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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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 33601 - 33680 of 36914 in total
my great grandfather was James Simpson Blair who had his business in Dalton and celebrated his 100yrs in the 1990s. Does anyone remember it or is there any family out there. I am writting about him for college and need help, thanks.
I remember this building being Handscombes Ironmongers. And one end of it being a pram shop in the early 80's I think . I bought my parents their 25th wedding anniversary present in Handscombes... a dinner service in a Poppy design. Full service with tureens etc only cost £24.99! This was in 1978. They held their party at the Bell in Stanstead.
My gran owned the pub at Blackheath which was called the Forest King, it was on the edge of the cricket pitch. There was also another pub called the Volunteer on the next road. Does anybody remember them?
I have many happy memories of Melsonby as I visited regularly until the 1980's. My father's family (Healey) were from Melsonby and my aunt was a teacher at the C of E school for many years. My father and most of his family are buried in the churchyard in the picture. The right-hand cottage belonged to the Rennison family and as a child no visit to Melsonby was complete without a visit to them. Although only 22 ...see more
My great great grandfather Matthew Stannett was an elementary teacher along with his wife Sarah Bush Bolton (Stannett). They lived in the school house in 1881 with their five children. Has anyone got a photo of the house or know of the Stannett family?
In Spring 1948 I caught my finger in a folding chair at school and by the evening an abscess had formed. It was so painful that because our doctor's surgery was already closed my father took me to the Infirmary, but we landed in the maternity department, where we were really out of place! The next day we went again, and as there were no penicillin tablets in those days I had to have injections morning and evening and ...see more
Hi I'm Richard, I was at Warnham Court school between 1982-1984. Some people called me Ricky instead. It was a great place. So sad to hear it laid empty for years when the school closed down. It would be nice to hear from people that attended there. I remember the long drive up to the school, also the huge area called the deer park. Does anybody remember the old bike shed...or sick bay or the ...see more
My great uncle Henry Charles Rudd was an India Rubber Manufacturer at Seaton Mill, Ickham, in 1891. He is on the 1891 census. He died there the following year, in 1892. I believe my grandmother, Margaret Hagar Rudd also worked at the Mill. She was married to my grandfather Herbert Edwin Rudd, Henry Charles' brother. They were both sons of my great grandmother Sarah Clayden Rudd, who lived at the Green at ...see more
One of my family lived in the post office, a Mr John Henry Stair, he lived there with his family and a Mrs Stair was the postmistress around that time. John Henry died in April 1881.
My Mother, Annette Mercer, lived here with her parents Margaret and Harold Mercer and siblings Roger, Lynda, Bruce and Carolyn in 1953. From here they went to Denton, Lancashire. Annette worked in the office of Wood Treatment in Biddulph. She was age 16 at the time.
My grandmother was born in Geddinton Nov. 4, 1888. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary Magdalene. I have the prayer book she was given at her Confirmation. Her name was Agnes Mary Hopkins, the daughter of York and Rebecca Hopkins. She emigrated to Canada with her sister, Emily Whitney in 1910. My father visited Geddington when he was stationed in England dduring WW2. Someday I would like to visit Northamptonshire also. Margaret Reid
Was a member of the cubs and then the 9th Wembley Sea Scouts in the scout hut on the grounds of St Johns Church. This shot of the Church Lynch Gate is just as I remember it.
At Sir Josiah Masons Orphanage in Birmingham where I was bought up from 8 - 16 years old we ran both Guide and Scout troops. During our senior years we went to camp at Abererch in the Summer holidays and this was an event that was anticipated with relish, months in advance by those entitled to go. The camp always coincided with the village children's sports weekend which took place in the adjacent field and we were ...see more
Having moved back to Shrewsbury, my family and I spent many holidays in the village in the 1950's and we spent many day trips on Sundays in the village, parking by the Friends burial ground and having a picnic lunch and enjoying the sea air and the lovely beach. I would have my Ian Allan railway spotters book and would write down all the locomotive numbers. This exercise gave me a lifelong love of the ...see more
I was born in Shrewsbury in 1940 and my mother and I moved in with my grandmother at tawelfan in 1941. This was opposite the lane that leads down to the beach via the Friends burial ground and alongside another lane that lead up to Llwyn ddu farm and a footpath that took you up and over the mountain.
Up until I was 4 years old we lived with my Grandad and my Aunt Ena at no 2 Deirdre Avenue (now no 9). My Dad and Grandad had a small holding and people came from all around to buy their fresh vegetables, these would be classed as organic nowadays. My Aunt Ena also helped out with the vegetables, when she wasn't working at the kiosk on Wickford Station. She later married the station master George Walker. At ...see more
I'm so surprised there is nothing written about the castle before it became a prison. It has a history beginning as far back as 1452 when it was built by Lord Grey, who was in the court of King James the Second. It has such stories to tell and I only found the story when I moved here 20 years ago. My interest in the castle before it became held by the government was fueled by the head teacher from Longforgan ...see more
In the mid forties to 1950, my father was the manager of the Lochcarron hotel. Despite being very young at the time I do remember the place and have some great stories to tell to people who were there around the same time. Cath
My great great grandparents on my mum's side married in the Parish Church at South Mimms on March 17th 1850. Curate appears to have been William Read ??. Thomas and Sarah were both of full age and resided at Potters Bar. Thomas was a bricklayer and son of Thomas Palmer a carpenter. Sarah was daughter of George Woolley who was a brickmaker. Witnesses were William Sears and Duisilla Herbert. Marriage registered in Barnet. Julie
I remember this little track so well, it's just at the foot of the pier and has been there for as long as I can remember. My parents often took me to Southend for a day's outing, we had family friends at Thorpe Bay and quite often my dad and uncle and I would leave my mum and auntie to catch up on their gossip and chatter and we'd head off to Southend. After a time at the Kersaal ...see more
This photo' reminded me of those carefree summer days when we would cycle from Myland to the pool, leave our bikes, unlocked, in a heap outside, pay our 6d and go to the dank, cold, changing room under the bridge. The girls had to cross the end of the pool by a boardwalk to their changing room on the other side. There were high diving boards so the pool was about ten feet deep at the deep end. We ...see more
I often think how lucky we post-war Leytonstone kids were to be born in the East End of London, yet have the whole of Wanstead park, the flats and what we called the forest at the end of our street, Browning Road, to get lost in. The mysterious Quakers Meeting house that was surrounded by the massive and famous 'Red Wall' where we all scratched our names in the soft red bricks and ...see more
My earliest memories of Ascot were of the wonderful people who lived in and around the Fernbank Road area. These people were and still are the true people of Ascot. Although we were all "Working-class" we had the most wonderful childhoods any children have ever had. This was a true community. Everybody had their place and were proud of it. We saw many changes and adapted to them, people were much happier ...see more
I remember swimming in Worksop Lido almost everyday during the summer - or so it seemed. We swam in the early morning before school, we swam '5 'til 6' after school (cost 4d) and sometimes on a Saturday morning for two hours for even less. It must have been cold but we didn't notice. The only time that we did notice was when we went from school on Monday mornings at about 9.30 - then it was very cold.
My name is Malcolm Snow, I was born in 1939. I grew up in 7, Bleinheim Rd. My Dad was Les Snow from Fair Oak, and Flo Jennings from Eastleigh, Grandparents where Frank and Annie Snow, and Louisa Jennings later to be Mellish. Grandad Jennings was killed in WW1. Our house was demolished to make way for the Salvation Army building in Bleinheim Rd, and my Grandma Mellish's house made way for the swan shopping centre. My ...see more
This memory of the Fortune of War, was a photograph that my mother has. This is of my father Reginald Waddingham who was a barman at the hotel. They all wore white jackets. The photo showed all of the employees and the boss standing outside. It was amazing that a lot of people worked there. I can remember catching a no 14 Eastern National bus outside the Fortune of War to Southend and watching all the coaches ...see more
This photo is on the ring road on the west side looking north. The sand shingle road leading to the east side of camp was right next to the caravan on the right
This is the ring road on the west side of the camp with the camp shop just visible in the background
This is a view of one of the rows that ran east to west. This is looking east towards the army camp
This looks like the road that ran round the camp. The building to the left was the toilet block on the east side of the camp.
Shoebury Hall Farm was owned by Capt H R Townsend RN and his wife Margaret I think. There was also a daughter Pamela. They were like the country squire and his family. Their house was between the church and the camp site. I recall going inside the house once with Dad. He was one of the oldest campers on the site after all. Captain Townsend could often be seen riding round the camp on his bike making sure ...see more
The boating pool at Shoebury Common was a must visit every weekend I was there. In later years they had canoes and we used to sit up on the top of the canoe at the back and not in the cockpit. Never fell in though. Would not be allowed nowadays in this health and safety culture. Just at the back of the pool was the putting green. You can see the hut where you used to pay and get your clubs and balls from on ...see more
Behind these beach huts was, and as far as I know still is, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Here you could get cups of tea and so on. The original was constructed mainly of wood, an old brown colour. It was replaced I think in the 60's by the glass and brick one that was still there on my last visit a few years ago. How it got its name I know not. Me and my mate Johny Horne often walked along this prom especially in the early to mid sixties looking for girls. That shelter could tell some stories.
When Mum & Dad went to the pub, which was not very often, I would stand outside with a bag of crisps and a lemonade and patiently wait. They were never in there long anyway. I think there was a family bar there as well which sometimes we would use. Opposite the pub was Dolls cafe where we would usually go and have dinner when we arrived at Shoebury and also on Sundays if we were there for the week. It was owned ...see more
This beach was the one we used to make our way to on a regular basis when we were staying at Shoebury Hall Farm campsite. We used to take the boat trip out to the Mulberry Harbour. Cannot for the life of me remember the name of the boat now. Seem to recall there were two operating at the same time.
I once mated with a sheep. it was a very enjoyable experience i must say! Try it one time :) Ming boob x
Our granddaughter Anna Norfolk stays with us each Tuesday and Friday starting with breakfast and we try to keep her entertained with things to do around our home town of Tiverton. One recent February day felt like the first day of Spring so we planned an outing while making her favourite breakfast of fishfingers and tomatoes and toast. We planned a sunny walk ...see more
The Jewish Fresh Air Home and School was founded in 1921 by Miss Margaret Langdon, MBE, MA (1890-1980) and located at Blakemere Lane, Delamere near Norley, in the beautiful Cheshire countryside. My time spent there was from age 7 to 9 April 1933 to 8th April 1935. The school was created for delicate Jewish children. They typically suffered from maladies such as malnutrition, nervous debility and enuresis. ...see more
I went to this school at the age I believe around 7-8yrs old. I would like to know if anyone out there went to the same school. My name was Sylvia Rooke. In fact I think the headmaster's last name was Rooke. I lived in Keighley till 1955 then moved to canada, my email address is sylviarosiek@yahoo.com if you have information at all please feel free to email me as Eastwood School had a lot of memorys for me, so thankyou and I hope to hear from someone.
As I get older I remember some of my early childhood in the UK. I was asked by my Grandson about my early life so am writing it down in a form of a book. My first memories are of going to the Downs with the farmer from behind where I lived, with him and his cattle and getting into trouble by my mother when I got home covered in mud. Another memory is of climbing on an Air ...see more
My memory of Colden Common School, is mainly around the teachers. Mr Wilkie the Head, and Mrs Gundrie (Spelling). Also in my day the toilets were outside (and still standing when I last went by). There was no playing field for the school, we had to go to Colden Common 'Rec on Sports Day. The 'houses' were split on colour lines, as far as I remember Red, Yellow Green, and Blue. I seem to remember I was in ...see more
I lived in Picton Castle,and as a thirteen year old, I delighted to throw plums off our tree down into the playground of Troed Y Allt school,and watch the scramble of the children take place! It was whilst we lived there that the entire walls were covered with stone pieces, and I would enjoy jumping off the scaffold onto a big heap of sand. Happy days indeed.
My great, great grandfather, Frededrick Smith, died at Bibury Mill on 10 December 1906. He was living with his daughter and son-in-law, Thomas Turner, at the time. I visited the Museum almost 20 years ago and seem to remember Frederick Smith written on a wall behind a glass case!!
Surfing the net I came across this photo of the Queen Vic and the memories came flooding back. I lived in Morden and every Sunday evening I along with friends went to the Jazz club there. Mostly the music was provided by Mike Daniels but also Chris Barber played there. The club room was crowded with both us young revivalists jiving around and sitting in the front were some old timers who had seen trad jazz ...see more
I have such fond memories of my school holidays staying with my Uncle Jack and Aunty Anne at the Barge Inn, Tattershall Road, ( I think they may have actually owned the pub). I used to love being spoilt by my aunt and uncle and also my father's brother Harry Pick who used to frequent the pub. They used to have loads of fishermen staying there and there was a massive kitchen where Ann and her mum Mary used to do all the ...see more
I remember visiting my great aunt Alice and her husband Arthur as a child. I lived in Gloucester and visited with my parents and brother Richard. My great grandmother Emily Wilkins (Alice's mother) was still alive. I remember vividly the house martins nesting in the eaves of the thatched roof. I remember uncle Arthur with severe arthritis and being able to do little for himself. I have a tablecloth that belonged to ...see more
My Mother, brother and I arrived in the Knowle and Dorridge area about 1941, being evacuated from London during World War Two.My Father had remained in London,. At first we were billeted in a large house opposite the Dorridge Cricket Ground, the owner of the house was very nice. Later we were moved to a large house in Temple Road Dorridge, the name of the house was Selborne. I attended school at an emergency ...see more
This is a view of Pont-y waun from Pont-y-waun bridge. If you look closely you can just make out the canal that ran parallel to the railway line. In the background is the Rhwsg mountain which I had the pleasure to climb frequently as a kid and even recently on my mountain bike!
I remember the green double decker buses revving up Crays Hill in the snow and jamming their tyres against the curb to try and get up. We lived in Elm Bank on the hill and sometimes witnessed the buses sliding side-ways back down again. Time to retire to The Shepherd and Harold and Elsie for a beer.
Barford Rd, Hunt Cross
My parents, Fred and Marjorie Reeks bought the shop and Post Office from Mrs Britton in 1947 and they owned the business till about 1985. In the mid sixties Fred got about 100,000 daffodil bulbs from a market garden in Darlington and spent many hours getting a single furrow dug around the perimeter of each of the pieces of the green and creating the words "Cross Keys" in front of the pub and "Post Office Eppleby" ...see more
well lads and lasses can you remember going up the heaps sometimes to roll a tyre back down again ,boy that was exercise, or sometimes to slide back down on a tin sheet or car bonnet or anything that would slide , we didnt need a gym in those days you had to be fit to do what we did, anybody up for a game of kick the can down the garages,if you were part of this gang you will know what its like to get hit on the back of ...see more
On 11 October, 1984, a freight train was crossing from one line to another just south of Wembley Central station when my commuter train from Euston to Bletchley ran into the side of it and was deflected to one side, with the front half of the passenger train where I was sitting turning onto its side while part of the freight train was also derailed. The deflection of the trains ...see more
I lived in Chingford from 1939, when I was born, to 1960 when I left to get married, and moved to Rayleigh, Essex. I remember the war years, and going down the shelter at Chingford Mt. when the siren went off. I used to go to Normanhurst School in N. Chingford, and we had to get under the desks when the siren went. I loved Saturday morning pictures at the Odeon, and ...see more
Through WW2 we lived in Stanley Road, number 73, at that time an off-licence which my mother ran whilst my father was serving in the RAF. I went to Boston Road school and remember we had small boxes of emergency rations in case we were trapped in the school by an air raid. We were bombed out in 1944 by a V1 that hit further up the road and severely damaged no 73, for a time we lived with relatives in the ...see more
My Dad grew up in Portholland, one of seven children. There were five boys and the stories he could tell. The boys would go out at night and splash water on windows and the next day listen to the residents talk about the storm during the night. They also went out in the morning and made the ladies come to the front door by shouting "fish for sale". The funniest was the boys putting sheets over themselves ...see more
I used to live at Grove Farm Cottages, Paddockhurst Road, Turners Hill. My father was Noel Sargent and worked as a farm employee for Grove Farm which was either managed or owned by a Mr. Hocken. My father's name was Noel, married to Dorothy (daughter to Charles and Elsie Clark of Ardingly). I had 2 brothers, Michael the eldest and Colin the youngest of the trio. My brother Michael also worked as a ...see more
I met Elizabeth Sewell while we were both on a Territorial Army training exercise at Aldershot. We were both serving with 39 Signal Regiment. It was April 1970 and I first saw her in her WRAC uniform, green beret and brown boots! Very nice too! I managed to sit next to her in the back of a three tonner on the way back to our barracks and we talked all the way. We arranged a date for that evening and slipped out of the barracks to visit a pub. We have now been married for 37 years!
I knew my grandfather and grandmother came from the area and we past through onto the town where they lived last - Strichen which was not too far away from New Pitsligo. I treasured the stillness and history of the area. Happy memories. Still searching for family from here Watt and Willox. Dubhglas, Australia
Hello My name is Chris Dann I am a direct decendant of Frank Gilbert Bird of Honingham, England and I am looking for decendants of his brothers and sisters. Frank had an older brother named Charles Edward Bird born in 1893, a younger brother named Cyril Victor Bird born in 1900 and a younger sister named Olive born in 1892. Olive married a Stanley Shickle and they lived in East Dereham. Frank also had a younger sister ...see more
South-end villas, that was my world in them days as a child, it was like the whole world revolved around it. I was born and brought up there, if I had to write a story about the things we had to do as kids,or should I say found to do it would take forever. This story will only be recognised by the people of that time in that place, but I wouldn't change a thing; people involved in this story are Kevin Bainbridge ...see more
First Day of School
Arriving at Egham Hythe Infants School, aged 5, and being placed in the care of Mrs. Spenser. There I remained for one entire term. Most of the faces in the classroom were new. Some of the names heard for the first time. Rex Aldwinkle, Richard Howard, Christine Addison, Jennifer Shore, Christine Vass. I am amazed that I remember these names as we were only in the same class one term. Mrs. ...see more
The first time I saw the photo it brought back very old memorys, because when I got up from bed in the mornings and opened my curtains the first thing I saw was the smoke from the Phurnacite Plant, as we lived in Park View Terrace which was not more than a few hundred yards from the site. The pond in the picture was where we used to swim in the summer and also we did some fishing in the same pond. My ...see more
The Westexe Park sadly no longer has the beautiful flowerbeds featured in this 1955 view. I walked through this park today leading a party from the Tiverton Walk and Talk Group from the Heathcoat Community Centre. Even the grass has been neglected and has lots of mud and duck poo! Our walk took us up Longdrag Hill and Patches Road on a circular route of around three miles. I found it pretty tough as I ...see more
I lived in Turners Hill from 1941 on Tulleys Farm just down the road from the village. On a Sunday evening my family would first go to St Leonard's church then we all went and sat on the wall over looking the village green to watch and listen to Copthorne Brass Band. Some weeks my grandfather Charlie Covey would play in the band, other weeks he would be on point duty directing the small amount of traffic that ...see more
The first house in Waterfall Terrace is where my grandparents lived for many decades. John and Ann Scott. I love that place.
Wonder if any one can help. I've family roots in Dunchurch - Mary Shaw 1855 - 1933 and Jane Shaw 1853 - 1943 both died in the Almshouses. It has always been said that Jane died in mysterious circumstances in a fire. Does anyone have any info that relates to this?
The building being constructed next to the co-op was a small supermarket that would be first named Coopers then, Fine Fare. The Shop next to the co-op on the right was Bill Croft the bicycle shop. Out of view to the left of the car park bollard would be where Trevors the Newsagents was located and where I was a newspaper delivery boy for several years.
Is there anyone out there who remembers the building that was located where the car sales place/petrol station is on Lampits Hill. It was either a school house or church. I think it was located on a mound, I remember going there for Christmas bazaars and summer fetes. Has anyone out there got any photos of this? Would be nice to see one. Debbie..
I remember the Griffin Hotel as the Griffin PH, when as a student nurse I visited it with my elderly grandmother Minnie Grainge on days away from London. She was so proud to be escorted by her eldest granddaughter and as a local woman whose family had come from Woodham Walter was acknowleged by so many as she walked through the door. Our lunchtime treat was the most delicious prawn sandwiches. Is it as lovely now I wonder?
Hello everyone, Thanks for the memories, I too was a kid during the war, why not order my DVD about Burnt Oak, you will know some of the names, maybe you will see your school, it will bring back lovely memories, just £12 inc p.p, a copy. Something to show your grandchildren. money back if not satisfied. Ron Vaughan, formerly of Homefield Rd, Woodcroft, and Goldbeaters School. My home no, 02082058910, or e-mail me, my e-mail address is gunnervaughan@talktalk.net
My parents were married in Llwyngwryl church shortly after the First World War. Is the church still there and can anyone tell me where I can find the Parish Records which would have contained details of their marriage?
The corner shop was Tyler's, a sweet and grocers shop. They sold 1d iced lollies made from a juice drink similar to Ribena. You were allowed out to play all day except Sundays, and we would very often go around in a little gang. We especially enjoyed going over the fields (the hills and hollows) behind Church Nook, to two little ponds to fish for tadpoles and further along to Rally Bridge, which was a footbridge across ...see more
Being born in 1928 and born in Rose cottage on Brook hill, low Baildon, it is a delight to see all the photos of Baildon, have not been back there for quite some time, but memories are refreshed with the photos. lived at 19 Station road untill the first day of WW2 moved into a counsil house on cliffe Avenue, was away from there for several years serving in the Royal Navy, but loved to return there on leave, left good old Baildon to emigrate to the USA, in 1957 and returned many times to visit.
My grandparents, George and Helen (Nellie) GATENBY, lived in Connaught Road during my early childhood in the 1950's. My granddad was retired from working 60+years on the railways so he had retired to a row of about 6 terraced railway cottages. These cottages are gone now and replaced by flats. They had huge back gardens and he grew all his own veg. What I always remember was when it rained it rained ...see more
I was just 9 years old when my family moved to Wisborough Green in December 1951, where my father - John Edward Penney MA, LTh - was vicar until his retirement in 1976. I went to Wisborough Green Primary school and can recall these names of other villagers: Pullen (I danced round the Maypole with Joyce Pullen at Primary School in 1952!!) Cooper, Cheeseman, Gent, Enticknap, Balchin (the ...see more
My grandparents, John & Betty Whiteside, were Landlord & Landlady of The Shovels Inn 1952-1971. I was born in 1955 and clearly remeber the pub as it was then, before they tore down walls! The old men of the village taught me how to play dominoes in one of the little rooms that used to be off the main bar. As you walked through the door there used to be an open fire on the right with the dartboard ...see more
My great grandfather, Mark MIDGLEY was a member of the First North Yorks Artillery Volunteers. He was in number four battery for 11 years where he rose to the rank of sergeant-major. I have news paper cuttings of him celebrating his 90th birthday (1941) in which he recalls those days. He remembered the visit of the Duke of Connaught when he opened the Albert Park in Middlesbrough 1868. He was a member of ...see more
A nice shot of Enfield Town Station, at the side of the station was the engine shed. I started work at for British Railways Enfield Town as an engine cleaner in 1953 and later became a fireman. We worked the steam trains from Enfield to Liverpool Street using type N7 0-6-2 Tank engines. Your photograph shows the station just the same as it was in 1953 and looking at it brings back memories.
Dear readers, My name's Steve Hopkins and I was born in Llwynypia hospital in late 1957. My mother's a Liverpudlian evacuated during wartime to Malpas in Cheshire and my father’s from Rhydfelin near Pontypridd. I was readmitted to the hospital when I had tonsillitis at the tender age of three. I remember my parents bringing me a big green helicopter, eating loads of ice cream and my uncle Vernon popping in to say ...see more