Wimborne, East Brook 1908

Photo ref: 60622

As a child growing up in Bath, I remember walking across this bridge with my parents and being taken into the shop to meet my uncle Harry Langer who made us very welcome. I remember the smell of leather and the interesting goods for sale. His son Brian Langer, now living in Basingstoke, still keeps in touch with my 93 year old mother and we exchange Christmas cards.

I can remember being a very nervous new entrant to the Grammar School and going to Langers to buy a tennis racket and hockey stick. The public conveniences and telephone box were opposite, if I remember rightly.

The lady standing on the bridge is my great grandmother Hannah Elton nee Churchill and the small boy her grandson, Cecil Henry Stickland, my uncle.  He became the verger at Christchurch Priory.  Hannah lived with her husband Henry, a carpenter, in the cottage to the left of the photograph just out of shot.  Hannah was the local midwife and at the time the photograph was taken her daughter Louisa Eliza had returned to her parents home for the birth of my mother, Ivy Emma Stickland.