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
Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:
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Displaying Memories 28801 - 28880 of 36960 in total
I believe that Drummuir Station, Parish of Botriphnie, County of Banff, Scotland, was the starting point, in 1926, of a very long, life-changing journey: My teen-age father, along with an older brother, headed for Southampton, England. There they boarded the ship SS 'Corinthic' and 'set sail ' for New Zealand, 26th Feb. Their emigration had begun ...
I was born in 1948 and lived in Waddon Court Road until 1963. I remember the joy of Waddon Ponds just three doors away, and rRunning the gauntlet with the park keepers such as 'Pegleg', a cruel nickname following the 'legend' of a leg break by a swan! The paper shop next door to Coopers was Wickhams and at the other end of the parade was the cafe run by Mr Coombes. He had a daughter Susan. The Saturday milk round ...see more
Surely someone remembers Spennymoor Rink in the 1950s or am I the only one left? That last dance! 'Cherry Blossom Pink' etc played by that superb trumpet, the Teddy Boys. The fights, they were not so great! What about the pub next door. Was it the railway or something? Three Newcastle Brown Ales and a rum and pep then off to the dance. The late one... 12 Midnight till 4 am was it, the late buses or if you missed them ...see more
I remember the railway station well, I used to travel to King's Lynn nearly every week with my mum when my dad worked for the conservancy board as a coxwain on the pilot cutter. Can anyone remember the iron bridge that went across the tracks? We used to go over there to get to the Blue Lagoon swimming pool. After it was demolished our school used the pool on Manor Park. I can also remember the old gas ...see more
I think this was where I was sent at age about 4. I lived in London and was packed off with some other children on a train. I remember the nuns that looked after us and the stone steps cut in the cliff where we would access the beach. It was winter and freezing cold. I was there for a month and remember the church services on a Sunday and also being visited by a soldier who they told me was ...see more
THIS IS A TEST. PREVIOUS E-MAIL FAILED WF.BARLETT@VERIZON.NET BILL BARTLETT SANTA MARIA CA.
I too remember the Clifton Cinema and the temp. cinema, also the Salvation Army. There was 'Thornley' who sold veggies from his horse and cart, also 'Kitson' who sold bread from his horse drawn van with his brother, 'Wacaden' milk, the knife grinder who came round on his bike and coverted it into a grinder, gas lamps in the street, and where I lived at 19 Hayes Lane, gas and electric was in the house, Lye ...see more
Hi Vic, thanks for your comments. Were you in Bodium the blue house? And what dormitory were you in? Were you under Miss Mcrae or Miss Geddis? Re David and Bill Dundridge, I also knew them at Wanstead House, Cliftonville maybe around 1960 before I went to Warnham Court. It would be an amazing coincidence if it is them that you know now! My memories of Warnham Court are also vague now but it is great to ...see more
I was born in Bournbrook, Birmingham in 1950, daughter of Kenneth Clarke born 1924 and Joan Clarke (nee Price) born 1927. My father was born at 21 North Road, Bournbrook, son of Edith Clarke and Jack Clarke. The family name was really Rone Clarke and this family began their trade as woodturners at Rose Cottage, Bristol Road, Bromsgrove. My father worked at W H Ward in Dale Road, and as we ...see more
We moved from Balham to Burgess Hill in 1956. My parents had bought 267 Junction Road and then proceeded to renovate the house as it was in a shocking condition. Both my parents worked in London so I walked to my grandparents' house daily at 227 Junction Road. Saturday morning was time to go to Worlds End (by Wivelsfield Station). There was Scrace's, the butcher's - Mum mainly bought beef sausages as they were ...see more
I was 10 years old in 1944, and my great-uncle Mr Arthur E. Sims was the occupier of the Ewe and Lamb Inn. I have found on this website that it is now home of the The Leighton Buzzard Observer! My uncle is listed in the Kelly's Directory of 1936. We had just come back from a brief stay with relatives in Edinburgh as a brief rest from the war. I remember seeing the canal, and on market ...see more
My name is Agnes Mawhinney, my fondness memory is going to the old primary school on Symington Road North with my brother Arthur. The class rooms were big with big high ceilings, the toilets were outside across the playground and you had to hold on till playtime to go to the toliet. Playtime was the best time because you were able to skip with your pals and the boys played tag. I ...see more
I am putting this on here to contact Carefree....did you go to Clare Secondary School and start in 1 Alpha? If so you sat next to me on your first day at school there!!!! If so I have thought of you no end of times over the years and wondered how you have got on. looks as if the answer may be 'very well'!!!!!
My father moved to Cold Meece in 1960 to take up his job as a prison officer at the nearby Drake Hall open prison, and we stayed there for a couple of years before we moved to live at the prison itself. At the time I was between 9 and 11 years old and, for a child of that age, it was a wonderful place to grow up. It was so rural that there was little risk of being knocked over by cars, and we were free to ...see more
Further to the note I found on your site from Rosemary Richards. I too was born at Rumwood Court ( I believe my mother called it Rootes Hall). I was born at Rumwood Court in late 1939. I have a photo of a room in the "hall" where the nurses are at a table and it looks as though a group of mothers were having a meal together. I visited Rumwood Court in May 2004 and discovered it was transformed ...see more
I remember queing for my first ice cream cornet in the town's market just after the Second World War, and this queue went all around the market, and, boy, did it taste good!! The market was such a busy place in those days. It was such a busy industrial town as well, but it is now, I am sorry to say, what might be called a "Ghost Town." There are quite a few well known people, who, like myself, are proud ...see more
Hi, I was trying to trace my family, the last known address I have for them was from the 1911 census which was Newchurch Road in 1936. The father James Fisher died, he was a signal man at one point, he was married to Esther Hindle, they had two children, Emily Fisher and James Fisher. Emily married James Hargreaves. Any info no matter how small would be great.
This photo, along with the other 4, attracted my attention because the thatched cottage on the left is where my father, Arthur Sidney Bentley, was born in 1926. He lived all his life in Barkway until his death in 2005. Married to Pamela Mary Sharp of nearby Therfield, he had 3 children, one of them myself, Jeffrey born in 1952. Linda Bentley was born next in 1953 and Ronald in 1956. The school also ...see more
As a young boy from 1943 to 1960, I lived in Heath Lane, Stourbridge and I think I spent almost all my free time playing in Mary Stevens Park. The area where the playground still stands would be where all the children would meet up, then decide what the game for that particular day would be. Quite often it would involve a ball. Coats or jumpers would be thrown down for goal posts if we played ...see more
Does anyone remember a cafe / boarding house on the Esplanade, called Colman or Colman's? It was run by some relatives of mine and I am trying to trace the family tree; I do not know their particular names but have a list of possible names, and photos. The name 'Colman' itself came from a street where the family lived in the Midlands, before moving up to Whitley Bay, so ...see more
I was born in 1950 in Salford, lived all my early years at Little Hulton, then man stops on the way took me to Cheshire. I have many many memories of Salford - Walking day, School - Mount Carmel's, Sunday schools etc. I am very proud of being from Salford, and never ever let anyone say 'Salford, thats Manchester isn't it?' without correcting them 'NO Salford is a city in it's own right....' My mum Elsie Mary ...see more
My 3 x great-grandfather William Lightfoot was born in 1809 in Roxton, Bedfordshire. He was a grocer. His wife was Mary Jane Lightfoot (nee Clarke). They had 5 children, 3 of whom worked in the shop. The youngest son James (1846) was born in St Ives, he and his brother John Scott Lightfoot were painters. The family moved between 1861 and 1871 to Merryland, St Ives. I am a descendant of William and Mary's eldest son William (1841) who became a grocer and tea dealer in Northampton.
Whilst going through my mother's things I came across a postcard of a gravestone 'In Memory of' then goes on to show the poem that was written which at the end says it was given by the generous public, on the back where you would put your stamp it says 'please affix halfpenny stamp'. It appears that a love engraving of the villains fighting the sailor at the top of the gravestone then the verse. I wondered if the gravestone was still there today and if the inscription was still readable.
Hi, My father was stationed at Arnhem Camp in the 1960s, he was a paratrooper. The Paras at Watchfield were 16th Parachute Heavy Drop. I attended Watchfield Primary School and have fond memories of my time there, two teachers stand out in my mind, Mrs Late and Mr Biggs. In my day the village had a Jet petrol station and next door to that a small shop called Smiths, the shop was managed by Mrs Paige. Up by the Eagle pub ...see more
My father Leonard Barlow was born in the house on the left in 1921. He lived there with his mother Florence and family until he was conscripted into the Air Force at the beginning of the Second World War. I have traced members of the Barlow family living in the house for nearly a hundred years, going back to William Barlow and his wife Elizabeth in the 1870s. The house was demolished in the 1960s to make way for a road widening scheme.
Hello Chris, you posted a comment to me regarding First World War medal, I cant find the site, could you possibly message me, on: waring1@hotmail.com
From June 1965 -May 1969 I lived with my family over the Stead & Simpsons shoe shop where my husband was the manager. This is the shop centre right of the picture with the 2 white blinds out. The large 3 bedroomed flat was on the top 2 floors and my youngest son was born Nov 1967 in the top floor bedroom. The shops on street level on this picture have changed, but the upper floors of all the buildings remain unchanged and the High Street is now pedestrianised.
For 3 months May - Aug 1969, I lived in the upper floor flat over the Manfield shoe shop. Next door was WH Smith. My husband worked in the shoe trade but not in the shop below. He worked further along the High Street at another shop owned by the British Shoe Corporation. From the kitchen window at the back of the flat was a view of the River Medway. I haven't been back since but remember Chatham as being ...see more
I had my tonsils removed here in 1955 or maybe 1956, found my first boyfriend named Gregory who brought me so many games, toys etc. the nurses complained! I remember eating jam sandwiches and maybe ice cream, but not much else. I was only eleven! The next time I was there was for the birth of my first daughter in 1968. My husband was not allowed to stay for the birth, not the done thing even in 1968. Not particularly bad memories of the old place.
My great grandmother was born in Kintbury in 1844. Her name was Sarah Holmes she married somone with the surname of Millin. She eventually moved to London and became Sarah Horne. Is there anyone in Kintbury today who recognises these names? Can a local historian tell me about Kintbury in the 19th century? Jenni Morris
I have a copy of this postcard myself - the family kept it as the leading horse (on the left, closest to the camera is being ridden by my grandfather - Andrew Lindborg. The copy that I have is coloured, somewhat artificially.
My forebears lived in the Bedwas area and I saw Gellideg Isaf Farm on a memory posted by Roy Williams who was born at Gellideg Isaf Farm, Maes-y-cwmmer. My 3xgreat grandfather Moses Jenkins owned/rented Gellideg Isaf Farm in the 1800s. On the 1861 Census there is an Anne Williams aged 30 and unmarried shown as a visitor when the census was taken.
Is there anyone out there who belongs to Moses Jenkins' family? His ...see more
I was posted to RAF Norton in 1960 and told by the powers that be to catch a bus (number ??) from the railway station to the camp. I asked the conductor to tell me when I got to the stop. He said "RAF Norton, I've not heard of that". He asked around the other passengers and one of then said "Perhaps its T'Balloon Barrage. When we reached the stop there was a blue sign as big as the side of a house 'RAF NORTON.' The ...see more
My great-aunt's name was Mina Sneath (nee Hanmer ) and her husband was Thomas Sneath. According to family story they lived at Albrighton in a converted railway carriage. Thomas was a very good gardener and made their plot into a haven. I would love to hear from anyone who knows anything about the family or indeed if the carriage. Is it still there? I suppose not, it will have ...see more
I spent my honeymoon in Bray and also stayed with a Mrs McGrath who was related to my father (Joseph Devlin). Do you have any photos of the family or the house or address as I will be visiting Bray this year tracing my roots. The name Curtis is also a connection. Can anyone help in any way at all? Thanks. Ann
My family arrived in Seaforth late in 1939 after we were shipped back from Gibraltar where my father was stationed with the Kings Regiment. Early memories of our house in Holly Grove are vague. My sister Maureen and I, along with hundreds of other kids, were evacuateed to Radnorshire in Wales. There were still air raids when we returned to Seaforth and I remember spending many a night in the communal air raid shelter ...see more
My mother, Phyllis Howard Penn, was born in Kensington and had a brother Jack, his wife Ethel, their son, John Desmond Howard, his wife, Eileen and their son, John, who lived on Claybrook Road. I met them all for the first time in 1958. I was again in Hammersmith in 2001, while on a tour of the British Isles, but there are no members of this Howard family left there.
My mother, Phyllis Howard, was born in Kensington and in 1958, we made a trip to see relatives and friends. We came to Storrington to stay with Daisy and Ernie Elms. I was 15 at the time and I will never forget meeting them. When in 2006, I again visited England, my cousin brought me to Storrington, but neither of us recognized anything there! I would loved to have looked up the house where the Elms family lived, but I didn't know the street nor the house number.
I worked in Glasgow for the best part of 16 years with the Wallis Fashion Company, who I am still with but in a different location. I would love to hear from anyone who also worked with the company over the years, but I would also like to find any information regarding my great-grandfather. My papa never realy spoke about his father as he didn't know very much, all I know is my great-grandmother Annie Lenord ...see more
I have a few photos of the Coronation street party in Pond Road, great times. Then when I was married and had up till then 2 daughters we went to another street party in Pond Road for the 1977 Jubilee. My mum and dad were still living there so they paid for my daughters to join in the fun which was great. I wonder if anybody has any pics of that time, it would be great to see. Kathy
Not sure of the date but I remember the church being destroyed. I had just become old enough to join the fire service as a youth messenger and I was in the fire station at the top of Snakes Lane when the incident occurred. The engines turned out and when I got home I was severely told off by my mother as we had passed her clearing up the shattered glass in Johnston Road and I had not jumped off the engine to ...see more
My grandfather, John Carstairs, moved to Whatcombe after partition in Ireland. He had been Land Steward for Captain Cliff of Belle Vue, Wexford but was described on his death certificate (1931) as formerly electrician at racing stables. He lived at Whatcombe Cottages. After his death, the family moved to Fawley. We have no family papers as his widow deliberately destroyed everything before she died. They must have been known to Fred Hollis. Any information, photos would be appreciated
I grew up in Perivale my dads bakers shop was on Bilton Road, Geo Ort. Does anyone remember?
My dad owned the above. I spent 22 years in Perivale and went through school there. I finally left in 1977. I have fond memories of Perivale and my dad's shop was very popular, it was on Bilton Road. We lived in Devon Close. Johnny Kidd was one of our customers and neighbours. Does anyone remember us?
Hoping you can help me identify two of the people in this photo. I have an old postcard with the same photo. Here is what I know: Standing (left to right) Princess Victoria, The Duchess of Connaught, Queen Alexandra, Prince Christian of Schleswig Holstein, UNKNOWN?, Princess Patricia of Connaught, UNKNOWN? Sitting: (left to right) The Duke of Connaught, King Edward VII, Princess Christian of ...see more
I was brought up in no 3 Loudon Grove. However, on a recent visit I noticed that Nos 1, 3, 5, and 7 along with others have been demolished and only No 7 on that side of the road has been replaced with a new house. The location of 1, 3 and 5 is just grassed over. Does anybody know the reason for this? I remember Ronny Wrichley (Billy Fury) asking my brother to ask me for a date, but I was too shy to accept. I would have been only 14. I was known as Nancy Ward.
My first job after leaving Our Lady of Mount Carmel school was in the accounts office of the well known Blacklers Department Store. The office only was located in Bold Street during 1953. The office staff relocated to the main store during 1953/54. I worked with a friend called Margaret Langshaw. We both left to work at Littlewoods Pools in Edge Lane. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Margaret I would love to hear from them.
I was born in Leicester in 1958 and shortly afterwards my dad and nana bought a caravan that was sited at Mr Metcalfe's site on Brick Lane. Our caravan was called Niaroo and was sited next to an apple tree. We had to fetch water from a tap and empty the buckets daily. We had to walk across the site to use the toilets. I can remember tucking my nighty up inside my coat and donning my wellies ...see more
I still have good memories of my head teacher at Our Lady's School in Formby, her name was Sister Mary Joseph. Every first Friday of the month we used to go to mass then have breakfast at school. Who can remember Miss Dun? Can anybody remember the names of the 2 male teachers? I left the school in 1963, at 15. Hope to hear from sombody who went to Our Lady's around that time. I wonder if Pamela Hatfield and Angela Bradshaw are still in Formby?
My school was one of the first to go to Dukeshouse Wood Camp School just outside Hexham. This was in November 1945 shortly after the Second World War with the lads from Gateshead at Alexandra Road school. Our dormitory was named Poplars at the top left, next to Oaks. On the opposite side was Hawthorns, Chestnuts, Beeches and the hospital Sycamore. The games room was next to Sycamore ...see more
I think it was around this time (1993) that I attended St Clots! I was sent there as I had been enjoying, to date, my time at bording school in Berkshire. My mother and my auntie had spent many many happy years here when my grandparents were living in Africa, so they thought I would be happy here too. So, it turned out that I wasn’t very happy here, although that had nothing to do with my lovely friends, ...see more
I can't believe no-one has bothered to write about LINSLADE, it may not be well known to the 'outsiders' but it's still worth a mention. My great-uncle, Robert Graham, used to work on Linslade railway station, he knew the man that got hurt when The Great Train Robbery took place, my uncle wasn't on duty at the time, but it still shook him up. Another GREAT from Linslade is THE BARREN KNIGHTS, they used to ...see more
Although I have no immediate connection with Ledwell my great-great-grandparents and their family lived here in 1911. His name was George Carpenter and his wife was Alice. They had five children, all being born in Ledwell. In 1911 his job was a farm labourer and their address in 1911 was Ledwell, Steeple Aston. If anyone has any pictures of this area please can I have a look. Thank you, Debbie
I was born at Kettering General Hospital in 1942. My father was the village policeman in Wilbarston since 1939 and we lived there until I was five years old in 1947 when my father was posted to the other end of the county. Wilbarston was perhaps the place I have always regarded as 'home' and I still feel a tingle of excitement on the odd occasions I have visited the village over many decades. My attendance ...see more
At the time of the 1881 census The Bricklayers Arms and Terrace was owned and operated by my great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Bevis, maiden name Pouncy, who was enumerated as a widow and "Licensed Victualler", or seller of spirits. My great-grandmother, Sarah Ann Hollis, maiden name Gulliver, and my grandfather, Owen Pouncy Hollis, were also living at this address.
When my Great Aunt Phyllis Ivy Jarrett left school at the age of 13 (about 1918), she joined the domestic staff at Williamscot House, where she was an 'under-housemaid'. Phyllis used to send photos home to her mother. These give the impression that life in service was not too bad for Phyllis. One photo shows the staff sitting outside the back door: there's the Butler, the Cook (Mrs ...see more
Went to Silloth in 2001, would like to re-visit again.
The Tucker family were evacuated to Green Hammerton from 1940 - 1942. My brother John lived with Mr & Mrs Blackburn and my sister lived with Mrs Wray at the post office. They are both alive and still keep in contact with one of the village residents whom I shall be visiting this September.
I am researching my family tree and have recently obtained a copy of a death certificate. The informant of the death (also present at the death) was Betsy H. Stockall of Rambler Cottage, Walton-on-the-Hill. Her husband's name was George and they married in 1915. I would be grateful for any information regarding the cottage or the Stockall family. No road name is mentioned so I am unsure as to the ...see more
Not exact on the dates but went to Lowestoft from Norwich on the steam train for our annual day out by the seaside. We saw the Punch & Judy, watched the men fish off the quay and went to the Kensington gardens (?) for a ride on the motor boats. There was then a long walk at the time to get back to the station after a lovely day out.
I was the newspaper reporter for the Coventry Evening Telegraph regional office on Wood Street for a year and lived off Joseph Way on a new housing development. I remember reporting on time share appartments at the former home of Danny La Rue, attending magistrates court and council meetings and eating at Pizzaland which was conveniently across the road from the tiny offices. This is now a book shop I think but ...see more
I remember the ponies coming along the beach and back to the stables along the high street, past what was then the cinema, now a village hall.
We moved into Earlsdon from Wales in 1965 and stayed with my aunty who lived in Belvedere Road. Such a big house with three floors and close to the Spencer Park tennis courts as I recall. The bus used to stop right outside the front door (no 1 in those days) and take us into town and park at Broadgate. We'd always visit Owen Owen (now Primark!) and have a cup of tea and a bun in the ground floor cafe. If we didn't get ...see more
I too was born at Denbigh Hospital (1958) and we lived in Trewen which at the time hadn't been extended to Erw Salsbury. I used to walk to school with Mum down Ruthin Road to Fron Goch and we'd call at a sweet shop on the way back on a busy corner. Dad worked at Edward Thomas & Co which was an agricultural machinery depot. My sister went to the Convent. We moved away in 1965 but some aspects of Denbigh are very vivid for ...see more
Because of the rural nature of Llanfihangel GM memories stretch across the village hub - the Crown pub on the bend by the bridge through to the small cemetary near Ty Ucha farm - through to Cerrigydruddion and even to Llangwm. My father was born at Haffoty Llechwedd in 1915. This was the home of Robert Jones who had just married Jane Elin from Penygaer. Various members of both families ...see more
Llansilin should be the setting for a film or TV serial given the dramatic events that have occured there in relatively recent history. My mother was born in Llansilin in the 1920s and regales me with stories of sad deaths - especially of small children - mysterious travellers, the war time plane crash and various romances and liaisons. Village life nearly a century ago revolved around the magnificent ...see more
My maternal great grandparents lived in Llwyn near the church in Rhiwlas. They - Thomas and Elizabeth Jones - are buried in Llansilin Churchyard with their son Lloyd Jones who was, I believe, the last of the family to live there. They had children called William, Annie Rose, Charles, Robert, Sam, David, Margaret Ann and Henry plus Lloyd the youngest - however I can find no ...see more
To the lady who went to High Legh School. The school mistress was Mrs James who lived on Wrenshot Lane in High Legh. She had two children. Holly Cottage was recently up for sale, on the death of Mrs Hilton. The village continues to expand - we have lots of infill now around the old sites of both of the halls - East Hall and West Hall. The old Army camp was the last development and little remains of the old ...see more
When my dad was demobbed after the war in 1946, we had to move back to London because of his job. We had all our funiture put on a lorry, and the local publican, a Ted Bland, delivered us to a requestioned place over a shop in Hornsey Road, Holloway, Islington, London. This became the second phase in my wonderful childhood, but it took some time to get used to the locals, at the finish they turned out to be ...see more
We stayed in a caravan at Thornwick Bay in July 1937. On a visit to Bridlington harbour I saw the SS 'Yorkshireman', which was the biggest sea-going vessel I'd been near to at that time. I thought it was magnficent and it gave such an impression of power and strength to me as an eleven year old. When we returned to school after the holidays, I drew this black and white monster a number of times and our teacher was ...see more
Too much to say, so in brief: lived on Wolfe Road, played on Mousehold, fireworks night great and sledged on cardboard in the summer and sledge in the snow; watched the soldiers in Brittania Barracks and them lowering the flag just outside the main gates in a railed enclosure long gone; horses at Nelson Barracks at the bottom of Ketts Hill; collected old newspapers which I stacked on old pram wheels which I took to ...see more
Hello, My memory tells me that Polesworth is (and also has been) situated in the County of Warwickshire. All the best. Les Searle
I remember going down the field when there was swings, a roundabout and a slide just by the little woods and further up the pit heaps were the so-called big woods. We used to all go up to the little woods and play foxes and hounds and some of the games we had were memories that stay with me even now. I ran away from a childrens' home in 1990 and my mates from Tindale kitted out a shed in an empty house ...see more
My gran came from Leasingthorne, moving to Cambridge in the late 1920s. She had a sister named Mary who lived in an end of terrace house near a corrugated tin 'social club', chickens were kept opposite. l can remember an Uncle 'Tiser'. Mary had two Yorkshire terriers, Dot and Daisy. From her yard you could see the mine where most of the men worked, l believe Sir Anthony Eden had an estate nearby. Uncle John, his ...see more
I worked in the Tony Bros Ice Cream factory as a school holiday job in 1967 or 68. I vividly remember Tony Tedeschi, who chain smoked Benson and Hedges, Derek the gentle giant who took me under his wing and the lovely Yolande. It was hard work, but good fun and it's a shame it's all gone now. We definitely made the best choc ices in the area.
My memories of Sledmere are those of a small boy growing up in Sledmere between 1947 to 1958 when my parents decided to move from Sledmere. I have exceptionally fond memories of those days. I cannot remember a bad day or a sad day for me they were magical days. Even the seasons had their own special magic in Sledmere with many contrasting feeling, even now as I am typing this I can feel the magic sixty years on. ...see more
Further down East Street there used to be a little sweet shop, if I remember it was called (or known as by us school evacuees), 'Miss Mays'. It was a 'tuck shop' for us as we used to run down a path from near the school to get there and spend our 'penny'. I have returned many times since I was living at Upper Chidden Farm, though the farm has changed hands of course. I was still made welcome and taken into the farmhouse to see the changes. I spent a wonderful time in this area
My mother Pamela Gaskins has often spoken of her days working at the sterling cinema. She was cashier there and has told me she could get a full house in within half-hour, the cheapest being 9 old pennies, the most expensive 3 shillings. Giving change and no automative calculators, quite a feat of mental agility.
Ovingham C of E School had only two classrooms, no hot water and outside toilets without flushing facilities. It was heated by a coal stove in both rooms, but we were never cold. There was a very happy atmosphere there and the teachers were dedicated; we received an excellent education and I was very sad to leave aged 11 to attend QEGS at Hexham. At the onset of the Second World War ...see more
This memory is my mum's - in the 1940s she remembers her dad taking her (on his motorbike with mum in the sidecar) to a smallholding on Eastwood Road in Rayleigh - she thinks probably to buy 'day-old chicks' (her parents kept chickens). We are trying to find out the name of the business or the people who ran it as part of our family history investigations - my great-grandfather had previously ...see more