Memories of Box Hill and its Residents Richard Pinker February 2017
This wonderful photo (courtesy Richard Pinker and Bob Hancock and taken by John Tooth) shows residents of Box Hill enjoying the Box Hill Old Age Pensioners Party put on at the Quarryman's Arms by Bob and Lauri Hancock in 1969.
Left to Right: Back Row: Reg Sumner, Aubrey Pinker, Fred Cousins, Percy Hancock, Bob Walker, Reg Cogswell, Phillipa ?, Bob Hancock
Middle Row: Jean Diffle, Mildred Cousins, Freda Dancey, Percy Ettles, Mrs Cogswell, Lauri Hancock
Front Row: Vi Sumner, Mrs Spring, Nellie Pinker, Robbie Ettles, unknown, Nellie Wilkins
All photos in this article courtesy Richard Pinker. We would love to hear from you if you can tell us more about the people in the photo.
Left to Right: Back Row: Reg Sumner, Aubrey Pinker, Fred Cousins, Percy Hancock, Bob Walker, Reg Cogswell, Phillipa ?, Bob Hancock
Middle Row: Jean Diffle, Mildred Cousins, Freda Dancey, Percy Ettles, Mrs Cogswell, Lauri Hancock
Front Row: Vi Sumner, Mrs Spring, Nellie Pinker, Robbie Ettles, unknown, Nellie Wilkins
All photos in this article courtesy Richard Pinker. We would love to hear from you if you can tell us more about the people in the photo.
Pinker Family
William Pinker, my three times great grandfather, came to Box from Christian Malford (nr Chippenham) around the turn of the 19th century. My great grandfather, Frederick Pinker, who worked in the quarries, lived most of his married life in Boxfields.
As far as I know, my grandfather, who was one of a twin, was born in Boxfields about 1869 and went on to be a coachman,
finally returning to Tunnel Inn on his retirement in the 1930s. Tunnel Inn was owned by Fred Neate who my grandfather knew well. We moved to Tunnel Inn in the 1940s to look after my grandmother (nee Rhoda Ann Oatley). My parents lived there for nearly forty years, celebrating their golden wedding in 1979 and following my father's death, my mother moved to Corsham in the
mid 1980s.
William Pinker, my three times great grandfather, came to Box from Christian Malford (nr Chippenham) around the turn of the 19th century. My great grandfather, Frederick Pinker, who worked in the quarries, lived most of his married life in Boxfields.
As far as I know, my grandfather, who was one of a twin, was born in Boxfields about 1869 and went on to be a coachman,
finally returning to Tunnel Inn on his retirement in the 1930s. Tunnel Inn was owned by Fred Neate who my grandfather knew well. We moved to Tunnel Inn in the 1940s to look after my grandmother (nee Rhoda Ann Oatley). My parents lived there for nearly forty years, celebrating their golden wedding in 1979 and following my father's death, my mother moved to Corsham in the
mid 1980s.
Above: Aubrey and Nellie Pinker in 1979 (unknown attribution)
Right: Tunnel Inn in the 1950s (courtesy Richard Pinker) |
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In the 1950s, Mr and Mrs Rogers lived at number 2 and
Bill Wilkins and his sister at number 3. It was said that the outhouse of number 3 was used as a mortuary during the construction of the Tunnel. The photo outside Tunnel Inn in the snow was taken at Christmas 1962. The vehicle was actually my first car, or rather an ex-butcher's van (without windows) that I bought for £140. The thing about vans then was that they didn't carry purchase tax (a sales tax). In 1962 the rate could be up to 45% in addition to the basic cost. The downside was that the speed of vans was limited to 40 mph. The van was a Thames 300E De Luxe based on the old Ford Prefect. The winter of 1962-63 was very harsh with a considerable amount of snow lasting from 26 December until early March. It was often referred to as the "Big Freeze" . As a young man Richard Pinker was an enthusiastic photographer and he took this dramatic shot of the area around his home. |
Other Families
Mr and Mrs Ettles (shown in the heading photo) and their daughter lived in number 1 Berry Cottages (just visible behind the stop sign in the snow photograph), certainly in the 1950s to 1980s. He was a leading light in the chapel near the Quarryman's and ran the Sunday school. The Pooles lived in Southlands in a bungalow immediately opposite Tunnel Inn, they also owned the fish and chip shop next door to the United Corsham Traders general shop. In the 1940-50s another Pinker, uncle Arthur, a cousin, lived in a bungalow in the quarry behind Berry Cottages with access via The Gullet.
The over-60s parties at the Quarryman's Arms in the early 1970s were very popular and licensee Bob and Lauri Hancock also put on entertainment for Harvest Home, darts and shove-halfpenny evenings.
Mr and Mrs Ettles (shown in the heading photo) and their daughter lived in number 1 Berry Cottages (just visible behind the stop sign in the snow photograph), certainly in the 1950s to 1980s. He was a leading light in the chapel near the Quarryman's and ran the Sunday school. The Pooles lived in Southlands in a bungalow immediately opposite Tunnel Inn, they also owned the fish and chip shop next door to the United Corsham Traders general shop. In the 1940-50s another Pinker, uncle Arthur, a cousin, lived in a bungalow in the quarry behind Berry Cottages with access via The Gullet.
The over-60s parties at the Quarryman's Arms in the early 1970s were very popular and licensee Bob and Lauri Hancock also put on entertainment for Harvest Home, darts and shove-halfpenny evenings.
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Parties at The Quarryman's Arms became large affairs and attracted residents from all over Box (courtesy Bob Hancock)