Favourite 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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Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
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Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:
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How the location features in your personal history?
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The memories this place inspires for you?
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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
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 1901 - 1950 of 2029 in total
I have so many happy memories of growing up in Weaverham. My young friends and I making our way through the woods off Northwich Road near Walnut Avenue. I think it was known as Beech Wood or Hazelwood. We would follow the path and the stream that ran through the wood, in those days the water was crystal clear, all day paddling and splashing, sitting on the embankment and enjoying our picnic. We could spend all ...see more
This photo stirs memories of West Somerton, my 1940's and 1950's childhood home. We kids trying to fish with bamboo stakes, string and worms, sitting beside serious fishermen on these banks. Then there was the time the river froze, we investigated and my sister went through the thin ice. We were wary of the river, since few of us could swim. In summer we bathed in Somerton Broad, just up the river on the ...see more
The school was converted for use as the campus for The United States International University in Europe. I was fortunate to be working as a Careers Advisor in nearby Watford whilst it was operating as a university and so I had wonderful opportunities to go inside. I can recall the Dean showing me around and encouraging me to play the organ in the chapel! The old school housed a university library and student ...see more
The view is looking over Holborn Hill towards Black Combe. Holborn Hill is old Millom, the new part of Millom was built when iron ore was discovered in 1855 at Hodbarrow and the iron works was built and Hodbarrow mines opened. It then became a prosperous town with a population rising to 10,000 people. My memory is of Holborn Hill and a five year old girl who was evacuated there at the beginning of the war. ...see more
The Thames-side Miniature Railway opened in about 1946 and closed in 1954. The station, which had a single platform, stood at the Caversham end of the line. To the east of the station was the engine shed and, beyond that, a turntable. At the western end of the railway was another turntable and a passing loop that enabled the locomotive, once turned, to return to the front of the train. The railway ...see more
The Blitz started with the Sirens wailing in the early evenings, to warn of the approach of enemy planes. Then complete silence for quite a long time as we waited with mounting apprehension in the passage way, mother, myself, Dennis and David with father watching at the front door, John would not get out of bed for anything.
The drone of approaching bombers heralded the beginning of the air raid. Then the thunder of ...see more
I was in Heswall Hospital a number of times in the late forties, suffering from Bronchiectasis. I always went into Hugh Owen Thomas ward. It was a long ward seperated by sliding doors, the girls one end, and the boys the other. I remember sleeping out on the verandah every night unless it was raining or foggy! On fine days the nurses would pull our beds out onto the lawn. Every other ...see more
I remember when a very young kid, walking down Banks Road with my mother to the slipway and buying fresh shrimps from the Evans boys.
The shrimps were caught in the Dee and cooked on board the boats on the way back to the slip. The fishing was a thriving industry in those days.
Yes I remember spending most of our (my brother John and I) summer holidays playing on Runcorn Hills. Both parents worked and so most mornings, weather permitting, we would head off to the hills from our home in Weston Village, armed with a bottle of water and usually a jam butty and an apple. We would spend the day there, often meeting up with other kids who were on a similar day out. One very powerful memory ...see more
When I look at this photo it brings back happy memories of when the club was a hive of activity of bowling greens, tennis courts, football pitches (middle of photo). As a young girl growing up in Weston Point I always looked forward to the Annual Rose Fete Shows, that were laid on by ICI. Every Thursday evening we would attend the ICI Club and Mr Dunning and our next door neighbour Mrs Rees would ...see more
I was sat in my classroom at the parish school in church street and I had just put away my plastic counters after a hard maths lesson ,I was only 5 ( and 1+1 was very hard)my teachers name was mrs oats she was lovely and as I sat gazing out of the window I noticed this huge construction being built in the distance ,I asked my dad when I got home that evening what it was , now , as we traveled on the ...see more
Annual Outing to Walton on the Naze from Upshire in Essex. In the early days we travelled by train from Waltham Cross, one train picking children up from stations along the line and taking us all out for the day to Walton. In the later years it would a coach or double-decker bus from the Princesfield Estate at the top of the lane leading to the Gospel Hall. The outing was the ...see more
When I first came here the NHS hadn't begun, I think my mum was asked to pay 7/6d per week! Visiting was 2hrs on the 1st Sunday of the month only. Just as well really because my parents had to travel from 3 miles south of Dorking. I laid flat on my back for most of the 3 years with my left hip in plaster, a strap across my chest, and weights out of the end of the bed holding my left leg still. In fact when I came out ...see more
Hi all old inmates of LMTH.
I was in Connaught Ward block 3 (boys), at the tender mercy of Sister Smith, from about end 1951 aged 6 until December 1954. I had neglected TB in the knees and (then unknown) lungs. I remember Wilfred, who carried us about either in that grey wooden handcart or the electric trolley and who made wooden toys for those of us who had little or no visitors at Christmas. Mrs Caravan (I think) ...see more
I was a student nurse at Lord Mayor Treloars from January 1962 until January 1964. Those two years orthopaedics were affiliated with other hospitals which allowed us to start training before 18 which was the minimum age for General Nursing commencement, when the students moved on the 3 year general training was reduced to two years.
The hospital was a very happy place because many of the patients were long ...see more
I spent several months in Treloar with Polio. I was five years old and from what I have been told, at deaths door. Can't say that I remember much except the nurses smiles and the pictures of Micky Mouse on the windows. I would like to thank the staff for whatever they did to save my life, as from being paralyzed from my left arm across my body to my right leg, I went on to have a fantastic life seeing the world and having children and grandchildren. Thank you.
I was a patient in this hospital in 1955 when I was ten years old. There were very caring nurses and also a hospital school which helped me immensely during my stay of about two months. At that time I believe it was named The Lord Mayor Treloar hospital for Crippled Children. Not very "P C" by 21st century standards of description! Anyway, the nurses were truly excellent and they needed to be as so many of us were ...see more
I believe I was in LMTH from 1953 until 1962 with breaks in between. This was due to polio which meant many operations on my right leg. I can recall a Sister Smith. I do recall going outside with our beds, and shunting the beds around the ward in the evening to be closer to our pals to play games. I also recall, due to boredom, we somehow managed to tie a fishing line to the on/off switch to the large radio ...see more
These memories actually date back to the summer of 1967 as well as that of 1968. Sometimes, there was no work in the fields, or I needed money because I was such a lazy fruit picker. So I left Leverington and applied to be hired at Smedley's in the evening after tea. It was marvellously quick and simple to get work, there were no formalities, no red tape at all. We seasonal workers just got a clocking card, and I ...see more
During WW2 the pupils were evacuated and the school turned into a temporary Maternity Home. The Doctor attending the home was only part-time, but always on call. The Doctor lived a few houses away and at night time he hung a length of string from a bell next to his bed and out of his bedroom window. So a nurse could run to his house to raise him if he was needed. Such was the case at 2:30am on the 10th of June 1942. I was born shortly thereafter.
John E. Hutt, now living in Lewiston, NY, USA.
I have just been reading on the times of the floods in Dovercourt. My sister Rita and myself, known as (Rita and Mary Kelly), were brought up by the Salesian Sisters at the convent from babies until the time of the floods. The convent had to close, and we were then moved to another convent in Hastings called Sandrock Hall.I believe sixteen children made this move. It was ...see more
I vaguely remember the bad winter when snow was still laying in June, black snow where people had thrown ash onto paths and roads. There were holes cut into the banks of snow so people could cross the roads. Then in the early 50's, the weekly trip with barrow to the gasworks in Pier Road for a load of coke 'cos we couldn't afford coal. Saturday morning pictures at the Grand or Odeon cinema's I recall getting day ...see more
I have told you of my memories of the Gillingham bus distaster 4th Dec 1951 when me, Bob Dunford and my school friend Peter Gerard could not march with the Royal Marine Cadets because our suits never came in and all our friends died.
Well just think of this. My brother, John George Dunford was in the Naval Cadets in July 1929 when they had the Gillingham Park Disaster when ...see more
In 1940 at age 1, I was moved into 123 Nelson Road with my parents and older brother.It was to be my permanent home for the next 20 years.
Nelson road was split into two parts by Weston Park, the scruffy end between Tottenham Lane and Weston Park, where we lived, and the posh part up to Ridge Road where my grandparents lived at No 84. My maiden aunt, who lived with them, had been engaged to a flyer who ...see more
My name is Barbara Tucker & I spent several happy years during the Second World War at Pilton in Somerset. I was in the women's land army and can remember those wonderful days working with the animals and milking the cows at 6 am and working in the fields. I worked at Abbey farm and knew Paula Turnball & Flossy Billing. I would like to make contact with any land girl in Somerset. My contact details are
E-mail : simontuckerpgapro@yahoo.co.uk ( her son)
Telephone : 01823 400733
My father, Lenny Griffin, used to put these out every morning and store away in a shed at North Lodge Park every night in the summer. I used to go with him and when they got the smaller binoculars I was allowed to carry one. The big telescopes my fther used to carry one on each shoulder.
The mother of my work friend, John Wallace, owned the flat over what used to be the Pedlar's Pack. We often rode to Cromer from Leicester on our motorcycles and spent weekends there. On one notable occasion John's bike would not start after being ridden along the beach, and we spent all night with it in the flat's entrance hallway trying to get it started, fortunately with success. I don't ...see more
My father, Leonard Griffin, worked for the council as a gardener and helped build these gardens. He then helped maintain them until he retired. My memory is being allowed to run from one garden to the next and then the next but having to wait for my Mum at the end. I don't recall these as the rock gardens but as the sunken gardens.
I used to go along to Ffynnongroyw to play with my mate Mark Mellor at his parents which was the chip-shop. I remember playing on the beach and the old dock/railway buildings for hours on end. One day we found lots of 'jelly tubes', which was marked with 'explosive' that had washed up on the shore. Naturally me and a guy called Paul, (incidentally, whose house was demolished to make way for the widening of ...see more
I have just read an amusing story about the Walls ices girls and how pretty they were - I was one of those girls - I can't quite believe someone has written about us! What fun we had. We all worked in the school holidays in the beach cafes, hard work sometimes but such good times.The beaches were packed and we sold lots of Walls ices!
The cliffs on this photograph were the source of much competition as ...see more
As a child and adult, I remember the bridge and how long it was closed for boats coming up to the BOCM and Ranks flour mill. It had to opened in sync with the railway bridge and the trains. I remember the barges with big red sails towing more barges, and the year of a severe freeze when the river froze solid and looked like the Baltic with huge ice floes; people thought it might destroy the bridge ...see more
I remember from the mid 1970's I was planning to have a career as a Town Planner (ended up training as an RMN at St Francis) and was always writing studies on post war Haywards Heath. Needless to say, I was delighted to come accross the offices of the architect Douglas White who designed the very distinctive classic, of their time, houses on what was originally called the Harlands Farm Estate as well ...see more
I used to play in the old Clair Meadow and remember the drinks machine which sold pink milk in a wax carton by the tree at the footpath entrance to 'the rec' on Perrymount Road which is still there...I spent many a happy afternoon there and remember well the lovely old green and cream buses going in and out of the old bus station, which to me at age 9 epitomised Haywards Heath as we ...see more
In the early 50's many streets in Uxbridge were still lit by gas. So "lighting up time" had a whole different meaning. The iron lampposts were much lower than the lighting masts of today and were more widely placed along the streets. Street lighting then had a different function because the lights were to illuminate the pavement, not so much the roadway. I lived in Frays Waye which was entirely lit by gas and there ...see more
It was my 4th birthday and we were staying in Caister at the Sycamore Camp in a caravan that my Parents had hired for a 2 week holiday. So the date 13th June 1958 and we took a trip in Dad's old car up to Lowestoft. After the usual cup of tea or bottle of Fanta and a Ham roll in the Fisherman's Cafe on Whaplode Road we continued to get on with the business in hand. Primarily to order some ...see more
Just look closely at the picture, sitting on top of the fountain was half the fun & excitement of coming to the pool. Water wings under my arms and the supervision of Granddad Russell I made my first attempt at learning to swim. Getting really daring swimming to the back of the pool, climbing out would lead to the open sea where only the brave would swim. The pool was accessed by steps from the road at the ...see more
The winter and spring of 1958 I was an ACC cook in the hospital kitchen. On one night duty I contracted tonsillitis and was put in the ward upstairs where the ghost of 'Sister Aggie', as she was known to us, was supposed to haunt and give comfort at their bedside of those who were about to slip away. She did not appear to me as I was not about to die. I had to sample our food which was sent up from the kitchen in ...see more
I was a choirboy at St Luke's, we met for choir practice once a week. Mr Hatton was the choirmaster and took a register and we were paid for attending. Weddings were the big earner - we got two shillings or half a crown. It was all added up and given to us at the end of the quarter and I used to spend money on buying old coins at the shop by West Norwood Railway Station (opposite the Horns Tavern), which also sold ...see more
My father was a teacher at Pyrford School when Len Cowie was the headmaster. I remember Mrs Jones and Mrs Bugler and Miss Mcdermot and Mr Stevens, who lived by the old school in Engliff Lane. I remember being privileged to sometimes miss class and go swimmimg in the pool when my dad was taking his class for a swimming lesson (he helped build the pool), and once when swimming the Beatles came on the radio with 'I ...see more
As a child we used to visit Margate on a regular basis, before the war. We used to have a tray of tea from the Nayland Rock Cafe which had a special smell and distinctive china. I would love to obtain a photo.
My memory of this great and very popular market was during the late 1970's as a young kid and was every kids paradise. My mum worked at what must have been the world's largest sweet shop/stall - Jim's Candy Cabin. Every Saturday my auntie used to take me along for the day (and you could spend the day browsing around). 1st treat was having a different Matchbox toy bought from the the big Wood's toy stall at the ...see more
When I was in my teens I had a Saturday and school holiday job on Newboulds bread van, and although I went to other areas of Yorkshire, I was more often than not on the Dewsbury journey. Our major customer was Knights, who had several shops next door to one another on Ravenhouse Road. They used to take four /five trays of sliced bread - twenty four loaved per tray, plus loads of other types of ...see more
I was born in 1965 and I remember the 'Nativity' being at the gardens at Christmas time. I used to love looking at the different characters; the shepherds, the three kings, but best of all I used to love looking at the 'manger scene' at the far left hand side with the baby Jesus. The characters were the same every year but the enjoyment was always the same. I have a 19 year old son and I have never been ...see more
My memories of Dewsbury as a girl in the late 1960s, early 1970s. The market. The butcher my mum used (who flirted outrageously with her, and most likely every housewife in town, which she loved and I'm sure always made her buy extra sausage!). Traipsing round while my mum bought everything we needed for Sunday dinner, and some mid week meals until my legs ached! If my nanna was in tow, she wanted tripe, ...see more
My name is Valerie (Connet) Acuff. I was born in 1940 at 24 Langley Ave. which was the home of my mother's sister, Nan Powell and her husband, Lol. My parents were John and Betty Connet. My mother was formerly Betty Bellamy from Stockton. After my father was discharged from the RAF he was a photographer and worked for Forrest Wompra in Middlesborough. When I was a year old my family moved to 4 St ...see more
I was born, in 1945, in the front room of my parent's rented house in Bristol Terrace, Bargoed. Open the front and you were on the pavement!!. We had no central heating, no double glazing, no indoor bathroom (tin bath hanging on a nail outside), no running water and we used the tepid water from the hotwater bottles on a winter's morning's to wash (ice inside the glass on bedoom windows). My sister and I ...see more
My family of 8 moved to Duke Bar in 1960. I was 6 years old. We lived on Pheasantford Street, which is not visible on the photo but it was a right turn before reaching the Duke of York Hotel. I worked at Hudson's cake shop opposite the left side of the hotel. I worked for Mr and Mrs Hudson and served in the shop on Saturdays. I was 13 years old when I worked there. When I went home, Mrs Hudson would put any unsold ...see more
I first attended this camp in 1954 as a baby of 10 months of age and my first experience of the sea was with my father at that tender age. I attended for at least the next 10 years and learned to swim in the sea at Pagham and often played in the penny arcade and in the dunes behind the beach. I also used to fish for crabs at the old harbour and also fished with my father at the ...see more
In 1955, my mum owned the Beach Deckchair stand and the Penny Arcade named Funland. I worked on the beach chairs, and the Arcade in the evenings during the summer holidays. I recall that the bungalow next to the stand was called Laughing Waters and the elderly lady owner, had charge of her son's car in her garage; it was a vintage bull-nosed Morris car with spare petrol cans on the running boards! I swam ...see more
I have just booked a holiday to Church Farm Caravan Site for May 2011 and the reason for this is I used to holiday there every year from 1975 to 1979. My parents had a caravan on the Saltings I think it was number 11. We used to driver there in my dad's Ford Zephyr car and I can still remember the registration and the long front seats in red plastic made to look like leather. Our caravan had ...see more