East Horsley In The Sixties

A Memory of East Horsley.

I grew up in East Horsley, where I attended St Martin's C of E Primary School. We had no car and we lived nearby so we always walked to the primary school and my mother walked to the shops on Bishopsmeade Parade. When Mum was at home we walked home for lunch and once she started work in a local insurance office, my sister and I lunched at the "Singing Kettle" on Bishopsmeade Parade, where she had once worked. School lunches arrived in council vans and had to be eaten at your desk, home lunches were much nicer. Even more revolting was the compulsory third of a pint of milk delivered daily to the school for each child to consume. I struggled with this throughout my entire school career.

As primary school students we took an active role in the local church, guided and encouraged by the headmistress Miss Harvey. This included ringing the noonday Angelus bell and dressing up for role plays about African children, in the church fete held in the vicarage gardens. School sports day was always held in the grounds of Horsley Towers. I have even earlier recollections of this estate, because I attended a nursery school on the shores of Pennymeade Lake.

The Sheepleas always held a very special place in my memories. We often accompanied my mother when she walked our Black Labrador in the beech woods and grassy valleys of the Sheepleas. Sometimes alone, but often accompanied by a friend with one or more dogs with whom Lassie could romp and play to her hearts content. Later, I was able to take my younger sister up to these same woods and practice the skills that I learnt in Girl Guides in pitching a tent, lighting a fire and cooking our lunch.

My teenage years meant taking the train to Guildford to attend the local grammar school. This entailed a mile walk, or run when I was late, down Ockham Road South to the railway station. By this time, I was also cycling to my music lessons that were almost in West Horsley. We had every opportunity for fitness then.

The highlight of my teenage years was joining the stage crew for a youth performance of "No, No Nanette" in the Horsley Theatre behind Bishopsmeade Parade. OK, I only helped on the lighting but it was a great experience. So too was part time work as a Christmas postie. It was quite a challenging ride up to Effingham where I had to start my deliveries. They were character forming activities, which have stayed with me through my life.

I have many vivid memories of East Horsley and I'm always happy to hear from anyone who remembers those days. My maiden name was Whitby and we lived in Manor Close.

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