Memories

I’ve tried to avoid this but some of you have reminded me of how  good our childhood was, so here’s your chance to wallow in a bit of nostalgia.

 

Please tell me about any happy childhood  memories you have. I’ll only publish Christian names unless otherwise requested.

 

To get you started here are a few of mine.

Christmas and Harvest festival in the old St Luke’s church. Singing in the choir with Mum on the old harmonium . All that lovely wood panelling inside the church.

Playing up the ‘Back lane’ in the old hollow ‘oak’ tree and sitting at the top of the big ash tree near the pond where you could see all the way up the main road.

Car spotting at the bottom of The Street, writing down the registrations. You’d have to be quick to do that now!

Playing ‘Hide and Seek’ under the village hall. I believe a few had their first kiss and cuddle there ;-) Not me, I was far too shy!

Bike rides with ‘The Gang’. All the way to Margate on one occasion! I wouldn’t want to do that in today’s traffic.

Flying my model planes on the airfield.

 

Alan remembers the WAAF’s and that a few of  them  married local boys.

 

Maggie reminded me that her Nan & Grandad had The Stores in The Street. Grandad Percy delivered groceries and paraffin on a bike. It was later taken over by Miss D. And her two little Scotty dogs.

Freda remembers    Q Ice Cream, it was sold in the little cafe behind the post office, opposite Pepin's, the first ice cream I had after the war.     A bag of chips to share from the chip shop by the village hall, after choir practise. Full of fat, but the best.      Picking Bluebells in White Horse Woods, walking from Hawkinge, round Cowgate and Stombers Lane to the Alkham Valley, along the valley and back up White Horse Hill, and our parents letting us take picnics, with just the instruction to be home for tea, couldn't do it these days.

 

Marion remembers    Ozzie Welch  the butcher by the White Horse.  (Mike was Saturday delivery boy on his bike)    Her Granddads brother ..The Chimney Sweep, she knew him  as Uncle Char Shrubsole.       The Jarvis family at The Cottage, Reindane Wood. Arthur Fidge at The White Horse. Pete and Chris Linkin’s Mum was cook at Hawkinge School.

 

Elaine  remembers catching newts in the pond in the upper part of The Street, the field next to Peggy Lynch's previous shop.

Learning to ride my bicycle at the cricket ground; first on the carrier behind the saddle, then standing up and then, hey ho, sitting down. Oh the achievement!

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few photos that may help you reminisce.

 

Mummers play in the school hall.

Stockham, Collins, Pepin and Harker families

Fred Bedding production of ‘Aladdin’ in the Village Hall.

‘The Mikado’ in the village Hall.

Hawkinge County Primary School about 1955

The Recorder Group, 1951. Myself, John, Elaine, Patricia, Malcolm and Dudley