Memories of Faringdon
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Send your memories of Faringdon. It can be for any era.
Contact Form It could be about: Schools, Youth Club, memorable people, police, shops, pubs, bailey bridge, during the war, Colespits, the Folly, Whitsun confetti battle, Corn Exchange cinema, railway station, church choir, Radcot river, the Coronation, town councillors, the villages around, or anything else you remember. |
Little Theatre, Butts Close
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I just came across this website. No idea why!
My father was the dentist in Faringdon and it would be good to catch up with survivors
[email protected]
26/4/24
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I notice in a reunion for Faringdon Grammar School organised by a lady named Ruby Lamboll that her maiden name was Gerring. My surname is also this and my grandfather came from the Faringdon/Abingdon area. I wonder if we are related? I no longer use Facebook. Could you please pass this message to her.
9/4/24
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My name is Alan Elliott. I was at Anglo American college 1970-1971. Is there anyone out there that was a former student who would like to say hello?
Also, any pictures would be greatly appreciated. thanks
[email protected]
5/4/24
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Does any one remember shop bottom of marlborough gardens in a sheds garage. They delivered. It be came the spar shop bottom of folly view rd
richard was one of the owners
Patricia Higgs
[email protected]
27/8/23
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Re my post from a while back on the 1970s band Slade. I’ve heard from someone I was at school with who told me that “Ambrose Slade” played in the Corn Exchange in 1970 and there was a “but of a rumpus”.
So it looks like there is something in my story. However, on the downside there is an Ambrose Slade web page with a list of gigs and it doesn’t mention Faringdon. They ended 1970 as just plain Slade.
Andrew Edgington
12/4/23
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Does anyone remember the house on Gravel Walk that had a dragons head sticking out of the window?
My Grandmother lived on Meadow Bank and it was easily spotted on our walks into town during our summer holiday visits.
I can find no photographs but fairly certain it existed (around the 80’s-90’s)
[email protected]
19/3/23
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JOHN ANNS GUNMAKER
I am looking for any information I can get on a 19thC gunmaker called ANNS, I believe he could be from Faringdon The only problem I have is on the little Flintlock Pistol I own the maker is marked " ANNS " but the placename is marked " FARRINGDON " spelt with 2 R's. Any help would be appreciated.
[email protected]
27/6/22
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ANNS OF LONDON STREET 1840's
Can anyone give me any info on the ANNS family who had an ironmongers shop in London Street in the 1840's. I do not live anywhere near, thank you
[email protected]
27/6/22
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Does anyone remember the refreshment kiosk situated in the Radcot car park , run by Mrs.Mears of Marlborough Gardens Faringdon.
I’m trying to locate her daughter Linda, who was one of my classmates at Tollington School between 1960 and 1965
Edward Hilton [email protected]
21/11/21
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Some girls my age 16 in 1956 attended the Grammar School and lived at the Army camp. I have been looking for Sylvia Hastings for years. She did have an older sister.
Pam S King [email protected]
19/10/21
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Hi, My name is Jean-Marie Gillet, I'm french. I currently looking for a history of american cavalry unit: 102nd cavalry regiment. The soldiers of this unit were stationed in Fairford and the officer in Faringdon on October 1942 to December 1942.
I would like if you have any information about that ? Maybe any pictures?
Thank you in advance for any help you can bring me.
[email protected]
10/10/21
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I attended Tollington School between 1960 and 1965. Classmates at the time were Linda Mears, Bill Bunce, Judith Nichol, John Collis,
Rosemary Knapp, Ian Thompson, Valerie Wheeler, Richard Cooper, to name but a few.
I wonder where they are and what they are doing now.
Regards
Edward Hilton.
[email protected]
8/10/21
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Wendi (21/2/21)
-that Maths Teacher was Mr Mclennon wasn´t it? Shame you didn`t have Mrs Wood or Mrs Davies for Maths - they were lovely. I don´t remember a Mrs King though. I remember Mrs Angela Banham.
[email protected]
2/10/21
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This is a long shot but I wonder if anyone remembers a lady called Rose, she was either an insurance person or she collected payments for a loan company maybe. It was back in the back in the 1970s. I think she drove a small car, so probably collected from Faringdon, Coleshill, Highworth area. She visited my grandparents when they lived in Ferndale St flats.
Wendy Crawford [email protected]
1/10/21
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I was there (The Elms) 1960-1963 bussed in from RAF Abingdon. I remember Miss Baxendall as a positive and the nasty bus monitor who called us toads. She reported me for singing along to Paul Anka, put your head on my shoulder and I had to go to the Head Mistress' office.
Never been the same since. Fondly remember Carol Kyme who was a wizard at everything.
[email protected]
19/8/21
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Hello there everyone
I'm currently researching my family history and it seems many of my mums side came from Faringdon... Iv managed to get back to my 5 x great grandparents SIMON RICHENS (1735-1793) and his wife ELIZABETH (BETTY) WATERS (1735-1794) who married in 1758 and their children.
I seem to have hit a wall at this point though as sadly I can't find anyone further back than Simon. I've googled and ancestried (not a word but...) and all roads lead nowhere 😕.
I'd love to know what their lives and those of family before them would've been like xx
[email protected]
24/7/21
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The photo of the staff team at the Primary School in Canada Lane brings back many memories. Back row far left could possibly be a Mr Allen - Welsh teacher who was thrilled to be the first teacher there to use coloured chalk!!
Mr Gregson “You are the most bumptious class I’ve ever taken!” He was widely respected but I found him a very unpleasant and vindictive man.
The lovely Miss Wickham in the front row. She was a friend of Mrs Carter the school secretary (married to Bill, father of Paul) I remember sitting in her brand new Mini - one of the first in Faringdon.
Miss Flippance “Draw what you see- not what you know” I recall her saying that her children’s pocket money was one (old) penny for every year old they were.
Mr Steven’s would occasionally drop in on classes. He once walked in, picked up a board rubber, held it aloft, dropped it and said “Why did it fall down?” My hand went up “Gravity!!!” I said. What an annoying little oik I was.
I was there from 1955 until 1962, class sizes about 30-35. Quite a few of us then donned caps and blazers and rode the daily bus to Wantage.
Saturday mornings as well ! Ugh!
Lots of my family (Edgington) are still in Faringdon. A bit of me is still there.
Andrew Edgington
24/7/21
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I am researching my brother's life and I believe he attended Church Farm House School in the late 1940s/early 1950s. His name is Richard Lorch.
Does any one know whether there is any material on the school from that period; and whether there is any one out there who attended the school then.
My brother died this year aged 78 and was about 7 when he first attended the school.
Jennifer Lorcg
[email protected]
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In 1939, after College in Swindon, my Mother, Francis Ashby, worked as a Horticulturalist at Tuckers Nursery, Faringdon before going on to Kew Gardens.
She was also, unusually for the time, a keen photographer ( the camera was basically just a box with a pinhole in it)
Mum passed away in November aged 103 and to preserve her memories I have just scanned her old, never printed, 120 format negatives.
Somebody in Faringdon may have ancestors who worked there although some, I suspect may be the 'Land Girl Army' and could be from afar.
They are extremely atmospheric of the period. See Photos
Mum stayed with her both farming relatives - Uncle [Sharps] and extended family [Gorton] in nearby South Marston and, of course, cycled daily.
Thanks to Bill Ashby
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Hello
Do you have any photographs or documents referring to the Army camp during WW2 please. My great uncle was based there and as part of my project I can find limited information about it.
Regards Sylvia Kendrick
[email protected]
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I was there in 1971-3
I remember a really funny Drama presentation with one of the only two male teachers dressed in a tutu and reciting a poem that started with “I was just a little fairy”. We were all in hysterics. I didn’t have any classes with him and I don’t remember his name, but he was such a good sport that day.
The other male teacher taught us Maths. There were 3 of us in my class whom he used to humiliate; every time he explained a concept he would say “does everyone understand?” then say my name, and sometimes the names of other two girls. I used to go bright red and want the ground to open up and swallow me. I hated his lessons, and used to say I understood even if I didn’t, just to stop him and everyone else looking at me. Needless to say I was terrible at Maths and used to get around 30% in exams (In 1973 I left because we moved house.
The Maths teacher at my new school was much more encouraging and my marks rose to 70-80%).
A group of us used to sing a parody song that started “I’m gonna leave old A J Towns” to the tune of I’m Gonna Leave Old Durham Town. we also used to recite a rhyme of English words with Latin endings; We thought we were so funny.
My favourite teacher was Mrs King who taught English. I imagine she would have been horrified at our above musical and poetical efforts - or perhaps she heard them and was quietly amused.
Wendi Sheldon
21/2/21
Wendi
- that Maths Teacher was Mr Mclennon wasn´t it? Shame you didn`t have Mrs Wood or Mrs Davies for Maths - they were lovely. I don´t remember a Mrs King though.
I remember Mrs Angela Banham.
[email protected]
2/10/21
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Hi All,
in the mid '1960's when I was about 4-5 years old I lived in Ferndale Flats with my mum and younger brother, it were converted from the former workhouse.
My mum met Jack Starr "Twink" and the rest is history. I have some memories of playing in the central yard area and going down the steps to the garden area at the back. To me, at the age I was, the garden area was a field.
Anyone else remember being a kid and living there?
[email protected]
18/2/21
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I have just launched my website http://www.selwoodstory.com
This looks at the life of a young pioneering couple, Helena and James Selwood, James Selwood worked on the Buscot Estate at the time of Robert Campbell in the 1860s and 1870s.
They made a new life in southern New Zealand, living and working on a high country sheep farm owned by Robert Campbell's son.
Please bring it to the attention of those who may be interested in this history. Any additional relevant information I would welcome.
What I would like, if I can get it (so far very illusive!), is a photo or portrait of Robert Campbell from the Buscot Estate.
Regards
Grahame Walton
[email protected]
14/10/20
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Does anyone know anything about Mr Legge who worked in Skinners Bakery. Skinners Lane and was killed in WW1.
Thankyou
Dee Ryder
[email protected]
14/10/2020
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My relatives lived at 14 ferndale street faringdon in the early 60s they were Alfred Gwyneth Kenneth and gwendoline. Anyone have any memories of them. Or also related to them
Lesley Sinden
[email protected]
19/9/20
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I was reminded recently of my residence in Faringdon 1963 / 65 during which time my father owned the Salutation Hotel having bought same from Morlands Brewery of Abingdon.
I attended Faringdon Secondary Modern as a 14/16 year old and have good memories remembering many names both boys and some of the girls (too many to list), while also remembering some of the teachers such as Mr. Hill (Deputy Head),
Mr. Franklin (Woodwork) and Mr. Sadler (Maths), whose wife worked at the cottage hospital.
For whatever reason I was regularly hauled up to do the reading at assembly - it may have been that my accent was a novelty?
Also memories of the school coach trip to the Ideal Homes Exhibition at Olympia circa Jan. 1964, and the day a visiting circus had taken the wrong turning and not able to renegotiate Southampton Street had to come into the "old school" playground to turn round.
Have never yet made it back to Faringdon - unfortunately, but should anyone remember me after my short stay with many good times, I do
send Best Regards, to all.
Norman Stewart.
18/6/20
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Struggling to find info about a relative who was born, lived in and died in Faringdon. His name was James Jesse Step, he was born on 1860 and died in 1880 aged just 20. On the 1861 census he was living with his mother, Martha Ann aged 23, and her parents William & Matilda Step (née Smith).
By 1871 Martha Ann was married to Richard Sollis and had their own young family (Richard Sollis later became the Gamekeeper at Buscot Park Estate until retiring in 1890's)... But curiously young James Jesse Step stayed living with his grandparents and is listed living with them still in Faringdon on the 1871 census, aged 10. But, come the 1881 census John Jesse Step is nowhere to be seen/listed. Sadly I found a dead record for him dated 1880. I can't find any other records.
My question is this: what newspapers covered Faringdon in the year 1880, where I may find an obituary?? Or where is he buried?
My wife is the G-G-Granddaughter of Martha Ann Step.
I appreciate any help/info whatsoever you could give me.
Yours in anticipation.
Pete Richards (Swindon)
[email protected]
6/6/20
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In continuance of the last communication concerning Church Farm House boarding school.
Many former pupils have mentioned the Folly near the vale of the white horse. Yes I remember it well. We school kids used to on many occasions visit this monstrosity situated in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by trees. I do not understand why it was put there in the first place, other then being a marker of some kind for enemy bombers during WW2.
I also recollect the American Army Camp not far from the boarding School. As previously mentioned the troops were Afro Americans. We used to pester them for chewing gum. "Have you got any gum Chum" we used to chant.. Sometimes they would reward us with a pack which we shared among ourselves.
As already stated me and my Sister had a miserable existence at the School, not knowing if we would ever see our parents again.
However we did see them in 1945 when they came to collect us. Miss Downs tried to persuade my Father to leave us at the School stating that he had no right to take us away from such a marvellous institution. Silly Old Bat.
My Dad did not take it too kindly.
J K P Clements.
9/6/20
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Oh yes I remember Faringdon. I was a pupil at Church Farm House during WW2. The school was run by 2 old biddies Miss Downes and Miss Simms both mad as hatters. Miss Downes in particular was a nasty sarcastic piece of work who tended to talk down to us on many occasiions. She had a hole in the side of her head which she kept scratching and touching many times during conversation with Pupils.
I am sorry but I cannot think of anything nice to say about the School, because even though me and my Sister were there during WW2 between 1942 to 1945 they - ie Miss Downes and Miss Simms kept us on starvation rations. For example breakfast consisted of a piece of fried bread about 4 inches square with a tiny piece of bacon perched on top, followed by a bowl of lumpy Porridge covered in salt. barely fit for human consumption.
I remember various borders.notably Olwen Bennett, Peter Beagley (hope I have spelt the name correctly) and Judith Browning who I quite fancied evern though I was only 7 years of age at the time.
I would love to hear from any of the names that I have mentioned and how they have fared in life.
John Clements
[email protected]
4/6/20
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hi. my memories of faringdon go back to the old international stores where my grand father sid bates who was the manager and lived above the shop, i remember sitting in the front room when they built the (Bailey) bridge watching the cars and lorries going up and down the bridge, can you imagine that happening today. when the shop closed grand dad was moved to a shop in oxford. my brother and i would be waiting for the oxford bus to come with grand dad on going home, we were waiting for the arm to come out of a window and two bars of chocolate being thrown to us. if he was not on the bus the doors would open and the driver would throw out the chocolate bars for us .a long time ago i am afraid
Stephen Gutteridge
9/5/20
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Thank you for researching and posting information about the local men who died in World War I. I always knew that my grandfather’s eldest brother had died in the war but had no other details. The detailed information on your website is marvellous. I’ve taken screenshots for myself and the whole family.
DJ
WW I memorials records researched by Mike Wise
31/3/20
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Having worked in a an accountant's office in Faringdon for 29 years(1977-2006) I have happy memories of the town and its people. A lifelong love of hymns and hymn-tunes meant that I often listened out for the church clock playing a hymn tune at three-hour intervals every day and was often cheered by the message that seemed to be conveyed. I was therefore interested to discover your article on the All Saints's Bells and to look over the list of hymns played.
Whilst agreeing with the list of hymns, I believe some amendments are needed to the tunes and their composers. These I list as follows:
Holy Holy Holy / Nicaea / Dr J.B. Dykes(not Dyker)
We love the place O God /Quam Dilecta / Bishop Jenner(not Jackson)
Through the night of doubt and sorrow / St Oswald / Dr J.B. Dykes
Thy way, not mine, O Lord / Ibstone / Miss M. Tiddeman
No doubt the organist will be able to confirm this!
[email protected]
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Fish, chips and other chunterings.
Reading about Lesley's eleventh birthday party (yes I was there) has made me put my melancholy head on and look back.
As I and those people mentioned are fast approaching seventy (except for the girls mentioned because as we all know they're in their mid fifties!) I thought I had better put keypad to screen before old age stops me from recapturing memories from long ago and far away.
I must admit that at the age of ten to having a soft spot for Lesley, however I also had those same feelings for Samantha from the TV series Bewitched, a nose wiggling witch or the daughter of the local chippy....confusing times for a ten year old boy back then I can tell you.
Reading the names of those 10/11 year olds from 1963 had me wondering and remembering about the rest of my classmates from the Canada lane junior school, the ones already mentioned were there along with these others I have remembered, Brian Hawkins (whose elder sister Eileen married a cousin of mine, Ray Gills) Tim Whitwood, Christine Thornton, Cyril Knox, Alan Cameron, Patrica Whiting, Richard (Ticky) Pugh and Brian (Chubby) Ward. The only teachers I can remember are Miss Flippence and Mr Gregson.
Moving on to the Elms school and the girls that went there which is mentioned quite a lot on this site (other schools are available) I remember that us boys that went to Tollington secondary school always fancied having an Elms school girl as a girlfriend but sadly that was not to be, no, that was the domain of the King Alfred boys, they used to ride into Faringdon in a V formation on their ten speed drop handlebar racing bikes, their school scarves blowing in the breeze and the air in Gloucester street heavy with the smell of Brut and Hi Karate, what chance did any of us local lads ever have, all I had was me mum's Raleigh Shopper, hardly little or no street cred for getting a girl riding that......still it did come in handy for transporting home a fish and chip supper on a Friday night.
Jim Horton
26/1/20
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THOMAS FAMILY, FISH AND CHIP SHOP
I lived in Faringdon from 1962-1968: my parents Keith and Hazel Thomas ran the fish and chip shop in London Street. My time there has been much in my mind lately after the death last year of both Keith and Hazel. Among the things we found was old cine camera footage, mostly from Faringdon days. A highlight was my 11th birthday party held in the shop which had been decorated for the occasion, and we had drinks and music and BOYS!
I recognise Eileen and Humphrey Courtenay, Dudley Andrews, Tim?, Roger Carter, Minnie Richens, Karen Price (who I believe died young, sadly), and of course Christine Mears - we were pretty much inseparable and still in touch. There’s one other boy I can’t identify, possibly Jimmy Horton.
So I looked for this site, where I have spent time before, and it was lovely to recognise a few names from school, and of course Russell Spinage who taught us country dancing. I think the youth club had folded by then, or perhaps I was just too young to join.
Looking at the photos of the carnival 1963, I can see (just) my sisters and I on the float with the go cart - “Go Kart Rides”!
I was at the primary school for a couple of years then went to The Elms where I was very happy. I’d love to hear from anyone who remembers that time, and our family, Keith, Hazel, Lesley, Kerrie and Louise who was really just a baby.
Lesley Risk (was Thomas)
[email protected]
13/1/20
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I am looking for any information on a store run by Henry Lay and his wife (possibly Eliza) run as a Confectioners and Bakers in Market Place, Faringdon, between the period 1840 to 1870.
I believe Henry was born in Highworth c 1815.
Paul Newman
[email protected]
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When I was at primary school, I remember a photo project being done for the millennium where people had photographs taken outside their homes. My family and I had ours taken in our front garden. These were then put together to form an early google maps tour if you like of Faringdon. I just wondered if these are viewable anywhere?
Thanks
Jess
[email protected]
7/10/19
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I am trying to ascertain whether anyone has any knowledge or information, regarding the US African American Army (57th Ammunition Ordnance Company) based in/nr Faringdon during WWII (1943/1944)
Kind regards
Naomi-Jane Sparrowhawk
[email protected]
12/7/19
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The building at church farm is part of a monastery that was dismantled and rebuilt to use as a barn for the farm . The original monastery was situated in the field to the left of the beginning of church path going up to the farm .
Antony Fox
11/6/19
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The Elms- pictures and information on this site
11/6/19
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There is a Church(or Chapel) on Church Farm!! It is unused and I was wondering why it was built!!
John Shawyer
26/9/18
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FARINGDON HERITAGE DAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2018
Hello All 'Old Girls'
Faringdon Library is going to be involved in Faringdon Heritage Day. As many are aware we are in residence in part of the old Girls Grammar School,(thought to be what was the cookery classroom) with this in mind we thought it would be lovely to have a display of school uniform, school timetables, perhaps if anyone has them, some recipes from their days at the school, hockey sticks, school photos..whatever you may have from your time spent at Faringdon Girls Grammar School.
We will put an exhibit together and hope to make some traditional bakes for the day too!
Faringdon Library
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Miss A J (Joan) Towns Headmistress of Faringdon County Grammar School for Girls in the 1950s, 60s and 70s passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 2, 2017, aged 102 years.
12/12/17
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I lived in Faringdon House in 1962. My twin daughters were enrolled in the village school with Miss Tibbets as one of their teachers. I was stationed at Fairford AFB. My family and I were members of the Faringdon Baptist Church. We have so many fond memories of the people and the village. At that time I was the only American to be Covenanter Leader in England. I am now 87 years old. Does anyone remember me and family?
[email protected]
Peter Semanick
28/9/17
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Can anyone help.....
I'm trying to locate the site of the old Faringdon Secondary Modern School.
My daughter has recently moved to Faringdon and visiting her has brought back memories of my school days at the old secondary school.
I was a pupil there from 1953 to 1956.
If there is anyone who is very "local" and can solve this puzzle, please get in touch.
Thank you
Janet Goodchild ( nee Hazelden)
25/8/17
ED: See pictures. The secondary modern school site became the Junior School, Southampton St
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Like others, I was amazed to find Church Farm House School come up when I googled CFH to see if it was as I remembered it from 1938 or 1939 when I was sent to school there.
Very few memories as I would only have been six or seven.
One - standing in the queue to use the ?earth closet in the garden and then being chivied for taking too long.
Two - free time in the cellar with a very few other boys. Were we the only boarders or the only boys?
Three - going to church near Christmas time and I think sitting in the choir stalls. Is it my imagination or were we robed as choristers? Seems unlikely as I was never able to keep in tune!
Four - my father coming to collect me at the end of term. He said later he didn't recognise me! It must have been a traumatic experience for me.
I still have a letter I wrote home - "Last Samday (sic) I mas (sic) I was sick."
Unfortunately it isn't dated. I suspect I didn't go back after the hols.
I boarded again at a school in Bournemouth, I think in 1940. I probably only stayed there a term too as the last episode there was being pushed by another boy on the stairs and falling on the tiled floor and being in the san with concussion.
In January 1941 I went to my final school where I stayed till my 18th birthday.
Peter Copestake
1/4/17
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I can add a name to the Faringdon Primary School teachers photo early 60,s. Back row from left - right 4th teacher was Peter Pitman. I was a pupil there until I went to Tollington School in 1963. Pete Pitman was my Sports teacher. He was the first person to introduce me to the wonderful game of cricket, which led me to play for Buscot Park CC for over 30 years. Mr Pitman moved to Dorset, and aged 16 I was to meet him again, playing against his village team Marnhull CC when I was on tour with BPCC
Cyril Knox
11/3/17
Ed: Thankyou. I've added the name to the photo
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My parents moved to Faringdon in 1957 from Reading as my father, Robert Childs (Bob), was employed as Manager of Fergusons off licence in Marlborough street (I think where Boots is now). I was his third child (born in 1960). I remember the temporary road bridge outside his shop and we would watch the cars pass from the shop attic. He was also a member of the Buscot Cricket Club, whose Idyllic ground I visited recently. My mother Jean, after bringing up 4 children took a role as part time librarian before we moved back to Reading in 1968.
I recognise many names mentioned in this web site as he always talked fondly of them and he was friends with the Stevens, Spinages, Greens (Bank Manager), Lowes (Builders), Elsdon (Teachers) and many others.
They are both still with us and it will be his 90th birthday 17/2/17, unfortunately his health is very poor and he doesn't get out now.
[email protected]
Colin Childs
31/1/17
My father was the dentist in Faringdon and it would be good to catch up with survivors
[email protected]
26/4/24
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I notice in a reunion for Faringdon Grammar School organised by a lady named Ruby Lamboll that her maiden name was Gerring. My surname is also this and my grandfather came from the Faringdon/Abingdon area. I wonder if we are related? I no longer use Facebook. Could you please pass this message to her.
9/4/24
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My name is Alan Elliott. I was at Anglo American college 1970-1971. Is there anyone out there that was a former student who would like to say hello?
Also, any pictures would be greatly appreciated. thanks
[email protected]
5/4/24
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Does any one remember shop bottom of marlborough gardens in a sheds garage. They delivered. It be came the spar shop bottom of folly view rd
richard was one of the owners
Patricia Higgs
[email protected]
27/8/23
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Re my post from a while back on the 1970s band Slade. I’ve heard from someone I was at school with who told me that “Ambrose Slade” played in the Corn Exchange in 1970 and there was a “but of a rumpus”.
So it looks like there is something in my story. However, on the downside there is an Ambrose Slade web page with a list of gigs and it doesn’t mention Faringdon. They ended 1970 as just plain Slade.
Andrew Edgington
12/4/23
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Does anyone remember the house on Gravel Walk that had a dragons head sticking out of the window?
My Grandmother lived on Meadow Bank and it was easily spotted on our walks into town during our summer holiday visits.
I can find no photographs but fairly certain it existed (around the 80’s-90’s)
[email protected]
19/3/23
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JOHN ANNS GUNMAKER
I am looking for any information I can get on a 19thC gunmaker called ANNS, I believe he could be from Faringdon The only problem I have is on the little Flintlock Pistol I own the maker is marked " ANNS " but the placename is marked " FARRINGDON " spelt with 2 R's. Any help would be appreciated.
[email protected]
27/6/22
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ANNS OF LONDON STREET 1840's
Can anyone give me any info on the ANNS family who had an ironmongers shop in London Street in the 1840's. I do not live anywhere near, thank you
[email protected]
27/6/22
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Does anyone remember the refreshment kiosk situated in the Radcot car park , run by Mrs.Mears of Marlborough Gardens Faringdon.
I’m trying to locate her daughter Linda, who was one of my classmates at Tollington School between 1960 and 1965
Edward Hilton [email protected]
21/11/21
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Some girls my age 16 in 1956 attended the Grammar School and lived at the Army camp. I have been looking for Sylvia Hastings for years. She did have an older sister.
Pam S King [email protected]
19/10/21
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Hi, My name is Jean-Marie Gillet, I'm french. I currently looking for a history of american cavalry unit: 102nd cavalry regiment. The soldiers of this unit were stationed in Fairford and the officer in Faringdon on October 1942 to December 1942.
I would like if you have any information about that ? Maybe any pictures?
Thank you in advance for any help you can bring me.
[email protected]
10/10/21
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I attended Tollington School between 1960 and 1965. Classmates at the time were Linda Mears, Bill Bunce, Judith Nichol, John Collis,
Rosemary Knapp, Ian Thompson, Valerie Wheeler, Richard Cooper, to name but a few.
I wonder where they are and what they are doing now.
Regards
Edward Hilton.
[email protected]
8/10/21
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Wendi (21/2/21)
-that Maths Teacher was Mr Mclennon wasn´t it? Shame you didn`t have Mrs Wood or Mrs Davies for Maths - they were lovely. I don´t remember a Mrs King though. I remember Mrs Angela Banham.
[email protected]
2/10/21
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This is a long shot but I wonder if anyone remembers a lady called Rose, she was either an insurance person or she collected payments for a loan company maybe. It was back in the back in the 1970s. I think she drove a small car, so probably collected from Faringdon, Coleshill, Highworth area. She visited my grandparents when they lived in Ferndale St flats.
Wendy Crawford [email protected]
1/10/21
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I was there (The Elms) 1960-1963 bussed in from RAF Abingdon. I remember Miss Baxendall as a positive and the nasty bus monitor who called us toads. She reported me for singing along to Paul Anka, put your head on my shoulder and I had to go to the Head Mistress' office.
Never been the same since. Fondly remember Carol Kyme who was a wizard at everything.
[email protected]
19/8/21
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Hello there everyone
I'm currently researching my family history and it seems many of my mums side came from Faringdon... Iv managed to get back to my 5 x great grandparents SIMON RICHENS (1735-1793) and his wife ELIZABETH (BETTY) WATERS (1735-1794) who married in 1758 and their children.
I seem to have hit a wall at this point though as sadly I can't find anyone further back than Simon. I've googled and ancestried (not a word but...) and all roads lead nowhere 😕.
I'd love to know what their lives and those of family before them would've been like xx
[email protected]
24/7/21
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The photo of the staff team at the Primary School in Canada Lane brings back many memories. Back row far left could possibly be a Mr Allen - Welsh teacher who was thrilled to be the first teacher there to use coloured chalk!!
Mr Gregson “You are the most bumptious class I’ve ever taken!” He was widely respected but I found him a very unpleasant and vindictive man.
The lovely Miss Wickham in the front row. She was a friend of Mrs Carter the school secretary (married to Bill, father of Paul) I remember sitting in her brand new Mini - one of the first in Faringdon.
Miss Flippance “Draw what you see- not what you know” I recall her saying that her children’s pocket money was one (old) penny for every year old they were.
Mr Steven’s would occasionally drop in on classes. He once walked in, picked up a board rubber, held it aloft, dropped it and said “Why did it fall down?” My hand went up “Gravity!!!” I said. What an annoying little oik I was.
I was there from 1955 until 1962, class sizes about 30-35. Quite a few of us then donned caps and blazers and rode the daily bus to Wantage.
Saturday mornings as well ! Ugh!
Lots of my family (Edgington) are still in Faringdon. A bit of me is still there.
Andrew Edgington
24/7/21
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I am researching my brother's life and I believe he attended Church Farm House School in the late 1940s/early 1950s. His name is Richard Lorch.
Does any one know whether there is any material on the school from that period; and whether there is any one out there who attended the school then.
My brother died this year aged 78 and was about 7 when he first attended the school.
Jennifer Lorcg
[email protected]
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In 1939, after College in Swindon, my Mother, Francis Ashby, worked as a Horticulturalist at Tuckers Nursery, Faringdon before going on to Kew Gardens.
She was also, unusually for the time, a keen photographer ( the camera was basically just a box with a pinhole in it)
Mum passed away in November aged 103 and to preserve her memories I have just scanned her old, never printed, 120 format negatives.
Somebody in Faringdon may have ancestors who worked there although some, I suspect may be the 'Land Girl Army' and could be from afar.
They are extremely atmospheric of the period. See Photos
Mum stayed with her both farming relatives - Uncle [Sharps] and extended family [Gorton] in nearby South Marston and, of course, cycled daily.
Thanks to Bill Ashby
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Hello
Do you have any photographs or documents referring to the Army camp during WW2 please. My great uncle was based there and as part of my project I can find limited information about it.
Regards Sylvia Kendrick
[email protected]
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I was there in 1971-3
I remember a really funny Drama presentation with one of the only two male teachers dressed in a tutu and reciting a poem that started with “I was just a little fairy”. We were all in hysterics. I didn’t have any classes with him and I don’t remember his name, but he was such a good sport that day.
The other male teacher taught us Maths. There were 3 of us in my class whom he used to humiliate; every time he explained a concept he would say “does everyone understand?” then say my name, and sometimes the names of other two girls. I used to go bright red and want the ground to open up and swallow me. I hated his lessons, and used to say I understood even if I didn’t, just to stop him and everyone else looking at me. Needless to say I was terrible at Maths and used to get around 30% in exams (In 1973 I left because we moved house.
The Maths teacher at my new school was much more encouraging and my marks rose to 70-80%).
A group of us used to sing a parody song that started “I’m gonna leave old A J Towns” to the tune of I’m Gonna Leave Old Durham Town. we also used to recite a rhyme of English words with Latin endings; We thought we were so funny.
My favourite teacher was Mrs King who taught English. I imagine she would have been horrified at our above musical and poetical efforts - or perhaps she heard them and was quietly amused.
Wendi Sheldon
21/2/21
Wendi
- that Maths Teacher was Mr Mclennon wasn´t it? Shame you didn`t have Mrs Wood or Mrs Davies for Maths - they were lovely. I don´t remember a Mrs King though.
I remember Mrs Angela Banham.
[email protected]
2/10/21
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Hi All,
in the mid '1960's when I was about 4-5 years old I lived in Ferndale Flats with my mum and younger brother, it were converted from the former workhouse.
My mum met Jack Starr "Twink" and the rest is history. I have some memories of playing in the central yard area and going down the steps to the garden area at the back. To me, at the age I was, the garden area was a field.
Anyone else remember being a kid and living there?
[email protected]
18/2/21
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I have just launched my website http://www.selwoodstory.com
This looks at the life of a young pioneering couple, Helena and James Selwood, James Selwood worked on the Buscot Estate at the time of Robert Campbell in the 1860s and 1870s.
They made a new life in southern New Zealand, living and working on a high country sheep farm owned by Robert Campbell's son.
Please bring it to the attention of those who may be interested in this history. Any additional relevant information I would welcome.
What I would like, if I can get it (so far very illusive!), is a photo or portrait of Robert Campbell from the Buscot Estate.
Regards
Grahame Walton
[email protected]
14/10/20
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Does anyone know anything about Mr Legge who worked in Skinners Bakery. Skinners Lane and was killed in WW1.
Thankyou
Dee Ryder
[email protected]
14/10/2020
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My relatives lived at 14 ferndale street faringdon in the early 60s they were Alfred Gwyneth Kenneth and gwendoline. Anyone have any memories of them. Or also related to them
Lesley Sinden
[email protected]
19/9/20
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I was reminded recently of my residence in Faringdon 1963 / 65 during which time my father owned the Salutation Hotel having bought same from Morlands Brewery of Abingdon.
I attended Faringdon Secondary Modern as a 14/16 year old and have good memories remembering many names both boys and some of the girls (too many to list), while also remembering some of the teachers such as Mr. Hill (Deputy Head),
Mr. Franklin (Woodwork) and Mr. Sadler (Maths), whose wife worked at the cottage hospital.
For whatever reason I was regularly hauled up to do the reading at assembly - it may have been that my accent was a novelty?
Also memories of the school coach trip to the Ideal Homes Exhibition at Olympia circa Jan. 1964, and the day a visiting circus had taken the wrong turning and not able to renegotiate Southampton Street had to come into the "old school" playground to turn round.
Have never yet made it back to Faringdon - unfortunately, but should anyone remember me after my short stay with many good times, I do
send Best Regards, to all.
Norman Stewart.
18/6/20
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Struggling to find info about a relative who was born, lived in and died in Faringdon. His name was James Jesse Step, he was born on 1860 and died in 1880 aged just 20. On the 1861 census he was living with his mother, Martha Ann aged 23, and her parents William & Matilda Step (née Smith).
By 1871 Martha Ann was married to Richard Sollis and had their own young family (Richard Sollis later became the Gamekeeper at Buscot Park Estate until retiring in 1890's)... But curiously young James Jesse Step stayed living with his grandparents and is listed living with them still in Faringdon on the 1871 census, aged 10. But, come the 1881 census John Jesse Step is nowhere to be seen/listed. Sadly I found a dead record for him dated 1880. I can't find any other records.
My question is this: what newspapers covered Faringdon in the year 1880, where I may find an obituary?? Or where is he buried?
My wife is the G-G-Granddaughter of Martha Ann Step.
I appreciate any help/info whatsoever you could give me.
Yours in anticipation.
Pete Richards (Swindon)
[email protected]
6/6/20
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In continuance of the last communication concerning Church Farm House boarding school.
Many former pupils have mentioned the Folly near the vale of the white horse. Yes I remember it well. We school kids used to on many occasions visit this monstrosity situated in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by trees. I do not understand why it was put there in the first place, other then being a marker of some kind for enemy bombers during WW2.
I also recollect the American Army Camp not far from the boarding School. As previously mentioned the troops were Afro Americans. We used to pester them for chewing gum. "Have you got any gum Chum" we used to chant.. Sometimes they would reward us with a pack which we shared among ourselves.
As already stated me and my Sister had a miserable existence at the School, not knowing if we would ever see our parents again.
However we did see them in 1945 when they came to collect us. Miss Downs tried to persuade my Father to leave us at the School stating that he had no right to take us away from such a marvellous institution. Silly Old Bat.
My Dad did not take it too kindly.
J K P Clements.
9/6/20
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Oh yes I remember Faringdon. I was a pupil at Church Farm House during WW2. The school was run by 2 old biddies Miss Downes and Miss Simms both mad as hatters. Miss Downes in particular was a nasty sarcastic piece of work who tended to talk down to us on many occasiions. She had a hole in the side of her head which she kept scratching and touching many times during conversation with Pupils.
I am sorry but I cannot think of anything nice to say about the School, because even though me and my Sister were there during WW2 between 1942 to 1945 they - ie Miss Downes and Miss Simms kept us on starvation rations. For example breakfast consisted of a piece of fried bread about 4 inches square with a tiny piece of bacon perched on top, followed by a bowl of lumpy Porridge covered in salt. barely fit for human consumption.
I remember various borders.notably Olwen Bennett, Peter Beagley (hope I have spelt the name correctly) and Judith Browning who I quite fancied evern though I was only 7 years of age at the time.
I would love to hear from any of the names that I have mentioned and how they have fared in life.
John Clements
[email protected]
4/6/20
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hi. my memories of faringdon go back to the old international stores where my grand father sid bates who was the manager and lived above the shop, i remember sitting in the front room when they built the (Bailey) bridge watching the cars and lorries going up and down the bridge, can you imagine that happening today. when the shop closed grand dad was moved to a shop in oxford. my brother and i would be waiting for the oxford bus to come with grand dad on going home, we were waiting for the arm to come out of a window and two bars of chocolate being thrown to us. if he was not on the bus the doors would open and the driver would throw out the chocolate bars for us .a long time ago i am afraid
Stephen Gutteridge
9/5/20
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Thank you for researching and posting information about the local men who died in World War I. I always knew that my grandfather’s eldest brother had died in the war but had no other details. The detailed information on your website is marvellous. I’ve taken screenshots for myself and the whole family.
DJ
WW I memorials records researched by Mike Wise
31/3/20
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Having worked in a an accountant's office in Faringdon for 29 years(1977-2006) I have happy memories of the town and its people. A lifelong love of hymns and hymn-tunes meant that I often listened out for the church clock playing a hymn tune at three-hour intervals every day and was often cheered by the message that seemed to be conveyed. I was therefore interested to discover your article on the All Saints's Bells and to look over the list of hymns played.
Whilst agreeing with the list of hymns, I believe some amendments are needed to the tunes and their composers. These I list as follows:
Holy Holy Holy / Nicaea / Dr J.B. Dykes(not Dyker)
We love the place O God /Quam Dilecta / Bishop Jenner(not Jackson)
Through the night of doubt and sorrow / St Oswald / Dr J.B. Dykes
Thy way, not mine, O Lord / Ibstone / Miss M. Tiddeman
No doubt the organist will be able to confirm this!
[email protected]
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Fish, chips and other chunterings.
Reading about Lesley's eleventh birthday party (yes I was there) has made me put my melancholy head on and look back.
As I and those people mentioned are fast approaching seventy (except for the girls mentioned because as we all know they're in their mid fifties!) I thought I had better put keypad to screen before old age stops me from recapturing memories from long ago and far away.
I must admit that at the age of ten to having a soft spot for Lesley, however I also had those same feelings for Samantha from the TV series Bewitched, a nose wiggling witch or the daughter of the local chippy....confusing times for a ten year old boy back then I can tell you.
Reading the names of those 10/11 year olds from 1963 had me wondering and remembering about the rest of my classmates from the Canada lane junior school, the ones already mentioned were there along with these others I have remembered, Brian Hawkins (whose elder sister Eileen married a cousin of mine, Ray Gills) Tim Whitwood, Christine Thornton, Cyril Knox, Alan Cameron, Patrica Whiting, Richard (Ticky) Pugh and Brian (Chubby) Ward. The only teachers I can remember are Miss Flippence and Mr Gregson.
Moving on to the Elms school and the girls that went there which is mentioned quite a lot on this site (other schools are available) I remember that us boys that went to Tollington secondary school always fancied having an Elms school girl as a girlfriend but sadly that was not to be, no, that was the domain of the King Alfred boys, they used to ride into Faringdon in a V formation on their ten speed drop handlebar racing bikes, their school scarves blowing in the breeze and the air in Gloucester street heavy with the smell of Brut and Hi Karate, what chance did any of us local lads ever have, all I had was me mum's Raleigh Shopper, hardly little or no street cred for getting a girl riding that......still it did come in handy for transporting home a fish and chip supper on a Friday night.
Jim Horton
26/1/20
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THOMAS FAMILY, FISH AND CHIP SHOP
I lived in Faringdon from 1962-1968: my parents Keith and Hazel Thomas ran the fish and chip shop in London Street. My time there has been much in my mind lately after the death last year of both Keith and Hazel. Among the things we found was old cine camera footage, mostly from Faringdon days. A highlight was my 11th birthday party held in the shop which had been decorated for the occasion, and we had drinks and music and BOYS!
I recognise Eileen and Humphrey Courtenay, Dudley Andrews, Tim?, Roger Carter, Minnie Richens, Karen Price (who I believe died young, sadly), and of course Christine Mears - we were pretty much inseparable and still in touch. There’s one other boy I can’t identify, possibly Jimmy Horton.
So I looked for this site, where I have spent time before, and it was lovely to recognise a few names from school, and of course Russell Spinage who taught us country dancing. I think the youth club had folded by then, or perhaps I was just too young to join.
Looking at the photos of the carnival 1963, I can see (just) my sisters and I on the float with the go cart - “Go Kart Rides”!
I was at the primary school for a couple of years then went to The Elms where I was very happy. I’d love to hear from anyone who remembers that time, and our family, Keith, Hazel, Lesley, Kerrie and Louise who was really just a baby.
Lesley Risk (was Thomas)
[email protected]
13/1/20
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I am looking for any information on a store run by Henry Lay and his wife (possibly Eliza) run as a Confectioners and Bakers in Market Place, Faringdon, between the period 1840 to 1870.
I believe Henry was born in Highworth c 1815.
Paul Newman
[email protected]
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When I was at primary school, I remember a photo project being done for the millennium where people had photographs taken outside their homes. My family and I had ours taken in our front garden. These were then put together to form an early google maps tour if you like of Faringdon. I just wondered if these are viewable anywhere?
Thanks
Jess
[email protected]
7/10/19
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I am trying to ascertain whether anyone has any knowledge or information, regarding the US African American Army (57th Ammunition Ordnance Company) based in/nr Faringdon during WWII (1943/1944)
Kind regards
Naomi-Jane Sparrowhawk
[email protected]
12/7/19
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The building at church farm is part of a monastery that was dismantled and rebuilt to use as a barn for the farm . The original monastery was situated in the field to the left of the beginning of church path going up to the farm .
Antony Fox
11/6/19
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The Elms- pictures and information on this site
11/6/19
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There is a Church(or Chapel) on Church Farm!! It is unused and I was wondering why it was built!!
John Shawyer
26/9/18
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FARINGDON HERITAGE DAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2018
Hello All 'Old Girls'
Faringdon Library is going to be involved in Faringdon Heritage Day. As many are aware we are in residence in part of the old Girls Grammar School,(thought to be what was the cookery classroom) with this in mind we thought it would be lovely to have a display of school uniform, school timetables, perhaps if anyone has them, some recipes from their days at the school, hockey sticks, school photos..whatever you may have from your time spent at Faringdon Girls Grammar School.
We will put an exhibit together and hope to make some traditional bakes for the day too!
Faringdon Library
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Miss A J (Joan) Towns Headmistress of Faringdon County Grammar School for Girls in the 1950s, 60s and 70s passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 2, 2017, aged 102 years.
12/12/17
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I lived in Faringdon House in 1962. My twin daughters were enrolled in the village school with Miss Tibbets as one of their teachers. I was stationed at Fairford AFB. My family and I were members of the Faringdon Baptist Church. We have so many fond memories of the people and the village. At that time I was the only American to be Covenanter Leader in England. I am now 87 years old. Does anyone remember me and family?
[email protected]
Peter Semanick
28/9/17
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Can anyone help.....
I'm trying to locate the site of the old Faringdon Secondary Modern School.
My daughter has recently moved to Faringdon and visiting her has brought back memories of my school days at the old secondary school.
I was a pupil there from 1953 to 1956.
If there is anyone who is very "local" and can solve this puzzle, please get in touch.
Thank you
Janet Goodchild ( nee Hazelden)
25/8/17
ED: See pictures. The secondary modern school site became the Junior School, Southampton St
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Like others, I was amazed to find Church Farm House School come up when I googled CFH to see if it was as I remembered it from 1938 or 1939 when I was sent to school there.
Very few memories as I would only have been six or seven.
One - standing in the queue to use the ?earth closet in the garden and then being chivied for taking too long.
Two - free time in the cellar with a very few other boys. Were we the only boarders or the only boys?
Three - going to church near Christmas time and I think sitting in the choir stalls. Is it my imagination or were we robed as choristers? Seems unlikely as I was never able to keep in tune!
Four - my father coming to collect me at the end of term. He said later he didn't recognise me! It must have been a traumatic experience for me.
I still have a letter I wrote home - "Last Samday (sic) I mas (sic) I was sick."
Unfortunately it isn't dated. I suspect I didn't go back after the hols.
I boarded again at a school in Bournemouth, I think in 1940. I probably only stayed there a term too as the last episode there was being pushed by another boy on the stairs and falling on the tiled floor and being in the san with concussion.
In January 1941 I went to my final school where I stayed till my 18th birthday.
Peter Copestake
1/4/17
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I can add a name to the Faringdon Primary School teachers photo early 60,s. Back row from left - right 4th teacher was Peter Pitman. I was a pupil there until I went to Tollington School in 1963. Pete Pitman was my Sports teacher. He was the first person to introduce me to the wonderful game of cricket, which led me to play for Buscot Park CC for over 30 years. Mr Pitman moved to Dorset, and aged 16 I was to meet him again, playing against his village team Marnhull CC when I was on tour with BPCC
Cyril Knox
11/3/17
Ed: Thankyou. I've added the name to the photo
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My parents moved to Faringdon in 1957 from Reading as my father, Robert Childs (Bob), was employed as Manager of Fergusons off licence in Marlborough street (I think where Boots is now). I was his third child (born in 1960). I remember the temporary road bridge outside his shop and we would watch the cars pass from the shop attic. He was also a member of the Buscot Cricket Club, whose Idyllic ground I visited recently. My mother Jean, after bringing up 4 children took a role as part time librarian before we moved back to Reading in 1968.
I recognise many names mentioned in this web site as he always talked fondly of them and he was friends with the Stevens, Spinages, Greens (Bank Manager), Lowes (Builders), Elsdon (Teachers) and many others.
They are both still with us and it will be his 90th birthday 17/2/17, unfortunately his health is very poor and he doesn't get out now.
[email protected]
Colin Childs
31/1/17
Click for a bigger image
Brownies 1984/1985
Faringdon Primary School staff. 1960s
(Click for a bigger image)
Teachers at Faringdon Primary School. early1960s
It is from the early 60’s, but can’t be sure when. Mrs King (front right) was my Grandmother. She taught at Littleworth School until that closed in 1959/60 when she transferred to Faringdon Primary at Canada Lane. This photograph was taken before Tollington opened and the ‘Juniors’ went to the old Secondary School.
It appears to have been taken in the playing field out the back of the Infants school (I remember the allotments there when I was there 1965/66).
Richard King
1/1/2017
Back Row (left to right): n/k; Mr Gregson; n/k;Peter Pitman;n/k;n/k;n/k;n/k
Front Row (left to right): n/k;Mrs Davies; Mrs Flippance;Hazel Talbot;Mr Stevens(head); Miss Willis;Miss Tibbetts;Miss Wickham;Mrs King
It is from the early 60’s, but can’t be sure when. Mrs King (front right) was my Grandmother. She taught at Littleworth School until that closed in 1959/60 when she transferred to Faringdon Primary at Canada Lane. This photograph was taken before Tollington opened and the ‘Juniors’ went to the old Secondary School.
It appears to have been taken in the playing field out the back of the Infants school (I remember the allotments there when I was there 1965/66).
Richard King
1/1/2017
Back Row (left to right): n/k; Mr Gregson; n/k;Peter Pitman;n/k;n/k;n/k;n/k
Front Row (left to right): n/k;Mrs Davies; Mrs Flippance;Hazel Talbot;Mr Stevens(head); Miss Willis;Miss Tibbetts;Miss Wickham;Mrs King
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I have fond memories of Faringdon in the early 60's as I left Tollington School in 1963. My memories of Tollington School itself however are not good. Many of us loved the old school - it just had a lovely atmosphere and one felt a sense of history, even though it was not very old. The new building (Tollington) had nothing going for it other than the smell of new paint - and the staff all seemed to grow horns and become unapproachable and full of 'angst'. I excelled in only two subjects - English, taken by Mrs Whitehead and technical drawing taken by a Mr Davis (but not the headmaster). Mrs Whitehead was absolutely fantastic - like something out of a Victorian novel. Another good teacher was Mr Reeves (who later set up his own school in the town) - he read us 'Dirks Dog Bellow' and 'Wheel on the School'. Absolutely brilliant!
To be honest, with the exception of these three, I couldn't wait to leave the place and got an apprenticeship of sorts with an old fashioned furniture retailer in Swindon - leaving school well before I was 15.
I played in a band called the 'Sound Agents' but the lead guitarist was the only one who could actually play (and brilliantly) but the rest of us were hopeless really. We used to practice weekly at the Salutation Hotel - in big upper room where the Drummer's mum used to bring us lovely chips!
Other memories? Skiving out of school to get stale buns from a cake shop for a penny, the wooden bridge in the town centre for months and riding on Eagle Motors lovely old Duple bodied Bedford SB coaches (and their brand new 'state of the art' Bedford Twin - Steer model - probably the most unreliable coach they ever had!
Much later (in the early 70's) my wife and I lived on the top floor of Richmond House and later a lovely tiny little cottage behind the pub and fish and chip shop up London Street.
We had an old upright Ford Pop which cost £5 but I could never afford the £10 for a starter so always parked it on a hill. Happy days!
Martyn Kelham
[email protected]
28/8/16
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I have today looked at the Faringdon website for the first time and was thrilled to read articles about Faringdon County Grammar School which brought back happy memories. I am in touch with Joan Towns regularly and she suggested ages ago that I should write something for this site. Happy 101st birthday wishes to her for next month!
I attended this wonderful school in the 50's. We lived in Clanfield, out of the county then, so my parents took me to school by car. I sometimes cycled and in the sixth form secretly rode my scooter to Faringdon, leaving it in charge of Rex Liddiard who had a shop in the market place.
From a very early age I knew that I would follow a career in art in some form. I have so many lovely memories of dear Miss Liddiard. One section of my art "A" level was History of Architecture and I remember how she took me out on trips to see historic churches, always with a supply of her delicious home made cakes!
Following three years at Reading University (Fine Arts) and two years teaching I was appointed botanical artist for the University of Oxford and 51 years later I am still there, maybe not so busy now but enjoying every second. Besides illustrating many books and scientific papers and helping with the teaching I have accompanied over 40 expeditions to exciting destinations, from S. America, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Miss Towns is still offering me encouragement as I struggle to finish a second book - I have written up all these expeditions.
Would love to hear from any "Old Girls"!
Rosemary Wise (nee Haynes)
[email protected]
25/8/16
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Is it true or a myth that the band Slade were booked to play in Faringdon (?Corn Exchange) before they became famous, and went on to play the gig even though they had by then had a couple of big hits?
Andrew Edgington_
[email protected]
22/8/16
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My Great Grandfather was Arthur Allnatt, who owned the corner shop and also the Folly pub. His eldest daughter Lillian was my Grandmother. My dear Auntie ran the shop after her husband Fred died suddenly. I lived with her for a year and helped in the shop. I have fond memories and photos which I will share I have just moved so I need to find them!!
Susan Allen
31/7/16
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Myrtle and John Durham. 50 years married.
See and hear them talk of their life
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2215583620/permalink/10153859635363621/
Filmed by grandson Will Clarke
11/7/16
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I've Just heard that the Market Restaurant ground floor is to be a hairdresser. Took me back to my youth when, left of the front door was Olive Palmer's hairdresser, and the Buttery was to the right. In the late 50s/early 60s the Buttery seemed like the height of fashion serving expresso coffee in glass cups as well as various milkshakes.
Gene Webb
11/7/16
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Allnatts sweets shop or most recently known as (London Street newsagent) was owned by my auntie Mrs Allnatt for many many years and was very well known for her half penny goodies . She worked the shop after loosing her husband in the war right up until 1980s when she sold up and retired to travel the world , she settled in Swindon and Faringdon continuing to have the odd holiday with my other aunt , Auntie Allnatt sadly passed away around 2008.
Lorraine Carter
6/6/16
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Just thought you might be interested.
My mother worked at the Regent Cinema during the war as an usherette.
I spent many nights in the usherettes seat in the wall and clearly remember some of the films that were shown.
The classic Bambi, the The Thief of Bagdad, sadly now I am 77 I forget most.
Arthur Kebble
8/3/16
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Faringdon carnival1960,remember it well.i won a prize in the childrens fancy dress,sat in a barrow as a scarecrow with straw stuffed inside my costume.i can feel the discomfort with the itching of the straw,and it was a hot day,makes me shudder even now.
nice to see a photograph of mr stevens,i remember he had a son in my class who had a habit of sucking his fingers,and, if his dad caught him doing it,he would wrap him across the knuckles with the ruler.
the eagle motors bus also brings back memories of going to watch Swindon town on a Saturday in the days of don brown,john trolloppe,joe butler,and tony hicks(goalkeeper).
then onto blunsdon for the speedway when barry briggs was world champion.
happy days.
Michael Macey [email protected]
2/3/16
_________________________________
My Grand mother, Eva Smith grew up in Faringdon and worked at a local manor house, where either during or preceding the Second World War met my Grand father, Charles Weston. My Grand father was billeted at the manor house, and they courted and married. My oldest uncle Michael John Weston was born in Faringdon, and after the war they all moved to London where my Grandfather, Charles was born and raised. My Grand Mother, Eva had a few sisters, Vera and I believe Bea or Beatrice and grew up in a small row of cottages somewhere in the village.
I'm getting in contact it you to see if you had any local knowledge of any of the manor houses in the area that billeted soldiers, or any knowledge of the Smith family in the village? I left England a number of years ago and am researching my family back in England.
Thanks for your time an kind consideration,
Regards
John Roll [email protected]
(USA) 304-240-6132
23/2/16
________________________________
Private Schultz, Episode 3, filmed in Faringdon 1981
Private Schulz is a BBC television comedy drama serial set mostly in Germany, during and immediately after World War II. It stars Michael Elphick in the title role and Ian Richardson playing various parts. Other notable actors included Tony Caunter, Billie Whitelaw, Billy Murray and Mark Wingett.
Video clip of action in Faringdon and the Crown It's a very big file (119mb) so will take 2-3 minutes to download
More information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Schulz
Andy Bird
19/2/16
________________________________
Photograph of Levertons clock
surprised to see the lollypop lady in the photograph.she was my mother kathleen macey,who then lived in marlborough gardens.
she passed away in truro hospital in 2009,after having both legs removed.
i went to faringdon junior school then onto king alfred's in wantage.
my sister lived in appleton after getting married in the church in faringdon,until moving to bicester a few years ago.
my dad did numerous jobs and at one time worked for the old express dairy in park road.he also worked as a driver for abels,i think it was,collecting the churns of milk from the farms.
Michael Macey
3/2/16
__________________________________
I have fond memories of Faringdon in the early 60's as I left Tollington School in 1963. My memories of Tollington School itself however are not good. Many of us loved the old school - it just had a lovely atmosphere and one felt a sense of history, even though it was not very old. The new building (Tollington) had nothing going for it other than the smell of new paint - and the staff all seemed to grow horns and become unapproachable and full of 'angst'. I excelled in only two subjects - English, taken by Mrs Whitehead and technical drawing taken by a Mr Davis (but not the headmaster). Mrs Whitehead was absolutely fantastic - like something out of a Victorian novel. Another good teacher was Mr Reeves (who later set up his own school in the town) - he read us 'Dirks Dog Bellow' and 'Wheel on the School'. Absolutely brilliant!
To be honest, with the exception of these three, I couldn't wait to leave the place and got an apprenticeship of sorts with an old fashioned furniture retailer in Swindon - leaving school well before I was 15.
I played in a band called the 'Sound Agents' but the lead guitarist was the only one who could actually play (and brilliantly) but the rest of us were hopeless really. We used to practice weekly at the Salutation Hotel - in big upper room where the Drummer's mum used to bring us lovely chips!
Other memories? Skiving out of school to get stale buns from a cake shop for a penny, the wooden bridge in the town centre for months and riding on Eagle Motors lovely old Duple bodied Bedford SB coaches (and their brand new 'state of the art' Bedford Twin - Steer model - probably the most unreliable coach they ever had!
Much later (in the early 70's) my wife and I lived on the top floor of Richmond House and later a lovely tiny little cottage behind the pub and fish and chip shop up London Street.
We had an old upright Ford Pop which cost £5 but I could never afford the £10 for a starter so always parked it on a hill. Happy days!
Martyn Kelham
[email protected]
28/8/16
_____________________________________
I have today looked at the Faringdon website for the first time and was thrilled to read articles about Faringdon County Grammar School which brought back happy memories. I am in touch with Joan Towns regularly and she suggested ages ago that I should write something for this site. Happy 101st birthday wishes to her for next month!
I attended this wonderful school in the 50's. We lived in Clanfield, out of the county then, so my parents took me to school by car. I sometimes cycled and in the sixth form secretly rode my scooter to Faringdon, leaving it in charge of Rex Liddiard who had a shop in the market place.
From a very early age I knew that I would follow a career in art in some form. I have so many lovely memories of dear Miss Liddiard. One section of my art "A" level was History of Architecture and I remember how she took me out on trips to see historic churches, always with a supply of her delicious home made cakes!
Following three years at Reading University (Fine Arts) and two years teaching I was appointed botanical artist for the University of Oxford and 51 years later I am still there, maybe not so busy now but enjoying every second. Besides illustrating many books and scientific papers and helping with the teaching I have accompanied over 40 expeditions to exciting destinations, from S. America, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Miss Towns is still offering me encouragement as I struggle to finish a second book - I have written up all these expeditions.
Would love to hear from any "Old Girls"!
Rosemary Wise (nee Haynes)
[email protected]
25/8/16
______________________________________
Is it true or a myth that the band Slade were booked to play in Faringdon (?Corn Exchange) before they became famous, and went on to play the gig even though they had by then had a couple of big hits?
Andrew Edgington_
[email protected]
22/8/16
_____________________________________
My Great Grandfather was Arthur Allnatt, who owned the corner shop and also the Folly pub. His eldest daughter Lillian was my Grandmother. My dear Auntie ran the shop after her husband Fred died suddenly. I lived with her for a year and helped in the shop. I have fond memories and photos which I will share I have just moved so I need to find them!!
Susan Allen
31/7/16
____________________________________
Myrtle and John Durham. 50 years married.
See and hear them talk of their life
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2215583620/permalink/10153859635363621/
Filmed by grandson Will Clarke
11/7/16
___________________________________
I've Just heard that the Market Restaurant ground floor is to be a hairdresser. Took me back to my youth when, left of the front door was Olive Palmer's hairdresser, and the Buttery was to the right. In the late 50s/early 60s the Buttery seemed like the height of fashion serving expresso coffee in glass cups as well as various milkshakes.
Gene Webb
11/7/16
__________________________________
Allnatts sweets shop or most recently known as (London Street newsagent) was owned by my auntie Mrs Allnatt for many many years and was very well known for her half penny goodies . She worked the shop after loosing her husband in the war right up until 1980s when she sold up and retired to travel the world , she settled in Swindon and Faringdon continuing to have the odd holiday with my other aunt , Auntie Allnatt sadly passed away around 2008.
Lorraine Carter
6/6/16
__________________________________
Just thought you might be interested.
My mother worked at the Regent Cinema during the war as an usherette.
I spent many nights in the usherettes seat in the wall and clearly remember some of the films that were shown.
The classic Bambi, the The Thief of Bagdad, sadly now I am 77 I forget most.
Arthur Kebble
8/3/16
_______________________________
Faringdon carnival1960,remember it well.i won a prize in the childrens fancy dress,sat in a barrow as a scarecrow with straw stuffed inside my costume.i can feel the discomfort with the itching of the straw,and it was a hot day,makes me shudder even now.
nice to see a photograph of mr stevens,i remember he had a son in my class who had a habit of sucking his fingers,and, if his dad caught him doing it,he would wrap him across the knuckles with the ruler.
the eagle motors bus also brings back memories of going to watch Swindon town on a Saturday in the days of don brown,john trolloppe,joe butler,and tony hicks(goalkeeper).
then onto blunsdon for the speedway when barry briggs was world champion.
happy days.
Michael Macey [email protected]
2/3/16
_________________________________
My Grand mother, Eva Smith grew up in Faringdon and worked at a local manor house, where either during or preceding the Second World War met my Grand father, Charles Weston. My Grand father was billeted at the manor house, and they courted and married. My oldest uncle Michael John Weston was born in Faringdon, and after the war they all moved to London where my Grandfather, Charles was born and raised. My Grand Mother, Eva had a few sisters, Vera and I believe Bea or Beatrice and grew up in a small row of cottages somewhere in the village.
I'm getting in contact it you to see if you had any local knowledge of any of the manor houses in the area that billeted soldiers, or any knowledge of the Smith family in the village? I left England a number of years ago and am researching my family back in England.
Thanks for your time an kind consideration,
Regards
John Roll [email protected]
(USA) 304-240-6132
23/2/16
________________________________
Private Schultz, Episode 3, filmed in Faringdon 1981
Private Schulz is a BBC television comedy drama serial set mostly in Germany, during and immediately after World War II. It stars Michael Elphick in the title role and Ian Richardson playing various parts. Other notable actors included Tony Caunter, Billie Whitelaw, Billy Murray and Mark Wingett.
Video clip of action in Faringdon and the Crown It's a very big file (119mb) so will take 2-3 minutes to download
More information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Schulz
Andy Bird
19/2/16
________________________________
Photograph of Levertons clock
surprised to see the lollypop lady in the photograph.she was my mother kathleen macey,who then lived in marlborough gardens.
she passed away in truro hospital in 2009,after having both legs removed.
i went to faringdon junior school then onto king alfred's in wantage.
my sister lived in appleton after getting married in the church in faringdon,until moving to bicester a few years ago.
my dad did numerous jobs and at one time worked for the old express dairy in park road.he also worked as a driver for abels,i think it was,collecting the churns of milk from the farms.
Michael Macey
3/2/16
__________________________________
Click for bigger image
Methodist Circuit Meeting 1930s
In the photograph: Mr and Mrs Reason; Harold and Elsie Langham; Fred Carter, Bill Carter, Gladys Carter.
Does anyone recognise any other people?
In the photograph: Mr and Mrs Reason; Harold and Elsie Langham; Fred Carter, Bill Carter, Gladys Carter.
Does anyone recognise any other people?
________________________________
I have just acquired very pretty enamel and coral necklace & brooch made by E Leverton (late ABEL BROS) & sons watchmaker and jeweller, Corn Market Faringdon.
Please would you tell me if they still are a part of Faringdon economy?
If they are not can you tell me when their shop closed?
Jan Thomas
[email protected]
11/12/15
_________________________________
I wonder if anyone can help me ? I lived in Faringdon for a few years , from about 1950 until 1958 . My step father was John Harry Adams & I am trying to find out about his service in the Fire Service at the beginning of WW2 . I know he went on to serve in the Royal Engineers but am interested to find any information regarding his service with the Fire Service . He had some very " hairy " tales to tell & I would love to know if they were true . Sadly he has been dead for a long time so I can't ask him .
I have very much enjoyed reading the entries on this site . I too went to the Junior school on Canada Lane & was terrified of Mr Tidyman , I was always poor at maths & I'm sure it's because he used to humiliate me rather than encourage me . Despite this I passed the 11+ exam & went to the "Elms " in 1953 . I too remember Miss Moore , what a wonderful woman she was . Unfortunately I left in 1958 to move to Yorkshire with my parents . I recognised the names of many of the girls I was taught with & found myself on the long photographs .
My maiden name was Jane Strachan .
[email protected]
6/11/15
__________________________________
Miss Towns, head mistress of Faringdon Grammar Schoool for Girls til 1974, is 100 years old
Article published in Faringdon Folly November 2015
November 2015
___________________________________
I was interested to read Jane Simpson's comments: I remember her well and still have a picture of my brother Tim and myself at one of her birthday parties! I often visited her father's drapers shop; it was still lit by gas in the early 50s. I was born in Faringdon in 1946 in The Lindens Gravel Walk and went to the Girls Grammar School. My father was deputy head of the Secondary Modern for very many years and lived in the town until his death.
Sue Jenkins (Hill)
[email protected]
19/10/15
___________________________________
I am trying to do some research into my ancestry. My grandmother's family lived at 77 Bromsgrove. My great grandparents owned the Duke Of Wellington. They were Italian and I think he died sometime in the 60's. I was born in 1956 and was only a child when he died. His sir name was Gianandrea (spelling may not be right).
We are drawing a blank on that side of the family because we cannot confirm the spelling.
Are there any records which may help please.
Kind regards
Jaine Dacres [email protected]
12/10/15
ED: I've emailed to say the Giannadreia's were landlords of the Duke of York
___________________________________
Thanks to all of you that replied to my earlier questions this year.
Colin Cove
[email protected]
7/10/15
___________________________________
Would you have any information on VINERS STORES maybe from around 1910 some where in Faringdon. My guess is Marlborough St.
They were a Drapers, Milliners, Outfitters & Shoe & Boot shop.
Regards,Jan.
[email protected]
16/9/15
_____________________________________
I attended the Anglo American College between 1970-1971. The college took over Barcote Manor and started the build out in the early summer of 1970. I assisted with the build out of the beautiful old Manor for a short period and of course studied there for the year. The teachers and staff were very talented-providing an excellent education under Rev. Gamble.
[email protected]
11/7/15
____________________________________
This 1943 Deanery Magazine was kindly sent by Stuart Pearce, Australia
It's rather large- 5mb
May 2015
_______________________________________
I was bought up in Faringdon until I married and left in 1967. My father, Boaz (Buzz) Simpson, was born in Faringdon and lived there all this life until his death in 1984. For years he served in Golding Goddards drapers shop in Marlborough Street until it was closed in the 1950s. I always remember it as a dark dreary shop with long brown wooden counters. He worked with a Miss Goddard who I presume was one of the Goddard family – she always wore brown and was a bit stern. My dad served in the Faringdon Fire Service during WWII and is pictured in the photograph of the fire brigade on the site and in another photo in 1961 when he was the station officer in charge. He met my mother, Olive, who was in service at Faringdon House and they married in 1934. We lived in Coxwell Road opposite the Eagle Garage.
When the drapers closed, my father moved to work as caretaker at the Junior School in Canada Lane, moving with the school to Southampton Street and retiring in 1963.
My brother, Malcolm, is in two of the photographs of the Youth Club. He sadly died last year. He attended King Alfred’s School in Wantage and then went to work at AERE Harwell. I attended the Elms from 1958 to 1963 when Miss Towns was headmistress although I always felt the school was actually run by Miss Bell and Miss Osbourne. The grounds at The Elms though were really lovely and we were lucky to have been taught in such great surroundings.
I have many happy memories of Saturday morning pictures at the Regent and popping into Needlers or Miss Fletchers to buy sweets, going to the Library in the Market Square and sitting underneath it to watch the world go by. We had a long walk from our home in Coxwell Road to the shops or to school but I never thought anything of it at the time. In the summer, we would walk back from school over the fields from the bottom of Canada Lane to Highworth Road. A lovely walk but now all covered in houses. As a teenager, I always thought Faringdon a boring place to live as it was so quiet but in hindsight it was a great place to grow up in.
Jayne Peck (Jane Simpson)
4/5/15
____________________________________________
I am 59 years old.i can remember visiting my aunty molly in faringdon.she lived in a house in Station rd.there was an old dilapidated train line and station.Me and my brother loved seeing the Puffer Trains come along.the drivers would buy us ice creams.we used to walk along the train lines.My grandfather owned ran the local Greengrocers at the time.His surname was canon.my aunty mollys name was Bartlett.It would be nice to hear from you if you have any history of my family or faringdon.
thank you all
Colin Cove
[email protected]
23/4/15
____________________________________________
The pictures of old Faringdon are certainly interesting
http://www.faringdon.org/early-20th-century.html
Ann's Garage had several premises in Faringdon in the first half of the 20th century. The picture taken through the Town Hall is of the offices and show room built in 1912 to replace a former garage situated between what is now Perry Bishop and what was Barclay's Bank. This showroom had petrol pumps and even a hoist to lift cars up to the first floor. The main workshop was situated behind the Red Lion in what is now the lower Southampton Street carpark. There was also an Ann's Garage garage as shown in the picture of Marlborough Street and yet another with petrol pumps at the top of Marlborough Street where the show room of the Faringdon Garage now stands.
I think the tall man in a cap and long coat in the workshop picture is probably Charlie Smith who was foreman at Ann's Garage and also Captain of the local Fire Brigade.
The isolation hospital was on the left of Highworth Road just past the entrance to Westland Road. I understand food and coal were left at the entrance while the patients served out their quarantine period.. Notice the sparkling white aprons.
The market pictures are interesting. Hundreds of men but not a woman to be seen.
The saddest picture to me is the picture of Dr. Pulling's residence Overton House opposite Arthur's Hill. I felt it was a crying shame when that beautiful house was pulled down to make way for the Faringdon Garage forecourt.
Finally, the Duke of York, the old "Drum and Monkey" with Michael Giannadrea stood outside. Happy memories and many thanks for showing them
Dennis Haynes
19/1/15
_____________________________________________
There used to be a City of Oxford bus garage in Faringdon situated on Station Road SN7 7BN. It closed circa 1982. It is still there or has it long since been demolished please? I will be visiting Faringdon shortly and would be grateful if you are able to tell me what building now exists on the site of the former bus garage. I hope that you can help me.
Thanks
Keith Shayshutt [email protected]
5/12/14
____________________________________________
Anglo American College at Barcote Manor
I attended the Anglo-American College at Barcote Manor in 1970 but also at its previous home in Alvescot. I think the college closed down in 1972.
I have great memories of learning to drive around Faringdon. My first lesson with my driving instructor was through the town having to stop at traffic lights and then move on - nerve racking at the time. My fourth lesson did not end so well. Whilst waiting at a junction in the town a lorry crashed into the back of the car! The car was a right off! However it did not put me off driving.
The Anglo-American College did have a 'colourful' history and it was an interesting time to be there, even the Oxford Drugs Squad raided the college. It was also filmed for a BBC documentary with regard to the use of drugs by youngsters in schools as that was the period when drugs were starting to be used by pupils in several private schools throughout the country.
Diana Sarel
[email protected]
18/9/14
___________________________________________
Old Girls’ Reunion in Faringdon / May 20th 2014
GROUP PHOTO – from left to right. Click photo for a larger image
Phil Coffey, Carole Liddiard (Phillips), Gill Pink (Cotterell), Sue Mudway (Simmonds), Barbara Page-Roberts (Swatton), Jay Compson (Long),Madeleine Russell (Beckett), Susan Hadland (Whitaker), Brenda Rouse, Maureen Rhymes (Clarke), Sandra Murray (Purves), Marge Hedges (Maidment), Sarah Frances (Bunting), Sally Hoffman (Lloyd-Rogers), Valerie Kitts (Rideout), Hazel Stansfield, Adrienne Stewart (Hampshire), Mary Prior (Davis), Wendy Pitts (Lovegrove, Jackie Harris(Whitehead), Sylvia Downs (Pearce), Ruby Lamboll (Gerring), Pat Tinny (White), Annette Hughes (Dight)
I have just acquired very pretty enamel and coral necklace & brooch made by E Leverton (late ABEL BROS) & sons watchmaker and jeweller, Corn Market Faringdon.
Please would you tell me if they still are a part of Faringdon economy?
If they are not can you tell me when their shop closed?
Jan Thomas
[email protected]
11/12/15
_________________________________
I wonder if anyone can help me ? I lived in Faringdon for a few years , from about 1950 until 1958 . My step father was John Harry Adams & I am trying to find out about his service in the Fire Service at the beginning of WW2 . I know he went on to serve in the Royal Engineers but am interested to find any information regarding his service with the Fire Service . He had some very " hairy " tales to tell & I would love to know if they were true . Sadly he has been dead for a long time so I can't ask him .
I have very much enjoyed reading the entries on this site . I too went to the Junior school on Canada Lane & was terrified of Mr Tidyman , I was always poor at maths & I'm sure it's because he used to humiliate me rather than encourage me . Despite this I passed the 11+ exam & went to the "Elms " in 1953 . I too remember Miss Moore , what a wonderful woman she was . Unfortunately I left in 1958 to move to Yorkshire with my parents . I recognised the names of many of the girls I was taught with & found myself on the long photographs .
My maiden name was Jane Strachan .
[email protected]
6/11/15
__________________________________
Miss Towns, head mistress of Faringdon Grammar Schoool for Girls til 1974, is 100 years old
Article published in Faringdon Folly November 2015
November 2015
___________________________________
I was interested to read Jane Simpson's comments: I remember her well and still have a picture of my brother Tim and myself at one of her birthday parties! I often visited her father's drapers shop; it was still lit by gas in the early 50s. I was born in Faringdon in 1946 in The Lindens Gravel Walk and went to the Girls Grammar School. My father was deputy head of the Secondary Modern for very many years and lived in the town until his death.
Sue Jenkins (Hill)
[email protected]
19/10/15
___________________________________
I am trying to do some research into my ancestry. My grandmother's family lived at 77 Bromsgrove. My great grandparents owned the Duke Of Wellington. They were Italian and I think he died sometime in the 60's. I was born in 1956 and was only a child when he died. His sir name was Gianandrea (spelling may not be right).
We are drawing a blank on that side of the family because we cannot confirm the spelling.
Are there any records which may help please.
Kind regards
Jaine Dacres [email protected]
12/10/15
ED: I've emailed to say the Giannadreia's were landlords of the Duke of York
___________________________________
Thanks to all of you that replied to my earlier questions this year.
Colin Cove
[email protected]
7/10/15
___________________________________
Would you have any information on VINERS STORES maybe from around 1910 some where in Faringdon. My guess is Marlborough St.
They were a Drapers, Milliners, Outfitters & Shoe & Boot shop.
Regards,Jan.
[email protected]
16/9/15
_____________________________________
I attended the Anglo American College between 1970-1971. The college took over Barcote Manor and started the build out in the early summer of 1970. I assisted with the build out of the beautiful old Manor for a short period and of course studied there for the year. The teachers and staff were very talented-providing an excellent education under Rev. Gamble.
[email protected]
11/7/15
____________________________________
This 1943 Deanery Magazine was kindly sent by Stuart Pearce, Australia
It's rather large- 5mb
May 2015
_______________________________________
I was bought up in Faringdon until I married and left in 1967. My father, Boaz (Buzz) Simpson, was born in Faringdon and lived there all this life until his death in 1984. For years he served in Golding Goddards drapers shop in Marlborough Street until it was closed in the 1950s. I always remember it as a dark dreary shop with long brown wooden counters. He worked with a Miss Goddard who I presume was one of the Goddard family – she always wore brown and was a bit stern. My dad served in the Faringdon Fire Service during WWII and is pictured in the photograph of the fire brigade on the site and in another photo in 1961 when he was the station officer in charge. He met my mother, Olive, who was in service at Faringdon House and they married in 1934. We lived in Coxwell Road opposite the Eagle Garage.
When the drapers closed, my father moved to work as caretaker at the Junior School in Canada Lane, moving with the school to Southampton Street and retiring in 1963.
My brother, Malcolm, is in two of the photographs of the Youth Club. He sadly died last year. He attended King Alfred’s School in Wantage and then went to work at AERE Harwell. I attended the Elms from 1958 to 1963 when Miss Towns was headmistress although I always felt the school was actually run by Miss Bell and Miss Osbourne. The grounds at The Elms though were really lovely and we were lucky to have been taught in such great surroundings.
I have many happy memories of Saturday morning pictures at the Regent and popping into Needlers or Miss Fletchers to buy sweets, going to the Library in the Market Square and sitting underneath it to watch the world go by. We had a long walk from our home in Coxwell Road to the shops or to school but I never thought anything of it at the time. In the summer, we would walk back from school over the fields from the bottom of Canada Lane to Highworth Road. A lovely walk but now all covered in houses. As a teenager, I always thought Faringdon a boring place to live as it was so quiet but in hindsight it was a great place to grow up in.
Jayne Peck (Jane Simpson)
4/5/15
____________________________________________
I am 59 years old.i can remember visiting my aunty molly in faringdon.she lived in a house in Station rd.there was an old dilapidated train line and station.Me and my brother loved seeing the Puffer Trains come along.the drivers would buy us ice creams.we used to walk along the train lines.My grandfather owned ran the local Greengrocers at the time.His surname was canon.my aunty mollys name was Bartlett.It would be nice to hear from you if you have any history of my family or faringdon.
thank you all
Colin Cove
[email protected]
23/4/15
____________________________________________
The pictures of old Faringdon are certainly interesting
http://www.faringdon.org/early-20th-century.html
Ann's Garage had several premises in Faringdon in the first half of the 20th century. The picture taken through the Town Hall is of the offices and show room built in 1912 to replace a former garage situated between what is now Perry Bishop and what was Barclay's Bank. This showroom had petrol pumps and even a hoist to lift cars up to the first floor. The main workshop was situated behind the Red Lion in what is now the lower Southampton Street carpark. There was also an Ann's Garage garage as shown in the picture of Marlborough Street and yet another with petrol pumps at the top of Marlborough Street where the show room of the Faringdon Garage now stands.
I think the tall man in a cap and long coat in the workshop picture is probably Charlie Smith who was foreman at Ann's Garage and also Captain of the local Fire Brigade.
The isolation hospital was on the left of Highworth Road just past the entrance to Westland Road. I understand food and coal were left at the entrance while the patients served out their quarantine period.. Notice the sparkling white aprons.
The market pictures are interesting. Hundreds of men but not a woman to be seen.
The saddest picture to me is the picture of Dr. Pulling's residence Overton House opposite Arthur's Hill. I felt it was a crying shame when that beautiful house was pulled down to make way for the Faringdon Garage forecourt.
Finally, the Duke of York, the old "Drum and Monkey" with Michael Giannadrea stood outside. Happy memories and many thanks for showing them
Dennis Haynes
19/1/15
_____________________________________________
There used to be a City of Oxford bus garage in Faringdon situated on Station Road SN7 7BN. It closed circa 1982. It is still there or has it long since been demolished please? I will be visiting Faringdon shortly and would be grateful if you are able to tell me what building now exists on the site of the former bus garage. I hope that you can help me.
Thanks
Keith Shayshutt [email protected]
5/12/14
____________________________________________
Anglo American College at Barcote Manor
I attended the Anglo-American College at Barcote Manor in 1970 but also at its previous home in Alvescot. I think the college closed down in 1972.
I have great memories of learning to drive around Faringdon. My first lesson with my driving instructor was through the town having to stop at traffic lights and then move on - nerve racking at the time. My fourth lesson did not end so well. Whilst waiting at a junction in the town a lorry crashed into the back of the car! The car was a right off! However it did not put me off driving.
The Anglo-American College did have a 'colourful' history and it was an interesting time to be there, even the Oxford Drugs Squad raided the college. It was also filmed for a BBC documentary with regard to the use of drugs by youngsters in schools as that was the period when drugs were starting to be used by pupils in several private schools throughout the country.
Diana Sarel
[email protected]
18/9/14
___________________________________________
Old Girls’ Reunion in Faringdon / May 20th 2014
GROUP PHOTO – from left to right. Click photo for a larger image
Phil Coffey, Carole Liddiard (Phillips), Gill Pink (Cotterell), Sue Mudway (Simmonds), Barbara Page-Roberts (Swatton), Jay Compson (Long),Madeleine Russell (Beckett), Susan Hadland (Whitaker), Brenda Rouse, Maureen Rhymes (Clarke), Sandra Murray (Purves), Marge Hedges (Maidment), Sarah Frances (Bunting), Sally Hoffman (Lloyd-Rogers), Valerie Kitts (Rideout), Hazel Stansfield, Adrienne Stewart (Hampshire), Mary Prior (Davis), Wendy Pitts (Lovegrove, Jackie Harris(Whitehead), Sylvia Downs (Pearce), Ruby Lamboll (Gerring), Pat Tinny (White), Annette Hughes (Dight)
None of those of us who began their first year at Faringdon’s County Grammar School for Girls on September 6th 1955 (nor for that matter none of those pupils who joined us in later years) could for a moment have imagined that a bunch of us would be meeting up in Faringdon almost 59 years later, to celebrate our 70thbirthdays!
On May 20th this year a total of twenty four of us gathered together at a local hotel to mark this special occasion. Quite amazing considering that most of us left school either in 1960 or 1962 (over fifty years ago!) and went our separate ways. Although many of the "Girls" are always willing to lend a hand, those basically responsible for bringing us together again are Ruby Lamboll (née Gerring), Sylvia Downs (Pearce) and Madeleine Russell (Beckett). Between them they have coordinated the tracing and contact of companions from our year and organized reunions, such as the one held back in 1994 when we celebrated our 50th birthdays. They also organize more regular, smaller get-togethers for those who still live not too far from Faringdon. A big thank you to all of those involved. For various reasons, a number of companions were unable to join us, some unfortunately due to health problems. A very special greeting to them, with our best wishes.
As people began filing into the hotel lounge, many of the faces, and oddly enough perhaps even more so, many of the voices, were very familiar. The difficult part was trying to put a name to them, until someone came up with the practical idea of getting each of us to label ourselves with a sticker. Having established who was who, after greeting one another and exchanging snips of news about our present lives, families, grandchildren and what-have-you, we moved into the restaurant for lunch. Over lunch we all changed places several times, circulating from one table to another to ensure that everyone had a chance to talk to everyone else. And we most certainly did! Tongues were wagging ten to the dozen as we recalled companions, teachers, staff and, of course, a host of anecdotes. With foresight some of the participants had gone to the trouble of preparing a collection of photos, both of school events and of earlier reunions, which was a great help in reconstructing our long off school days. All in all, in a combined effort, we displayed an amazingly effective memory.
Some of us came from quite far afield to attend the meeting: Valerie Kitts (Rideout) from Guernsey, Barbara Page-Roberts (Swatton) from Bulgaria, myself (Philomena Coffey) from Barcelona, but I am sure that all of us, wherever we came from, welcomed the opportunity of reminiscing together and renewing acquaintances. Recognition was voiced by many of how fortunate we were to attend a school such as the Elms which provided us not only with a network of friends for life, but also a sound academic grounding and principles and moral values that have stood us in excellent stead throughout our lives. The coat of arms which hung above the entrance to the main hall said “Keep Troth”, and we have.
Philomena Coffey
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On May 20th this year a total of twenty four of us gathered together at a local hotel to mark this special occasion. Quite amazing considering that most of us left school either in 1960 or 1962 (over fifty years ago!) and went our separate ways. Although many of the "Girls" are always willing to lend a hand, those basically responsible for bringing us together again are Ruby Lamboll (née Gerring), Sylvia Downs (Pearce) and Madeleine Russell (Beckett). Between them they have coordinated the tracing and contact of companions from our year and organized reunions, such as the one held back in 1994 when we celebrated our 50th birthdays. They also organize more regular, smaller get-togethers for those who still live not too far from Faringdon. A big thank you to all of those involved. For various reasons, a number of companions were unable to join us, some unfortunately due to health problems. A very special greeting to them, with our best wishes.
As people began filing into the hotel lounge, many of the faces, and oddly enough perhaps even more so, many of the voices, were very familiar. The difficult part was trying to put a name to them, until someone came up with the practical idea of getting each of us to label ourselves with a sticker. Having established who was who, after greeting one another and exchanging snips of news about our present lives, families, grandchildren and what-have-you, we moved into the restaurant for lunch. Over lunch we all changed places several times, circulating from one table to another to ensure that everyone had a chance to talk to everyone else. And we most certainly did! Tongues were wagging ten to the dozen as we recalled companions, teachers, staff and, of course, a host of anecdotes. With foresight some of the participants had gone to the trouble of preparing a collection of photos, both of school events and of earlier reunions, which was a great help in reconstructing our long off school days. All in all, in a combined effort, we displayed an amazingly effective memory.
Some of us came from quite far afield to attend the meeting: Valerie Kitts (Rideout) from Guernsey, Barbara Page-Roberts (Swatton) from Bulgaria, myself (Philomena Coffey) from Barcelona, but I am sure that all of us, wherever we came from, welcomed the opportunity of reminiscing together and renewing acquaintances. Recognition was voiced by many of how fortunate we were to attend a school such as the Elms which provided us not only with a network of friends for life, but also a sound academic grounding and principles and moral values that have stood us in excellent stead throughout our lives. The coat of arms which hung above the entrance to the main hall said “Keep Troth”, and we have.
Philomena Coffey
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Church Farm House School 1946-1952
Just by chance following a long lost reconnection with a school friend at the time, this Faringdon web site appeared on my computer screen!
I was at school in the town 1948 - 1952, but not at the girls school - sadly! My school was Church Farm House which I think was located in Romney House along the main road west of the market square. It had a lovely archway on the south side of the road which lead into a cobbled courtyard and large barn at the top of the incline. The other part of school was housed at the top of the town, opposite the church and cemetery, and had the school chapel converted from an old stables: I well remember the church bell ringing practices!! In 1952 the school relocated to Southmoor, near Abington just outside Oxford and was then sold to new owners in about 1955. Church Farm School was all boys and had a fantastic musical record with boy (5 -13) going on to Cathedral choirs all around the country. Probably one of the most important persons- to -be I remember there was to become Bishop Mark Santer (Birmingham) who was an incredible pianist.
And I very well remember the Folly at the top of town on the way to church at Littleworth where i used to ring the pre-service bell. The school chaplain is buried there, Arthur Morris.
I could go on at considerable length - so enough for now! I have lost touch with all pupils now, but one!
William Penney
(A retired Naval Architect and former Professor of Offshore Operations)
[email protected]
June 2014
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Just by chance following a long lost reconnection with a school friend at the time, this Faringdon web site appeared on my computer screen!
I was at school in the town 1948 - 1952, but not at the girls school - sadly! My school was Church Farm House which I think was located in Romney House along the main road west of the market square. It had a lovely archway on the south side of the road which lead into a cobbled courtyard and large barn at the top of the incline. The other part of school was housed at the top of the town, opposite the church and cemetery, and had the school chapel converted from an old stables: I well remember the church bell ringing practices!! In 1952 the school relocated to Southmoor, near Abington just outside Oxford and was then sold to new owners in about 1955. Church Farm School was all boys and had a fantastic musical record with boy (5 -13) going on to Cathedral choirs all around the country. Probably one of the most important persons- to -be I remember there was to become Bishop Mark Santer (Birmingham) who was an incredible pianist.
And I very well remember the Folly at the top of town on the way to church at Littleworth where i used to ring the pre-service bell. The school chaplain is buried there, Arthur Morris.
I could go on at considerable length - so enough for now! I have lost touch with all pupils now, but one!
William Penney
(A retired Naval Architect and former Professor of Offshore Operations)
[email protected]
June 2014
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Faringdon Grammar school for girls 1954
Click photo for a bigger image
Click photo for a bigger image
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Regent Cinema 1930s to 1969
The cinema was in Gloucester Street between The Volunteer Public House and the dentist’s surgery. It was officially opened by Lord Berners in the mid 30s and at that time called the Rialto. Several celebrities were apparently at the opening including John Betjeman and Adele Astaire (Fred’s sister). Lord Berners said at the opening:
For several years now I have been a regular patron of the old cinema in the Corn Exchange, and much as we have appreciated the quaint and somewhat ecclesiastical atmosphere, there is no doubt that we now have a hall worth of the noble town of Faringdon **.
The first film ever shown starred Gary Cooper and was called The lives of a Bengal Lancer. The Rialto was built of the same bricks as the Folly Tower with the frontage painted white.
Read more on the page about the old Regent Cinema
Mark Pawley
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London St in the 1960s
I've been looking at Faringdon via Google maps. I've noticed that about 150 metres up London Street on the right there is an alley that bears a plaque that names it Skinner's Lane. This was up the side of Miss Alnatt's sweet shop in my day. I may be wrong but when I was a lad in Faringdon 1949 - 1970s this was known as Baker's Alley. A bakery halfway up and the Baker's Arms at the top? I'm 65 now and I know that memory plays among other things tricks! Skinner's Lane was further up near the Folly Pub?
I'd also like to thank the forum for enabling me to find my half-sister Debbie a couple of years ago. Much time to make up!
Mark Pawley
[email protected]
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Regent Cinema 1930s to 1969
The cinema was in Gloucester Street between The Volunteer Public House and the dentist’s surgery. It was officially opened by Lord Berners in the mid 30s and at that time called the Rialto. Several celebrities were apparently at the opening including John Betjeman and Adele Astaire (Fred’s sister). Lord Berners said at the opening:
For several years now I have been a regular patron of the old cinema in the Corn Exchange, and much as we have appreciated the quaint and somewhat ecclesiastical atmosphere, there is no doubt that we now have a hall worth of the noble town of Faringdon **.
The first film ever shown starred Gary Cooper and was called The lives of a Bengal Lancer. The Rialto was built of the same bricks as the Folly Tower with the frontage painted white.
Read more on the page about the old Regent Cinema
Mark Pawley
__________________________________________
London St in the 1960s
I've been looking at Faringdon via Google maps. I've noticed that about 150 metres up London Street on the right there is an alley that bears a plaque that names it Skinner's Lane. This was up the side of Miss Alnatt's sweet shop in my day. I may be wrong but when I was a lad in Faringdon 1949 - 1970s this was known as Baker's Alley. A bakery halfway up and the Baker's Arms at the top? I'm 65 now and I know that memory plays among other things tricks! Skinner's Lane was further up near the Folly Pub?
I'd also like to thank the forum for enabling me to find my half-sister Debbie a couple of years ago. Much time to make up!
Mark Pawley
[email protected]
___________________________________________
Faringdon Grammar School for Girls c 1957
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Chamber of Trade 1954
Faringdon used to have it's very own Trade show. I was a child and remember it well. A great place to get freebees- pencils, balloons. Have a look at the Trade brochure (16mb) _____________________________________ Coronation Celebrations 1953 Football match, Darts match, dance, unveiling of plaque, dancing and most important a Carnival, with a (carnival queen, confetti battle, procession, dancing, sports). Have a look at the program ( it's a 25mb file!). Were any of you there? _____________________________________ 1960s, 1970s I think I can write on behalf of my brother as well when I say we both have good memories of Faringdon. Life has been up and down for both of us in quite a few ways as some will know. We are both alive and kicking Robert, bob or shorty lives in Cheddar and I live in Bude. I can read that the Edgington and Talbot families carry on the tradition of playing soccer and or cricket and when I travel through the town or round it I can see it has not changed that much really just a few extra houses and many less public houses The Snooty Fox at Longworth seems to close open and close again It is good to see the folly tower is very much to the fore and The Football club is flourishing well done all Bill Pearce [email protected] _____________________________________ 1960s I write in respect of your historical business list. (Excel) May I make an observation; when I left Faringdon Secondary school in 1963, my first job was as an assistant at the Faringdon Branch of the (then) Swindon and District Co-operative Society. The branch number was 19. The manager at the time was a Mr Ray Thumwood and the first assistant Mrs Doris Elbrow. There was also a small Co-op butchers shop next door, adjacent to Fletcher's sweet shop. The butcher at that time was a Mr Richard Depper. I am certain that the business occupied the site of the Police Station. At some stage after I left, the Marlborough Street premises were closed, and the branch relocated to the former Chamberlain's store in the Market Square. David Cossins _____________________________________ Eighteenth Century views of Faringdon I noticed that you have used one of Stone's drawings of the church to illustrate this page. Copies of 'The Stone Book: eighteenth century views of Faringdon and the Vale of the White Horse' by Andrew Sargent, are on sale in All Saints' Church and from Tourist Information. Price £7.50. All proceeds to All Saints' Church. ____________________________________ 1962 and the snow Hello dear lady from Faringdon: I notice from past weather reports you folks have had some bad weather (snow & rain). I remember in January 1962 we had that heavy snowfall and roads were completely blocked in and around Faringdon. The roads were so bad that the moving van (lorrie) which was supposed to pickup our household goods for our move to RAF High Wycombe could not get to Faringdon House. When I explained to Heber-Percy of my delay in moving from our flat, he immediately told the town council members that he wanted his driveways and the roads into the estate cleared right away. Needless to say the roads were cleared immediately. I have so many wonderful memories in your beautiful city. I just thought I would drop you a line and say hello. I hope all is going well with you. Michael Stevens, living in Philadelphia, USA is supposed to add his memories to your web site. Even at 82 years old I don't put things off so I hope he will stick to his word and send you some memories soon. Did I tell you my and twin daughters still have their library cards from Faringdon? We also still have the complete set of hard back covers of "Dickens" novel books. Yes, they've been read a couple of times. We have the latest series of "Downton Abbey" showing on our Public Television Station (PBS). I watched all the first series and have seen three of the latest. How exciting to watch these as I can relate having lived at Faringdon House, although not as many staff. Those were the good old days and it's a shame I didn't appreciate those days as much as I should have. I wish you all the best in the coming years. A friend from America. Pete Semanick [email protected] January 2013 ____________________________ Girls Grammar School 1957- 1962 I attended the Girl’s Grammar school until 1962 – having left at the end of the first 6th year because my parents moved – for that last year I had to travel by train and then school bus to get there. I have many happy memories of the school – things like sewing bloomers by hand with perfect French seams – and then having to wear them!! Also of the swimming pool – which was built during the time I was there – just a pool – no filtration and murky green – with a marquee as changing rooms – but to us it was luxury – I gather its gone now. Before that we used to go by bus to a pool in big house – my memory is sketchy but I remember frescos on the walls - rather grand for school swimming lessons I think!! I remember also in my first year there a lovely elderly headmistress wearing a sacking apron who used to wander over the lawns and feed the ducks (or geese) I would have been there in 1957 when the photo was taken but I seem to be absent!! (or I missed me) – however I only remember the school being Faringdon Girls Grammar though it was in that beautiful old house – never as The Elms!! We did used to take classes in a building over the road though. I now live in Australia – having worked in Ethiopia and Zambia for several years My name was Ann Crooks Ann Heywood [email protected] December 2012 ________________________________ Faringdon 1960-1963 I, too, have fond memories of my stay in Faringdon. I was stationed at RAF Fairford AB in 1960-1963 and lived at Faringdon House (small apartment over the original stables) for over one year. My wife Grace, twin daughters Brenda and Tamera and myself Pete Semanick made Faringdon our home away from home. Many afternoons when I came home from my Fire Chief job at RAF Fairford my wife would a picnic basket of goodies. Our family would walk down to lake and have a nice evening meal. I enjoyed many hours of fishing for the perch. Folks in the village made us feel like we part of their families. We were members of the small Baptist Church with Norman Anderson as Pastor and Jennie Stevens was a Deaconess. Jennie and I are still in contact as well as two of her sons, Michael Stevens and Phillip Stevens. Michael lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. I was the only American Covenanter Leader in England. During my stay there I sponsored one of the first outdoor barbecue cookouts for the surrounding area. Grace and the daughters were frequent visitors to the small library and checked out many books. Our favorite food was at the Fish & Chips shop. Yum, yum good We patronized many of the shops and purchased a complete hard bound set of the Dickens books. The owner of the book store told my wife that she could take the complete set home and pay a small amount each week until they were paid for in full. What a great thing and it impressed my wife greatly. These are still our pride and joy as hand me downs to our great-grandchildren. Brenda and Tamera were admitted to the Faringdon Infant School with Miss Tibbetts as their teacher. I would often see her walking home and I would stop and give her a lift in my car. The girls were a little afraid of Miss Tibbetts. Brenda was a high school for 32 years and is now a commercial artist. She live is Tucson, Arizona. Tamera is an accountant with a major firm here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Robert Heber-Percy was the owner of Faringdon House and he would invite us to the main house for Christmas. Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed the people in Faringdon. When I was a member of Faringdon Baptist Church and was the first and only American Covenanter Leader in England I had a most pleasant visit one Sunday during the church service. Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, a dedicated Baptist, came to the church and proceeded up the aisle with his wife behind him. He spoke to Pastor Norman Andersen and said he wanted to meet the "Yank" who was the leader of the Covenanters. I felt honored for his presence there to meet me. By the way what was the make of the car owned by Heber-Percy in 1962? I can remember him parking anywhere he wanted to in Faringdon. Pete Semanick - US Air Force retired. [email protected] October 2012 _________________________________________________________________________ Faringdon Folly in 1944 I have recently watched the programme segment of "Above Britain" which showed the Faringdon Folly. As a newly graduated pilot in the RAF, I had just returned from training in Canada and had been posted to RAF Station Shellingford, Berkshire, to fly Tiger Moths in order to familiarise myself with flying over England. I was informed by other, more advanced course members that if I wanted to engage in dog-fighting, definately against regulations, I should fly anti-clockwise around Faringdon Folly at five thousand feet. From sheer curiosity I decided to do just that. In less time than it takes to tell I was bounced by another Tiger Moth. After some ten minutes of violent evasive action I was able to break off and return to base. Needless to say no mention of the affair, the other aircraft or it's registration numbers was ever mentioned in the mess or on the flight line. I was most interested to see how the trees had grown during the intervening years, if I remember correctly the tower stood alone on a slight knoll, with no, or very small, trees around. This was in 1944. Brian Scott. Canada [email protected] August 2012 _________________________________________________________________________ Budgens: used to be Carters I have found in census records and family wills and newspaper reports that Carters owned this Marlborough Street property as a bakery at least as far back as 1841 Census; and a birth record for John Carter - 1814 Jan 9 CARTER John s John & Catharine Sophia, Baker at Faringdon. My own ancestor worked as a baker in Faringdon - no doubt with his brother in Marlborough Street - after returning from the Peninsula War in 1814. I have newspaper record and another record that the James family owned it before then; but James got into financial difficulties (bankrupt) and married into Carter family (my ancestor's sister) in 1800s so that's likely when it transfered to Carter family. This is only a summary; got lots more detail; get in touch if this interests you at all. Steven Carter [email protected] July 2012 ___________________________________________________________________________ The Reynolds clan - I know little about them .. can anyone help? My grandfather, Thomas Edward Stuart Reynolds was born in Islington during the Sep 1/4 of 1896 and he married Annie Tynemouth in Lewisham during the Dec 1/4 of 1923. There is a lot more on the Reynolds - for example, Austin E (surgeon) and Gertrude can be found visiting Thomas Henry Reynolds in Witney, Oxon in 1901. Thomas was born in Faringdon c 1830 and lived with his wife Elizabeth who was born in Manderton, Suffolk. Also there were 2 sisters of Elizabeth, Mary A and Ann A Rix. Thomas married Elizabeth in Suffolk. The connection is, of course, with Edward K BReynolds (surgeon), father of Austin and brother of Thomas Henry (he was also born in Faringdon). Thomas H. Reynolds, 1830 – 1930 Notes from the "History of the Brethren" by Napoleon Noel. Vol. 1 pp. 100-103. Thomas H. Reynolds was born in March 1830 at Burford, Oxfordshire, where he lived until the time of hisdeath in February 1930, one month short of his hundredth birthday. At the death of his father, he, having inherited his business [brewing, F.W.] took charge of it, but on the death of his mother, he sold it, but remained in the employ of the local gas company as secretary. In his childhood he attended the services of the Established Church where, however, the congregation was somewhat evangelical. The minister, being a godly man and possessing light, brought the true believers in prayer meetings and issued identification tickets to them, his purpose being to prevent unsaved people from participating in the Communion. When this evangelically inclined minister was succeeded by one who was termed "high and dry", a secession followed and the Evangelicals assembled in various private homes, dividing themselves into three companies in order not to contravene the Coventicle Act, which was still in force and made the assembling together of twenty or more persons for religious services illegal, unless they belonged to a recognised sect. One of their number, Mr. WilliamTuckwell (Mr. Reynolds' uncle) used to read the sermon from time to time inthese assemblies, and ultimately minister the word to them. While Mr. Reynolds was absent in London, one of the "early" brethren, Mr. George Page of Cheltenham, hearing in his travels of this community at Burford, visited them, with the result that they came into fellowship with the "Brethren". Mr. Reynolds became connected with "brethren" in his youth and would relate how after the divergence of 1848, he gathered with a company of those who met in separation from the Open Brethren in a small room over a bible truth depot at Bristol.When Mr. Darby returned to England after a season of labour for the Lord on the Continent of Europe, he met with them in this room, and speaking on Matt. 18:20 strengthened and edified them and said to them, "If we have lost our brethren, we still have the Lord". Mr. Reynolds was a diligent student of Scripture, acquainted with the Hebrew as well as the Greek, and often contributed to magazines, notably to "A Voice to the Faithful" edited by J.B. Stoney. Latterly he was unable to attend conferences, but hecontinued ministering in his assembly locally, until within three or four years of his decease in his hundredth year. Dr. Reynolds, his great nephew, has given a few extra details about T.H.R. which are interesting. According to him, T.H.R. studied to be a solicitor but gave this up to pursue the Lord's interests. He also gave up the family brewing business for the same reason. He had a small-holding which enabled him to earn a living. T.H.R. travelled in Germany, France and Britain, ministering the Word of God. His prayers were answered when he did not live to be one hundred years of age. He did not want all the attention that such an age attracted. Dr. Reynolds remembers T.H.R. as a very old gentleman, so kind and gracious, and like Christ in his ways. T.H.R. was responsible for gas being installed in the village where he lived, and the inhabitants were grateful to him for this boon. No doubt his position as secretary in the gas company would be used to secure this advantage for the village. T.H. Reynolds' name will always be associated with the Little Flock Hymn Book. In 1903 he revised Mr. Darby's edition of 1881, which edition was used by many brethren until the revision of 1978. Mr. Reynolds' hymns in 'Spiritual Songs' are: 53 Blest God and Father in Thy sight 59 O God, Thou hast engaged our hearts 233 Jesus, Lord, we come together 372 Saved for glory! Yes, for glory! All these hymns were well loved and used by those who used T.H. Reynolds' 1903 revision. They are still popular. Nos. 53, 59 and 233 are among the best sung at the breaking of bread by those who used the 1903 edition and now use the 1978 edition of the Little Flock Hymn Book http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/biographies/reynolds.html http://thepeerage.com/p1362.htm Jon Quirk [email protected] July 2012 _______________________________________________________________________ Old Bible My uncle has an ancient bible dated 1807, there are a list of names with birth dates as well as deaths in the family tree of "Bryan Reynolds" who married Mary Ward on Oct 16, 1823, their son "Bryan William Reynolds" was born on 19 April 1826. It's is the holy bible old and new testaments printed in 1806. Does it belong to your family? Contact Claudia [email protected] May 2012 ________________________________________________________________________
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War time memories in and around Faringdon This collection has been compiled by Mary Beck. Some interesting tales that paint a picture of family life at that time Children's wartime memories ______________________________________________________________ Faringdon Youth Club 1949-1963 You can see many photographs from this era, as well as images of the original scrap books produced by Peggy Spinage. There is also a booklet written by Mary Beck, and contributed to by 1950s members, giving an easy read all asbout the club and its activities. Its very interesting, real history, and a tribute to Russell Spinage and his sister. Russell Spinage and the Youth Club _______________________________________________________________________________ Church Farm House School - Autumn Term 1939 to Summer Term 1940 It was amazing to see the photo on page 2 - for I, along with the other 46 in the School picture can say, "Snap!" (I rushed to find my own copy stored away in a cupboard!). I can only recognise a few faces (including Sister Ruth, and Margaret Hockeday too tall for the photo at right! I'm third in left, back row with to David Jeayes on my left. My friend was Margaret Watts, day girl of Manor Farm,Black Bourton - and where is Biddy Kipping? I certainly recognse the boy, first on left next row down (name?), for in the summer along with others we went out to Margaret's Farm for a happy day. I think many of the fellow students were day- school atendees. Since writing all this as a draft (and not submtting it until now) I was delighed to see Jane Meredith (nee Robertson) has written in with her memories - and identity as the girl third row back, sixth from left. (I am hoping a copy of this will reach Jane, and I will also write to her separately.) As with David Paris' tribute - 1946-47 - in retrospect I am enormously grateful to Miss Downs for coaching me to get to Christ's Hospital, girls then at Hertford. I had missed out on the crucial 3R's - and even though I was a slow learner Miss Downs did all she could! Other CFH students destined for CH were Ruth and David Jeayes, Margaret Hockeday and Biddy Kipping - and maybe others in the photograph? And would Margaret Watts and Biddy Kipping be on e.mail to write to me? It was good to have David Sheringham's reminiscences - did David provide the photos? Whilst, as said, my 3Rs were lacking the music made a lasting impression - one of my letters home, May 12, 1940 apparently enclosed a chapel list on the occasion of 'S. H. Nicholson came to hear us sing.' Now I belong to the Quangle Wangle accapella Choir in Weymouth (begun in 1994-5 to coincide with the Tall Ships Race here - now some 90 members with songs lined up for the 2012 Sailing Olympics here! It was sad to hear that Mis Downs died leavng Miss Sims to run the School. So - all CFH past students - aren't we fortunate to have gone there - Three Cheers for Miss Downs and Miss Sims!!! Francia Milray Hardman (nee Mayes) [email protected] _____________________________________________________________________________ Church Farm House School 1942
Photo of Church Farm House School, taken in the summer, when all the windows were open. The picture was on one side of a postcard which the headmistress of the school, Miss Downes, sent in 1942.
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The Elms 1953-1957 Hello from London, Ontario, Canada. I attended The Elms from 1953 until 1957. Rosemary Haynes and I were two new girls together and we became best friends, still are and I come over to visit her at least once every year. My maiden name was Ann Tullett - I lived in Watchfield and took the bus every day to school. Some of our classmates were Bobby Anderson, Pat Smith, Helen Knapp, Pauline Paling, Wendy Allen, Sue Roberts, Peggy Collins and Margaret Smith, who sadly, was killed in a rather nasty car crash whilst we were all still at school. I came to Canada in 1966, married and had two sons. One of my sons is married and I am now a grandmother. Anyone remember me?? A few trips ago Rosemary and I went to The Elms and were rather horrified to see our girls school had become a boys/girls school with an entrance specifically for boys! The school looked much the same though. I started when Miss Moore was still headmistress and then Miss Towns arrived. I loved the camaraderie of all the girls but loathed the uniform, especially the awful grey felt hat. Rosemary and I still have the huge photograph taken of the whole school when the two of us "rebelled" that day by wearing black belts instead of the obligatory white belts with our blue checked dresses! Pretty mild rebellion by todays standards. If anyone still has that photo - check us out - you can pick us out through the black belts! Ann Neilson [email protected] June 2011 _______________________________________________________________________________ Church Farm House School What a marvel the internet is! This morning, thinking of my childhood war time boarding school days, I typed in Church Farm House School, Faringdon and, bingo, there was an entry from one David Sheringham, enclosing a photograph of the pupils. There I was - fair haired little girl with a fringe, third row back, sixth from the left! His letter brought back so many memories. During my time at the school Miss Sims and Miss Downs acquired Romney House, in the town (I'd forgotten its name), and we used to walk there from Church Farm House for some lessons. I remember the cinema and looking longingly at the advertised programmes and wishing I could see the films. The chapel played a big part in the school's life. I think I'm right that the school prepared some boys for choir schools, and some girls for Christ's Hospital School. I think my love of music stems from those days and hearing beautiful boys' voices singing such arias as My Heart Ever Faithful and Let the Bright Seraphim. Although a girl, I was also in the choir which, as David Sheringham says, was in the old farm stable. This was only used as a chapel on Sundays - it was a classroom the rest of the week. Walking to The Folly and the fun we had there lives in my memory. We would race round it in opposite directions and see who got back to the starting post first. As David said, it was possible to get to the school by train; my mother would take me to the station and I would travel in the guard's van, in charge of the guard. How times have changed! For a period of time my dormitory was in the hayloft, which had a wooden staircase leading down from it into the vegetable garden. As he says, there were fruit bushes in the garden - I remember picking gooseberries. I also remember gorging myself on elderberries and being very sick afterwards. The school was divided into different 'Houses' and mine was Shepard House, named after E. H. Shepard, the illustrator of the A.A.Milne Winnie the Pooh books. Mr Shepard used to write letters to our 'house' and I remember seeing them pinned up on a notice board. Instead of signing his name he would draw a little Piglet waving his hankie goodbye. There was a day boy in the school whose parents owned a sweet shop in Faringdon. It was war time and sweets were in very short supply so this boy was popular with us; if we were lucky we'd be the recipient of his lump of chewing gum once he'd chewed all the taste out of it! I remember an occasion when my mother came to see me and stayed at a guest house in the town which had gas lights! Jane Meredith (nee Robertson), Dublin, Ireland [email protected] ___________________________________________________________________________________ 1940s, 1950s Robert Wright. Click for Bigger image
My memories of Faringdon go back a long way, not only because I was born here in '61 but also by word of mouth from grandparents and great grandparents who were also born in the town. I don't have many historical photos but it would be great if anyone has any to back up these memories. As an 8 year old at the junior school, I remember the excitement of watching the tall brick chimney of the dairy being blown up during one lunchbreak. It made such a crash that the ground shook and there was a huge cloud of dust.
My grandfather Robert Wright was the director of Vale Engineering which had a works in Coxwell Road, where agricultural vehicles were serviced. He left school at 14 and worked as an apprentice for Frank Lane, who was the owner of The Vale before it was taken over after the war by my grandfather and another director. As well as the engineering works, The Vale had an ironmongers in Coxwell Street where the bookmakers is now. The Vale eventually outgrew their premises in Farindon and moved to Clanfield at a site which has now closed down and is used for storage. While working as an apprentice, my grandfather learnt the trade of wheelwright and made carts and wheel barrows! There was a carriage workshop in the three storey building which is now a furniture outlet on the top of Arthur's Hill. Evidently, they started work at 6 am to the sound of a hooter from the steam boiler in the workshop. They were then allowed to go home at 8 am for breakfast. WWII evidently completely transformed the agricultural industry in the area, with modern machinery imported from the US under lease lend replacing victorian implements. It paid to be a fast learner to adapt to the new technology and my grandfather certainly adapted to the challenges. Once they had a shipment of Jeeps which had to be fitted with a device at the front to cut wires that the enemy might string across the road during the Normandy Invasion. In former times there was a brick swimming pool somewhere off Park Road near the railway, which was I think demolished in the '50s. The two brick railway cottages which are on Park Road opposite the Esso filling station were at one time supposedly haunted by a poltergeist, which was very alarming to the then tenants. Anthony Field ____________________________________________________________________________ Church Farm House School 1951
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Memories of Church Farm House School 1951
John Carter and Ruth: I remember 2 day-boys called Carter - Colin and Patrick, his younger brother; Patrick was a promising footballer - they both were!
I still have some photographs from those days, but mainly of the choir, and I have memories of rehearsals in the song school - now an outhouse at Romney House - which was an early introduction to choral singing.
I remember some of the day girls, especially Joanna Phillips who was an able and talented girl! I'd be delighted to hear from you about what you remember about the school.
I remember going up to Church Farm for lessons during the day; some people slept there. Other names that come back to me: Alan Lowson, Martin Rowling, Miss Ogdon, Dr Billen (priest I think),Jeremy Hayward-Surrey.
I've got a photo of the whole school on the steps of Romney House, taken in 1951!
C.J.F. Watts
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If this is the one and same school that moved to Southmoor into New House just off the Hanney Road.
I have some Photographs of the pupils and staff while it was still in Faringdon. I attended New House School when it was run by Mr and Mrs Street in the '60's. The smell of hops take me straight back to the school as it was part of and next to Blanchard's Farm which still has Hop Gardens. I also helped clearing the buildings when Mr Street, a spinabifida suffer in a wheel chair but quite remarkable man, was hounded out of business and into hospital by the local media. Ron Street was not wheel chair bound though, despite little use of his legs. He was often to be found behind the bars of a huge Villiers powered Ransome mower or an Allen Sythe as they gave him freedom. On one well remembered occasion he had the throttle stick open and rolled of the machine into the ha ha before the ensemble buried itself into the green house. Panic ensued as a body could not be found until he was heard and retreaved, bruised, dirty but triumphant. The man was a lesson to the youngsters that a disability is challange to work harder not a reason to abdicate responsiblity for oneself. I still know some of the staff and pupils of that time as many special and extraordinary people were associated to New House.
Alan Hitchcock
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1940-1946 I went there, in fact I think all four of us went to either Church Farm or Romney House, the school eventually moved to Southmoor, to the house where the ex MP Robert Jackson lives. Not sure you are right about boarders. I seem to remember Miss Downs died leaving Miss Sims to run it. I used to have a photo with sister Ruth in it.
John Carter
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Milk collection in the snow in 1962/1963
Snow had fallen at intervals since Boxing Day, with particularly heavy falls on December 29th and New Years Eve
A new milk tanker service started on 1/1/1963, travelling from HA Job Ltd, Thatcham, via West Hannay, Lyford, Goosey, Challow, Baulking.
The Rowstock: Wantage road was impassable, as was the road from West Hannay to Lyford. Drifts on many roads were 4 feet deep.
On one farm snow had drifted up to ground floor window level and there was a 3 foot icicle as thick as a man's arm hanging from the gutter. The wind was cutting across the flat fields and piling up more snow.
Some drifts were so high that only the cab of a tractor was visible.
The tanker was stuck many times and had to be pulled out of drifts by recovery vehicles.
Drivers walked to Faringdon from Stanford in the Vale to stay overnight, but the next day had difficulty in finding the tankers because they were completely covered in snow.
The farms on the run were Challow Hill Farm; Oldfield Farm, Baulking; Stanford House Farm; Cold Harbour Farm, Hatford; Manor Farm, Lyford.
These were the first farms in the area to have tanker collection. Tanker collection in Faringdon area did not start properly until 1964. Until that date, milk collection in churns was delivered to Express Dairy and White Horse dairy, both in Park Road. Cadel bros, based in Sandshill did the churn haulage.
John Banks
Witney
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Miss Towns, head of the Elms 1957-1976
Many in Faringdon and beyond will remember Miss AJ Towns who was head of the County Grammar School for Girls from 1957-1976. The school was situated where the Faringdon Junior School stands today. Miss Towns, who was originally from Suffolk, arrived at the Elms to take the reins of a school that had a good reputation and attracted girls from the whole region.
Two people who remember her well and still know her are Fred and Freda Hunt of Faringdon. Freda was housekeeper for Miss Towns, the whole time she was in Faringdon and the couple lived in a flat at the school, along with their son Ivor.
Freda recalls a time when she made pupils stay behind on the last day of term to clean the floor where ink had been spilt from the inkwells when desks were turned upside down. She knew every one of the 600 girls by name and when she went into the playground a hush descended. On another occasion on discovering that the chains from the toilets were missing she had them replaced with rope as the girls were using the chains to make belts. She had a reputation for being strict, but was always firm and fair and instilled a sense of what was right and what was wrong in her pupils.
She retired in 1976 soon after the school amalgamated into a comprehensive with Tollington to form the current Community College. Miss Towns moved back to Suffolk, near Woodbridge, where she occupied herself with her passions for bird watching and travelling.
This article appeared in Faringdon Folly, January 2009
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The Elms - 1943-1951
My name is Tricia Stayne,( now Elms) I was at The Elms when Anstace Moore was headmistress, from 1943- 1951. I remember Miss Moore's deep spirituality and humility, in assembly she would always kneel on the floor to pray on the platform in front of the whole school her sincerity was clear, it inspired all the staff and the girls. her strength came from God. Yes, at times she was 'formidable' teachers have to be in charge, but my main memories are of her compassion and understanding.
I was a teenager with excess physical energy needing an outlet so I was often up trees or on the games field at the wrong time, somehow while holding my absolute respect and drawing the best from me, Miss Moore never squashed me or made me feel falsely guilty. She once said to my concerned parents "There is nothing Pat does that I have not also done when I was at school" She always had faith in me, expected more from me, but totally honoured the person I was, as I was. She seemed to draw the best from each situation;
on one occasion I had to spend a day in her office as a punishment for over exuberance in a maths lesson. I worked hard all day under the eagle eye, at four -o -clock I was given a piece of chocolate cake and lemonade acompanied by a 'Don't do it again' smile. Her pschychology was perhaps ahead of her time.
Anstace work in the juvenile court and for young disadvantaged people was outstanding, her sense of justice and persuit of justice was a wonderful example to us all, she was able to combine the ability to 'see it' from the point of view of the family with difficulties while at the same time applying the official helps and support in the best possible way.
Miss Grizel Bell came as PE teacher during my time at The Elms. Sometimes in ones life the right person arrives for you at the right time. Grizel inspired me with her discipline and teaching ability, Yes, but she also had this 'something' that Anstace had, an empathy with the child, a humanity that built you up, corrected calmly while at the same time, encouraged progress.
Subsequently, I, who was initially not an enthusiastic acedemic pupil at all, gained my teachers diploma at Bedford PE college and have enjoyed my teaching career.
There is so much more I could say, I'd love to get in touch with Valerie Barker,Gwen Large, Betty Sanger, Mollie Miles who was head girl and of course Grizel Bell.
I did visit Anstace and Miss (Mary?) Craig once in Torrington Devon, near Newton Abbot which is where I am now.
But it's not just happy memories of THE ELMS, but of a school that gathered up my abilities without damping my energies and individuality.
I am so happy to find this opportunity of expressing my appreciation.
[email protected]
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House in Gloucester St
23 Gloucester Street is the house referred to in Rossalyn's mail - formerly Mansell House it is now Foster House (Dr Foster above the door). It has 3 floors and 2 spiral staircases, a cellar and a cottage in the back garden which was converted into a garage (would be intrigued to know what it must have looked like as we are pretty sure it was a stable or small barn for a carriage, or such like).
All we know is that it was formely lived in by the Starr family and a former manager of Lloyds Bank. I do have a photograph (a copy from the Oxfordshire photographic archive) that shows the house with some signage hanging above the door but it is impossible to make out what it says.
I have emailed Rossalyn but would be grateful if anyone could recall other information about the house.
Many thanks Alice Chenneour Randall
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Miss Moore, head mistress of The Elms til 1956
Miss Moore was head mistress from 1930 until 1956. She was viewed as a forceful, formidable woman, with a late Victorian character. The grammar school for girls grew from 60 to 500 pupils while she was head mistress.
'Her high moral and academic standards influenced all who worked with her and many old girls and staff will always remember with gratitude the training they received under her leadership'
Miss Moore was awarded the OBE in 1953.
Read the full obituary from Wiltshire Gazette, 27/10/1983(571kb Word document)
If you can name some of the teachers in the photograph, please get in touch with this website.
Newspaper cutting kindly provided by Elisabeth and John Holding
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1937-1942 in Faringdon
As recalled in 2008 by Elisabeth (Betty) Holding, née Weber.
We moved to Faringdon in the spring of 1937 from Portishead, Bristol, and stayed in 2 The Grove (Grove House), Church Street for the next five years. The house was part of Lord Berners' estate; we looked down to the woods where it was said that he had his piano taken so that he could compose with the birds singing to inspire him. Grove House was probably built in the late 17th century as a beautiful Dutch Medlar tree in the garden was reputed to be about 250 years old. Doctor Pullen, our family doctor, had been the previous tenant of the house.
The original house had been divided into four parts of which we occupied the main one. There was a flat above rented by Mr and Mrs Hewitt with an entrance next to our door, then to the west a small house where Mr and Miss Beechy lived; they had worked for Lord Berners. On the east side another smaller house was rented by Mr and Mrs Ford. Mrs White lived at Bleak House at the corner of Coach Lane.
At the end of our long garden was a tennis court bounded on the south side by the Police Station; Enid and Gwenda Burbage lived there and we often played together. To the east of the court was Coach Lane and to the west was the field of Church Farm House, a small private school run by the Misses Downes, and then the big yard of the Bull Inn. Mr Beechy and the Hewitts had garden plots with entrances from Coach Lane and accessed by a gate which is still in the wall today as it was then.
Grove House has enormous cellars which served as an air raid shelter although I don't think we ever needed to use them for that purpose; neither did my parents store wine so the cellars had little use by the family.
During the early years of the war various different friends of Mr and Mrs Hewitt stayed in the flat. One of these friends in early 1940 was the Hampshire family. Susan, subsequently a well known actress, was then two years old. Her older sisters played with my sisters and my brother, who was at Oxford, allowed Susan to sit at his table when he was studying and draw pictures with crayons. Perhaps all that Latin and Greek caused her dyslexia.
We went to school at The Elms and on most days came home for dinner in the middle of the day. It was on these mid-day journeys that we saw the monthly livestock markets. The hurdled pens in the market square were noisy with sheep, pigs and calves. The cattle were sold from the big steel gated pens at the corner of Coach Lane opposite Bleak House.
On Armistice Day in 1937 and probably 1938 all the school children walked in crocodile formation to the market square for the two minute silence; we all stood quietly while speeches were made and the last post sounded.
The square had Lloyds Bank on the London Road corner. Bridget Horton, the bank manager's daughter often walked to and from from school with us. There were Hogans the confectioner and baker, and Liddiards the ironmonger and farm supply shop. There was a butcher on the corner of Church Street. Opposite the butcher was the Vicarage where the Rev Shewell was vicar. Lower down the road was the saddler Mr Burgess; his elderly mother lived in Church Street. I think his premises have now become a café.
We used to buy a lot of vegetables from the head gardener at Faringdon House. When there was a surplus he must have been permitted to sell it to residents of the town. Our groceries mostly came from the little shop on the corner of Coach Lane and London Road, run by the Miss Bedfords. I remember how at Christmas, with the last order would come a big box of chocolates, as a thank you for our custom. At first our milk was delivered in a horse and cart; the farmer dipped a measure into a large churn and filled large jugs. Later we bought it from Admiral Clifton Brown's farm where the cows were tuberculin-tested and the milk came in waxed cartons.
One very cold winter, perhaps 1938, the lake at Faringdon House froze and we went from school to learn to skate. How we all acquired skates I cannot recall but I remember we took chairs to help us balance by pushing them in front of us. The netball court at The Elms was also icy, so the girls could slide at break times. Would health and safety regulations allow such hazardous activity today?
When Grey Owl same to give a talk in Oxford with his beaver, a large party went in a bus from school but my sister and I went with Miss Moore, the Head Mistress, in her car as we were the youngest and might have been travel-sick having never been in a bus before.
When the war came things changed. The school grew in size as many girls from the London area and other cities moved into the comparative safety of central England with their families. Shrivenham and Watchfield became important bases, so a bus brought girls into Faringdon from there each day. West Ham High School was evacuated to Faringdon and we had an evacuee from there to live with us. One of the Elementary Schools must have also come to the town as Mr and Mrs Walton, the headmaster and his wife, stayed with us until they found more suitable lodgings.
From our house we looked north straight down to Witney and Brize Norton and could frequently see the yellow training planes learning to fly low over the hedges and fields, I was told that they were Harvards and Oxfords. The pilots of the versatile Tiger Moth biplanes practised loops and spins. There must have been many losses of pilots as planes occasionally failed to negotiate higher hedges and trees. Spirals of smoke were seen on several occasions and once when we were in an punt hired from the Swan Hotel at Radcot, a plane came over us very low and must have circled round to impress my older sister and her friend, but he failed to make it and crashed into the field beside us. My father and mother rushed to try and help him but the plane first exploded and then was engulfed in flames before they could do anything to help. I can still see his smiling face as he turned to wave. No counsellors then to help with the trauma!
The field below the house, where there are still the old iron railings and a little iron gate, was used for bayonet practice. I cannot remember where the soldiers were stationed but a lot of training was done in the fields around Faringdon. My mother was one of the helpers in the canteen; some of the soldiers came to spend time off in our garden and have tea with us; I wonder what became of them. In about 1941 Italian and German prisoners of war who worked on local farms were dropped off and later picked up by two open lorries which parked outside Grove House. The Italians were in one lorry and the Germans in another. In the winter afternoons they were coming back to the lorries when we came from school. The Italians would say "hello" , smile and wave; the Germans were solemn and quiet.
The Women's Institute was very active. My mother learned to bottle surplus fruit sealing the tops with mutton fat, she preserved eggs from our own hens in waterglass and sliced green beans were preserved in layers of salt. My father's war effort was fire watching in Swindon as his office was there. My three elder brothers were all called up. The eldest who had been articled for chartered accounting in Bristol joined the navy as soon as he had finished his final examinations. My second brother after two years at Oxford, during which he was with the Faringdon Home Guard in vacations, went into the army. The youngest of the three who was a reporter on the North Wilts Herald went into the air force. My mother used to spend each Sunday afternoon writing to them. I can recall their service numbers with which she addressed the envelopes.
In 1942 we moved to Cardiff, encountered air raids and a very different face of war.
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Childhood in Faringdon 1970s
I have very fond memories of Faringdon. My family moved there in 1970 when I was 5 years old and we stayed until December 1977. During this time, my family were going through quite a few traumas, but nevertheless, my childhood memories are mostly good!
I went to the Infants School, then onto the Junior School which I'm now horrified to find is a housing estate. I loved my time at this school and still remember all my teachers very well - Mrs. Walters, Mrs. Sandal, Mr Gregson, Mr. Brown (my favourite!) and the eccentric Mr. Potter!! I believe I had an excellent education there and threw myself wholeheartedly into school life. I lived in Gravel Walk and our house backed onto a large field - which had once been allotments. This too is now a housing estate! But the good times we had there, us kids, roaming about, making camps and getting up to all sorts of mischief! Such a shame the children of today cannot do the same. We kids often used to take off for the day up to Badbury Woods - our parents simply telling us to be back for tea! Another play area was the large sports field (can't remember the name of the road it's off), but I also used to go to Judo classes in the hut there which I was somewhat fanatical about at the time! I remember Bonfire night very well as we all used to wander down to Faringdon House to watch what I remember being a fantastic firework display - I can still taste the burnt sausages and tomato soup!
I also remember the 1977 Silver Jubilee celebrations and we had a big street party in the Market Square which was attended by none other than Gareth Hunt from the New Avengers - all terribly exciting at the time!! Perhaps these brief memories may be familiar to some of you??
Debbie Loveridge
Hertford
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College at Barcote Manor 1970-71
I attended Anglo-American college at Barcote manor in 1970-71.
Anyone remember it? I seem to remember we caused quite a splash in the area. I fondly remember the tea house in central Faringdon.
Alan Elliott
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17th Century House
I would love to know more about our home- 30 London Street. We bought it from Roger Clarke -it was then an antique shop.Up and down stairs there were 2 42' long rooms. It had been an inn called 'The Star'.
A front window has the outline of an arch and there are stables at the back.1749 is carved over a fireplace.
All three floors have enormous fireplaces. A first floor back room - created by dividing the original long room - which I believe was used by Roger's mother for making curtains - looks much older than the front rooms - and the ceiling and walls are all over the place. The name Charles is scratched on an Elizabethan style window.
I guess the back survived the Civil War but the front had to be rebuilt.
It's a fascinating house. And what was 30A -which we changed back to a separate house?
Margaret Barker
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Faringdon Grammar School for Girls - 1950s
When I joined the school, Miss Moore, the head mistress had been replaced by Miss Towns. There were still remnants of Miss Moores time though - in needlework I had to knit socks - on 4 needles(my mum did them), but making the bloomers to match the summer dresses had been dropped!!
The school was ruled by Miss Bell(PE) and Miss Moore(English)- stern women who stood for no nonsense.
The uniform was a grey bibbed skirt, a blue check blouse, and socks - long ones if it was after 1/10 and short if after 1/4 - no matter what the weather.
The grey felt hat was mandatory. Some girls tried wearing it at a jaunty angle or modifying it by creasing it - but didn't often get passed Miss Bell - who stood at the school gate, and inspected us as we left for the day.
The rumour was that if you walked out of school with nothing on, Miss Bell would say 'and where is your hat?'
I remember we were all told one day in assembly that we should not talk to children from the secondary modern school - of whom my brother was one!
Assembly was every morning - the whole school gathered together for a hymn, a prayer and the giving out of notices. One of the schools musicians would play the piano as we were marched in and out. The majority of the girls sat cross legged on the floor - only the 6th formers and teachers sat on chairs.
An academic school - we had school exams twice yearly, so by the time we got to GCE age, we were well practised in sitting formal exams. The teachers liked the clever girls who were destined for University (the name boards are still on the walls of what is now the Junior School dining room). The rest of us who wanted to be civil servants, bank clerks, secretaries, nurses were not valued in the same way.
Everyone had homework - increasing in amount as you got older- my memory is about 10-12 hours a week at age 15. Woe betide anyone who was late handing it in.
We were allocated text books, in which we wrote our name while it was ours to use. At the end of the school year these were handed in and it was checked that everyone had handed hers in. Subsequently books lasted for years and years.
A school typical of its time- focusing on exam results rather than the broader, more informal style of education that we have today. It had its merits
Gene Webb
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hi,faringdon.found your site today.
i was brought up in faringdon during the fiftees,and early sixties.my mother,kathleen,was the lollypop lady by, i think,levertons shop.this would be about 1960.
i remember saturday morning pictures,scrumping apples from tuckers orchard,keeping out of sargeant readers way if we had been up to mischief.
mayor bill white...the barber...mrs b.in the cafe in the square...mrs allnatt.....just some of the names that come to mind.
marlborough gardens where i grew up....what great days.
thankyou faringdon for many happy childhood memories.....
michael macey.
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1970s
Mr Robert-Heber Percy used to let the town use the grounds of Faringdon House for a summer fete, as well as open the gardens at Easter Time. When he died in 1983 this stopped almost completely. I think the only remnant of Faringdon House welcoming the community is through the Firework display run by the Rotary every November.
It is a shame that the now owner lives abroad and the property is let to people who appear to take little or no interest in Faringdon.
Faringdon has lost access to an important part of it's history
Name Supplied
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World War II
Extract from The Peoples War http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/categories/
The only other person I remember in Faringdon was the headmaster of the school I attended. Although I never fell foul of him, I shared the common dread of him. He was old (to me), short, and his remaining hair was light brown. He had a violent temper and struck terror in our hearts by his shouting.
He often used the cane and I remember on one occasion he caned a girl in front of the class after pulling down her knickers. Although I was only seven, I thought this was very wrong but never said anything about it in case I got the same.
I was not sorry to leave Faringdon.
The full story was donated to the People’s War website by M. R. Spurgeon,
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World War II
RECOLLECTIONS OF FARINGDON
John R. Copland
The Peoples war on BBC website
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c1960s
My family lived in Gloucester Street in the house that had a cottage in the garden. I think in the 1960s. Does anyone remember?
Ive heard that it is now a nursery or private school.My family have memories to add to the social history of the place. There were connections to a pub there and someone called- we think Richard- who was a lodger.
A family member would love to visit the family home and show us around and tell us their memoirs -which could link with yours. There were international connections. I would love to hear from anyone that remembers.
The cottage in the garden as far as we know now has a garage door in it! Sad but true.
Any info my family would love as we are researching our history.
I hope I have got the right area. The cottage had been turned into a garage!!!! and I think the pub was called the Bell.
The family had connections with Canada. The house - my mum remembers had three floors and a basement. One of the staircases she remembers as being spiral- or curved. It was a terraced house. It did not have a number but a name begining with M. Does this help?
I think an aunts surname was Fickle but if she was married that would be her maiden name. Is there any way of searching any records to find who lived there?
My mum tells me they used to visit the Folly.
Rossalyn Emmett [email protected]
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c1970s
I have so many memories of Faringdon as i grew up here, now living in Canada, i often visit this website,
I went to the infants school on canada lane, then the school near the railway lines, then of course off to Tollington, and i finished 6th form at the elms.... then my first job from finishing school was Ross Foods on Park Rd Industrial estate, right besides Splash, i guess those are no longer there,
i also did a paper round for the Busby;s then taken over by the miserable Marments!!!
i used to love getting sweets at Mrs Alnutts ...and going to the Bargain Centre to see what good cheap stuff i could buy, and i bought my very first record at the electronics shop Larkins
...oooh the memories, walking the dog across to tuckers park, i could go on and on.... but well i miss my old homestead, you never appreciate it til its gone.... so be proud you Faringdonians....
Beverly Morrison (nee Shepherd)
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1940s/1950s
I recall the day in the late forties/fifty when there was great excitement in Canada Lane Junior School.
Workers from Bakers the Builders had been erecting two-inch, galvanised pipe in the infants/girls playground at the front of the school. The day came when the embedded pipe had become set and the swing/climbing bars were ready for the horde of eager children, wanting to engage with this adventure equipment.
In today’s society, it would seem primitive and tame. To the children in that time it was marvellous. There were so many children just hanging from it by their arms and even just touching the pipe was a thrill in itself. Not one child could actually do any form of exercise, what with the crush of small bodies around the new equipment, and the shrill cries of delight from the throng.
There was “Old Tidy” and his minions attempting to gain some semblance of order, I believe they gave up after a while.
I have wondered if there were any photographs of the day, it would be of interest.
On two occasions’ the memory of the day has come to the fore. Once when resting in a clearing, with my back to a tree, glancing up, there above on a branch were a troop of Spider Monkeys, hanging and standing gazing at me. The other was in the film 2001, A Space Odyssey; when the ape creatures gather around, and one touches the black obelisk. I am no way implying we were monkeys or apes; they are the things that triggered the memory of the exercise bars in the old school.
Around that time, the allotments at the back of the school became a school playing field.
Richard Giles, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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1970s
I moved to Faringdon in 1969, not long after the demolition of the workhouse (the Spike) in Ferndale Street, formerly Back Street. In those days the cinema was still in Gloucester Street, but had ceased to be a cinema, and as far as I can remember it was a Bingo Hall.
There were around 20 pubs in the town, and the nearest one to us was the Folly Inn, with its famously grumpy landlord, David Avenell, (although I think his mum, Stella, was still the licensee in those days). His taciturn temperament did not deter, however, and the pub was often serving drinks well after closing time with lock-ins going on until the small hours. The police were regular visitors, and I don't mean in their official capacity...
The Police station still flourished in Coach Lane, as did the magistrate's court, and the Rural District Council was housed in Camden House, in the Market Place. The town Council was still a Parish council, then (I think) but I don't remember exactly when this changed. In the early seventies it was certainly a Town Council, and councillors I remember were Bill White, Cecil Blisset, Stanley *****?, Richard Custance, Colin Dyer, Frank Van Tinteren, Evelyn Stoodley (of Amateur Dramatics fame)
The Pines was just being built, and Sands Hill (Now Town End Road/Marines Drive estate) was still a caravan site. There was a handy fish'n'chip shop half way up London Street, Moreton's was still a department store cornucopia of toys, ladies and gents clothing; There was a very good shoe shop, with Woods/Smiths bookshop next door. A little further up the road was Mrs Allnatt's sweetie shop, where children were treated with the same courtesy as adults, were never hurried and where they could still buy such treats as sherbet dabs, liquorice wheels and bootlaces, sweet cigarettes (my favourites) and a host of other children-of-all-ages' delights.
The Folly Tower was closed to the public, and two friends and I climbed it one night with the aid of climbing equipment, to wait at the top for the dawn to break, when I took a complete panorama of town photographs (black and white) from its then forbidden heights.
Hilary Taylor
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1970s
Until the mid 70s The Elms in Gloucester Street, which has now been turned into apartments, was the Faringdon Grammar School for Girls. Under the comprehensive school system it combined with Tollington School and my son, Steven, was one of the first dozen or so boys allowed into the previously ‘boy free zone’.
He was very good about it, as were the other boys, and didn’t complain but in order to ensure a certain amount of privacy when the occasion arose he carved a very smart wooden sign saying “Working Men’s Club’ and suspended it over the door of the boys’ toilet.
The Headmaster, was not amused and suspended Steven for a day.
Word spread about my son’s wickedness and he was approached by the Bourton Working Men’s Club offering to buy the offending sign if he would carve a matching sign saying “Bourton”. For many years Bourton Working Men’s Club graced the club’s entrance as a reminder of my son’s sense of humour and the Headmaster’s lack of it.
Name Supplied
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1950s
Being a child at this time, my memories are largely about school and sweet shops and later Youth Club!
The headmaster of Faringdon Primary school(where the Infant school is now) was a Mr Tidyman - a man to be wary of!. He was at the school for many years- certainly since WWII and maybe before. I was fortunate that he retired in the early 1950s and a much nicer and more tolerant Mr Harding became head.
Lots of things spring to mind- being wrongly accused of writing on a wall (of a stinky outside WC block) and being made to scrub it clean - I was 5 (and scarred for life you may say), learning to play the recorder, being made to stay in at playtime(age 6) to do some knitting - I still can't knit.
Netball matches, sports days, PE in your knickers(navy!) regular tests- and having to sit in sequence from top to bottom of the class, needlework classes (much good they did me). Last 2 years of primary school - more than 40 children in the class.
Teachers- Mr Gregson (there forever I think), Miss Phillips, Miss Spinage, Mr Mohan( a man!!), Miss Wickham(friend of Mr Mohan!!), Miss Tibbetts(frightening).
Home at this time was in Marlborough St- Malvern house was below the empty shop next to the now Chinese fish and chips. At that time the house had pretty bay window and a small front garden with railings(sad to see it now). I remember standing at this window to watch the Coronation procession go by (I had measles!)
Opposite was Paddons sweet shop(later to become Manners), further down was Miss Fletchers sweet shop, Drew's butcher, Golding Goddards(now White Horse bookshop), a laundrette, as well as cottages- a pretty street!
3d bought packet of spangles - normal amount to spend, while 6d was riches and I could buy a Mars bar.
Russell Spinage (brother of the teacher), ran a number of youth clubs- held in the Old Boys School on the Stanford Road(now dwellings). Ar first I was in the junior girls section. All I can remember we did was to learn country dancing- Virginia Reel, Dashing White Sergeant, Bonnie Breastnot. Russell used to take us to village fetes where we would perform our dances as a fete attraction. We loved it
An innocent age - one single man and 8-10 little girls under the age of 12. Some names I remember- Sheila and Ann Bowls, Ann Goodenough, Gill Purbrick, Jean Allnatt, Mary Buchanan
Russell worked tirelessly for the youth of the town. It was through Russell's Youth Club that we could go dancing (rocknroll, old time, ballroom), play table tennis and snooker, and generally get together.(important for someone who went to a single sex school!) He took us on outings - I remember kayaking on the river at Abingdon and sleeping in a hammock on a boat, walking in the Lake District and a seaside holiday at Teignmouth.
Without Russell we baby boomers would have been lost.
After my time, the Youth Club had to vacate the Old School House(sold for development I believe), and it moved to the Secondary School premises, where it didn't flourish.
However sometime in the 60s early 70s, Russell married and I think had 2 sons, so he had other priorities. Sadly Russell died relatively young (in his early 60s)
Thankyou Russell
Gene Webb
Memories of Church Farm House School 1951
John Carter and Ruth: I remember 2 day-boys called Carter - Colin and Patrick, his younger brother; Patrick was a promising footballer - they both were!
I still have some photographs from those days, but mainly of the choir, and I have memories of rehearsals in the song school - now an outhouse at Romney House - which was an early introduction to choral singing.
I remember some of the day girls, especially Joanna Phillips who was an able and talented girl! I'd be delighted to hear from you about what you remember about the school.
I remember going up to Church Farm for lessons during the day; some people slept there. Other names that come back to me: Alan Lowson, Martin Rowling, Miss Ogdon, Dr Billen (priest I think),Jeremy Hayward-Surrey.
I've got a photo of the whole school on the steps of Romney House, taken in 1951!
C.J.F. Watts
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If this is the one and same school that moved to Southmoor into New House just off the Hanney Road.
I have some Photographs of the pupils and staff while it was still in Faringdon. I attended New House School when it was run by Mr and Mrs Street in the '60's. The smell of hops take me straight back to the school as it was part of and next to Blanchard's Farm which still has Hop Gardens. I also helped clearing the buildings when Mr Street, a spinabifida suffer in a wheel chair but quite remarkable man, was hounded out of business and into hospital by the local media. Ron Street was not wheel chair bound though, despite little use of his legs. He was often to be found behind the bars of a huge Villiers powered Ransome mower or an Allen Sythe as they gave him freedom. On one well remembered occasion he had the throttle stick open and rolled of the machine into the ha ha before the ensemble buried itself into the green house. Panic ensued as a body could not be found until he was heard and retreaved, bruised, dirty but triumphant. The man was a lesson to the youngsters that a disability is challange to work harder not a reason to abdicate responsiblity for oneself. I still know some of the staff and pupils of that time as many special and extraordinary people were associated to New House.
Alan Hitchcock
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1940-1946 I went there, in fact I think all four of us went to either Church Farm or Romney House, the school eventually moved to Southmoor, to the house where the ex MP Robert Jackson lives. Not sure you are right about boarders. I seem to remember Miss Downs died leaving Miss Sims to run it. I used to have a photo with sister Ruth in it.
John Carter
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Milk collection in the snow in 1962/1963
Snow had fallen at intervals since Boxing Day, with particularly heavy falls on December 29th and New Years Eve
A new milk tanker service started on 1/1/1963, travelling from HA Job Ltd, Thatcham, via West Hannay, Lyford, Goosey, Challow, Baulking.
The Rowstock: Wantage road was impassable, as was the road from West Hannay to Lyford. Drifts on many roads were 4 feet deep.
On one farm snow had drifted up to ground floor window level and there was a 3 foot icicle as thick as a man's arm hanging from the gutter. The wind was cutting across the flat fields and piling up more snow.
Some drifts were so high that only the cab of a tractor was visible.
The tanker was stuck many times and had to be pulled out of drifts by recovery vehicles.
Drivers walked to Faringdon from Stanford in the Vale to stay overnight, but the next day had difficulty in finding the tankers because they were completely covered in snow.
The farms on the run were Challow Hill Farm; Oldfield Farm, Baulking; Stanford House Farm; Cold Harbour Farm, Hatford; Manor Farm, Lyford.
These were the first farms in the area to have tanker collection. Tanker collection in Faringdon area did not start properly until 1964. Until that date, milk collection in churns was delivered to Express Dairy and White Horse dairy, both in Park Road. Cadel bros, based in Sandshill did the churn haulage.
John Banks
Witney
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Miss Towns, head of the Elms 1957-1976
Many in Faringdon and beyond will remember Miss AJ Towns who was head of the County Grammar School for Girls from 1957-1976. The school was situated where the Faringdon Junior School stands today. Miss Towns, who was originally from Suffolk, arrived at the Elms to take the reins of a school that had a good reputation and attracted girls from the whole region.
Two people who remember her well and still know her are Fred and Freda Hunt of Faringdon. Freda was housekeeper for Miss Towns, the whole time she was in Faringdon and the couple lived in a flat at the school, along with their son Ivor.
Freda recalls a time when she made pupils stay behind on the last day of term to clean the floor where ink had been spilt from the inkwells when desks were turned upside down. She knew every one of the 600 girls by name and when she went into the playground a hush descended. On another occasion on discovering that the chains from the toilets were missing she had them replaced with rope as the girls were using the chains to make belts. She had a reputation for being strict, but was always firm and fair and instilled a sense of what was right and what was wrong in her pupils.
She retired in 1976 soon after the school amalgamated into a comprehensive with Tollington to form the current Community College. Miss Towns moved back to Suffolk, near Woodbridge, where she occupied herself with her passions for bird watching and travelling.
This article appeared in Faringdon Folly, January 2009
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The Elms - 1943-1951
My name is Tricia Stayne,( now Elms) I was at The Elms when Anstace Moore was headmistress, from 1943- 1951. I remember Miss Moore's deep spirituality and humility, in assembly she would always kneel on the floor to pray on the platform in front of the whole school her sincerity was clear, it inspired all the staff and the girls. her strength came from God. Yes, at times she was 'formidable' teachers have to be in charge, but my main memories are of her compassion and understanding.
I was a teenager with excess physical energy needing an outlet so I was often up trees or on the games field at the wrong time, somehow while holding my absolute respect and drawing the best from me, Miss Moore never squashed me or made me feel falsely guilty. She once said to my concerned parents "There is nothing Pat does that I have not also done when I was at school" She always had faith in me, expected more from me, but totally honoured the person I was, as I was. She seemed to draw the best from each situation;
on one occasion I had to spend a day in her office as a punishment for over exuberance in a maths lesson. I worked hard all day under the eagle eye, at four -o -clock I was given a piece of chocolate cake and lemonade acompanied by a 'Don't do it again' smile. Her pschychology was perhaps ahead of her time.
Anstace work in the juvenile court and for young disadvantaged people was outstanding, her sense of justice and persuit of justice was a wonderful example to us all, she was able to combine the ability to 'see it' from the point of view of the family with difficulties while at the same time applying the official helps and support in the best possible way.
Miss Grizel Bell came as PE teacher during my time at The Elms. Sometimes in ones life the right person arrives for you at the right time. Grizel inspired me with her discipline and teaching ability, Yes, but she also had this 'something' that Anstace had, an empathy with the child, a humanity that built you up, corrected calmly while at the same time, encouraged progress.
Subsequently, I, who was initially not an enthusiastic acedemic pupil at all, gained my teachers diploma at Bedford PE college and have enjoyed my teaching career.
There is so much more I could say, I'd love to get in touch with Valerie Barker,Gwen Large, Betty Sanger, Mollie Miles who was head girl and of course Grizel Bell.
I did visit Anstace and Miss (Mary?) Craig once in Torrington Devon, near Newton Abbot which is where I am now.
But it's not just happy memories of THE ELMS, but of a school that gathered up my abilities without damping my energies and individuality.
I am so happy to find this opportunity of expressing my appreciation.
[email protected]
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House in Gloucester St
23 Gloucester Street is the house referred to in Rossalyn's mail - formerly Mansell House it is now Foster House (Dr Foster above the door). It has 3 floors and 2 spiral staircases, a cellar and a cottage in the back garden which was converted into a garage (would be intrigued to know what it must have looked like as we are pretty sure it was a stable or small barn for a carriage, or such like).
All we know is that it was formely lived in by the Starr family and a former manager of Lloyds Bank. I do have a photograph (a copy from the Oxfordshire photographic archive) that shows the house with some signage hanging above the door but it is impossible to make out what it says.
I have emailed Rossalyn but would be grateful if anyone could recall other information about the house.
Many thanks Alice Chenneour Randall
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Miss Moore, head mistress of The Elms til 1956
Miss Moore was head mistress from 1930 until 1956. She was viewed as a forceful, formidable woman, with a late Victorian character. The grammar school for girls grew from 60 to 500 pupils while she was head mistress.
'Her high moral and academic standards influenced all who worked with her and many old girls and staff will always remember with gratitude the training they received under her leadership'
Miss Moore was awarded the OBE in 1953.
Read the full obituary from Wiltshire Gazette, 27/10/1983(571kb Word document)
If you can name some of the teachers in the photograph, please get in touch with this website.
Newspaper cutting kindly provided by Elisabeth and John Holding
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1937-1942 in Faringdon
As recalled in 2008 by Elisabeth (Betty) Holding, née Weber.
We moved to Faringdon in the spring of 1937 from Portishead, Bristol, and stayed in 2 The Grove (Grove House), Church Street for the next five years. The house was part of Lord Berners' estate; we looked down to the woods where it was said that he had his piano taken so that he could compose with the birds singing to inspire him. Grove House was probably built in the late 17th century as a beautiful Dutch Medlar tree in the garden was reputed to be about 250 years old. Doctor Pullen, our family doctor, had been the previous tenant of the house.
The original house had been divided into four parts of which we occupied the main one. There was a flat above rented by Mr and Mrs Hewitt with an entrance next to our door, then to the west a small house where Mr and Miss Beechy lived; they had worked for Lord Berners. On the east side another smaller house was rented by Mr and Mrs Ford. Mrs White lived at Bleak House at the corner of Coach Lane.
At the end of our long garden was a tennis court bounded on the south side by the Police Station; Enid and Gwenda Burbage lived there and we often played together. To the east of the court was Coach Lane and to the west was the field of Church Farm House, a small private school run by the Misses Downes, and then the big yard of the Bull Inn. Mr Beechy and the Hewitts had garden plots with entrances from Coach Lane and accessed by a gate which is still in the wall today as it was then.
Grove House has enormous cellars which served as an air raid shelter although I don't think we ever needed to use them for that purpose; neither did my parents store wine so the cellars had little use by the family.
During the early years of the war various different friends of Mr and Mrs Hewitt stayed in the flat. One of these friends in early 1940 was the Hampshire family. Susan, subsequently a well known actress, was then two years old. Her older sisters played with my sisters and my brother, who was at Oxford, allowed Susan to sit at his table when he was studying and draw pictures with crayons. Perhaps all that Latin and Greek caused her dyslexia.
We went to school at The Elms and on most days came home for dinner in the middle of the day. It was on these mid-day journeys that we saw the monthly livestock markets. The hurdled pens in the market square were noisy with sheep, pigs and calves. The cattle were sold from the big steel gated pens at the corner of Coach Lane opposite Bleak House.
On Armistice Day in 1937 and probably 1938 all the school children walked in crocodile formation to the market square for the two minute silence; we all stood quietly while speeches were made and the last post sounded.
The square had Lloyds Bank on the London Road corner. Bridget Horton, the bank manager's daughter often walked to and from from school with us. There were Hogans the confectioner and baker, and Liddiards the ironmonger and farm supply shop. There was a butcher on the corner of Church Street. Opposite the butcher was the Vicarage where the Rev Shewell was vicar. Lower down the road was the saddler Mr Burgess; his elderly mother lived in Church Street. I think his premises have now become a café.
We used to buy a lot of vegetables from the head gardener at Faringdon House. When there was a surplus he must have been permitted to sell it to residents of the town. Our groceries mostly came from the little shop on the corner of Coach Lane and London Road, run by the Miss Bedfords. I remember how at Christmas, with the last order would come a big box of chocolates, as a thank you for our custom. At first our milk was delivered in a horse and cart; the farmer dipped a measure into a large churn and filled large jugs. Later we bought it from Admiral Clifton Brown's farm where the cows were tuberculin-tested and the milk came in waxed cartons.
One very cold winter, perhaps 1938, the lake at Faringdon House froze and we went from school to learn to skate. How we all acquired skates I cannot recall but I remember we took chairs to help us balance by pushing them in front of us. The netball court at The Elms was also icy, so the girls could slide at break times. Would health and safety regulations allow such hazardous activity today?
When Grey Owl same to give a talk in Oxford with his beaver, a large party went in a bus from school but my sister and I went with Miss Moore, the Head Mistress, in her car as we were the youngest and might have been travel-sick having never been in a bus before.
When the war came things changed. The school grew in size as many girls from the London area and other cities moved into the comparative safety of central England with their families. Shrivenham and Watchfield became important bases, so a bus brought girls into Faringdon from there each day. West Ham High School was evacuated to Faringdon and we had an evacuee from there to live with us. One of the Elementary Schools must have also come to the town as Mr and Mrs Walton, the headmaster and his wife, stayed with us until they found more suitable lodgings.
From our house we looked north straight down to Witney and Brize Norton and could frequently see the yellow training planes learning to fly low over the hedges and fields, I was told that they were Harvards and Oxfords. The pilots of the versatile Tiger Moth biplanes practised loops and spins. There must have been many losses of pilots as planes occasionally failed to negotiate higher hedges and trees. Spirals of smoke were seen on several occasions and once when we were in an punt hired from the Swan Hotel at Radcot, a plane came over us very low and must have circled round to impress my older sister and her friend, but he failed to make it and crashed into the field beside us. My father and mother rushed to try and help him but the plane first exploded and then was engulfed in flames before they could do anything to help. I can still see his smiling face as he turned to wave. No counsellors then to help with the trauma!
The field below the house, where there are still the old iron railings and a little iron gate, was used for bayonet practice. I cannot remember where the soldiers were stationed but a lot of training was done in the fields around Faringdon. My mother was one of the helpers in the canteen; some of the soldiers came to spend time off in our garden and have tea with us; I wonder what became of them. In about 1941 Italian and German prisoners of war who worked on local farms were dropped off and later picked up by two open lorries which parked outside Grove House. The Italians were in one lorry and the Germans in another. In the winter afternoons they were coming back to the lorries when we came from school. The Italians would say "hello" , smile and wave; the Germans were solemn and quiet.
The Women's Institute was very active. My mother learned to bottle surplus fruit sealing the tops with mutton fat, she preserved eggs from our own hens in waterglass and sliced green beans were preserved in layers of salt. My father's war effort was fire watching in Swindon as his office was there. My three elder brothers were all called up. The eldest who had been articled for chartered accounting in Bristol joined the navy as soon as he had finished his final examinations. My second brother after two years at Oxford, during which he was with the Faringdon Home Guard in vacations, went into the army. The youngest of the three who was a reporter on the North Wilts Herald went into the air force. My mother used to spend each Sunday afternoon writing to them. I can recall their service numbers with which she addressed the envelopes.
In 1942 we moved to Cardiff, encountered air raids and a very different face of war.
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Childhood in Faringdon 1970s
I have very fond memories of Faringdon. My family moved there in 1970 when I was 5 years old and we stayed until December 1977. During this time, my family were going through quite a few traumas, but nevertheless, my childhood memories are mostly good!
I went to the Infants School, then onto the Junior School which I'm now horrified to find is a housing estate. I loved my time at this school and still remember all my teachers very well - Mrs. Walters, Mrs. Sandal, Mr Gregson, Mr. Brown (my favourite!) and the eccentric Mr. Potter!! I believe I had an excellent education there and threw myself wholeheartedly into school life. I lived in Gravel Walk and our house backed onto a large field - which had once been allotments. This too is now a housing estate! But the good times we had there, us kids, roaming about, making camps and getting up to all sorts of mischief! Such a shame the children of today cannot do the same. We kids often used to take off for the day up to Badbury Woods - our parents simply telling us to be back for tea! Another play area was the large sports field (can't remember the name of the road it's off), but I also used to go to Judo classes in the hut there which I was somewhat fanatical about at the time! I remember Bonfire night very well as we all used to wander down to Faringdon House to watch what I remember being a fantastic firework display - I can still taste the burnt sausages and tomato soup!
I also remember the 1977 Silver Jubilee celebrations and we had a big street party in the Market Square which was attended by none other than Gareth Hunt from the New Avengers - all terribly exciting at the time!! Perhaps these brief memories may be familiar to some of you??
Debbie Loveridge
Hertford
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College at Barcote Manor 1970-71
I attended Anglo-American college at Barcote manor in 1970-71.
Anyone remember it? I seem to remember we caused quite a splash in the area. I fondly remember the tea house in central Faringdon.
Alan Elliott
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17th Century House
I would love to know more about our home- 30 London Street. We bought it from Roger Clarke -it was then an antique shop.Up and down stairs there were 2 42' long rooms. It had been an inn called 'The Star'.
A front window has the outline of an arch and there are stables at the back.1749 is carved over a fireplace.
All three floors have enormous fireplaces. A first floor back room - created by dividing the original long room - which I believe was used by Roger's mother for making curtains - looks much older than the front rooms - and the ceiling and walls are all over the place. The name Charles is scratched on an Elizabethan style window.
I guess the back survived the Civil War but the front had to be rebuilt.
It's a fascinating house. And what was 30A -which we changed back to a separate house?
Margaret Barker
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Faringdon Grammar School for Girls - 1950s
When I joined the school, Miss Moore, the head mistress had been replaced by Miss Towns. There were still remnants of Miss Moores time though - in needlework I had to knit socks - on 4 needles(my mum did them), but making the bloomers to match the summer dresses had been dropped!!
The school was ruled by Miss Bell(PE) and Miss Moore(English)- stern women who stood for no nonsense.
The uniform was a grey bibbed skirt, a blue check blouse, and socks - long ones if it was after 1/10 and short if after 1/4 - no matter what the weather.
The grey felt hat was mandatory. Some girls tried wearing it at a jaunty angle or modifying it by creasing it - but didn't often get passed Miss Bell - who stood at the school gate, and inspected us as we left for the day.
The rumour was that if you walked out of school with nothing on, Miss Bell would say 'and where is your hat?'
I remember we were all told one day in assembly that we should not talk to children from the secondary modern school - of whom my brother was one!
Assembly was every morning - the whole school gathered together for a hymn, a prayer and the giving out of notices. One of the schools musicians would play the piano as we were marched in and out. The majority of the girls sat cross legged on the floor - only the 6th formers and teachers sat on chairs.
An academic school - we had school exams twice yearly, so by the time we got to GCE age, we were well practised in sitting formal exams. The teachers liked the clever girls who were destined for University (the name boards are still on the walls of what is now the Junior School dining room). The rest of us who wanted to be civil servants, bank clerks, secretaries, nurses were not valued in the same way.
Everyone had homework - increasing in amount as you got older- my memory is about 10-12 hours a week at age 15. Woe betide anyone who was late handing it in.
We were allocated text books, in which we wrote our name while it was ours to use. At the end of the school year these were handed in and it was checked that everyone had handed hers in. Subsequently books lasted for years and years.
A school typical of its time- focusing on exam results rather than the broader, more informal style of education that we have today. It had its merits
Gene Webb
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hi,faringdon.found your site today.
i was brought up in faringdon during the fiftees,and early sixties.my mother,kathleen,was the lollypop lady by, i think,levertons shop.this would be about 1960.
i remember saturday morning pictures,scrumping apples from tuckers orchard,keeping out of sargeant readers way if we had been up to mischief.
mayor bill white...the barber...mrs b.in the cafe in the square...mrs allnatt.....just some of the names that come to mind.
marlborough gardens where i grew up....what great days.
thankyou faringdon for many happy childhood memories.....
michael macey.
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1970s
Mr Robert-Heber Percy used to let the town use the grounds of Faringdon House for a summer fete, as well as open the gardens at Easter Time. When he died in 1983 this stopped almost completely. I think the only remnant of Faringdon House welcoming the community is through the Firework display run by the Rotary every November.
It is a shame that the now owner lives abroad and the property is let to people who appear to take little or no interest in Faringdon.
Faringdon has lost access to an important part of it's history
Name Supplied
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World War II
Extract from The Peoples War http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/categories/
The only other person I remember in Faringdon was the headmaster of the school I attended. Although I never fell foul of him, I shared the common dread of him. He was old (to me), short, and his remaining hair was light brown. He had a violent temper and struck terror in our hearts by his shouting.
He often used the cane and I remember on one occasion he caned a girl in front of the class after pulling down her knickers. Although I was only seven, I thought this was very wrong but never said anything about it in case I got the same.
I was not sorry to leave Faringdon.
The full story was donated to the People’s War website by M. R. Spurgeon,
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World War II
RECOLLECTIONS OF FARINGDON
John R. Copland
The Peoples war on BBC website
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c1960s
My family lived in Gloucester Street in the house that had a cottage in the garden. I think in the 1960s. Does anyone remember?
Ive heard that it is now a nursery or private school.My family have memories to add to the social history of the place. There were connections to a pub there and someone called- we think Richard- who was a lodger.
A family member would love to visit the family home and show us around and tell us their memoirs -which could link with yours. There were international connections. I would love to hear from anyone that remembers.
The cottage in the garden as far as we know now has a garage door in it! Sad but true.
Any info my family would love as we are researching our history.
I hope I have got the right area. The cottage had been turned into a garage!!!! and I think the pub was called the Bell.
The family had connections with Canada. The house - my mum remembers had three floors and a basement. One of the staircases she remembers as being spiral- or curved. It was a terraced house. It did not have a number but a name begining with M. Does this help?
I think an aunts surname was Fickle but if she was married that would be her maiden name. Is there any way of searching any records to find who lived there?
My mum tells me they used to visit the Folly.
Rossalyn Emmett [email protected]
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c1970s
I have so many memories of Faringdon as i grew up here, now living in Canada, i often visit this website,
I went to the infants school on canada lane, then the school near the railway lines, then of course off to Tollington, and i finished 6th form at the elms.... then my first job from finishing school was Ross Foods on Park Rd Industrial estate, right besides Splash, i guess those are no longer there,
i also did a paper round for the Busby;s then taken over by the miserable Marments!!!
i used to love getting sweets at Mrs Alnutts ...and going to the Bargain Centre to see what good cheap stuff i could buy, and i bought my very first record at the electronics shop Larkins
...oooh the memories, walking the dog across to tuckers park, i could go on and on.... but well i miss my old homestead, you never appreciate it til its gone.... so be proud you Faringdonians....
Beverly Morrison (nee Shepherd)
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1940s/1950s
I recall the day in the late forties/fifty when there was great excitement in Canada Lane Junior School.
Workers from Bakers the Builders had been erecting two-inch, galvanised pipe in the infants/girls playground at the front of the school. The day came when the embedded pipe had become set and the swing/climbing bars were ready for the horde of eager children, wanting to engage with this adventure equipment.
In today’s society, it would seem primitive and tame. To the children in that time it was marvellous. There were so many children just hanging from it by their arms and even just touching the pipe was a thrill in itself. Not one child could actually do any form of exercise, what with the crush of small bodies around the new equipment, and the shrill cries of delight from the throng.
There was “Old Tidy” and his minions attempting to gain some semblance of order, I believe they gave up after a while.
I have wondered if there were any photographs of the day, it would be of interest.
On two occasions’ the memory of the day has come to the fore. Once when resting in a clearing, with my back to a tree, glancing up, there above on a branch were a troop of Spider Monkeys, hanging and standing gazing at me. The other was in the film 2001, A Space Odyssey; when the ape creatures gather around, and one touches the black obelisk. I am no way implying we were monkeys or apes; they are the things that triggered the memory of the exercise bars in the old school.
Around that time, the allotments at the back of the school became a school playing field.
Richard Giles, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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1970s
I moved to Faringdon in 1969, not long after the demolition of the workhouse (the Spike) in Ferndale Street, formerly Back Street. In those days the cinema was still in Gloucester Street, but had ceased to be a cinema, and as far as I can remember it was a Bingo Hall.
There were around 20 pubs in the town, and the nearest one to us was the Folly Inn, with its famously grumpy landlord, David Avenell, (although I think his mum, Stella, was still the licensee in those days). His taciturn temperament did not deter, however, and the pub was often serving drinks well after closing time with lock-ins going on until the small hours. The police were regular visitors, and I don't mean in their official capacity...
The Police station still flourished in Coach Lane, as did the magistrate's court, and the Rural District Council was housed in Camden House, in the Market Place. The town Council was still a Parish council, then (I think) but I don't remember exactly when this changed. In the early seventies it was certainly a Town Council, and councillors I remember were Bill White, Cecil Blisset, Stanley *****?, Richard Custance, Colin Dyer, Frank Van Tinteren, Evelyn Stoodley (of Amateur Dramatics fame)
The Pines was just being built, and Sands Hill (Now Town End Road/Marines Drive estate) was still a caravan site. There was a handy fish'n'chip shop half way up London Street, Moreton's was still a department store cornucopia of toys, ladies and gents clothing; There was a very good shoe shop, with Woods/Smiths bookshop next door. A little further up the road was Mrs Allnatt's sweetie shop, where children were treated with the same courtesy as adults, were never hurried and where they could still buy such treats as sherbet dabs, liquorice wheels and bootlaces, sweet cigarettes (my favourites) and a host of other children-of-all-ages' delights.
The Folly Tower was closed to the public, and two friends and I climbed it one night with the aid of climbing equipment, to wait at the top for the dawn to break, when I took a complete panorama of town photographs (black and white) from its then forbidden heights.
Hilary Taylor
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1970s
Until the mid 70s The Elms in Gloucester Street, which has now been turned into apartments, was the Faringdon Grammar School for Girls. Under the comprehensive school system it combined with Tollington School and my son, Steven, was one of the first dozen or so boys allowed into the previously ‘boy free zone’.
He was very good about it, as were the other boys, and didn’t complain but in order to ensure a certain amount of privacy when the occasion arose he carved a very smart wooden sign saying “Working Men’s Club’ and suspended it over the door of the boys’ toilet.
The Headmaster, was not amused and suspended Steven for a day.
Word spread about my son’s wickedness and he was approached by the Bourton Working Men’s Club offering to buy the offending sign if he would carve a matching sign saying “Bourton”. For many years Bourton Working Men’s Club graced the club’s entrance as a reminder of my son’s sense of humour and the Headmaster’s lack of it.
Name Supplied
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1950s
Being a child at this time, my memories are largely about school and sweet shops and later Youth Club!
The headmaster of Faringdon Primary school(where the Infant school is now) was a Mr Tidyman - a man to be wary of!. He was at the school for many years- certainly since WWII and maybe before. I was fortunate that he retired in the early 1950s and a much nicer and more tolerant Mr Harding became head.
Lots of things spring to mind- being wrongly accused of writing on a wall (of a stinky outside WC block) and being made to scrub it clean - I was 5 (and scarred for life you may say), learning to play the recorder, being made to stay in at playtime(age 6) to do some knitting - I still can't knit.
Netball matches, sports days, PE in your knickers(navy!) regular tests- and having to sit in sequence from top to bottom of the class, needlework classes (much good they did me). Last 2 years of primary school - more than 40 children in the class.
Teachers- Mr Gregson (there forever I think), Miss Phillips, Miss Spinage, Mr Mohan( a man!!), Miss Wickham(friend of Mr Mohan!!), Miss Tibbetts(frightening).
Home at this time was in Marlborough St- Malvern house was below the empty shop next to the now Chinese fish and chips. At that time the house had pretty bay window and a small front garden with railings(sad to see it now). I remember standing at this window to watch the Coronation procession go by (I had measles!)
Opposite was Paddons sweet shop(later to become Manners), further down was Miss Fletchers sweet shop, Drew's butcher, Golding Goddards(now White Horse bookshop), a laundrette, as well as cottages- a pretty street!
3d bought packet of spangles - normal amount to spend, while 6d was riches and I could buy a Mars bar.
Russell Spinage (brother of the teacher), ran a number of youth clubs- held in the Old Boys School on the Stanford Road(now dwellings). Ar first I was in the junior girls section. All I can remember we did was to learn country dancing- Virginia Reel, Dashing White Sergeant, Bonnie Breastnot. Russell used to take us to village fetes where we would perform our dances as a fete attraction. We loved it
An innocent age - one single man and 8-10 little girls under the age of 12. Some names I remember- Sheila and Ann Bowls, Ann Goodenough, Gill Purbrick, Jean Allnatt, Mary Buchanan
Russell worked tirelessly for the youth of the town. It was through Russell's Youth Club that we could go dancing (rocknroll, old time, ballroom), play table tennis and snooker, and generally get together.(important for someone who went to a single sex school!) He took us on outings - I remember kayaking on the river at Abingdon and sleeping in a hammock on a boat, walking in the Lake District and a seaside holiday at Teignmouth.
Without Russell we baby boomers would have been lost.
After my time, the Youth Club had to vacate the Old School House(sold for development I believe), and it moved to the Secondary School premises, where it didn't flourish.
However sometime in the 60s early 70s, Russell married and I think had 2 sons, so he had other priorities. Sadly Russell died relatively young (in his early 60s)
Thankyou Russell
Gene Webb