Rayne, The Village 1901

Photo ref: 46725

This house "the Firs" was owned by Mrs Edwards. My dad was stationed at Wethersfield Raf base and my mum is originally From Lincolnshire. We filled this house up with love and people. Every weekend there were people staying over from on Base...and we had some of the happiest moments of our lives. I went to the local school and my two brothers, mike and Steve went to base school. My parents went to the "swan" on a regular basis and we became a big part of the community.

In 1954 my family moved to Rayne from east London. My Dad was manager of Rayne Foundry between (about) 1954 to 1962. In 1956 I attended Rayne school where I got to know some lovely people including a girl called Nina Dawson who lived nearby. Apparently I didn't do very well at that school so my mother sent me to Manor Street school in Braintree. I hated that school and I was petrified every morning going into class. Rayne ...see more

I was born in Rayne and in the 1950s.I have fond memories of being able to play various sports in the road at School Road with my brother Peter and friend Richard Dodd, gaining a few more players as word got around! We used to mark the Tennis Court on the road with chalk and played many games, sometimes having to vacate to allow the occasional vehicle to pass. Chief Inspector Baker of Braintree was often passing by ...see more