 |
| Memories |
Back to New Bradwell Life and Times
|
by kind permission of Phyllis Drinkwater , St James Church Girls Club I was so pleased to read in the Council's newsletter of the various activities arranged in the locality for young people. 60 years ago I ran a Girls Club for St. James Church. We met once a week in the church hall, doing embroidery, knitting and country dancing. We entertained at church parties to the delight of the people, doing Scottish Reels and invited them to join in.
Girls Club Badge We had a badge which was a gold cross embroidered on a blue felt background which the girls made themselves. In the winter evenings they brought 0xo cubes -and we had hot drinks and biscuits. In the summer we played Netball in the school yard ( well our version of it) competing with one another to see who could get the ball in the net the most times. Surprisingly enough it wasn't always the tallest girl that won. It was great fun and kept us all actively engrossed. Some evenings we went for a ramble across the fields and took sandwiches and bottles of 'Tizer',a drink which was very popular with the young in those days. All without a care in the world. As I see it, it is so good for like-minded youngsters to meet together and enjoy one anothers company in pleasant pursuits. It is the simple things in life that give the greatest happiness. I am now in my eighties, so the girls who belonged to the club must now be around 60 plus and possibly 'Grandmothers'. Many are doing good work supporting various organisations in the community. I guess they often recall those happy days. I know I do. Phyllis Drinkwater (nee Garrett) |
|
I used to live at the side of the school at 62 High Street, from 1965 to 1971 when I emigrated to Australia with my brother and parents. I started school in New Bradwell and my cousins were christened in the Church there so I am familiar with both buildings. My grandparents (Mick and Eva Wilmott) also lived in New Bradwell from about 1944 to about 1974, mostly at 79 Spencer Street, now 23 Spencer Street I believe, when they moved to Wolverton. Some of my mum's siblings were born in either Spencer Street or Bridge Street so we have a long connection with New Bradwell. We lived next door to Dr Love, I vaguely remember him because he diagnosed food poisoning in my Dad and I after another Doctor had said that I had chicken pox! He also gave me a jelly bean after he gave me my smallpox innoculation before we came to Australia, it didn't stop it stinging though and I still yelled my head off! I also remember the band playing outside our house, I've attached a photo of them doing just that, looks like it might have been summer time, can't see any rain or snow! My brother Gary is the little blonde boy on the bike on the path.
by kind permission of Sharon Thrift I think your website is terrific, I haven't had the opportunity to return to England so I was amazed to see what High Street looks like without the houses opposite our old house, can't say I like it much because I remember it the way it used to be but I suppose that's progress. I'm glad that my grandparents house has been saved though. Kind regards, Sharon Thrift (nee Mote) Warnbro, Western Australia |
| My early years were spent growing up in Haversham but my earliest memory of New Bradwell was visiting the Dr.'s surgery. Dr. Marjorie Fildes had her surgery at one of the houses on Newport Road. (?137, I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong) opposite the recreation ground. It was always a major exercise as there were no buses so we had to walk up the steep hill from Haversham, past the Drill Hall and then down the other side into New Bradwell. If I had behaved myself at the Dr's then my mother allowed some time for a trip to the rec. and a play on the swings! New Bradwell had a variety of shops but we always bought our shoes from Wheelers in St James Street. The walls packed with boxes of shoes, it was difficult to choose which we wanted. Jennifer Cooper (nee Bull) |
Email your memories of life in New Bradwell to New Bradwell Herutage Group