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Memories

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7 Responses to “Memories”

  • Anne Clement:

    Hello
    I was born in Swindon in 1941 , but now live in Surrey.
    I am eager to learn if anyone has heard of (or even remembers!) my grandfather’s shop J.G.Bailey, family butcher, circa 1933 . I believe the address was 1A Rodbourne Road .
    I have 3 photos which I am in the process of scanning for submission to the Swindon Collection at the Central Libary. HOpefully, they will appear on the Flickr website soon.
    Any information from your group would be welcome. Thank you.
    Anne Clement

  • Val Cullum:

    I still remember the Jennings Street school song or some of it, anyway. It went

    40 years on and afar and asunder
    parted are those who are singing today
    When we look back and forgetfully wonder
    what we were like in our work and our play

    To be honest it was the most depressing song I had ever heard, and still is especially as the 40 years are well past. It did and still does fill me with a profound sense of gloom. Dreary isn’t the word for it.

  • Len Loveday, remembers the shop at 133 Redcliffe st,a sweet shop,( plus acumalaters were charged there for the radios)
    run by a ‘Jumbo’Brown & his sister Molly, he had fame in having made a television set in the garden shed, this was in the mid thirties,
    does anyone have memories of being invited to view?

  • Gordy:

    We have been given this memory of Rodbourne by Mr Kim Herron.

    “In 1948 my father bought a small holding at 30, Stone Lane, Lydiard Millicent. It was a bit primative having horse drawn impliments and a cart.
    One of his vegetable delivery rounds was Rodbourne on Fridays. On this particular one at the end of the round Dad stopped off at a newsagents to buy my Eagle, Beano and Dandy comics (I was only 11), he was running late and left Mum on the cart. Polly, the horse, decided that it was the time to go home so started off. Dad just managed to clamber aboard before the vehicle reached full speed.
    All along Rodbourne Road just as the GWR emptied, under the Rodbourne Road bridge potatoes, cabbages, onions etc. shooting off everywhere. Pedestrians had to get out of the way of this charging horse and cart. Then around the island opposite the Co-op into Westcott Place where some weights flew off nearly killing a cyclist. Then past Westcott Rec. , under the two railway bridges into the Shaw Road where Polly slowed down, gather she was made to keep up the fast pace till home.
    After that they upgraded to a lorry and “Fergie” tractor (Ferguson was the manufacturer) – but no horse.”
    Great story Kim. Can anyone do better?

  • Jean Allen:

    Reply re Anne Clements query

    Mr. J.G. Bailey was a shopkeeper at 1A Rodbourne Road in the 1933 streets directory. Some time ago a lady told me a little story about the butcher boy who worked there. Her relative worked at the ladies hairdressers opposite at 174, they smiled and waved at each other from the window, then he passed her a note to make a date, she eventually married him…These three lock up shops,part of the Fireplace Centre were very recently demolished and flats are being built there.

  • gordy:

    Reply re Jean Allen’s post on Anne Clement’s query.

    This is strange Jean as Anne Clement did tell me of this tale but having checked the Business Registers for 1931 to 1934 only Emily Hunt was in residence in 174 with no business registered against her so I discounted it. Could it have been one of those “Front Room” businesses so prevalent in Rodbourne? The nearest registered hairdresser in Rodbourne Rd was W.H.R. Bezer at 181.

  • Raymond Hinton:

    I was born in the front bedroom of 68 Redcliffe Street in 1956,My father was in the rail works and was a big player in the local skittles scene, he had an allotment down barnfield, and he loved to go fishing on a Sunday with the golden carp !
    My gran, (dads mum ) lived at 17 Drew Street until her death, and my uncle continued living there until his death, thus ending the Hinton chain there !
    My memories of Rodbourne are of community, and everyone working together,all dominated by the rail works.
    We used to go to Martins farm, where I spent many hours with Mr Martin sat on meal sacks and helping with the cows.
    My auntie worked in WD & HO Wills in Colbourne st, she now lives down Rodbourne Rd, I have very fond memories of Rodbourne and the fun we had as kids, we couldnt do anything wrong as everyone knew who we were !
    I do hope Rodbourne has not lost its sense of community.

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