Great Bookham, Dawnay Road c.1955

Photo ref: G51016

It's only roughly 1955 because we lived there from 1944 and moved to Little Bookham but I always remember Mum used to go to, as she would say, Absolems, which I remember well. I knew St Nicholas church then, we always went to church. I had friends down the Lower Road where we lived. I went to St Nicholas School. Would you know Gillian Lee or Gillian Longhurst? It would be good to get in touch.

I was born in Dowlans Road, opposite to Dawnay Road. The grocers which is referred to was where my mum used to shop. Next to the grocers my best friend Nigel lived, as did Dave Hill before him. The waste ground to the left in the photo was a bit of a dumping ground. We, Dave and me, found some old paint tins one day and we took them into the rec and painted the swings, white. You can imagine our mums and dads when they found out. We were only about 6 years old at the time.

I grew up at No 12 Dawnay Rd and stayed here until about 1975. This picture was taken from the Dorking Road, at the time we had a shop (grocers) which was run by Harry Absolem and his daughter Diane on the right hand corner. A lovely red telephone box stood on the right hand corner of this picture as well. Grass land to the left was were we played as children and hid. As you progess down the road very few ...see more