When Brian was an apprentice for T.A.Kings, one of his tasks was to help install a lead rainwater pipe on the roof of St Albans Abbey. He is very proud of this work and that he climbed on the tower… More about ‘Working on the Abbey roof – Brian Welch’»
Brian worked for the Colne Valley Water Company for 34 years. He lived in one of the company houses at the bottom of Holywell Hill next to the Holywell Pumping Station. Interview date: 31 March 2014. Interviewer: Sandy Norman… More about ‘Working for the water board – Brian Welch’»
Brian’s family moved into a brand new council property in Pemberton Close in 1950 when he was four and a half years old. He talks about his mother, Amy Welch, who was a well-loved character in the street and who… More about ‘Living in Pemberton Close – Brian Welch’»
Val shares her memories of St Julian’s farm, now the Tithe Barn estate, in Watling Street. Interview Date: 29 January 2014. Interviewer: Sandy Norman… More about ‘St Julian’s farm – Val Goodyear-Burrow’»
Val Goodyear-Burrow was born in 1938. She lived at 79 Tavistock Avenue during the war years and can recall specific memories of wartime: shelters, blackouts, gas masks and air-raid sirens. She also remembers watching the gliders coming from the Handley… More about ‘Wartime memories of living in Tavistock Avenue’»
In the years after the war, many children were made to do jobs to earn pocket money. Many of the jobs were for their parents e.g. collecting coke from the gasworks on a Saturday morning. Children had to be at… More about ‘Doing a paper round – Val Goodyear-Burrow’»
Maggie Souter ran a filling station with old-fashioned pumps which is where the Service station is now on Watling Street on the other side of the Park Street roundabout. Sue Bentley recalls being taken there with her father. She describes… More about ‘Park Street filling station – Sue Bentley’»
Sue Bentley, born Sue Newton in 1938, lived in Tavistock Avenue for thirty years and shares her childhood memories of playing in and around that area. She remembers playing on the little grass islands in the avenue, the fields by… More about ‘Childhood in Tavistock Avenue – Sue Bentley’»
Mary was born in 1929 and lived in New House Park. She recalls the Barnett family who lived in Sopwell House, previously called Sopwell Manor, and how Lady Aline Barnett was frequently caught speeding. She remembers picking mushrooms, the ice… More about ‘Sopwell House and New Barnes Mill – Mary Myers’»
Bet’s neighbours in Cottonmill Lane were the Blowers family: Mrs Blowers and her two daughters, Gig and Dawn. The Blowers lived at Sopwell Mill farm for over fifty years. They kept a few animals including a cow and some chickens… More about ‘Blowers family – Bet Cutler’»
