F. camp being built, after which we knew as St. Athens. When went to the beach we were told to each bring a pebble ready to put where the ofices were to be built.
Best Regards.
Idris Bowen
My Mum and Gran came to Godstone with me as a baby, we moved from Croydon because of the Second World War. My granddad, Alfred Sreatfield, now dead, had helped to build 13 Salisbury Road. I was christened at St Nicholas Church, and went to school in Godstone, and later in Bletchingly. I played on the green, and waked to school along the bay path, we scrumped apples and had lots of fun. We left Godstone ...see more
I moved to 17 Norcot Road in 1948 when I was 6. Along with a crowd from Norcot Road we roamed all over Tilehurst. The clay pits, across country to Purley, Sulham woods was a particular favourite. I went to the Thames via the Roebuck with my dad fishing. I first went to the Laurels, School Road, then Park Lane. At the age of eleven I went to Ashmead School in Northumberland Avenue. My uncle ran Wedlocks butchers in ...see more
My father was born in Alexandra Street in 1921 in the house owned by my great aunt Miss Ida Thomas who was a school mistress, my grandparents lived in Letchworth Road and my father's sister, Kathleen Jones, who was also a school teacher, lived in Hughes Avenue.
I stayed with my grandparents for much of 1958 after my brother was born and well recall the trains going through the main street, often with a man ...see more
Can anyone remember the blue bus that used to come up New Road on to the main parade of the shops, down Bedfont Lane and into Feltham over the railway a few times a day? The driver was Keith, he wore glasses, I would like to know what his surname was.
I grew up in Newquay - and Trenance Boating Lake was a favourite haunt. There were rowing boats, and some motor boats were added at some point. As I was only 5 in 1960, I was restricted to the paddle boats- which were in an adjacent "lake". They had two handles, one each side, which you turned (a bit like pedals), to propel the boat - great fun! (See Picture ref:N28235) Also I used to help my brother sail our yacht, ...see more
Although we have only lived in Crowborough for 31 years, we discovered through research that our cottage in Green Lane is one of the oldest. Does anyone have any photographs of Green Lane? We would be interested in seeing these.
On a Sunday night in the war years, especially towards the end, the Haven cinema would have hundreds of Italian prisoners queuing up with us, their clothes had different coloured patches stitched all over their dress. The queue would stretch all the way round to the back gate, if you were at the back of the queue it was ages before you got in, many times you had to sit in the aisles.
Some Sundays we would go to Kirton for a bike ride, to visit the Italian workers at the Kirton Gas Works.
My people were tinkers of the road. Power, Riley, Macarthur, O'Connor, Macallister and a few I have no knowledge of. Generations had mended tin, woven baskets, bunched broom and heather, one to sweep the floor the other to scour pots. In 1847 some left Ireland during the famine, with a vast knowledge of forestry and horses. They met and married with Perthshire and Argyllshire tinkers. Black Spout woods ...see more
The junior years at Sydney Road School were quite good for me, despite the fact that I was the worst fighter in our year. Before a blow had even touched me I would be crying [talk about Coward of the County], but despite these little setbacks I took to the education system and did not do too bad. In the first year our teacher was Miss Tune whose idea of punishing naughty boys was to put them ...see more
We moved to Aldershot in 1964, me and my 2 sisters went to school at East End infants then juniors school which is now all boarded up. I had a good mate who lived up the road from me, Stephen Watts, went to school at St.Michael's. I watched loads of Aldershot FC matches and I still follow the shots today. Dad once took me to the Cambridge military hospital to get my head stiched after a fall, afterwards he ...see more
It was during the summer of 1944 that my mother recieved notice of my compulsary introduction into the British education system. Much against my will I was dragged kicking and screaming to the Sydney Road Infant School and there I was met by some very hard hearted people who insisted that not only would it be good for me but believe it or not, I would learn to enjoy it. Despite my suspitions, I ...see more
60 Gonsolva Road...I lived here from 1947 until my family had to move out in 1960. Slum clearance they called it. One car in the road. The Batty family, who lived further down the road, went hopping every year. A flat back lorry arrived and they all bundled on top with their gear for their 2 weeks holiday! Us kids played marbles along the gutter, and flicked fag cards at the wall. Whoever knocked the other kid's ...see more
I was born at Perivale hospital in 1964 and grew up in Carr Road. I am one of the Tweedy family that Toni mentioned .....Hi Toni (keep in touch). I lived there with my parents Dora and Andrew, both now 81 years young.... and living in Gloucester. I also have 2 sisters Ann and Gillian who both went to Ealing Grammar, I wasn't that clever and went to Northolt High from 1976 - 1980. I remember from Carr Road the ...see more
Hi Roger Dale, thanks for adding to my memories of Mile Oak, you need to check your dates! We still lived at 222 in 1949, a year I can never forget as my father died in the front room of 222 on New Year's Day 1949, in October 1948 my grandfather died in the back room. I am not sure when my mother sold to move on to Shelldale rd Portslade. Most of my memories of Mile Oak before those few months were good, I ...see more
Dumpton School had moved to Crichel from Broadstairs in Kent on the outbreak of the Second Wolrd War. I have vivid memories of my time as a schoolboy at Crichel, attending Chapel, rambling in the grounds, swimming in the large round canvas fire tank, lots of cricket and of course the wonderful interior of the house itself. We ate in a large dining room and slept in large rooms on the first floor. I recall overlooking ...see more
The Peacock Royal Hotel was in the Market Place, Boots the Chemist was built on that site when it was pulled down.
Mother Riley used to visit his sister who lived in Pulvertoft Lane, Just off High Street. When we saw him, we would run to him, and start fire-ring questions at him. He always wore a Trilby Hat and wore a Gaberdine Mac.
I was a pupil at St Margaret's School for Girls about this time, it was run by a Miss Hainselin and Mrs Scott. A most beautiful place to be, although I can't say I learnt anything but to speak well and behave like a lady!
It was taken over by a Mr Chadwick and his family.
Lots of stories and history.
But I was rather a wild child - say no more.
The beautiful house was owned by Sir Offley Wakemen who I believe died in 1991.
I do wonder what has happened to the lovely building now?
I passed the dreaded 11 plus in 1955 to Ramsey Abbey and still remember how awesome it was. I remember Mr Barnes was headmaster and Miss Oddy was headmisteress and very particular about pupils wearing the correct uniform. I did not appreciate the beauty of the place at the time but still visit Ramsey from time to time and consider it a privilege to have gone to school at the Abbey.
Downham Market in my younger days was a happy small market town where everyone knew everyone else, in the days before overspill there were lots of small shops, like the bakers Stannards and Slys where you would queue for ages for your bread while everyone caught up with the town news and scandal, and the Regent cinema was very popular and the queue used to be from the cinema to the Coffee Pot ...see more
I remember going to the local primary school at the top of Second Avenue from the age of 3. Mrs Dobson was head of the Infants School and Mr Perry was head of the Junior School. We slept in the hall in the early days of our school lives; I had a blanket with a rabbit motif on it. I still slept with my thumb in my mouth. In junior school our playing fields were ploughed up for vegetables because of the war years. ...see more
Born in Glasgow, but soon moved to Erskine estate whilst still very young, 5 or 6. I remember walking to school through the woods and country lanes to Bishopton. It was mostly country fields. Living with another family who had two daughters. Running through the corn fields and most of the kids then meeting by the massive tree at the top of main hill road...playing army games and my HQ was the old pig sty, haha. Yes ...see more
1936 - my father Ernest Eldridge and mother Violet and myself Barbara moved from Dorchester on Thames to Drayton St Leonards. My mother's friend May Rusher (wife of Frank Rusher) arranged for the cottage next door to be let to us. The kitchen window looked out to the churchyard. I attended the small village school until we moved to Oxford in c.1939. My grandparents lived at The Lodge, ...see more