Standon Life.

A Memory of Standon.

I had a wonderful childhood growing up in Standon. I went to the old school in Standon High Street. We walked across the road to have dinner in the village hall. We had the luxury of a swimming pool - outdoor changing rooms. We had drinking water fountains in the playground, fantastic after running around the different parts of the playground. Spent all summer holidays down the ford - one part of the river Rib in one of the fields, my brother and his friends, who were older, called it the big boy's hole as it was deep! We paddled in the ford by the big water mill. My mum used to pack us jam sandwiches in bread bags and a bottle of water. She gave us money and we'd buy sweets and a fishing net from Westwood, then run by Mr and Mrs Westwood before they retired. Mrs Pinkney taught us maypole dancing, lovely memories, I wore a white blouse and Mrs Pinkney lent us the red skirts with elasticated waist - one size fits all. When Standon school closed, I was in the first class to go to Roger de Clare school. We walked across planks of wood with our drawers of books, across the newly tarmaced playground. 1977 we had the Queens jubilee on the rec, playing games , there was a roast in the sandpit and we were given a commemorative mug and coin. Alot took part on the floats too. Most of my older relatives are buried at Standon Church now which is where I will be one day.
Nowadays alot of the shops have gone, the original post office with its cobbles outside, hurting your feet as you walked on them, is closed. But there was a new one opened in its place now. Sadly the butchers is gone, but that's now Westwood's shop as the original Westwood is now called Standon convenience. And one shop that I particularly loved was opposite the old school, can't remember the name but it was known as the top shop, as it was right at the top of the High Street. And lastly we used to have a fish and chip van come round on a Tuesday. Two older gentlemen used to run it - fantastic. I have never tasted fish and chips so good. So many lovely memories. I now collect old postcards of Standon and Puckeridge, so great to see the top shop on here , don't have that picture.

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