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.
Search for Local Memories
Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
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:
-
How the location features in your personal history?
-
The memories this place inspires for you?
-
Stories about the community, its history and people?
-
People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
-
Has it changed over the years?
-
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:
...and hundreds more!
Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.
Subscribe
Join the thousands who receive our regular doses of warming nostalgia! Have our latest blog posts and archive news delivered directly to your inbox. Absolutely free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Displaying Memories 27361 - 27440 of 36892 in total
I was dressed up as the 'knave of hearts' with real jam tarts on the plate which my mam made. My friend Martin Morgan was dressed as 'Andy Capp', most of the village dressed up, children and grown ups, and if they didn't they were involved in other ways. I also remember the following year I dressed as 'Puppet on a String' in bare feet like Sandie Shaw, they were the begining of some great memories.
Jane Arch Davies
I am trying to trace a woman by the name of Lily Fox, born in 1938 in Ireland. We know a Lily Fox married a Derek Rose on the 7th March 1959 in St Barnabas Church in Mitcham. He was a carpenter aged 26 and she was a cashier aged 20 years at that time. The address I have is 63 Ashbourne Road, in Mitcham where they were living when they got married.
I know Lily had a baby daughter in March 1960, as a postcard was ...see more
I hope someone can help me on this, I worked in a garage just off the Broadway in Gladstone Road in 1967, quite a large garage which sold cars etc, but for the life of me I cannot remember the name of it. I do remember that it had a ramp to the side of it going up to the roof of the building and it also had an entrance in Russel Road and had a fuel pump located there, if someone could help me on this I would be most grateful.
I don't really know too much about the area other than my grandparents lived at Pen-y-nant, Rhosymadoc until the mid 1990s. Any info would be greatly received.
It brought it all back to me after reading comments by Jeff Garry. The lady he refers to as his 'Nan' was my great aunt Jean. I vividly recollect spending 2 weeks with Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Bob when they lived in the house adjoining the old brewery. Uncle Bob Garry and my grandmother Rachel were brother and sister. At the time I visited, Jeff's dad George was not married and I remember ...see more
Does anyone remember playing at Northolt airport in the 1950s? I seem to remember they had a huge play area and it was very busy on Sunday afternoons.
This is Arthur Shackson with the donkeys from the New Inn Hotel (Kiwi and Peggy). Arthur was the Porter for many years for the New Inn, meeting the guest at the top of the cobbled street and transporting their luggage to the hotel half way down the village. The donkeys were used to carry the luggage to the top in the morning, plus other items which needed to be taken to the top, ie all returns from the bar.
After leaving school my first job was in Cuffs department store on the counter selling scarves and gloves. I was a very shy girl but a lovely lady named Tessa took me under her wing and we became friends. She was older than me and had a really good sense of humour - I often wonder what became of her. My next position was opposite Cuffs working as a window dresser (this is what I had always wanted to do)for ...see more
I have a picture somewhere of Blakesley Manor, which was demolished in about 1967 and replaced with a housing estate!!! My dad thought that he should have inherited it, but he found out that it was left to his grandparents (who were ordinary people, in service) with extensive repairs needed plus death duties, thus it went into chancery. I always remember the shock and sense of unfairness I felt, when I found out ...see more
This photo shows the arrival of Royal Mail being deliverd to the Post Office at Higher Clovelly. The mail for Clovelly village was then loaded on to the donkey and taken down the steep cobbled street to the Post Office in the village where it was delivered by the postman. The Royal Mail employees in the photo are Roy Fisher who was the local postman, and on the right is Studley Shute of ...see more
We lived at East Ashling Grange for the first 3 years of our marriage. My husband was in the Royal Sussex Regt. and was based at the Depot in Chichester. I am doing a family history for my children and would love a photo of the Grange. We have some of the garden with our firstborn in his pram but they are not interesting to other people I feel! We were married "off the strength" because we were too young ...see more
My family moved to an old Baker's Shop, partially converted, called "Dunsden House" , Binfield Heath about 5 miles from Henley. I used the school bus, Butler's coaches of Henley to get to school. As a previous contributer has mentioned, we had to share our schooling with a School from Kensington. My class had lessons in the morning and sports or gardening in the afternoons. Under Mr. Le Beau, I ...see more
My parents and my grandparents had their holidays on this caravan site from about 1961 to about 1967. I remember my grandfather taking me to the shop on the site to buy sweets. The owner had a green Ford V8 Pilot which we rode in to town once. I also remember the site next door which was bigger and the stream which I was told to keep away from and was covered with green algae. Sadly my wife and I went back recently, and there is now a big retail park.
Happy day!
I remember innocent days playing football on Grove Park until you could hardly see the ball. I lived in Greenfield Street and recall tying a piece of string from behind the garden wall to the fence on the back lane and sitting in wait for someone to come along to trip up, and in the winter we would slid down the three corners dumps on cardboard.
We never had a lot but it was always an adventure, ...see more
I was born in Marbury in 1954. My name is Christine Campbell and I was one of 6 children born to Paul and Kathleen Campbell. My dad worked for ICI. We were allowed to swim in the local open air swimming pool for free. The pool is just as it was all those years ago, it still has the chalk board on the wall to give the temperature of the water. I took part in a swimming gala and won first prize when I was ...see more
We came to to Tithe Farm estate on Boxing Day in 1961. They sent my brother Neil and I to Ickneld School in Dunstable, then Tithe Farm School, then on to Northfield School in Dunstable. The memories are endless. I am now 58 but feel as if I an 18. Where did the time go! It's all as if it was yesterday.
Barry Blythe.
I remember living in Princetown in Woodville Close, my dad worked at the prison, Paddy O'Neill. I started school in Princetown and don't have many good memories of the school, in fact on my first day I walked out and went home at morning playtime and was dragged back through the village by my mum. I really did not like Princetown Primary School, I recall having to ask the teacher if you needed toilet paper and you ...see more
I grew up in Dundee Street in Darlington. I remember the shops on each end of Dundee Street and Montrose Street, and the alleys between, the alleys were made of blue tiles that always sparkled in rain and frost. I remember the rag and bone man on his cart pulled by a horse, calling "Rag and bone, rag and bone" as he trundled down the back alleys. We had a coal shute in our back yard that had an opening in the alley that ...see more
Over Here...
The first American troops to arrive in our part of the world arrived in 1942. The came to what became know as Sudbury Camp (nearly in Marchington). A hospital was built at the present site of HMP Prison. A great marshalling yard was built outside Sudbury Railway Station. The first American troops were transportation types, not infantrymen. Firstly, they were all white, then black soldiers arrived. ...see more
My father, Mr.J.A.Green, supplied milk to Claverdon and the surrounding villages for many years. We used to buy our petrol at the pump by the forge. It was owned by Mr. Robin Loman.
I lived as a child in Down Road, Alveston (at Barton Cottage - now demolished) from 1959 to 1964 and have great memories of Thornbury. Having no car in those days the family would march down the hill into Thornbury to Mass on Sunday, occasionally hitching a lift with a fellow parishioner, possibly a Mr Sheppard who drove a large Austin Cambridge car. The church in those days was part of a small house in, I ...see more
I lived in Fron until I was 16. Lived at what was "Bourne Terrace". Went to Fron School then Llangollen Grammar School. Fond memories of working in my Uncles shop (Ethelstons) and delivering bread and groceries around the village and surrounds. Used to play in the "Rec" down by the canal drawbridge. Now live, in retirement, near Weston super Mare in North Somerset after a career in the Police Force. ...see more
I am doing research for the family book on our Viney Line. The Vineys all lived in Peckham and I am know looking for there descendent's. My Line Josiah Viney did an indenture in the printing business for Edmund William Mason Carey in 1877. His father Robert Viney was a grocer and had 3 men working for him and they lived at 102 high st camberwell surrey. Robert married Elizabeth Finncane(finucom)Watson of ...see more
My maternal grandmother (Alice Brown) took over the cottage 'up the lane' from the village and ran boarding and breeding kennels there from 1948 until 1966. The cottage was condemned when she took it over, it belonged to the Lord of the Manor Douglas White. I spent many happy times there and used to frequent Home Farm and play with Audrey Rickards and her sisters. I used to help on Wally's farm ...see more
My paternal grandparents lived in a house called "Chuzzlewit", opposite the Green Dragon. My grandfather was called Hedley and my grandmother was Francis Sarah. I lived for a time at "The Tetherings" in Whaddon and went to Alderbury School. My father (Dereck) and myself also sang in the church choir. My parents were married at Alderbury church in 1942. My maternal grandmother (Alice Brown) and my mother ( Aline nee Fyfe) lived in Whaddon in the 30's as well.
My memores relate to 1950 (year of my birth) onwards. My maiden name was Lockett. I was born at The Pines, Sheath lane in 1950 (delivered by John Lytle) and about 2-3 years later my father built 'Whitethorns' on Goldrings Road. It was a wonderful road to grow up in and I had lots of friends my own age and we were always in and out of each other's houses. being out and about was safe and Oxshott Woods was a wonderful place ...see more
My ancestor Henry Fisher lived here according to the 1881 census with his wife Amelia and their 10 children! He was a maltster, so I will have to research breweries.
My father's grandfather was Mayor of Broadstairs and it would be fun to know if anyone knows anyone "old" or young who have any info re this time I'd be very pleased and grateful Can't remember his first name name but his surname was as my maiden name of course Pilbrow. My father w as born 1912,two months before the Titanic went down so that will give you a rough idea of the ...see more
My father built the square flat roofed house called Beverley on the sand dunes in the late 1920s next to the bungalow by the creek. It has since had two refurbishments, the first of which included a conventional roof. I visited the house with my grandfather following the 1953 disastrous high tide. Between the house and a 30ft drop there was just one row of slabs. We stood ...see more
Hello my name is Lee Shipley. I'm looking for any info on my grandad Robert Shipley who worked in a cafe on Northolt Road in South Harrow in the 1950s. If you have any info on him please could you email me at: leeshipley@ymail.com Thankyou.
I like to remember my childhood in Darlington where I grew up until I moved to Whitley Bay.
We used to spend lots of time in the South Park, on the swings, around the rose garden and of course the roller skating rink. I noticed on a nostalgic trip back there recently the only remaining feature of my skating days is the bandstand, lovingly restored.
I could hear the peacock crying ...see more
Just to the southeast of St Thomas a Becket church there are some lovely watermeadows reaching almost to the sea shore. A small beck, or stream, runs N-S down one side. One summer's day in 1942 or 43, I went on a picnic there with the Shoesmith family of North Streey, Havant. The sun shone, the larks sang high in the cloudless sky. It was one of those unforgettable magic days of childhood, when ...see more
The is a picture of Totney House on lower Kingsdown Road. I was captivated by this house as a small child walking past it, with its white-washed walls and thatched roof. I eventually got to go inside when a school friend's family moved into it in the 1970s, the views from the terrace at the back of the house were incredible, and the house itself was as lovely as I hoped it would be.
As a child growing up in Windlesham village I was frustrated because there was so little to do. I went to the local school which backed onto our house at the bottom of Poplar Avenue which joined Up Down hill. When I had grown up and married I moved back to the village because it provided the tranquil refuge I craved! I knew the 'battling farmer' Glanfield. He fought the authorities for compensation when the ...see more
I originally lived in Blackhills Terrace, Horden and went to Blackhills Road Junior School and like my brothers and sister went on to Dene House Comprehensive. As a kid I did not really venture a lot into Peterlee, probably if I was lucky to see the jazz bands at the carnival. Then after starting at the Comp in 1982 we moved to Southway into a 3 storey house which was great. When it snowed (and in those days it DID ...see more
The photo shows the remaining houses on Barrack Road; another survivor being Wellington Terrace in adjacent Raglan Road. Local opposition to the demolition of this historic site was ignored and the wrecking ball was sent to work and I for one was deeply saddened. There was probably never much hope for the original massive buildings although it had been hoped that the great clock tower might ...see more
The day of Prince Charles' wedding to Lady Diana Spencer was declared an extra Bank Holiday so the dancers and musicians of Whitethorn Morris marked the occasion by dancing at pubs! We went to Elstree and had a lovely time at The Hollybush and The Plough, with the women looking splended in their scarlet and blue kit and shiny black clogs. I took my piano accordian to provide dance music and we even got the pub goers to join in!
The Old Bull Morris Men were based at the Old Bull Arts Centre in nearby Barnet and would regularly turn out to perform at pubs in south west Hertfordshire around 1979 - 1981. Originally founded as a mixed side of dancers who performed in the clog wearing "north-west tradition" they eventiually settled down as a mens side. I can remember joining them around 1980 for my ...see more
I lived in Dorking from 1945 to 1964 and was having a nostalgic browse through web sites associated with the area and found this photograph. I went to St Nicholas Preparatory School, as it was then, from 1951 to 1954 as a day boy, catching the bus from Dorking every morning. My memories of the place are vivid and I certainly remember Miss Garrard but, to my discredit, I cannot remember the names of any of the other ...see more
The lady with the shopping bag and wearing sunglasses in this picture is my mother, Hilda Hounsell. She had either visited the library or her sister who lived at the bottom of Easst Street.
I shall always remember the night in 1968 when I rode my motorcycle - an old BSA Bantam - over the A1 and it blew out on me. My parents used to live in Ickburgh in Norfolk (a little village between Brandon, Suffolk and Swaffham, Norfolk) and I was in the first year of a five year engineering apprenticeship to Rolls-Royce in Derby. This night in late autumn, about 8 o'clockish, I had ...see more
Barlborough Hall School celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, and I am trying to collect memories of anyone who has had an association with the school during this time. The parents' association then hope to publish a collection of the memories to raise funds for the school, and all the memories collected will be used as a unique educational resource for present and future pupils. If you can help, ...see more
In relation to Margaret's memory of 'crossing the moor', we did the same! I have various memories of gym periods in embarrassing shorts, running around on 'the moor', with the boys from the 'new' Ravenspark School (now Irvine) passing us and whistling etc. Heather C. and Joan R. were my pals -I've used my own name here - maybe someone remembers? The old building was lovely, I loved the 'lecture room', seen ...see more
My grandparents, Henry and Ida Gladys Ward, came to Trebanog with their two daughters during the recession in the late 1920s to work in the mines. He had a brother, William, who worked as a butcher in Porth. I was hoping if someone remembers the time they spent there. Regards M Denney
My uncle, Sir Howard Button. bought 2 cottages, Mallows and Yew Tree Cottage and a house, Straw Hall, in 1915.
I have an album of photographs of the cottages from 1915 - 1926.
My uncle let us (my parents, my brother and myself) and other members of the family use the cottages for their holidays. Straw Hall was used by 2 of his relations. We holidayed there from about 1930 to the beginning of the ...see more
I have many very happy memories of Ebley and the local towns and villages that I explored with my best friend Jimmy Stratford (now passed on). We traveled far and wide on our cycles, even though we were then not teenagers. We had no fear then. There were village shops, Mr Cordwell's shop, the Post Office shop, plus two others. We could get our sweets (with our ration book coupons of course ) at the pub. There ...see more
Does anyone recall the education reserve at Suntrap? I wonder if it's still going today? I visited it on Wednesdays whilst still at primary school, in approximately 1975-1978. The class would be split into 2 groups, one group would be led by Miss Beaver and the other by Mr Britain-Dodd (?). There were lots of wild animals in their natural habitat. Still teaching today? Kids - you don't know how good you've got it!
I was born at St Margaret's hospital, Epping in 1967. I remember my first day at school and being terrified! I remember every teacher with fondness. The green surrounding the school was an extension to the playground and you had to be able to hear the bell! This was rung by a senior pupil who ran the perimeter of the building whilst shaking a large hand held bell before returning it to the ...see more
I grew up in Victoria Road in the 1950s and 1960s. I remember the fish shop that has been written about. There was an off licence on one corner of Victoria Road and Cranbrook Road and Williamsons stores on the other side of the road. My mum used to clean for Mrs Williamson. By Doubles, across Cranbrook Road, there was a Political Committee shop/office, Ciltom Furnishers (who later moved over to Williamsons ...see more
My parents John and Constance Leblique spent their honeymoon at the Castle Rock Hotel in Mortehoe starting on 11th October 1945.
I hope I am not giving away any military secrets but this seems so long ago now: in the 1960s I was serving in the 39th Signal Regiment and Poundon House was used as a remote countryside hideaway where we could train for our signals work.
I spent many visits here grappling with 'OTLP' codes and seeing precious little of the surrounding glorious countryside as I was cooped up in the locked 'Comcens' (communication centres).
I remember staying at the youth hostel in Greens Norton with the patrol leaders of the 6th Northwood Scout Group. I was an ASL (Assistant Scout Leader) with the troop for several years and as I had always loved going to the YHA hostels I suggested a couple of days' cycling for the older boys.
Maybe the other leaders knew more than me as none of them volunteered to come with me! So I ...see more
I lived on Carlton Road, across the A22 from Danemore Lane, close to Anglefield Corner from 1963 to 1981 and have very fond memories of a fun childhood, lots of friends, and a lot of fields, streams and lakes to play in. I went to Oxtead County, and then did my apprenticeship at Monotype in Salfords while going to Redhill College. In 1981, I moved to the USA and worked at Honda of America in Ohio. I now live in ...see more
From birth until I joined the Royal Navy, at 15 years of age, I lived in a very rural area about a mile outside of Sundridge. The cottage we lived in was about 1/2 way between Sundridge and Ide Hill, very near Sundridge Hospital. It had the, almost, unbelievable name of New Batney Brooms. We were surrounded by open farmland and woodland so I spent the school summer holidays running around these ideal play grounds. Ah what memories!
I used to live in Cheapside, in about 1945.
We were brought up in Wroughton and my dad worked at Burderop hospital as a nurse in the 1970s to the very early 1980s. We had a staff house in the grounds of the hospital. I have so many happy childhood memories of being brought up there and going to school in the village. One of the most vivid and enjoyable was that I used to love going down the hill with Dad in the car to get our bread from Old Dick's ...see more
I loved growing up in the 'cape' as we called it. In the hot summer of 1977 I remember going up the mountain behind Villiers Road to go picking whinberries with my uncle Peter Morris, and I insisted on carrying them back down the hill and fell over with the tiny berries flying every where! They took hours to pick.
I also remember going with my friends up the hill behind Scotch Street, we used to slide down ...see more
I lived at the junction of Brock Hill and Wantz Corner from birth in 1949 till 1960. In those days we had fields to the side and rear of us and also across the road in Brock Hill. We played in the brick fields, and I remember my mum shooing us all outside to get fresh air. We didn't have a TV so we spent a lot of time outdoors, making secret dens and building forts etc. Some time after the floods of 1953 ...see more
Hello Billy
And Heggies, Boormans and Ellis's, Melia's, Grants the Chandlers, the Coop...(later across the road), Midland Bank, Linda Gail, The Dairy... The Parish Hall
Down Leasowe Road, Paulie's Field, Whites sweetshop, Cross Lane, The Market Gardens... Joynsons, Crosses, Jackson and Swift, The Websters, Malloys.
Yorks, The Phoenix, Irwins...the Bus Shelter, The Cop Shop on the side, Manleys the Chemist
Wow, memories eh??
Santos
Whilst serving in the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Yeovilton the squadron I was serving on had an organised function in the Red Lion and I well remember standing outside and saying to my brother, who was also on the same squadron, that one day I would like to live in Somerton. That day came in 1975 when together with my wife we left married quarters and moved into a newly built house in Parlklands Way. We ...see more
My grandparents lived at Fern Cottage. They moved there before the war and had two children, Dick and Jean. Dick was based at Wick and died in the war. Jean, my mum, married and had me and my sister. I have wonderful memories of Cropwell Bishop as a child. Exploring the countryside towards the gypsum tip. The Barlows butchers shop on a Saturday mornings. Wilf, the postman, the bread man from the next ...see more
It was 1969 and I had just come down from Manchester and was staying once more in my family home in Hatch End. My parents suggested that I took my younger brother away for a break following his "O" Levels so we set off for a youth hostelling trip to the Isle of Wight. A ferry crossing from Portsmouth was followed by a ride on the "new" trains on the island. In fact these were former London Transport tubes ...see more
In the early 1970's I was a Scout Leader in Riverhead - near Sevenoaks in Kent - and we decided to spend our 1974 summer camp in the West Country or South Wales. I remember my fellow leader, Squadron Leader Mick Ryan, suggesting that we take the patrol leaders to "recce" the area at half term that Spring. And so we finished up staying in the splendid youth hostel within St ...see more
We moved to Baughurst from Australia as my father started a new job at the AWRE at Aldermaston.
My new school, the Hurst Secondary Modern, was a fairly new school. I spent the next 3 years there with mixed experiences, though I did have some very good friends who I have now lost touch with. The Baughurst estate was all owned by the AWRE and all the people who lived there were working at the AWRE site.
Baughurst was ...see more
My uncle John Cooke owned the gravel pit mentioned along with the brush factory. We lived in Staplehall Road and used to go across Farmer Howard's field to the pits and go on the very same beach.
In the winter my brother Colin used to take me, a five year old, across to ice skate on the frozen lake, it was great fun too. In the summer we used to play in the piles of old pipes and the wigwams made of ...see more
I remember Hosey School very well. My mother used to clean for Mr Goldsmith way back in 1952-54. I went there from the age of 7 until I was 11 then graduated to the big school... Churchill, and yes I remember Mr Russel-Jones, any lad would remember him. If anyone can remember me or wants to contact me, I'll be more than willing to chat. My addy is goringj@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks, John
I worked at the Granada cinema from the age of 15 and it was the best time I had, the building was unbelievable with many secret or forgotten doorways... Does anyone have any photos before it was demolished? I can't understand why it was allowed to happen. I visit Bedford occasionally and I still can't believe the building has gone, such a shame. I have the best memories of working there. The new complex just ...see more
The ice cream shop was near the big Catholic church at Hednesford, the church had hydraulics which were adjusted annually to keep in level from mining subsidence.
The shop served the best ever ice cream soda in a tall glass with straws, my favourite was orange pop with vanilla ice cream. My Grandad Titley used to walk my cousin and I there for a Saturday treat. We walked over the fields at Chadsmoor and would watch the racing pigeons returning home.
When the Second World War was declared, my family consisted of Mum and Dad, my elder brother Bob and my baby sister Ann. I was four, Bob was eleven and Ann was three. My father was a staff sergeant in the RAMC. We were living in married accomodation at Kempton Barracks, Bedford (the depot of the Beds and Herts Regiment).
When war was declared my father along with the rest of the regular ...see more
I remember all of the things written about Gretna in the 1950s already published. The sweet shop also sold wonderful red ice lollies. My best friend was Linda McTravers. My uncle was drowned in the Solway Firth in 1917, long before my birth but the shadow of his death hung over our lives. My father and his other 5 siblings also went to Gretna school. My father was taught by Mr Glasspool as was I. I remember ...see more
I remember passing this roundabout time after time while being dragged around Liscard shopping with my mum. I also remember when it was being demolished and I am sure that there was an old Victorian public toilet found underneath - am I right?
I lived in Port Talbot between 1956 and 1968. I regard it as my second home. I finished school in 1958, at Velindre Secondary Modern School. I had many jobs in Port Talbot, window cleaning, working at Corona soft drinks, the Plaza cinema, the Grand cinema, Marcroft Wagons at Forge Road, I worked on Aberavon beach in summer, and I did my own puppet shows at the old community centre in Dalton Road. I lived ...see more
I first set foot in Broadway in March 1964. I was a scared young Danish girl visiting my boyfriend's family for the first time, they were Herbert and Joyce Milner who lived at 'Wormington Brake' on the road to Wormington. I loved the village, then a quiet, cosy place with old fashioned values. There was a shop for everything; I especially liked the little bookshop next to what used to be The Midland Bank. It ...see more
I recall as a boy living in Thame Road having to pass the church at dusk, having been in the village playing field until late. We had an old lady who had lived next to us, a Mrs Honour, who we called Gran Honour, who had died and was buried just inside the gate of the churchyard. On passing the graveyard in the dark I would call "Goodnight Gran" and run past as fast as I could for fear she might rise up and chase me.
I read the last three comments on the BBC Wales website about the orphanage at Bryn Mair which was run by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. And my heart bleeds for the innocent kiddies who were abused by those perishing nuns. I attended Our Lady's High School in Dartford which was run by the same order and, with a couple of saintly exceptions, I remember the nuns with hatred. They were mean, ...see more
I have many memories from Hounslow and I have enjoyed reading the ones here on this Frith website. My name was Rita Pilbrow and I lived with my mum and dad and 2 older sisters, Claudette and June, in Lampton Road. My dad had a building business and was an electrician, plumber and had a radio shop in Staines before having his own business. He had about 4 or 5 employees I think.One was ...see more
I can remember ancient burial mounds at Battledown (along Pack Lane, towards Kempshott) and on some of the farms surrounding Oakley. Does anybody know their age?
Did you attend Bush House Open Air School?
My name is Rita Pilbrow (with one more surname on the end which was added a lot later). I was at Bush House Open Air School around 1953 when I was 7 years of age and left in 1954,to return in 1956 when I was 10 years of age. Derek Bird and Maureen Murphy were my friends and even Anne, a very sensitive girl, like myself. I think I left the ...see more
What a name! Anyway I grew up here from the age of 5 till 13, what a dump... yet, somehow it certainly has its charm. I will 'always walk in the same old recondite corner of my flowery garden', Dylan Thomas.
Living in Kielder from a child to a man ...
I lived in Kielder from 1974-1995. I loved the way you could keep your front door unlocked. I could hear the river passing by my bedroom window, this was how quite it was. I am sure the upper north Tyne Valley would have been a more beautiful place to live if they hadn't built that white elephant (the Kielder dam). I remember when the dam was being built, walking ...see more