Happy Childhood

A Memory of Figheldean.

I lived in Figheldean from about 1949 - 1953, my parents and I lived in the Red Bungalow near the Wheatsheaf pub. My best friend was Wendy Stanfield, sadly no longer with us. Her father owned Stanfield's garage situated in the village, what fun we had playing in their garden which because of the war had been neglected. The garden was large and full of old rusted cars, great for playing in. Wendy's mother Doreen was such a lovely lady, I spent much time in her house, she was so kind. Wendy and I played in the meadows near the River Avon and down by the Old Mill (no longer there), we would roam for miles, onto the 'downs', happy, wonderful childhood, such a shame young children are not as free as we were. I remember Mr and Shea Simmons, Mr and Mrs Rowe who owned the Wheatsheaf, Mrs Evans who worked in the shop, Mrs Meeson the headteacher, the Fennel family. Mr Sawyer who owned the shop. Mrs Tit the postmistress and many other names come to mind. We only lived in Figheldean a short while but the memories are so strong. My parents were Monica and Bud Bradley, my father demobbed from the Small Arms School at Netheravon worked for a short time for Arthur Whitmarsh in Netheravon. We then moved onto Appleshaw in Hampshire. I have of course moved on but as you can see I have very fond memories of Figheldean.