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 19841 - 19920 of 36955 in total
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
Situation of Farm: Glebe Farm was situated in the centre of Brough approached along a track off the Fosse Way,,the A46 and approximately 3 miles north of Newark.. About 800mt away was the very busy war time Winthorpe aerodrome. My association with the farm was through a family relationship; Mr and Mrs L E Stephenson, uncle and aunt, together with their son. They were tenants of the property, ...see more
I enjoyed the memories of Burrow Hill School. I worked there for a few years in the new school as a Housemaster. This was in the new school, which housed 140 boys. At that time is was run by the L.C.C. and headmaster was Mr. Churchill. Later it was a private boys school but sadly became redundant.
At that time we had a Scout Troop and an Army cadet force. Happy days.
Many happy years playing in Grange Wood and surrounding fields and walking through the fields up to Acton Bridge. Picnics with jam butties and water. Bike rides up to Cuddington and Hartford. Long summer holidays when the tar melted on the roads and scraping the top of my big toes with those rubber flipflops they used to sell in Woolies. McNeals sweet shop at the bottom of Forest Street and the old Co-op with really high counters. It's so sad how things are now
I was born in Thornley in 1949 and attended St Godric's until I was 15. I remember Thornley as a community that went through good times and bad. When the pit closed it affected everybody, shops closed and young people moved to Peter Lee. Reading Ken Orton's memories brought a lot back to me, I knew Ken and Tom as a youth, among a lot of others. When I was 21 I married a local girl, Doreen Bell, who sadly ...see more
These memories really are 1944 to about 1953.
The corner shop by the church was a favourite as they used to sell home made toffee when sweets were on ration. One character I can still see was Mr White the baker being taken home in his trap by his horse after a lunch time visit to the pub at the end of his day's deliveries. Once the war ended we used to have great Guy Fawkes bonfire nights in the garden at ...see more
My husband Stephen Peace attended your school around the mid 1960s. Does anyone remembers him?
I remember my father speaking about Woodford Bridge and High Road, Woodford. His name was Clarence Harris Bickers and together with my mother we all lived at 52 St. Ronan's Crescent. When we were bombed my father lost a leg and I was injured, we then moved away to live with the family of my mother's uncle in High Wycombe, Bucks. My father's uncle, William Benjamin Bickers, lived in Snakes Lane, ...see more
I am looking for anyone who might have gone to school with my Mom, Agnes or my Aunt, Eleanor. They were placed in care around 1928 or 1929 due to financial difficulties in their family. Initially they were separated because my aunt was very young, but eventually they were reunited. Their last name was Fennelly. I believe they stayed there until they aged out. I hope someone can help me. Lois
My name is Roland Mitchell. I worked at Walton colliery as a haulage hand. I worked alongside Percy Heckles, Alan Jennings, Phillip Casgoin and Phillip Redmond and a young lad by the name of George Bernard Shaw. We would take supplies up the tailgate of Berkwood. The tailgate was uneven and also had a very low roof where one would crouch down and walk for fifty yards. The haulage engine driver ...see more
Life started for me in 1948 in Lower Upham, we moved to Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh around 1952. My older brother and two sisters were going to North Sonehan School so that's where I went, there were two teachers, a Mrs Payne and a Mrs Parker. We did all sorts of things including country dancing, going to the one hand clock church to do brass rubbings, once a year there was a country fete where ...see more
I believe my mother worked at Balgranach, Betty Robb, does anybody have any memories of her?
Dose anyone have any memories about my mother Betty Robb who lived at Sauchen at Waterridgemuir Cottage?
Does anybody have any memories to share about my mother? She lived at Waterridgemuir Cottage, Sauchen. I am hoping there may be someone who may have some relatives that may remember her, she was called Betty Robb, this may be as far back as 1940.
My grandfather who was Claud Andrews owned and ran the butchers shop nextdoor to Pratleys. I am looking to see if there are any old photos of his shop.
I was born in Colesmead Road Redhill, one of seven children. I had a wonderful childhood with fantastic parents, relatives and friends and even the school teachers from Merstham Primary and Bishop Simpson C/E. I am Helen and my maiden name was Coombs, born in 1952. Dad worked at Fullers Earth and he and mum and us were all involved with the British Legion in Redhill. Lovely dances, all age groups ...see more
I arrived in Otley in October 1947 as a member of R.E.M.E. My recollection is vague, as I was only there for two or three weeks in what was known as a Holding and Mobilizing camp for troops prior to, or returning from, overseas. The camp was on the side of a hill in Nissen (not Nissan) huts which were bitterly cold and we slept with our uniforms on. While waiting for reassignment, our days consisted of parading on the ...see more
I moved to Melville Street, Castleton in 1956 at the age of 9. I went to Cassie council school, learnt to swim at Castleton baths taught by Ted Murphy, taken there from school by Pop Wright. Castleton was a nice place to live then, not like today with its drug and yob culture. Spent many happy hours playing on the rec and horse riding at Schofields stables. Fell in love with Angela Carter from no 33 ...see more
The bus terminus for Warrington was in Ferry Lane opposite the Pickering Arms. From memory I think it was the 10A one. It was always a double decker.
The single decker one went through Thelwall village centre and up Bell Lane on to the top road, Stockport Road to Altrincham. I lived in Bell Lane but there was no bus stop in between the Pickering Arms and Stockport Road.
I also attended dance classes in the ...see more
I used to live in Bell Lane from when my parents moved there aroudn 1960 and moved out in 1977. This corner was known as Rachel's Corner and it was said that Bell Cottage was haunted. Rachel hanged herself on a tree after her lover didn't return - from where I don't know, the stories changed so much...
I used to play here when I was a child of 11. We used to run and down that wonderful spiral staircase and read all the names and dates that people had scratched on the brick work over the centuries on the first floor. This was back in 1951. I used to go back every year to see the old place. The last time I saw it was in 2010. Terrible damage had been done to the building, sucj a shame, and that damn airport coming closer ...see more
In the latter part of 1959 my father John Maile established himself in business at 37 High Street, Chislehurst, selling wallpaper, paint and Wolf power tools. This site formerly traded as Bowmans Bakery. When the shop was being refurbished prior to my father taking over, he produced and installed an innovative suspended ceiling that created quite a stir with the locals. Indeed, the ...see more
Ahhh Good old Totting... I was born in Rookstone Road in 1949. I went to Sellincourt School about 1955-ish, my memory is not that good! When I was at school Mr. Roberts was the headmaster and he was great. School meals were great in those days, better than what we got at home most times (I still hate stew) except for the sunday roast. Home had no running hot water hot bath (once a week) was in a tin bath in ...see more
My grandfather, W R Edwards moved into Manchester House from Tal y Bont in the Conwy valley with his family, a wife and 4 children around 1910. He ran the grocery business from the shop also dedelivered groceries to the local inhabitants, having to negotiate the steep streets! My mother, his 3rd child, took my sister and I to Gerlan in the late 1940s and early 1950s to visit my grandparents. I ...see more
My father was stationed at Alcombury and we were lucky to live with the Hunt family in a manor house. Mr. Hunt worked at the school. I went to school in Bedford as a weekly boarder. The Hunts' daughter was my friend and we use to explore all over the village. The 2 big things I remember as a 9 year old was the sweet shop and the smells of the fish and meat on High Street. I loved living there. Wish I could find the Hunts.
I'm trying to find my Grandma's grave, can anyone help please? She was Annie Bell (nee Robson) and lived at 61 Devonshire Street in 1951. She was 50 when she died on 6 February, 1951 and had chronic bronchitis which is what she died from. Her family had a pet shop in Gateshead (in the High St I think and it would probably be under her family's name of Robson, unless of course the family ...see more
My parents moved to Heston in 1954, I was one. My uncle owned Heston Garage, his name was Bill Biggs, he lived above the garage for a while before building and living in the Bungalow next door. My sister and I went to Norwood Green Infants & Junior School. We went swimming at Heston Baths, played in Heston Park on the swings and putting green. I went to Heston Secondary Modern School, my sister ...see more
I was at St Luke's School from 1944 to 1954. My name is Barry Jones, if any one remembers me I would like to hear from them. I used to live on Lancaster Road. After I left school we used to go to Mortons on the height on Sunday afternoons for hot Vimto, then in the evening go to the Ellesnere cinema.
I'm sure Barnet Cinema is well remembered, but I cannot find any photograph of it. Another building that I recall is GOTHIC HOUSE which stood at the top of Baker's Hill and overlooked Clifford Road golf course and the Northen railway line. It was a large mansion which was requisitioned to Reuters News. My mother worked there just after WW2 and I roamed freely around the house and grounds. The ...see more
I was christened in the parish church around 1955/56. They used to send you a postcard every year until you were 5 years old to remind you of the event - unfortunately having moved several times during my life I no longer have them.
My brother also got married there in 1959 and I was a pageboy!!
I used to walk through the graveyard every day on my way to work in the Post Office in Church Street or the sorting office in Southbury Road in the 1970s.
Does anyone remember the gate at the back of 17 Spencer Park leading to the garden? Does anyone recall when the gate was bricked up and whether people used it to access the garden beforehand? If so, please post a reply to this message. I look forward to hearing from you!
Between 1926-36 my grandfather's family lived on an ex WW1 motor launch, known as the ML106, which was moored off Bursledon. My aunt recalls that they were the only ML moored mid river between the bridges, certainly in the early days. "We were moored fore and aft and facing down stream. We had 2 pontoons, 2 dinghies and later on a small motor boat that Dad acquired so that we could cruise up and ...see more
Carol Collins, nee Bass. We often had the cows come in our back garden in the 1950s, they used to walk them to market.
1944 -1949 I lived in Waldo Road, well all the family lived in Waldo Road my Mum Dad and sisters Phil Ted Pat Val & me,1900 - 1970s My Aunt And Uncle Collis and cousins Ron & Alan Aunt & Uncle Begley, and Aunt & Uncle Stadden & Cousin Evelyne. And grandmother Collins at the age of 4 and my sister 5 we got lost we had crossed the Harrow Road and was found and taken to Willesden Green we were missing for about 5 hours.
I travelled with my parents every year from the age of one to stay with my grandmother, Bertha Roberts and my Aunt Kate, at 183 Chapel Street, Tiverton. Memories are of Mr Bright's General Grocers shop opposite the row of houses and, down the road, a pub which usually had, seated outside, two Dalmation dogs. Also, I remember going to the County Show which used to be held not far behind Chapel ...see more
Well, I did visit Clements Hall last spring/summer 2011, after not seeing C.H in about fifty years ago. We parked at the keep fit-gym club and as soon as I got out of the car I turned around and saw the the playing field, known then as the cricket field, it was as nothing had changed or moved, the swings and slide were just the same, the openings were there. We started walking towards the muddy lane then runs alongside ...see more
I was born in Greenock in 1953 and we left in the late 1960s, we moved to England due to the fact there was no work in Greenock. I never liked being away from all my cousins and friends but I was only young then. I went to St Joseph's school and remember it like it was yesterday. We lived on Paton Street then we got a new house in Branchton. I have since been back to my old place to be shocked ...see more
Both my sister and myself were born in the first house to the left, 44 Leylands Road. My father lived there from 1936 until his death in 1981, my mother from 1937 until circa 1984
My parents moved down to Aveley when I was 5, we moved into 94 Ravel Gardens, I think we were there for about 7 years then we moved into 147 Usk Road . There was 6 of us kids. I loved growing up in Aveley, we were always bunking off school, going over the sandpits and down the woods, normally with my best mate Gill Woodford. I went Kenningtons School then Love Lane. When I left school I worked at Magnavox in ...see more
I attended Little Green School, and they thought it would be a good idea for us to go and see the new school being built, I don't know why as we were too young to do any building lessons.
I was 6 I think, I and my sister would go to Saturday morning pictures, then, about 11.30, go to Top Rank and would disco dance the Saturdays away. I remember I would either have a cold glass of milk, because the milk machine was lit up, and you could see it in the dark of the disco, or a Panda Pops, 'It's frothy man', great advert. Then about 12.30 go up to the swimming baths that were up the top end of town, that's ...see more
I was 4 when we moved to Watford. They were just nearing completion of the subway which ran from the top end of the town to the Town Hall, and where the library is now situated, and we had 3 cinemas then, the Odeon, which had moved to the centre, next door to Le Caprise, wich was a nice little restaurant, the Empire, which was next door to the Palace Theatre, and the Carlton, which was down Market Street. They had also ...see more
I was born in 1942 at the then Liston Nursing Home in Marlow. My first memories are of the Dog and Badger in Medmenham, where I lived for six years, with my mother, and my grandparents, John and Lillian Nye. The pub was my home, almost, from birth. My memories are particularly of the beautiful garden, not then, as yet, sacrificed to a larger car park. There was a corrugated iron 'summer house' , ...see more
Does anyone remember the Bell family, George and Esther? Esther was a Salvation Army officer. The children were George who died just after the war. Dora who became a nurse in London, Evelyn, Nan, Jenny and Matthew (Matt) who played the trumpet and eventually had his own band. I would love to speak to anyone who knew them. I am the daughter of Matt.
As a child in the late 1950s, I remember catching the trackless trolley bus in St. Sepulchre Gate, we lived on Beckett Road at the time, and caught the bus for home outside Hodgeson and Hepworths (Grocers), which was later demolished to make room for the 'Arndale Centre', now the Frenchgate Centre.
I remember one occasion when one of the poles connecting the bus to the overhead cable came off. The ...see more
I remember going to Mrs Howes sweet shop and buying a pennies worth of sherbert and eating it on the way home from school via the backfields. Going down to the vicarage and swimming in the river. Getting a bag of stale cakes from Fords the bakers, playing football at ship meadow. Trips to the Roman villa. Racing round on our track bikes. Oh happy days.
I was born in 3 High Street, Abergwynfi 19/05/56, where I lived until I got married and moved to London. My father Jackie Lewis worked down the pit most of his working life, and my mother worked in the canteen, Dorothy Lewis, I used to go to the canteen to help her now and then. My brother Robert still lives in the village and all of his family. I will always have good memories of the cape and the years I lived at no 3 High Street.
My mother was born in Leeds and most years we would spend some time there. I came to love Leeds; such a vibrant place compared to Lincoln where we lived. This picture evokes a lot of feeling. From the V J celebrations in 1945 onwards we often stayed at Parker's Commercial Hotel opposite the Grand Theatre. It can just be seen in this picture on the left hand side (adjoining Wilsons Commercial Hotel). The hotel ...see more
My memories of Cheeseburn Grange are around this period, the 1940s. I was interested to read your memories and recognized some of the names, but I remember Brain Chapman well as lots of others including Sister Stanislaus. I have been trying to find out where actually the Cheeseburn Orphanage is situated and would love to go back and visit this place. I remember being evacuated to St. Vincent's Orphanage ...see more
Alana,
I was at Port Regis the same time as you, I also remember Cecilia Lennon.
To be honest I never thought I would hear your names again, a pleasant surprise.
Regards
Fred Oddy
I was born in 20 Williams Street, there were 7 of us, a whole tribe. I must say I have no fond memories of living there, as one of the only black families around, my God, you lot made our lives hell, but we kept on going, tryin to fit in with you all. My memories are of being taunted, spat at and bullied by certain people, although not all of you were the same, thank God. Just to let you know I never let any of ...see more
Many years ago in the late 1960s there was a stretch of canal down by old Royston. The local fishing club would spend hundreds of pounds on replenishing the fishing stocks with rainbow trout - the only problem with this idea was that being farmed trout and not knowing about predator fish like the pike, they'd simply swim by a pike and would be eaten up as fast as the canal had been filled with trout. I was not ...see more
My mom had the sweet shop on Croydon Road at Wallington Green. The fire alarm was sounded by Ken on his way home in the early hours after finishing his night shift. This was told to us, by Ken, at Mom’s sweet shop next day. Ken lived over the fish shop over the road from the Dukes Head. I went to see the damage with my girl friend Yvonne. The building was pretty much destroyed, although I managed to to ...see more
I was born in 1934 in BonyMaen. I attended the school there until it was bombed, all the kids then were bussed daily to Samlet School. I emigrated to Canada in 1967 with my husband and two boys Robert and Paul. Have not been able to find the school, has it been demolished? It would be good to hear from some old pupils of that school. I left Samlet school in 1949.
There was a young lad a year younger than I whose father was a bookie: not many lads liked him because of his spoiled nature. Anyway I was to meet him on the street where he begged and pleaded for me to go with him to the riding stables which were at Monkton some three quarters of a mile from Royston. He offered to pay for my ride, and on getting there, the proprietor Elaine Lodge asked me if I ...see more
I was born in Mountsorrel 1938 and soon moved to Sileby 10, Mountsorrel Lane with my mother Mabel Foukes [nee Burton]. My father Thomas was in the army and my mum worked at Newbold Burton and Lawson Ward. I remember convoys of American lorries coming into the village from Sorrel, slowly to make the turn at the Horse & Trumpet, it was the first time I ever got and saw chewing gum. Midway down the lane lived ...see more
If you were born in the 1960s and went to Mirfield Secondary School you may recall that there was a young girl who was in foster care. She was put into the care of some ex-school teacher who had a daughter the same age! This foster mother was a member of some occult group and would often try to force her into being a member of the occult. Many school children would by-pass the house because they were deeply afraid of ...see more
My mother Kathleen Culverhouse was born in Radlett in 1925 . I am trying to trace an old school friend of hers, Betty Watling - who married to become Betty Shearer. Betty had a brother Jimmy Watling. Would anyone remember them or know where they are now? They went to the Radlett Church of England School. I can find no trace of that school now. Thank you.
I stayed at my Aunty Molly's house a lot. I remember Uncle Tom coming home from the pit black as anything, and going to the local flea pit with my cousins, also going to Aunty Anne's house and Uncle George in the tin tub, black as the ace of. spades, with Aunty scrubbing him clean. I have a lot of info of the Kews's, I have put a headstone on Grandma Kew's grave with mum's, my sister's and my wife's names on as well.
I lived in Corringham 1954-1972. The Regent, known to most of us as the old bug'utch or Stanford fleapit, was of course our local cinema. I saw many films there, they were usually nearly a year old before they were shown at the Regent. I'm presuming that a film just a few weeks after its grand London premiere would be expensive to rent and therefore the preserve of opulent cinemas in more upmarket towns, eg State ...see more
I was in Watson House since the age of 7 with my brothers and sisters Linda, Noel, Pam, Kevin, Myra, Karen. I went to Boldmere High School, I made lots of friends, my best friend were Irene Bicknell and Diane Hull, if you know them please let me know. It was a 5 minute walk to my school, I was always called for my mate and we had such a great laugh, I was always sticking up for my mates but I did get told ...see more
Re Malcolm's question 'does anyone remember the gig?'. I do. I was 10 and had no interest in music at that time and my parents hated pop music. Our house backed onto the tennis courts in Blakes Recreation Ground and I could hear and see proceediongs from the back bedroom. I remember that numerous people complained to the police about the noise and I was reminded recently that the ...see more
Me and my brothers and sisters lived in Bramley at the end of the 1960s, we lived in Gosden Common, right at the end where you went through a gate and there were two or three cottages and we lived at the end cottage no 11. Does anyone know what this address is? There was 8 children and my mum and dad who lived here. We remember what fun we had there, exploring through the woods and fishing in the water, we are going to make a trip back in the summer to have all those wonderful memories again.
My Granddad William Anderson bought the forge when he moved to Leiston from Surrey after the war with my Nan and three children, my mother Yvonne, aunty Ivy and uncle Billy, where he shod horses in and around Leiston, then he turned his hand to iron work, which enabled him to carry on working until sadly nan died around 1960 when I was about 10, about a year or so later, sadly my granddad passed away also. My ...see more
I remember walking down Green Lane from my home in Eric Avenue, Padgate to Woolston with my new girlfriend in the snow just by the Cottage Homes. We cuddled together to keep warm, she was 16 and I was 17 and had only met a few weeks earlier. We married in 1958 and had two children. In 1966 we came to live in Australia where we have lived ever since. She died in 2005 and I have returned to Woolston every year since then ...see more
My Great-grandfather William Edward Hodgson was born in Willington, Durham, England, 7 October 1860. He emigrated to the United States around his 21st birthday. He lived in Elizabeth, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He died 4 April 1947. At the time of his death, he still had a brother living in England.
I was born in Long Row. During infancy I moved with my family, father, mother and sister Margaret to Gloria Avenue where I lived until nearly 18. My early pals were Don Peggs and Betty Lonsdale. Across the road were Gwenda Fellows and Rosie Smith who looked after us. I attended school in Melton Terrace. First the Infants where the teachers were Miss Murphy and Miss Donkin. Later progressed to the Junior ...see more
That's me on the bike, my wife said it was 1963 but in fact it was 1962, early summer. At that time I was using my step-father's surname of Price. The policeman standing outside the post office was Sgt Brown.
The Royal Hotel was one of the "whitebait inns" which drew custom down-river from London in the nineteenth century. In both World Wars Purfleet was a transit camp for thousands of soldiers waiting to be shipped abroad from Tilbury docks. The Essex shore was called the Erith Rands. Rand was Anglo-saxon for border or Edge. At Purfleet, in medieval times Pilgrims on their way to Canterbury crossed to the Kent ...see more
I remember the Railway Inn, waiting for Mum & Dad with a bottle of coke and a bag of Smiths crisps outside.
