I knew that one day I would find someone who could give an explanation as to why the river Ver near New Barnes Mill is also called the Tar. Denis asked this question when he was a child and the… More about ‘Tar River and Flint Cottages – Denis Mardel’»
Category: Oral history
Walking to Park Street via Sopwell – Denis Mardel
Denis lives in Abbots Avenue West. He describes what the area looked like years ago before the shops were built. He also describes visiting his married sister in Park Street c.1936 and the route he took to get there from… More about ‘Walking to Park Street via Sopwell – Denis Mardel’»
Playing in the river Ver – Denis Mardel
Denis was born in 1932. He lived in the town and didn’t move to Sopwell until 1960 but he knew the area well and he and his mates used to play here often. Denis describes how they used to go… More about ‘Playing in the river Ver – Denis Mardel’»
Sopwell in the ‘olden days’ Fred Edwards and Sandy Norman
Fred Edwards and Sandy Norman went along to St Peter’s School to be interviewed by the younger pupils. Although the questions are very basic the answers give an insight into what Fred and Sandy like about Sopwell. Interview date: 10… More about ‘Sopwell in the ‘olden days’ Fred Edwards and Sandy Norman’»
Childhood memories – John Church
John recalls how he loved to go swimming in the Cottonmill Swimming Baths. He has fond memories of playing games, especially knock down ginger, in Pageant Road where he lived. He also talks about the slaughter house in Dolphin Yard. He… More about ‘Childhood memories – John Church’»
Wartime memories – John Church
John talks mainly about all the good food they had to eat during the war as his father had a big plot of land to grow produce and keep chickens and rabbits. He also remembers Italian prisoners of war who worked… More about ‘Wartime memories – John Church’»
Schooldays – John Church
John was one of several people interviewed by the the pupils of St Peter’s School. Here he is telling them what school was like in his day: how he was often naughty and kept in after school; and how he was… More about ‘Schooldays – John Church’»
Trainspotting – Mike Titchiner
Mike shares his memories of watching the steam trains go by. As well as watching the local trains, he went as far afield as Watford and London. Interview date: 12 May 2014. Interviewer: Sandy Norman.… More about ‘Trainspotting – Mike Titchiner’»
Sopwell Home Farm – Mike Titchiner
As a holiday job, Mike used to help out at the farm near Black’s Pine at New Barnes. He was given unsavoury jobs to do like clearing out manure from the cowsheds and cutting down thistles in the fields. Interview… More about ‘Sopwell Home Farm – Mike Titchiner’»
Caddying at the golf course – Mike Titchiner
Mike Titchiner used to go caddying for the golfers at Verulam Golf course on Saturdays to earn some pocket money. On one memorable occasion he and his mates were asked to caddy for the evangelist Billy Graham and his party who… More about ‘Caddying at the golf course – Mike Titchiner’»
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