Early Years In New Haw

A Memory of New Haw.

Like Andrew, I was also living in New Haw around the same time. We came to 144 Woodham Lane, about 1964 and I attended New Haw County Primary school from my 4th to 10 th year. My Dad was from Ireland, Mortimer, he had a business called Woodham Groundworks, he used to have to time it right in the morning, otherwise he could not get on to the road to go to work as the traffic was so heavy. He would take me to local Irish clubs with his friend, Seamus. My Mom, was from Stanwell Moor, Middlesex, she would bring myself and my sisters, Kim and Noreen, who was a baby, to the wonderful, Fishermans Net, for a meal. We loved their Banana Split and often walked halfway home and my Mom would say, would you like to go back for another? Yes please! She had a great friend called Peggy C. Who lived nearby. I loved to walk my golden retriever dog, Cindy to the Lock and see the River Wey the barges and how the Lock operated. I had a secret crush on a little girl that lived on the opposite side of the road, who went to school with me, she was also about 8-10 years old and rode a tricycle while I walked Cindy on the other side of the road. Like Andrew, I remember Principal Vincent Munnings fondly, glad to hear, as I believe the school is gone now and I don't know how to find any records of pupils etc. one rainy day, we had 2 classes without a teacher for some reason a nd were told to study and behave, of course we, the boys, who else? The girls were quite behaved and one boy, Micheal T. Kept to his studies, but I joined in, in and out of the windows, soaking wet, between two prefab classrooms, ruler fighting! It was exciting, until Mr Munnings, the aforementioned, appeared in the doorway grasping poor Gary T. by his curls. So we all trooped off for the slipper, mentioned by Andrew, one per cheek! I cried, couldn't help it! I remember the swimming pool, someone threw someone else's shoe over the fence and it landed right on the edge, we thought it was hilarious. My friend Kevin M. And his dad took me round Brooklands on a go-cart as well, as Andrew mentioned, on the steep track. I remember school friends; Roger, Michael, Elaine, Lucy, Kevin, Pinky, Andrew, Stephen V. all very fondly, in case anyone remembers me. My parents decided to move to Ireland and we have lived here since 1970. I have to New Haw twice since, am quite out of touch, but, precious memories, thank you for the opportunity to share, even, long windedly. Kerry O'Shea