John Buckingham’s father was born in Sopwell. When he got married, he lived in Leyland Avenue. He worked in the kennels in Cottonmill Lane, looking after the hounds which were part of the hunt. John’s father rode with the hunt across the fields towards Wall Hall. Mr Buckingham’s boss was called Fenny. Then he left there in the early 1960s and worked for the St Albans Gas Company at the gasworks on the retorts. John describes what it was like, having been taken there by his father to see inside, and compares it to a living hell as it was so hot.
Interview date: 14 December 2011. Interviewer: Sandy Norman.
- John Buckingham’s father with hound and foxcub
- John Buckingham’s father at the kennels in Cottonmill Lane
- The hounds at the kennels
- 1924 map showing position of kennels and Sportsman’s Hall
Latest comments