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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This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 11761 - 11840 of 36960 in total
I should have said it was "Over the Way" that was the boarding house opposite Pitts Cottage that belonged to the same people. "The Old Way" was a tea house at the Croydon Road end of the High Street - there was a "co-op" grocery store opposite.
Hi,my parents Moira and Jim ran the george and dragon in the early 70s and i went to the local junior school.My best memory of the pub was being given a chance to play the drums for a band named tonic blue,does anyone remember.
My Father Eric , Worked at the Earls Court Exhibition Building in the 40's as a Catering Manager! later after he married he was co-Publican at The Lord Ranelagh Pub, 3 blocks down the road.
I can remember waiting for my mum to come home from shopping.At the bottom of our road we could see the bus stop,it was only a short walk and my mum always kept good time.The no 23 or 24.Saturday was always shopping day,fish and chips for dinner,home made of course.The buses where always on time there was never a problem.The 23 stopped by us but the 24 went further along up the road to Batmans Hill.Sounds funny now.
My brother Laurence and I attended St Marys Primary School around 1949 to 1951 we lived in Greens Mill with our parents I remember two sisters who lived in the same row called Mary and Veronica Evans MY name was Margaret Dunn my brother Lawrence
I was born in Park Road in a large and beautiful Victorian house,sadly now demolished. Eccles was "our village", with the original Bradburns where the famous Eccles Cakes were made (and Honey Buns ,which I liked best).The shop also sadly went when the shopping precinct was built -if my memory is correct it had ancient bow windows,a gem.There was the Wool Shop,Allendales the greengrocers,Fryers for house ...see more
In 1955, several Air Force families stationed variously at Alconbury and Molesworth Air Force Bases in England found themselves renting flats (apts) in a Jacobean Manor House in the English Countryside. The landlady, Mrs. Boothroyd (soon Mrs. B) who managed the house and it's staff often shook her head and smiling said, 'Oh, you Yanks'.
I was 6. We arrived late by cab. I felt like we were in a ...see more
I recognize this photo as the northern end of the village I passed it every day on my way to school for six years. Just out of the photo on the right hand side there was a butchers shop and close to that Tom's Shoe Repairs, across the street was the New Bakery and then a farm. To aid our crossing of the A 21 there was always a police officer on duty at that location. One day on my way to school my ...see more
I remember this property very well, as a young girl my mother and her family lived there, my grandfather was the estate manager for the Lubbock family who lived in the manor house. I'm not certain of the years this involved but it was probably prior to or just after WWI. My mother, father, brother, sister and myself lived on Gladstone Road during WWII. I left in 1957, my mother and sister ...see more
I was master of small coaster loading molasses for London. The landlord was a Canadian army veteran who had a badly injured shoulder. He was sniped at by a German 88, quite a big gun, at Bergen op Zoom. Rumour also had it that the previous landlord's daughter was a member of the famous all female Ivy Benson's band. Does this jog any memories?
A general view of the youngsters queuing for their ride on the boating lake was that they wanted the fastest boat, to that end rumour had it that certain boats were quicker than others, and my friends and I would often give up our places in the queue, so that we could have the speedier boats say boat number 7 or number 9, or so we thought. They always seemed quicker when someone else was in them, but unfortunately it proved not to be the case,they never were.
My grandfather died in 1928 after having been gassed in WW1. I have a postcard from him to my uncle dated March 1928. The house looks somewhat different from the photo here but I have no idea when the photo printed was taken.
The only memory I have is my father,Keith Lewis Lloyd was killed in work accident there round about 1962. It would be great if anyone remembers him. I didn't have the chance to get to know him as I was only 3 years of age and my sister 5 years of age. My mother remarried some ten years later and we now live in Perth, Australia. I am trying to find out a little bit more of him than I know.
I was born and raised in Belvedere and my father, Frederick Manwaring, was born in Orient Cottages, Norman Road, in 1924. I've been trawling the internet looking for information about his birth place to no avail. Can anyone help me please? All information and photos gratefully received. I would dearly love to get some information together and present it to him for Christmas. Many thanks in advance.
Hi everyone, I was born and brought up in Normanton and have very fond memories of my childhood there. I lived in Cambridge St, and went to the Girls High School. I am searching for a photo of the old Mercer's shop (which is now a Specsavers) I wonder if anyone has such a photo - if so it would be lovely to see it and if possible, obtain a copy. I spent a lot of time playing there with my friend who lived in the flat above the shop. Janet Dingley (Chivers)
My name is Elaine Connors nee Pennington
I was born in 1948 and I attended Garndiffaith Primary and Junior school and later Abersychan. I lived at Hillcrest, my aunty lived in one of the prefabs with her garden overlooking Varteg Hill. Living on the Garn was a real experience in the winter as all buses stopped at Pontnewyndd and we had a long trudge home in the snow but everyone did this. We learnt to be ...see more
It all started in May of 1945, the week the War ended in Europe, I was born, whether that had anything to do with the war ending I have no Idea!
I was born at 88 Hunter St, all gone now, knocked down a long time ago. I lived with my grand parents at 79 Hunter St for many years, no need to go into details as to why, 79 was attached to the local Co-Op shop, the house was rented from the ...see more
I too have many happy memories of growing up in Buckhurst Hill in the 50's and 60's. I lived at 25 Loughton Way and went to Princes Road County Primary. There was Mr Carr (a friend of my dads), Miss Gardner, Miss Oram and Mr Rose. After School we went into the woods and during holidays there were the Council playing fields - absolute freedom to climb, play games, cycle and fish. The Roding was rumoured to ...see more
I moved to no 52 School Street around 1964 or 65. My parents were John & Vera - they were Irish. We lived next to Edna Brown who had Stephen, David and Lorraine. There were other people on the street - the Entwistle family, George Wren, Anne Jameson the hairdresser at the end of the street, there was Roy and Merl who played music so loud on her stereo - all the 1960s classics. At the ...see more
I was born in the village in 1942 at 61 Stone Row, one of four cottages behind the post office - the post office and village store was owned and run by Mr and Mrs Sargent back then. Alveley was a quiet village and only came to life as the shifts changed at the local coal mine where the majority of men worked. We had a regular hourly bus service to both Bridgnorth and Kidderminster. We kids had a pretty good life ...see more
Does anyone remember a Church of England home for unmarried mothers? There appears to be no mention of one in history pages, and no record of the poor girls who left their babies there.
My dad worked at the middle docks just about 1956 and in them days the shipyards would have their fortnight summer holidays all at once. My dad would wake me up at 6am to get ready, have my toast and jam,then it was off to the little beach to get our deck chairs and tent for changing into our trunks. We would be there every day of the fortnight - all the family would be there, my granda and nana would never ...see more
I lived near the Greyhound in May Crescent, Val Watson. I remember when I was a kid the hunt used to leave from there. Dont agree with fox hunting but it was something to see all the dogs and riders. Lovely old pub visited when I went home in 2007.
Got married in St Pauls 1966, left Crewe to live in Cornwall 1969
It seems to be something that should be mentioned with regard to the familiar streets around old Northwood, as I remember it as a 17 year old.
I knew the names of the streets around the High Street very well. It was by chance I stumbled on a remarkable history concerning those names. There was a remarkable man who decided to finance a railway station at Northwood. He then decided to ...see more
I was born 1953 in Aston then moved to Heath St so really it would be late 50s to early 60s.
I worked in the Moo Cow milk bar in the 60s opposite the theatre, we had a lot of the actors come in during the interval, I recall Alma Cogan and Alfred Marks among many, very happy days working there.
I WAS BORN IN Walton hospital end of 1946, and was Baptized in Walton Church, we lived in Margaret Road, went to Arnot street school, and then in November of 1969 we were married in this beautiful church, had our reception at the Black Bull next door, have lived in Canada since 1975, but always go to have a look at Walton church and my old house - not much has changed in all those years.
I worked at the Bakery for about two years, this was my second job after leaving school, which was the Bishop Ramsey Church of England School which opened in 1980 taking over Ruislip Manor and St Martins C.O.E school that was in West Drayton Middlesex.
The Bakery was in the rear of the cafe and I was the pastry cook, making apple turnovers and cream cakes for the customers. The owner, a Mr Alf Carter, a grey haired ...see more
I went to Whitefriars Secondary School in 1955, the Headmaster was Mr Lee. One of my teachers was Miss Broadhurst. I left school in 1957 aged 15 .My mother was one of the dinner ladies at the school. The woodwork teacher was Mr Horne. I lived at 13 Earls Crescent, Wealdstone with my parents and two sisters.
I moved to Mitcham Road, Tooting, near Amen Corner and next to St Boniface Church, from Putney at the age of five. The year was 1947. The maisonette we lived in was above a perfume factory, it’s now an Indian restaurant called Rayyans, I believe. I attended Ensham Infants. Later I went to Franciscan Road School where I returned to teach many years later. Although I was christened Keith I was called Kit by ...see more
I lived on the camp site for 5 years - my father was the link trainer for pilots there. I can remember going to the cinema there - smoking up the back - then realising my mum and sister were in there that same night !!!! I must have been about 12 at the time.
There was the Church Army canteen where my older sister went - the thrift shop where you could buy and sell things and my mum went to the Naafi once a ...see more
I remember Grays Beach and the swimming pool there.
I lived in Beaufoy Road for a number of years, I went to Falcon Brook Primary School, then Lavender Hill girls school. Had great times. Lavender Hill School now gone, does anyone have memories of it, the snow would be terrible coming down Amies Street, I had a great uncle uncle iving there.
Attended Western School, which has since been demolished and is now a bungalow housing estate.
Did the Jewish home become Rosebank Children's Home?
I was born in Milling St 1941. I went to Redheugh Boys school between 1946 & 1956, I played for the school football & cricket team, we won the shield for cricket in 1955. I have great memories from my school days, some of my mates were Bob Turbett, Bill Stafford Leggy Evans, John Cook & many more, those were the good old days David Wilson.
Met my wife Kathleen in Somerset, and soon after meeting her I got offered a job to come and work in Scotland. As a child I fell in love with Scotland, Dad and Mum used to bring us up, all seven of us, for summer holidays, so the chance to work and live in Scotland was a dream come true. The next good thing was Kathleen would be going home, she was born at Brig o Turk. We got married in Dunfermline and my ...see more
I was a bus conductor then a bus driver on the United Counties from about 1963 to 1969 and operated out of Derngate. I saw all the little villages and small towns outside and met all the people. Great memories of that era. Does anyone remember The Swan, the local watering hole for the bus crews in those days? I had a bedsit at the Golf House in those days and it was a long walk to the garage in the ...see more
Mr Grain was my music teacher along with Miss Ruffles at Suttons. I was in his school choir and in 1963 or 64 we performed 'Nicholas and the Pickled Boys' in the school hall for the parents. Mr Grain was very strict, but he got us all singing. He accused me once of not washing the previous night's make up off, when actually I had, but I had applied fresh make up discreetly that morning hoping the teachers wouldn't notice as it was strict school rules, no make up allowed in school.
This photo was taken about 1961 in Wylam Gardens. The girl on the right was called Rita D.
I was sent to Bridgnorth at the age of 5 from our home in Birmingham to stay with my aunt and uncle (Doris and Arthur Howse) during 1942 due to the bombing in Birmingham.
We lived in St Marys Street, about 100 yards down from High Street on the right, where an alley ran to a yard alongside a bakery. Our house was on the left hand side of the alley opposite the bakery and my cousin and I enjoyed ginger bread ...see more
In 1965 I was the second baby to be born in the new baby ward at Princess Alexandra Hospital. I wonder who was the first?
I moved from Mitcham in 1960. We had lived in Garden Avenue, number 39, and it was a lovely road then. In the summer, we would ride up and down the road on our three wheeler trikes and all the front doors would be open with those canvas curtains to keep out the flies! It was such a friendly place to live. In the road, I remember the Dexters and the Moore family. I went to Gorringe Park School, and to get there ...see more
I doubt very much if I will get a reply or if anyone can help. I am researching my family tree, I am looking to what happened to my great grand mother Alice Waring (nee Reed). Alice married Walter Waring and they lived at Heath Farm, Childerthornton on the Wirral.
She later ran off with either a church curate or French doctor and I was told she may have moved into the Litchfield area. ...see more
This is a long shot. I am tracing my family tree, I live in the Wirral. My great grandparents were Walter Waring and Alice Waring (nee Reed). Alice Waring was living on a farm in Childerthornton, Wirral, when she left my great grandfather for either a church curate or a French doctor. I have no trace of her or what names she was using, it would have been the talk of the village in this time as ...see more
Know it well.
Every Sunday was church day if you attended Styal Open Air School. Dressed in our Sunday Best and given a penny by our house matrons for the church collection box we would walk hand in hand with one of the girls from 'Wendy' house along the lanes. Heaven help the child who spoke or messed about during the service. Nurse Lyons was on hand and if you caught her gaze you knew you were in for it when you got ...see more
I was born in Hawkhurst at some ungodly hour on October 5th, 1949 at the Little Fowler's nursing home, which is why I probably inherited some of its smuggling influence! At that time my parents were resident at Diprose, nothing more than a row of cottages with no electricity and one cold tap next to General Newman's farm along Foxholes Road. We lived here until 1953/4 and I always ...see more
I was born in 1953, had an older bro and sis. Bredo House had something to do with sister's friend Marion Bredo. My family name is Farrow. It's such a shame about Barking, it's not good now. That is how this country is going - no value.s
In the summer of 1952 I learnt that my parents had decided to move from our home in the Midlands to the West Country as my father wished to return to where his relatives lived. It came as no surprise therefore, when one day they announced they had purchased a shop in a place called Kingswear in South Devon. I was 14 years of age and received this news with mixed emotions as I had lived in my present home since ...see more
I was born in 1953. Mr Aston the head, my teacher was Miss Wynne, a great school.
Formby Ice-Rink. Mrs White, Tim and Mrs Appelton who I'd have my lessons with. Friends; Caraline Vickers, Mary Mordsley and little Franky Kelly to name but a few. Great times, sad when the rink closed. Norma Clarke, a great ice skater and of course the lads, Eddie,Les and Rodney who worked there.
A great place to grow up. All day when off school, girls and boys would play manhunt and see who could go the highest on the swings. The park keeper Jock; we'd hide when it was time to close the park. Paddling in the boating lake... great times.
I was a pupil here and Miss Dickie ('The Bird' as we called her) was our headmistress and much respected and revered. I believe she retired a while after. It was an excellent school though we did take it all for granted sometimes. We were always looking forward to when we could raise the funds for the swimming hall, which did happen eventually. The school's reputation was very good. The setting on the edge of Nonsuch ...see more
My father was a patient at Heswall in the late 40's. He was suffering with Perthe's disease (a disease of the hip) and he was there for about 18 months. His name was Alan Rudkin. He was a little blond haired boy at the time of his stay, I think he was about 6 to 8 years old. I'm in the process of writing a biography on my fathers life. Despite his illness he went on ...see more
My memory of Withyham are wonderful. My gandad and gran lived in Balls Green and I would go to stay there in the 50's watching the steam trains from the back bedroom. I remember the water pump in the garden, hops at the end of the road and then the church in the village with the hall with the shows. Many of my family were christened at the church including my brother, and too many buried there as well as ...see more
Hi, I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes but I am importantly trying to find out some information for my partner Mr Steven Paul. When he was young in early 60's he was fostered on Thailand Sunderland Point. He has vague memories but was hoping to find a contact who might remember him around that time. He is now 49 years old...he used to play on the farm and he can remember that the foster couple ...see more
I lived in one of the cottages at bottom of the castle; it was my playground. My brothers and I would run around the top of the wall. The farmer just up past the Castle and us were friends. There was a gate at bottom of the hill and we would get tips for opening and closing the gate.
Mum, Ivy Ironmonger, and her sister, Edie, were evacuated from London during summer of 1944 and I was born on September 19th that year. Mum gave birth in the front bedroom of number 78 Excelsior Sreet, Waunlwyd, one of the first houses up the hill on the right, past the Parade .....not too far from the Park Hotel. The owners of the the house, Mr and Mrs Stacey, were lovely people and really looked after us ...see more
13 Hazeldean Crescent - I remember it well.
I was born in the war years in Broadwater, we moved to Goring when I was 2 years old. I grew up in open fields and smallholdings and nurseries. I remember going down to the beach and playing on what is now the Greensward, then it was streams and ponds, tall tussock grass and full of wild life. I used to wade in the ponds to feed the swans all of which where gentle, every kind of wild water life was there. And from ...see more
I spent many very happy holidays at my uncle's house, number 8 Beach Street directly behind the pub in the photo. It was an old house with very steep stairs with large ropes instead of handrails. It had no electricity although gas was fitted later. The large building to the right of the photo was bombed in the 2nd world war, it stayed a ruin until it was pulled down and made into gardens, later to become a crazy golf ...see more
I believe I was there 1954 to 1956. Other girls were Maire Mc Keffitt, Brenda Dixon and Dymphna O' Brien. It was a very harsh life with strict nuns, little food and very little fun. I remember Fr Bennett. I did not know it was for girls who thought they wanted to become nuns. My mother insisted I stay there but I hated it. Only time it was fun was when we walked to Enstone and got candy and then walked back; not on our own but with nuns. My name back then was Mary Walsh.
My parents had a chip shop next door to the Cat Inn in Wordsley. Miss Bowater would walk me to school at Brook Street every day for the first few weeks there. She was a lovely lady, but my teacher, Miss W, was very stern and made my life hell. I was only 5 years old, and she would constantly try to undermine my confidence.
Hi from New Zealand, so good to see this site, found quite by accident. I was born in Oldchurch Hospital in 1946 and spend my childhood living at Laburnum Walk, Elm Park. Ayloff School was my first memory, crossing Southend Road - helped by the Crossing man with his lollypop banner (Mr Walmsley), such a nice man. Recall walking (in snow & rain) to the swimming pool in Hornchurch from Ayloff...such ...see more
My favourite memory when I first went to Anston Park was dinner lady, Mrs Bunfield. She was so lovely and kind and used to hold my hand in the playground, I was really shy then. I loved my time at the school.
The local pub was the Bird in Hand. For the workers it was a meeting place. There was The Bush on the bridge, they were always busy.The lights always bright, lots of talking ,shouting and sometimes men were thrown out on to the pavement outside. Not many women went to the pubs, accept on a weekend when they could take the kids in the children's rooms. My mum would never join dad, she said he ...see more
This is a memory as told by my grandmother Alice Irene Rees. She was born and lived most of her life in Ferryside. My father was born here in 1944, the second child born to her and husband, Cynwyd Rees. Her stories of this road are as fresh as the day she relayed them to me. She lived in 2 Bryn Eryl on the outskirts of the village. She used to take my dad in the pram for a walk down this road. My grandfather used ...see more
I live on the old grounds of the hospital and I just love Chartham. I'm a bit sad though because the Stinker School are moving up here and I think their knocking down the hospital.
My godparents from Hotspur Street were the above family who, I was told, gave a home to my father aged 13, on the death of his father, in the Great War in 1917. My grandfather was Tailor of Tynemouth who paraded grandmother in the latest creation along The Pier on Sunday mornings, apparently hoping for orders from ladies of the village! Grandfather's workshop, again I was told by my father (Jack Galloway & my ...see more
I used to live in Iris St with my grandma as both parents were dead. My father was killed in the war and my mother died when I was seven. When my gran died, when I was fourteen, I had to go to live with a aunt and uncle in London and lost touch with my school friends. My best friend was Kathleen Wolfenden.
My mum worked there when I was a kid, on sick days or school holidays I would, with my younger brother, go to work with mum. We would catch the train from Chertsey or walk if we did not have enough money. It was a big spooky Hotel... if memory serves me right! It had 3 floors and a cellar,
Mr and Mrs Johnson were the owners. Me being about 7(ish), and younger brother Mark being about 5 had many a good ...see more
My Granddad was born somewhere about this time and is now part of Whinhill as that is where his ashes were scattered at his request. This looks like the old mill and if it is, there is a railway bridge just in front of the tenement buildings where one of his sisters lived. I can remember her waving from the window as we went went for the 'Men's Sunday Walk'. This involved my cousin Andy and me walking along behind ...see more
I was born in Wythenshawe in 1954. My father was the local Policeman, he had a large ramshackle allotment on the junction of Stockport road and Bloomsbury Lane. It was entered by the side of a building which for years was a Funeral Directors. Next to this was a coffee bar called the Black Cat. My father took a very dim view of establishments like the Black Cat and my teenage sisters were prohibited from ...see more
I was born in North Seaton in 1943, very fond memories of the time growing up and of the beach at the mouth of the Wansbeck. Memories also of Ashington as a teenager, I left the area in 1962 but still return regularly to visit .
Lived in North Seaton and remember clearly the excitement (and danger), of crossing the bridge by the boards underneath the bridge; especially when the train driver would see us and deliberately let off steam overhead.
I was born in 1944 and I was then, Pat Wilson. I lived in Heath Road and attended Chatsworth School, when Mr Killick was the headmaster. Miss Milner was head of the infants school. I remember swimming lessons at Hounslow Baths. Myself and another young pupil were responsible for walking a group of children there for their lesson. Something that would never be allowed today. From this school I went to The Green School. ...see more
A further up date of memories of Hounslow/Happy days Gone By.
The infant school was based on Martindale Road and was called Hounslow Heath Infant and Nursery School. My sister went to the Junior School in Trinity Close. The store on Barrack Road next to the junction of Martindale Road was owned by a family called the Smiths who I think were husband and wife and were in their late ...see more
