Park Crescent, The Rise, Sunningdale.
A Memory of Sunningdale.
I was born in 1954 and lived at Park Crescent until I was 18. I went to Holy Trinity School at Sunningdale. Mr Pitts was headmaster and I remember Mr Jenn, Mrs Challis and Mr Williams. My sister Gean used to work with horses at Broomhill Farm, she came to pick me up from school one day on a horse, hauled me up and gave me a lift home (a lovely memory). The school raised enough funds to have a small swimming pool built; I remember I was the first person Mr Pitts taught to swim in it. We also used to walk quite a way once a week in the summer to use a bigger swimming pool, I can't remember the name of the place but I remember it was very old and the changing rooms very dingy. Mr Pitts was very good and encouraged us to pass different swimming tests for which we received certificates. He also used to teach us German and took us on a trip there, we stayed in Koblenz. After I left the school he carried on teaching German on a Friday evening to anyone interested. I have to say, now I look back, it was an excellent school and he was an ace headmaster who really put himself out for us.
I went onto Garth Grammar School in Bracknell which was brand new and only had 5 classes when I first joined.
I remember Miss Hodders at Sunningdale. A tiny shop crammed full of wool and needlework bits, it sold just about everything. I think Miss Hodder and her sister ran it, they were very old and used to take ages to come through and serve you.
I also remember Mr Curley. He was a boot mender in Sunninghill. He would deliver your mended shoes on his bike. A funny little chap (my memory is of someone who looks like Charlie Chaplin but I may be wrong), just another little character who will always remind me of my roots.
My mum worked for years at Holloways in Ascot, I think it was a newsagent or sweet shop, it was owned by George Jackson, next door was Jacksons toy shop.
I keep in touch with some friends from grammar school but only one from Holy Trinity, Sue Cooper. Others the same age as me were... Gillian Siddorn, Jane Spratley, Sylvia Hitchcock, Judy Cooper, Hugh Lloyd, Celia Chapman, Janet Haresnape. Judy Cooper went onto Garth with me so I have seen her at a reunion. I wonder what happened to the others??? Anyone know??
I still visit Sunningdale sometimes but I must make the time to have a wander round Sunninghill and Ascot. I moved to the Southampton area when I was 22 and now live on the edge of the New Forest between Salisbury and Southampton. Liz Bish
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My grandparents lived in the first cottage in Broomhall Lane,
called Holmwood Cottage. My dad was a milkman and worked at Cliffords dairies on the righthand side of the London Road. When he left Cliffords we moved into Broomhall Lane, into the second cottage called Shrublands Cottage. I used to walk to school
with friends from the farm at the bottom of Broomhall Lane, called
Broomhall Farm. We often used to run past the entrance to the old Nunnery at the bottom of Broomhall Lane as it was supposedly haunted and we were scared! I still live locally in Ascot and when I drive down to Sunningdale and Broomhall Lane, I feel so sad as to me it has lost its country magic. All those houses now, covering up the woods and paths of where I used to play with friends and family. After I left School (Charters) I took a job in London and sometimes used to stay up in London to go to a dance etc. and I used to travel home on the last train. When I got off at the Station I remember the Station Master (Mr. Clarke) used to make sure I
walked down the road safely to Broomhall Lane (can you imagine that happening now)?
All those lovely memories of Sunningdale my home, cannot be erased, Sunningdale now is not the true Sunningdale which was
loved and enjoyed by so many
Penny Berry (Mason)
Andrew Dale.