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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Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • 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:

...and hundreds more!

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Displaying Memories 22321 - 22400 of 36970 in total

My brother and I used to have a paper run in Roughwood, soon found out why it was called a paper run! On money collection night when people payed for their week's papers we used to have run not to get robbed. It was a very bad place. I'm glad I now live in Australia. Mazza.
I lived in Alnwick and went to school at Alnwick County Secondary Modern and left in 1965. Have great memories of Alnwick as I grew up there and made regular visits until about ten years ago
BUTCHERS SHOP, WITLEY. My mother and father ran the butchers shop in Wheeler Street, Doris and Mick McCullough, from 1936 to 1953. I remember the sweet shop next door (Fairfields) and the Co-op opposite (now Witley Wines). There was also Crossways Stores. I wonder if anyone else can remember my parents or maybe shopping at the butchers? I sometimes went with my father to Witley Station at about 6.00 am ...see more
I stayed with a Mr & Mrs Freeman who lived at 'Westfield', Barnes Lane, Sarisbury Green during 1960, they had a son Christopher who died in a motorcycle accident in 1964. I would love to make contact with anyone who knew this family, I now live in Spain but will be visiting UK in July 2011.
I was born in Watford but lived in Bushey from 1964 to 1984 (I now live in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland). I went to Bushey Meads school from 1966 to 1973, and have fond memories of a rural village on the edge of London. As a boy I recall getting my hair cut in Glencoe Road where the barber also repaired TVs. In later years I would get my Harley Davidson MOT'd in the lawnmower shop at the top of Rudolph Road. Two ...see more
Just wondering if anybody remembers this school? I have been looking for my mother's children's home as she was boarded out in I believe the Romsey area for absolutely ages. I have just seen this picture and wondered if it was indeed a children's home in the 1930s? My mother was illegitamate and hidden away for 6 years until her mother reclaimed her in 1938. I have searched lots of ...see more
My dad was evacuated from the City of Hull at the beginning of the Second World War to firstly the village of Wintringham where he stayed with a Miss Cholmley at Grange Garth with five other evacuees one of whom was his younger brother Alan, he stayed there until Miss Cholmey's untimely death which was very upsetting for him because he loved living with this wonderful lady! He was then sent to the ...see more
My memory is the same as Alan Mowbray. We lived at Leadale Avenue, Chingford and I remember standing at the edge of the pool freezing cold and the teacher tellling us to jump in. I also remember the grotty changing rooms.
I lived in Rudge Rise Addlestone from the age of 8 (Rowtown before that) and worked at Peto Scott and Aerco T/V and record shop, which was situated near the traffic lights with Natwest bank on one corner and the Dukes Head pub on another. The CO-OP hall was the place to be, with jazz and pop groups playing most Saturday nights. I played there in a group and eventually became a founder member of the ...see more
I remember the freedom we had that we couldn't afford our children. A few of us girls would set off for the day and just roam and play all day and go home when we were tired and/or hungry. As children we built dens in the woods, collected primroses (tut tut) and sailed an old long tin bath on the ponds of the falls' field or down the stream leading to the bridge from the Easter Banks. I also remember that ...see more
Some years ago (lots of ago) we obtained a cat from the R.S.P.CA. My sons were delighted for a while but just after lunch a son, with tears running down his face, blurted out that the cat had disappeared. We all started hunting starting with our house. The search widened and widened but still no sign of the cat. We all went home feeling sad as it seemed the cat disappeared totally. We had a quiet tea and told ...see more
My parents, my brother and I had about six holidays at Moreton Paddox during the early 1950s when it was a WTA (Workers Travel Association) holiday home. On occasion my grandparents or aunt and uncle accompanied us on our summer holidays too. Moreton Paddox has stayed clearly in my memory every since. I remember the excitement of arriving at the main entrance and driving down the long straight ...see more
My name would have been Cadamarteri if not for a family argument. As a descendant of Caddy's ice-cream it's great to hear it was loved. I would love to find out more, does anyone have any photos? Or more information? Thanks.
Hi my name is Derek Phillips, I used to go to the Trades and Social Club back in the 1970s, I worked with my uncle Ken Mathews who was the secretary of the club. The steward and stewardess who ran the club were called George and Ada, they came from Nottingham, they took me under they wing. I have very fond memories of the club where I would go and have a game of snooker or go for a night out with ...see more
I started Lemington infants school in 1937, making the journey morning and night on foot from West Denton, my only memory of the teachers being a Miss Hayes and a Miss Robson, whom I think lived half way up Union Hall Road, packed lunches had to be carried daily. I subsequently moved up to the junior school with Mr Robertson as headmaster, Mr Yuil (woodwork), Miss Moyes my form teacher when I left, Miss Hall ...see more
Would love to speak to the gentleman who mentioned Tingle's ice cream in his post - can send you some email information if you contacted me. I was born in Barnsley, parents lived at 47 Station Road and with a surname of Tingle ... Now in Perth, Western Australia
Although I come from a professional musical family my father was a career naval officer so perhaps it was not surprising I was sent to Stubbington. Arriving as a boarder aged seven in 1946 was quite a tough experience. The School was steeped in largely naval tradition, exercised strict discipline with corporal punishment and had an air of formality. Looking back I guess it had a ...see more
My maiden name is Mowbray. My two sisters (Sheila, Barbara) and I attended Dunsdale School under the guidance of Miss More a formidable spinster of large proportions to a small child!! I have a picture of myself and Susan Weighell sitting at our desk and taken during the 1950's. The corrugated sheet building that was the school - with it's outside toilets, stood to the right as you face the garage and where there has been ...see more
My grandmother Elsie Thomas married Harold Victor Lee in 1929. Sadly he died 3 months later. They were living at 2 Albion Villas, Lower Wyche. He was a Dept Manager at a Clothing Shop. His father was a grocer - William Edward Lee. Until recently we didnt know anything about this marriage. If anyone knows the Lee family, if they are still in the area or knows where Albion Villas is could they please get in touch many thanks
I really don't remember much about Heswall, but it holds a special place in my heart, as that is where my mother found me. I had been born in May 1959 in Wrexham, but for some reason was not taken home by the women who gave birth to me. I was moved to Heswall. My soon to be sister, was training to be a nurse, Margaret Petty, and she told her mother about me. My mother came over to see and decided to adopt me. ...see more
My mum and Dad moved to Shackerley just as I started secondary school, which I think it was 1972. I attended Tyldesley Boys County Secondary School. We lived in a bungalow on Hertford Drive, they couldn't build a house opposite because they had to periodically vent due to gasses from the mine shafts! On other side of Hertford Drive my friend Alan Kemp lived and we used to ride our bikes all over the place. There were ...see more
I remember being a young boy attending St Luke's school, playing marbles and football in the playground (about 20 a side I recall)! I lived near top end of Charlestown Road next door to my best friend David Stanton, my other friend Trevor lived over the road. There was a narrow walled path leading down to a bridge over the river and we used to make and ride bogeys down this path. hairy stuff!! Later we rode in luxury ...see more
Found the web page and references to Jubilee Grove. I adopted "Kenn Gash" because I was a reporter on the Sleaford Standard and my name was wrongly spelled on a By-line. I liked the balance and it stuck! Memories included Police Sergeant Enderby, The Choir of St Denys, Army Cadet Force, St Johns Ambulance, and many friends. Now aged seventy two years and still remembering it all better than I can remember yesterday.
I believe the town got its name from the merging of the rivers Mole, Ember & Thames (forming the shape of an eye - hence 'Moles Eye'. I was born at the Bearsted hospital in Hampton in 1949 and from Kingston in 1951 came to live in Molesey in a brand new house until I left the town to get married in 1972. I went to Cherry Orchard infants, Church Rd for boys and later Rivermede in West Molesey, finally I ...see more
I grew up in Waltham and have many memories of my years spent there. I loved this picture because I lived on Ridgemede , which was just down the road from the pub & we used to go and get fish & chips from the chip shop on a Saturday evening. The chip shop was in the part of the pub that extends out, with the black little door! Nice little trip down memory lane
We lived over the Express Dairy (opposite the Odeon) My early school days started in 1937 when Bandon Hill Infants were at Milton Road - we moved to Milton Road in 1935. The 654 Trolley bus route was nearby and sometimes the conductor would take out a long pole from under the bus to relocate the overhead poles to the cables above. When our class went up to the Sandy Lane school the Second ...see more
Elizabeth Wall, do you remember me, John McDaid? I was team leader of Bodiam in 1963 and Derek White was my best friend.
In 1963, I became team captain for Bodiam House and the female captain was Janet Morgan, does any body remember this event?
The day after our trip to London, I woke in the morning and was told to immediately get dressed and put on my new shoes and overcoat by mother. We dropped Bernard at Aldersbrook School and then caught a bus into Wanstead Tube Station, from here by train we went south of the Thames exactly where I do not remember, but from a South London station we walked on to a very large house near a large lake. It turned out to be ...see more
My great-grandmother was Ellen Amanda Coffin, she was a direct descendent of Richard Coffin who was granted the parish of Alwington and the surrounding area by William the Conqueror for his services during the Norman Conquest (1066). Ellen Amanda Coffin was descended from Richard through the line of Peter Coffin who was born in 1535 at Portledge, Devonshire, England. Peter's son Tristram Coffin emigrated to America ...see more
Hi, My family on my mother's side all come from South Harting, my grandfather was Fred Chambers who passed away in 1982, my grandmother is May Chambers who is nearly 90 now. My mother is Linda Dyke (nee Chambers), and I have an aunt, Jen Johns (nee Chambers) who still lives in the village. My grandparents had an old boy who lived with them, we alll knew him as Joe, I think his real name was Harry James ...see more
I attended primary school at Horstead Keynes briefly until it changed location a few miles away. (I went there as well but can't for the life of me recall the name of the place.)  The head mistress was the tall and formidable Mrs. Czerniak, (probably spelt wrongly!), a lady who gave me a good grounding in elementary arithmetic and reading, the latter standing me in good stead ever since. Her husband I ...see more
I remember watching rail embankment being removed with earth moving machines. The village hall at the model village. Types of equipment on recreation ground below Bainbridge Hall. Tunnel to Scareclif filled and blocked. Walking round large market on Kitchen Croft which has a signpost naming it Town End car park. Old buildings. My school on Welbeck Road. Tennis courts on Horncroft recrreation park. Markham and Bolsver pits. Mercol which had station buildings in use.
It was the 19th June 1955 when the lorry arrived at the end of our entry in St Mark's Street, Ladywood. Neighbours came out to say their goodbyes and help carry our chattles out to the lorry. I took a last look at the yard I had lived in for the last 9 years, there were 15 houses in the yard all cramped together, the sun hardly ever reached the ground. I was sorry to have to go but go I must, piling into the back with ...see more
Charles Westland with his wife, Isabella McTavish of Boleskine, Foyers, returned to Scotland from exile in Liverpool with his four young kids where he had been looking for work. He got work at the smelter in Kinlochleven - maybe sometime between 1907-1912. One night he went out and was never seen again. It broke the heart of my Great Grandmother from which she never ever ...see more
I lived at 5 Manor Drive with my 3 sisters, Kathleen, Elizabeth and Mary. I was born in the house at 1am on a snowy night in 1954 and was delivered by my dad and Dr Poles, while Mary slept and Kathleen and Elizabeth were shipped across the road to spend the night with Stuart Yates. And I lived there until 1972. In the early years. whilst my sisters were at school, my mum would sit me in ...see more
I have just been contacted by a Heather Shepherd who recognised my surname as it turned out her grandmother and I were neighbours for the first 20 years of my life. I write to say thank you to 'Francis Frith' for enabling my memories to become so active and I recommend to any one searching for friends/relatives do not give up as Francis Frith makes it all possible. My impending visit to UK in December 2011 has suddenly become even better than I was expecting
I had a cruiser ('Hely'n) at Pyrford marina in the 1990s, and remember some great barbeques moored in sight of Newark Abbey. Moved to Thames, to Penton Hook in the 2000s.
As a child I spent all my holidays on a farm owned by my uncle, Reg Wood and his partner, Marion. This was from the year 1964 approx. It was off the main road but then turn off down a track which seemed to go forever. There was no one around for miles. We used to fetch calves from the market in the back of his Landrover. There was a man called Martin Mahr who used to sleep in the barn seasonally and ...see more
As a student nurse in 1969 I started my career at Heswall on Lady Jones ward. This was a ward for children with severe mental and physical disabilities and Sister Clarke ran the show. It was such a fabulous time and as a young nurse I have memories of the night warden who managed switchboard, cursing and swearing at us when we arrived home late and without a pass out. It was such a pretty little hospital and yes we ...see more
I left Reading to live in the West Midlands when this photo was taken in 1965. I believe the trolley buses were still running then. Does anyone remember the pet shop with the rabbits in their hutches outside? Josie LLewelyn
I went there as a child many times and have fond memories of the place. I lived in Reading (central) and unfortunately can hardly recall how I got there (probably bus - trolley bus?). Although it no longer exists does anyone know the address - the street/road it was on. Josie Llewelyn
I lived in Barnt Green from 1941 to 1961. I attended a tiny school held in the headmistress's back garden - a long shed like building! It was an excellent school, and I left there to attend Bromsgrove High School. Does anyone out there remember a little girl called Tyers? Or a head mistress - Miss Woodruffe and her assistant Miss Matthews?
My memories are of a really good school. Discipline was the order of the day. I left in 1956, before the building work started. Is there anyone out there who remembers the name Tyers?
Imagine my delight as a child to discover there was a swimming pool on top of Box Hill! Although we lived in Sussex we would often have "days out" in Kent or Surrey. Box Hill was a favourite, and I remember a swim on a particularly hot day, it was my first experience of an open air swimming pool. The photo is just as I remembered it and I would love to know what is on the site now, and when it was closed.
I lived in Old Coulsdon for many years, I used to do a paperound for Mr Cook who ran the paper shop on the Brighton road in Old Coulsdon. I spent many my summer holidays exploring Happy Valley and Devils Dyke and I used to be albe to walk to Chaldon church from my house. I have a great aunt who lived in Taunton Lane and remember Nr Newby very well. I have not been to Old Coulsdon for about 20 years now but I'm sure it's not changed that much.
Back in 1975/76 I used to work at the Fox behind the bar in the evenings. I also for a time worked in the restaurant. I had a lot of fun when working there, and often wonder what happened to the regulars I knew. I still keep in touch with a regular that use to come in. Happy Days.
The ship had struck an iceberg a hole yawned in its side. In came the water racing fast - a swirling rushing tide. Then up came Jack the captain, He cried "put fear to rout - I've blown a hole in the other side to let the water out".
I have lots of memories of Wath, I was born on Campsall Fields Road. I remember catching the 118 newhill bus for 2p into Wath for buns from Binns and Mum went to Charlesworths for her meat, and Hillards was the supermarket. I also remember Tommy Tesh's shop on the corner where no one dared go in cos it looked scary.
I went to St. Botolph's School on The Hill from 1945 to 1950 with my friend Molly Freeman who lived a few doors away from me in York Road. Molly was in the year ahead of me but her brother Georgie was in my class. Recently Molly rediscovered Mr. Clark who is now 90 and lives in Nottingham and we have both been in email communication with him. He remembers a number of the children he taught, particularly the ...see more
I am searching for my ancestors from Netherbury the family names are Toogood, Tolley, Spraklen, Meech, Clarke, Hoskens, Maish, Cox. These are names going back to the early 1700. Netherbury has held my interest since I was a child and at last I am going to be able to see it for myself armed with the names of my ancestors. It would be so very good to know if anyone living in Netherbury is able to help with my search.
I lived at Crambeck for seventeen years from 1937, enter my name in google to have some insight to life then.
My sister and I used to visit our grandparents, Harry and Lily Bliss, who lived on Sandringham Drive, West Monkseaton. We would come down from Scotland in late June and stay for two weeks. Favourite memories include the Spanish City rides, Torres fish and chips, the Venetian ice cream, St Mary's Island, roller skating down the steep slope at Monkseaton station, the smell of creosote on the platform timbers at West ...see more
Do you remember the tall girl's name, would it be Jennifer? I used to stay with my gran in the school holidays. At the time we lived in Birmingham. My sister and I used to cycle for miles and would often spend all day in Box Woods and make a mess of the farmers field of cut hay by making dens, poor farmer.
The recreation ground, we use to call it the rec, it used to have a rocking boat, I caught my knee on the underneath bar, I still have the scar. I was married in 1967 in All Saints Church, Belvedere. We used to get the red bus to Erith on a Saturday to the Odeon cinema to the childrens club, 6p downstairs and 9p upstairs. I used to live in Upper Grove Road, there used to be prefabs opposite. There was also a ...see more
In answer to your question. "Do you know who owned the veg stall outside of Manzies pie & mash shop": I was a barrow boy that worked on the stall in the late 1960s. The stall was owned by Anita Blaunchflower who was the sister of the footballer Danny. She would get me and my mate tickets to go to Tottenham. But, only if she thought it might be a slack day. As she wanted us to work the stall as opposed to bugger off. We used to call her, "Anita, the apple eater".
Pat - it's lovely to read about Hawthorn as my grandmother Mrs Berrett and my Uncle Peter and Aunt Hilda Evans also lived there. School holidays were spent picking blackberries at the old D.P camp and playing in the fields and riding a bike around the estate. I remember the shops and the stone wall we used to walk on going to Five Ways to catch the bus to Bath or Chippenham. My aunt and uncle moved and ...see more
The closest car in this picture (a Hillman Minx) belonged to my family. I know because my father, Arthur Simpson, bought the postcard because of that. The following year, we moved to Canada where my brother and I still live. My brother and I will be in Guisborough next month. I was there a couple of years ago and saw that Granny Simpson's house on Belmangate is now a hairdresser. They allowed me to go in and have a look around. I was surprised how tiny it is.
I was stationed at RAF Stansted (263 MU) Oct,1946 to Feb,1947. We had between 100 to 200 RAF blokes and about the same figure for German POW's. The station was a storage depot and was closed for air traffic. I am looking for old photos or drawings etc. Ron Taylor
George Dodds, my grandfather, was manager of Corton Wood Colliery, any info of his life and where he lived at 3 Chapel Avenue would be appreciated.
During that summer my family made a trip to stay at Mount Edgcumbe for a fortnight or so, my mum being a distant relative of the occupying family, so to speak. On the journey down the A.38, (no M5 then), I kept complaining about stomach (?) pains and was ordered to bed by our hosts the moment we arrived. (I must have been about fourteen at the time.) During that night the pain worsened and ...see more
About this time they were adding the Victorian wing to the castle where the family live now. More trees now but some have been felled and replanted, they only last 100 years! I worked briefly on the Mount, happy memories of Lord & Lady St Levan
In front of the Mount is the folly of Castle Gayer which recently changed hands for £3m!
I lived in Mitcham from 1930 (when I was born) until 1948 when I went to Germany to work with the Salvation Army. In all that time I never knew that there was a fire station, let alone know where it was.
I was evacuated to Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire to be with my aunt. Whilst there I sat an exam called "the 11 plus" which I passed and on the basis of which I was awarded a scholarship to Mitcham County Grammar School for Boys. But in 1941 that school was evacuated to Weston-super-Mare so I spent my first secondary school year at Wallington County Grammar School for Boys. I can see a road running ...see more
I think that this view looks back towards the Mitcham Fair Green. If I am right, on the left would be the Swimming baths where I used to go now and again with friends. I seem to remember that it was very basic, with changing cubicles opening directly onto the pool.
It was at the Mitcham Town Hall that we would pay our rent if, for any reason, the rent man did not call. We lived in a council property on Meopham Road, Mitcham, a fairly modern development, and I can remember going there with my parents to collect wallpaper etc because at that time the council paid for interior redecorations. Perhaps (I am almost certain) that the building this side of the Town Hall is the ...see more
It seems that the trolley bus overhead cables are still there in 1955, at least in the Croydon direction. I can see none in the other direction.
My mother took me to the Majestic on a number of occasions. We were not cinema buffs and apart from one occasion, I seem to remember that I only went with her. Some of the films mentioned could have been shown in the early 1940s. I remember "The Chocolate Soldier", "The Wizard of Oz", "The Purple Heart", I think was the title of an American film about American airmen shot down by the Japanese and then shot. This ...see more
These routes passed along the road which comes down to the right hand corner to Croydon following that road or to Hammersmith etc. passing round the Majestic to London.
The road on the right of the picture, which runs obliquely in front of the Majestic cinema, was a route used by trolleybuses (I believe the routes were 630 and 612). In the right middle edge of the photo, the trolleybuses ran to Croydon (certainly the 630 did but I am not so sure of the 612) and both routes passed the cinema on their way into west London (such as Shepherds Bush and Hammersmith). It looks as though ...see more
I was at Mitcham County Grammar School, Commonside East, during the years 1942 to 1946 and saw this views on most school days. The line of stakes in the foreground marked off that part of the pond in which horses could drink and very often I saw horses doing just that.
Auntie June, my dad's sister, turned 90 July 2, 2010. We had a wonderful party for her, at the Red Cross hall. The food was prepared by a group of ladies who certainly know how to put on a great spread. Auntie enjoyed her day. This year she will be 91, I will be with her once again to share her special day. Wincanton is one of the friendliest towns I have ever visited. I look forward each year to returning ...see more
My grandfather's father was a minister at the lovely little Yapton church, his name is on the board at the back of the church, Cother. About 6 years ago, my aunt, (grandad's daughter now almost 91) my sister, brother and self, visited the church. While there someone came in and told us of a lady down the road interested in local family history. We walked down and knocked on the door, got invited in for afternoon tea and ...see more
In a corner of Kent known with justification as the Garden of England stood the magnificent building known as Lee Priory. It saddens me so much that it no longer exists. In my childhood a Colonel Belcher resided there with his family and in their generosity they allowed we local children to have access to their own children's library. A gesture that awakened in me a lifelong love of books. I remember the wide ...see more
I lived at Tilburstow Farm through the 1950s, my dad was head herdsman on the the farm. My name back then was Margaret Robb, I have so many memorie,s of that beautifull place, the bluebell woods, primroses, walking for miles with my friends, we walked miles to school every day, first the school in South Godstone , then when I was older, Bletchingley. I remember taking my dad his pint mug of ...see more
I was transferred from Myrtle Street to Heswall in 1953 as a TB contact, I was in a few wards. One faced the main entrance to the Hospital, another one had a partition across the middle separating the girls from the boys. The ward I remember most was one with a television, I watched the Queen's coronation and the Mathews cup final. The television was to the right of the door as you went into the ...see more
I am trying to find the building which was Dalby's Hotel. In the 1881 census Thomas Ramshaw Dalby and his wife Susannah were the proprietors of this hotel. The address in 1881 was Main Street, south side, Boston Spa. Does anyone have any knowledge of the Dalby's hotel - is the building still there but under another name eg Royal Hotel or Crown Hotel. Any information would be gratefully received. Pat Dalby
I was only two when I moved here from south London but I remember going to school there just through an alley way off the market square, and headmaster's office was a hut in the playground. Lived in Queens Avenue which were the new council houses built as my dad worked for Vickers Armstrong at the time. Wonderful happy memories, never been back since we moved when I was around 10 years old back to London. Rember crying ...see more
My grandmother, Nora Green, lived in Garden Terrace, Lower Cumbersdale and raised 9 children there. I remember visiting often, walking over from Denton Holme by the river. Lots of happy times. If anyone has any memories of the Green family I would love to hear to hear from them. I know my grandfather, Robert, worked as a screen printer and died in his 30s.