Roy Pinnock whose family had watercress beds in Riverside Road and Park Street, tells some stories about his father, Doug Pinnock. Doug was one of twelve children: six sons and six daughters and they lived in a two bedroom house… More about ‘Pinnock family memories – Roy Pinnock’»
Category: World War 2
Memories of living in Vesta Avenue – Mrs Terry
After living in Sopwell Gate Lodge and a brief spell in London, the Giddings family moved into a house in Vesta Avenue. Betty Terry, nee Giddings, remembers, St Stephen’s church, the playing fields and Priory Park school. Despite wanting to… More about ‘Memories of living in Vesta Avenue – Mrs Terry’»
Memories of racism – Velma Richards
Velma Richards came to St Albans in 1964. Her family came from St Kitts in the Caribbean and her great granddad fought in World War II. Her daughter, Jasmine, was shocked when she found out how black people were treated… More about ‘Memories of racism – Velma Richards’»
World War II searchlight – Gloria Morris
There was a gun emplacement with a searchlight in Sopwell. It was situated in the fields before the estate was built approximately where Nuns Lane meets Cottonmill Lane. Gloria Morris remembers her mother pointing it out to her when they… More about ‘World War II searchlight – Gloria Morris’»
More childhood memories – Gloria Morris
In the 1930s and 1940s, children were allowed to wander around freely. Everyone looked after each other especially during the war years when the men were away Gloria has memories of cycling down the winding lane that was Cottonmill Lane… More about ‘More childhood memories – Gloria Morris’»
Childhood memories of living in the war years – Gloria Morris
Gloria Morris has many vivid memories of what life was like on the home front during World war II. She remembers her mother having to do war work at Ryders’ Seed merchants; gas masks; the different kinds of ration books;… More about ‘Childhood memories of living in the war years – Gloria Morris’»
World War 2 soldiers – Gloria Morris
During the Second World War, many families had to take in soldiers to live with them. Gloria Morris remembers her mother having to do this. She also remembers seeing German prisoners of war in St Albans and realising that there… More about ‘World War 2 soldiers – Gloria Morris’»
Childhood memories – Noel Godman
Noel Godman lived in St Julians Road as a child and recalls playing in the Cottonmill Lane area. He has vivid memories of the gasworks and of the trains coming in and out from the Abbey station and the shunting… More about ‘Childhood memories – Noel Godman’»
Working as a precision engineer – Noel Godman
Noel Godman and his father, uncles and brother were talented engineers. His father worked at Mercers Chronometers where he was supervisor, and one of his roles was to check the master clocks on some of the famous ships of the… More about ‘Working as a precision engineer – Noel Godman’»
Old London Road shops – Bill Mackenzie
Bill Mackenzie, born 1939, lived in Cottonmill Crescent. He recalls some the shops situated in the Old London area: Caleys grocers and off-licence, Mr Sedgely greengrocer and Mrs Hooper’s second-hand clothes. Interview date: 23 April 2010. Interviewer: Sandy Norman … More about ‘Old London Road shops – Bill Mackenzie’»
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