Ripley, High Street c.1955

Photo ref: R36038

My wife and I lived in one of these Lodges from Jan' 1965 to July 1967, when I held the post of Stud Groom on Dunsborough Stud. which was the property of Charles Hughesdon. He was married to Florence Desmond who was a well known Music Hall artist and Film Star in the 1930s and 1940s.

Our family lived in the village of  West Horsley all of my life,  I was born in 51, my sister in 49 and my youngest sister 56. We used to bike down to Ripley and Ockham. I went to school at Sir Walter Raleigh, and Howard of Effingham. Mum sadly died in 97, dad moved to Gosport and died 2002, and our house which we had an extension built on, games room and bathroom above garage and utility, was split back ...see more

During WW2 the pupils were evacuated and the school turned into a temporary Maternity Home. The Doctor attending the home was only part-time, but always on call. The Doctor lived a few houses away and at night time he hung a length of string from a bell next to his bed and out of his bedroom window. So a nurse could run to his house to raise him if he was needed. Such was the case at 2:30am on the 10th of June 1942. I was born shortly thereafter. John E. Hutt, now living in Lewiston, NY, USA.