Recent 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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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 19681 - 19760 of 36864 in total
There at the time when Cawthorne was a tour operator and whether it was coincidence or not the tour operator was called Harry Cawthorne coach tours. I do believe that they were an established firm; it could well be that the village was named after the Cawthorne family. My mother who was called Ivy Mitchell was to organise a trip to Blackpool to see the Blackpool illuminations. The thing about it was that we lived in ...see more
I lived in Loughton, and have fond memories of the Calypso Cafe. When I used to go there it was a well-known bikers' cafe. Some evenings there would be over a hundred motorbikes parked outside. There was also a pub next door which I believe was called the Horse and Wells. I met my wife, who was living in Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, and we often used to go to the pictures in Woodford, at the Majestic cinema. We were married in 1969, and then moved to Berkshire.
I can remember Huyton when it was a village, in the 1950s. The Police Station was at the end of Derby Rd. not far from St Micheal's Church. At the other end was Richardson's , a grocery shop which often had a ginger cat on the steps. My mother would buy her groceries here and I can remember sugar being weighed out into blue bags. About half way down Derby Rd. was the council offices with a War Memorial outside and ...see more
These barracks were used as the recruit training centre for the Territorial Army and all volunteers serving with the 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment completed basic training here in the 1960's before passing out to "trade training" with the Royal Signals. I completed my initial training here and quickly went on to train in Germany at RAF Geilenkirchen with the 42nd Signal Squadron. Altough the ...see more
I remember the fire very well: I was about seven or eight and shopping in Bromley with my mother that day. For a little while, we stood and watched the fire engines arrive and the firemen rushing about. As we were heading back to the car park in Swan Hill, we heard two elderly ladies excitedly describing to some people what they'd seen and their experience of trying to get through the crowds in the the High ...see more
My parents, sister Barbara and me, Brian, moved into 14 Oakleigh Gardens in 1938. Shortly afterwards Barbara and me enrolled at Warren Road School (the year it opened). Everything was perfect until 1939 when the Second World War broke out. We were too young to understand and headmaster Mr Stevens and his fantastic staff made sure things went on as usual. Air raid shelters were dug and many a lesson was held ...see more
My sister and I, Pam and Pat Haworth, were at Arley untill it closed in 1952. This happened due to water pipes supplying the Castle burst, and it was too expensive to re place them. I do remember after this happened we were set the task of getting water from the stream in front of the Castle!
I am sure my love of the countryside was fostered here. The smell of the Arbouretum in Autumn, the trees "ship" and ...see more
I was born in 1949, soon after my parents had moved into 36 Tait Avenue, one of the first Council Houses to be built at Hill Top, New Edlington. I lived there until 1963 shortly before the Comprehensive School was built on farmland at the back of our house. I assume that Tait Avenue was named after Councillor Tait although I never knew her.
My grandparents lived on Woodlands Terrace. They came to the village ...see more
Hi Edward, were you at Castle School in the early 1960s, 1961 to 1963? That's when I was there, I was in Crawley house, my name by the way is Ray Palfreyman, known in them days as Polly. I remember the lad you mentioned and his name was Danny Slaven, he was in Sofly House and the bastard that used to abuse him was Maddison, I remember he used to make him run while beating him with his walking stick to try and make him run faster, he was a sadistic bastard. Do you remember me?
My husband and I ran the Littleton Arms in the 1960s, my son Adam was born there in 1971 in the front bedroom. I remember Sunday nights when we had a pianist playing in the smoke room, what an atmosphere, it was great. I have many fond memories of the pub, we made many friends, but the most startling thing that happened was a car coming through the window and landing up by the bar, my children were ...see more
I lived at 20 Silver Close, Harrow Weald from 6 weeks old in 1941 until I left for Australia in 1961. I atended Harrow Weald Infants School from 1946, the old building was opposite the bus garage in the high road and was still standing when I was in the area on holiday from Australia in 1989, then I went to Harrow Weald Junior School which was next to the parish church, All Saints. Then I ...see more
I now live in Australia but as a youngster I grew up just outside Newport Pagnell at Tongwell Farm. Whilst at school in Newport and whilst they were building the M1 motorway we used to get collected in a mini bus and driven too and from school each day. I well remember the announcement that they were going to build a new city called Milton Keynes and the farm would be part of that new city. Despite ...see more
The journey from our home in North Essex to my grandparents’ home in North Derbyshire took almost a full day back in the 1950s, allowing of course for periodic stops along the way. The first, usually at Melton Mowbray was to purchase the famous pork pies, which were not at that time readily available nation-wide. We would always include a couple for my grandparents who also appreciated ...see more
I once worked in a Cottage Hospital, situated on the edge of Savernake Forest in the West Country. The hospital doctors were also the local General Practitioners. The wards consisted of one surgical and one maternity ward and a third ward which was comprised of everything else, all mixed up together. In one bed there was an elderly lady with heart failure ...see more
Bowness on Windermere
My grandmother was born in Vine Cottage Kingsdown and all my great aunts and uncles lived there. We spent many a happy holiday either staying in Vine Cottage in the attic as there was only one proper bedroom in the cottage or at No. 66 Kingsdown, a cottage which has since been demolished and a house built on the site. We would walk over the golf course to Monkton Farleigh ...see more
I am the youngest child of Thomas the milk and delivered milk on horse and cart from age 11 for 3 years and then went modern when the horse died. I remember Alastair Macsorley, his mum and the rest of the family, they lived opposite our dairy in Penybryn Avenue, after they moved Mr and Mrs Roper moved into their house, next door to Doll and Id Jones. My parents had a bungalow built on a piece of ...see more
Hello, I am rying to find out about my grandfather's past, Angus Macdonald, born 1862. He became a good artist and fiddle player and also a fisherman so my mother tells me, I am told he came from Greenock, I wonder if anyone heard or knew about his fiddle playing back in the day or has some of his work hanging on a wall? He moved to Carradle in Kintyre.
I was born in 1949 in Northcote Road just across the road from the Gloucester. My uncle, Eddie Clements, lived there up until January 2012. He has just recently passed away. I have fond memories of the area. I went to Tavistock School in the 1960s. I spent many hours playing in Whitehorse Road Rec. Stanley Halls was a night out for me when I was not really old enough to get in. Later I moved to ...see more
It's so lovely to see this! I lived in that house on the left from the age of 5/6 years old in 1954/55 until 1966 before moving to Italy where I have lived ever since. It belonged to my mother's sister and her husband, their name was Horniblow.. but my parents and I and my twin, Lesley, continued to live there until it was sold, to the local council I believe, not long before I came to Italy to study art in ...see more
I remember my swing in the front garden, and the Christmas tree was so tall we used to have to go on the second floor to put the fairy on top of the tree. Mum, every year, walking my brothers and myself up the hill at the back of the house to sit on a huge rock, and the daffodils growing everywhere, so many happy days.
I too remember Mr. Britnell and Mr. Kincaid, who initially lived in one of the workers cottages built for the local farm labourers in Dennis Way just round the corner from where I lived in St.Andrews Way. He took enormous strides and would walk in the road on the way to school because the kids would just get in his way. I think he came from Canada. Mr.R.B. Santa was the head,Miss W.E. Weeks the deputy, and ...see more
I used to live at No 39 Low Street for a good few years. My neighbours Stanley Robertson, William and Christine McPherson and Jeeny Stewart and across from me were the Mutches. I also went to the school there from 1962 until 1970.
How lovely to read all these memories and what a lot I had forgotten over the years!
I too, was born in Thornton House (1951) in Warwick Toad, I never realised that it used to be a school. In later years it was turned into flats and I returned there to visit my Great Aunt. We lived in Alpine Road, a few doors down from where Ronnie Biggs (Great Train Robber) had lived, then in 1956 we moved to Westway ...see more
This was built upon to become Orpin and Melton Roads. My Grandfather, Jack Deverill, bought a house in Melton Road ( Rubijean) and had a thatched Summerhouse built on the site of the old tennis pavillion
As a child, I remember the staff in the Co-op store asking me if I would like to see some kittens, which they produced from a cardboard box kept underneath the counter! The shop is now a Hairdressers. The Morris Traveller car (registration XPD600) shown in the photograph belonged to my Grandfather, Jack Deverill, who lived in Melton Road.
My Nan (Rose) was born in Aldbury and married at the church (Fred). My Mum (Karen) then kept up a long tradition and married (Dad- Paul), a jump jockey who worked in the village for Peter Harris. Me and my sister thoroughly enjoy visiting and walking up to the monument, around the pond, and then dining in the Trooper! Whether it's listening to the horses, watching the barrel racing, or looking at ...see more
Does anyone remember the Watson family? My mam was Maud, she had six brothers, George, Bob, Harry, Tony, Terry and Bernard. Their father worked in Kib Pittand drank in the Lamsley Arms.
I was born in Cwrt Coch Street, Aberbargoed in 1965. I remember I used to sit in Chris the cobbler's shop for hours chatting, his shop was a mess but he was good. When I was about 10 I was sat on the pavement waiting for my mam to come home from work, when the work bus with the pit men came down the street and went into the wall and knocked it down on top of me. I was taken to hospital in ...see more
I went to Tew Park in September 1940 as an evacuee, the manor house had been taken over by a school for handicapped children from Fulham, south west London. I was 13 years old and the only child from Tottenham. I soon made friends with the other children, even some from the village of Great Tew, and in 1941 I was May Queen and a boy from the village was May King. I left in 1942 and returned to Tottenham. I am the mother of Terry Maloney, my maidon name was Peggy Oliver.
The wide area in the foreground is actually Agricultural Hall Plain. Prince of Wales Road starts in the background. Roads are quite rare in Norwich - they are mainly streets, lanes, plains and gates.
ref w46672. The PO is the second building on the right with the columns. The nearer brick building is The Agricultural Hall. The old Cattle Market was behind this. Anglia TV set up studios in this building and renamed it Anglia House.
The old showman's type caravan at the back of the field was owned by a Mr Palmer and was still on the site in 1970 when we left (the site was being sold). Mr Palmer had a small dinghy in which he used to go fishing out to sea, having launched from the beach with Mr Bishop from another van on the site. The boat could have been Bishop's, I'm not sure.
ref W400054. This photograph shows a Vauxhall Viva. I think this photo is dated between 1967-70, probably nearer 67 as the caravan seen centre left is my grandfather's and that partiucler van, a Marston, was not bought until 1967. The PO was run by Mr & Mrs Murphy. I spent most summer weekends and annual holidays at Walcott from 1957 to 1970.
I was one of three children of a soldier stationed at Bramley Army camp. I remember being taken to my first day at school in Bramley village school in 1930 and I refused to go through the school gate. Therefter I went on a school bus with my elder sister to Basingstoke, to Fairfield School, until I was nine years old. My father was discharged from the arrmy in 1934 when the whole family moved to York, North ...see more
I remember the person who broke his leg that day was Bernie Lowe as I was playing for the team Hound United against Netley FC on that pitch. I also remember your father as I played for them for a season with I think your brother Arthur. I played also for Netley Sports for a number of years and still come back now to the village. I have very fond memories of the village when to me it was the best place to live ...see more
The photo you show is exactly as I remember Pontardawe in the 1960s. I was born at 7 James Street in 1955 opposite Davies the ironmongers. Cherished momories I will never forget.
I went to Mitcham Grammar in the fifties, turning left out of the school gates you could walk up to a small parade of shops. There was a small grocery shop on the corner owned by a rather corpulent elderly man. He had a huge white goose (well it looked huge to us!) which always stood outside the shop and would go for us boys if we got anywhere near it. It usually looked a bit scruffy with a "fringe" rather dirty ...see more
I remember every summer visting my grandmother and family on my father's side, going up on the mountain and just having fun up there. To me it is a special place and always will be, even now as a grown women still visting family I still have to go to the mountains.
I live in Watford but I was born at 55 South Crescent in 1953, my mother's maiden name was Christlow, they moved to 16 Reginald Street. I remember visiting one time and my cousin Joe Lee used to play the bass drum in the colliery band and I went along to a practice session in the school playground in North Road. My uncle Norman Christlow used to have an allotment behind the picture ...see more
I spent quite a time at this hospital when I was a child, all the staff were very good. It was my second home, I went there when I was born in 1958 whth my angelical hip bone, I shall miss the old place.
I attended Warnham Court School in 1963 for 3 three years and loved every minute. I don't remember many names apart from Rita Dixon, Terry Ledane and some members of staff. Does anyone remember me?
I have many good memories of Daccombe and still go down there to this day clearing the rabbits for the farmers. It to me has to be the best village going. The people are so friendly and it's lovely to see everyone doing there own thing down there, whether it be horse riding, ploughing the fields to gardening etc. On the Daccombe to Cofetherfinswell road is a remarkable lady called Judy and she grows her own food ...see more
My aunt and uncle, Dot and Mick Perkins, ran the Commercial Inn, now renamed the Bishop John de Grandeson. I don't know when they took it over but they ran it for over 30 years. As a child my mum and dad, aunts, uncles and cousins all stopped at the Commercial for Christmas. I remember Mick's pigeon loft and loads of empty gin bottles stacked out the back of the pub. This is now a ...see more
In 1950 I was 12 years old and I remember going to Westy's sweet shop in Crownfield Road with our ration book to get sweets, and hopefully cigs for my mum. My dad was killed in 1942 near Mayville Road School. He was in the ARP and was killed when a Lancaster bomber crashed on his headquarters. I remember Walklins the bakers in Eytonstone High Road and Elstermacs the toy shop. For Christmas our ...see more
It's not a memory or not mine anyway, I'm hoping it might be yours...
I'm looking for information on my Great Grandad, Walter Payne, born around 1891, I think he originated from London, he married Kate Thompson and live in Cwmgorse. Any help please email me :)
Hi, I am wondering if anyone would possibly have a picture of this house, in World War Two, I don't even know the name of the house, but Percy Linden/Lynden lived in this during the war. His family was the owner of Fletts (not sure of the spelling) Sauce. I don't think he ever married, he had a dog called Jack, and when he use to come out the pub, he would often get ...see more
Can anyone tell me where the stone quarry was at Sheriff Hill? From 1944-1949 I lived at Springfield Place. My grandparents lived at Egremond Gardens. On the 1911 census my grand father and great-grandfather are living at Lilac House, Larne Crescent (not far from St. John's church). My great-grandfather is buried in St John's churchyard. Lilac House is private road so after a visit to Sheriff Hill, I found the ...see more
My name is Peter Smith. I have some wonderful memories of Ryde. The flying boats in East Cowes is one of them. The trams that ran through Ryde, before the underground stock was bought in from London. I remember being severly told off one day for stripping naked and jumping in the boating lake, bear in mind I was only about 7 or 8 I think, lol. I don't know if others would remember my gran, she worked in the ...see more
You caught newts in the reservoir, just off Greig Park....down at the trenches....apples and pears in the berries...an old garden down Haughmill Lane...who remembers the barrel bridge....and the tennis courts?
As a young child mother would always take me to Barnsley where she'd do most of the shopping. Barnsley may have been something of a rundown town but one could always have a bargain. There in the old market was Oatfields caravan which would have been a three berth, but it was gutted on the inside with forms to sit on. Nearest to the door was a small cramped kitchen and bar. Oatfields would serve home-made mince ...see more
My gran stayed in a wee cottage across from Kinears (the grocer), used to play rounders at auld beenie Aggie's front door. Play areas were the lintholes, the wells green, the mear, swam in the summer after building a dam at the bridge over the back burn. Other gran / grandad owned the ice cream shop on the corner at Windygates (bottom galles )...want to know more?
I do think this picture could be a lot earlier than 1955. I think this Aylesbury road, heading down into Risborough. The St.George playing field, being on the right behind the hedge. The houses in the distant right, are down Longwick road I believe.
My grandmother was in service in a house in Saltwood. I have been trying for years to locate it but to no avail. All I know is the address is: Whythenshaw, Saltwood, Kent. I am assuming it was a house but it may not have been. If anyone can help solve the puzzle it would be very much appreciated.
I can vaguely remember Les Walker catching a big salmon in Rock Dub although I'm not so sure of the year. Lots of salmon were caught in those days, it was a great river until the water authority ruined it by over extraction at Ennerdale. I myself witnessed a kill of millions of smolts and parr just below the temporary extraction pumps at the lake sometime in the 1960s. But back in the good old days I once caught ...see more
I was born in 1967 in Tipton. I lived close to Victoria Park and have fond memories of sitting on the witch's hat swing which when looking back was sooo dangerous but fun. The metalic slide, made slippy from greased bread wrapping papers, was almost far too dangerous for a young child, and my mother remembers having to sit me on her lap to slide me down. We fed the ducks and the pond wasnt fenced off and mum was ...see more
I and a few other chidren were sent from Portsmouth authorities to this school which was for malajusted children. Mr Benions was the principle and it was run on the lines of a Rudolf Steiner School. We had no schooling and were made to work scrubbing and cleaning all day. The punishments were tremendous. We tried to get letters out to tell our parents but they were all censored. When Portsmouth Authorities found ...see more
Born in 1936 at Blackhall Rocks. Went to junior school at Blackhall Colliery and then to Henry Smith at Hartlepool. Nana used to live in Third Street (Graham) with my 3 uncles (Thomas, Jack and Stanley). I have very fond memories of this period of my life and going to Crimdon Dene for days out and to play on the beach and in the caves at Blackhall Rocks. Lived in Poplar Avenue until I was 17 and then a career and the big wide world!
To left of the bus is the bakers.
I grew up in Huntingdon, I remember the old town back then, Okendens, almost across from the George Hotel, and Wyles the shoe shop. It was a nice town. I remember the jumble sales held in all the churches were exciting events, and the old cinema, I miss the old town a lot, I have good memories. I remember the Cromwell Cafe which was owned by Greeks and had great food, my school mates would meet ...see more
In 1954 I was 10 and went to the junior school in Horden, then moved on to the Secondary Modern, where I learnt to play the violin, the music teacher was Mr Neal and the head master was Mr James. After leaving school I went down the mines which was the only option then. I was brought up by my grandparents, Peter and Lisa Rowland. In 1960 I left the pit and joined the DLI as a musician, I stayed in the army ...see more
I was born in what used to be the Aldersbrook Maternity Home and lived in Shakespeare Crescent, Manor Park until my parents moved in 1983 to a flat in Aldersbrook which had been the maternity home - talk about coming full circle! I have so many memories of East Ham it's hard to know where to start. I went to East Ham Girls' Grammar School in 1964 and had a wonderful education from great teachers such as ...see more
I worked in the Buying sction of W. T. Henleys as a Clerk for about two years before leaving to join another cable manufactring company at Leatherhead. I remember there being a very fine staircase in the building.
I started work for the first time on 31st December 1946 as a messenger in the Bridge Section of the Chief Civil Engineers Department of the Southern Railway. Our offices were situated on the whole of the top floor of the building. Then on the 1st January 1947 the railways were nationalised and I worked for the Railway Executive at Deepedene until I was called up for National Service in 1951.
My wife and I were married in this church on the 30th March 1957. I had spent most of the first twenty five years as a Sunday School member and later as a full member of the Methodist Church.
Leadgate will always be in my heart. Some of my happiest times spent in Geordie's cafe and playing football on a Sunday afternoon with some of the best lads ever. Silky, Tommy and Malcom Coates, Hat.(Kev Calcutt), Gats (Alan Robertson) tragically killed at the Iveston along with Cogy (Davy Calvert) in the early 1970s. Does anyone remember Little Willy who used to go in the cafe. I remember having my ...see more
Born in Wimbledon 1950, I lived in Trevelyan Road in Tooting until I was 10 when we moved to South Lambeth. My nan lived behind the Granada in Tooting and she cleaned there. She lived in Bickley Street. I went to Sellincourt Road School, buying sweets etc from Mrs Alexander's shop which was next door to Bernard Say's shop on the way to and from school. Mrs Alexander's husband also repaired shoes at the ...see more
My mother Janet Ravens, and her sister Gweneth, lived in South Woodford from 1943 to around 1958. I am researching her family tree and also trying to get together photos of the time in the places she lived. (She turns 70 next year). Also, I am trying to trace her cousin, Brenda Ravens, who was a couple of years older, who had a daughter Jane Kearney, who has probably long since married, she would be 48 ...see more
I was born in Vicarage Road and went to Rainsford Way Primary School. This was near the Hornchurch Bus Garage and us boys would watch the big red Routemaster buses swinging round in that tight space with screeching tyres.
We used to play in the streets or have dens in our gardens. We would climb trees in Harrow Lodge Park and get chased by the Parky. We had to keep a look out for the Teds, who would ...see more
My father, Alexis Alfred Hare, was born at 88 Sizewell Road Leiston in 1916. He lived there with his parents Marmaduke and Kathleen and his brother Alec. He was an apprentice printer for the local newspaper. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers them. Thank you.
This little girl could be me! I spent many happy hours playing with my model boat here, while visiting my grandmother, Ruth Knowles from Fawcett Road in the town. What happy memories!
My father was born in 1916 at 88 Sizewell Road Leiston, and lived there with his parents Marmaduke and Kathleen and brother Alec. He was apprenticed as a printer in Leiston I believe. His grandmother lived in Sizewell. I would love to hear from anybody who has any memories of these people. Thank you.
I would like a photo of the old Bath House at Neyland. If anyone has any old pictures which I could have copies from I would be grateful. garry.thomas@talk21.com
Garry Thomas
Robert Benson, also known as Toby, left his Manchester home in June 1901 and came to Lambourn to be a jockey. He was apprenticed to Captain Ossie Bell at York House, but was sacked for giving racing tips to punters. He had some involvement with the training of the 1928 Derby winner, Felstead, so must have been back with Captain Bell at that time. He never did become a jockey. In 1911 he lived ...see more
I remember the small apple orchard at the bottom of Church Road near the school, climbing over the fence and scrumping and filling my pockets, then getting back over the fence and with horror seeing the farmer (Mr Chaplin) coming round the corner with his 12 bore shot gun over his arm, he looked like Charlie Chaplin in a old black suit and hat, he gave me a look and I ran for my life dropping most of the apples in flight. Memories from Gerry Andress.
We lived in Belfast and our summer holidays were in Portrush. My father was a pianist and his dance band played the summer season at the Seabank Hotel. I and my sister remember playing on the beach at The Arcadia as this was a safe beach. Barry's amusement arcade was visited frequently as the weather was usually wet and cold. We would get on the beach and make a dash for the water and get out again in a ...see more
I remember Hogarth Close going up - it seemed out of place as all the rest of Bower Way was bungalows or modest 2-storey houses but with good-sized gardens. This was different - small gardens and lots of 3-storey buildings. I seem to remember it was built on the site of 2 big houses?
I remember going to school in the village. My family were all from the village and worked for JCB, maybe someone knows my family, the Tompkinsons. It would be nice to heare from someone who knows them or relatives, as I have not been back for 20 years.
I was caned regularly by Mr Bowls. My mother came to see once and saw the welt marks on the back of my legs and another lad called David Hyde, she went down to his house and tried dragging the matron out, the matron was screaming out that Bowls was in his office. My mam barged in and set about him, me and David Hyde ran down to the office and the coward Bowls was cowering down on the floor with his glasses ...see more
I attended St Andrew's school in the 1960s (next to the church), I sang in the church choir when we had school assembly at the church every Wednesday and Mr Brooked played the fabulous organ. We also played in the churchyard too as it was for a long time our playground. We went on nature walks in the churchyard with our teacher, and loved the countryside we found there. Once we lost our class guinea pig inside a grave ...see more
