Were You There? Memories of Boxfields Dave Chave and Richard Pinker October 2016
Above: Box Highlands School in 1948 courtesy of Richard Pinker and Rudloescene
Can you help name any of the children seen above?
Can you help name any of the children seen above?
David Chave wrote
I moved to Boxfields in 1946 with my father and mother, Arthur and Florence, and my brother, Selwyn, who in 1957 married Shirley Dancy, who lived at Box Hill with her father and mother and sisters, Jean and Rita. I remember Mr Maynard well. I used to shop there. I also visited The Bingham Hall when they had dances there. I played with a group Dick Delmont and the Strangers on Boxing Day Evening in 1963. Now I am living at Grays, Essex. I have been here for 32 years
We lived at the flat roofs at 28 Everley Road. My father worked for the MOD (Ministry of Defence) during the war as a checker responsible for the safety of the loads leaving Corsham. He was also a fire warden. They lived at Summerlays Place, Widcombe, Bath until 1946 when they were offered a place at Boxfields. Before that they wanted a place on the outskirts of Bath but were refused, so they decided on Boxfields.
We lived at the flat roofs at 28 Everley Road. My father worked for the MOD (Ministry of Defence) during the war as a checker responsible for the safety of the loads leaving Corsham. He was also a fire warden. They lived at Summerlays Place, Widcombe, Bath until 1946 when they were offered a place at Boxfields. Before that they wanted a place on the outskirts of Bath but were refused, so they decided on Boxfields.
Richard Pinker and I were in Mrs Geldheart's class together. In the school photo at the head of the article I was the little boy at the end of the top row right you can just see my face and one shoulder.
In the photo, right, taken in 1950, I was in disguise as a clown, wearing a mask, about the middle row. It was taken at the Box Highlands School and I think the occasion of the photo was a Labour Party event when all the children dressed up in fancy costumes. (Photo courtesy Richard Pinker) My mother, Florence Chave, was in the Boxfields Ladies Football team. |
The people identified in the picture above right are: Back row: 2nd right Mr Evans. Children in the middle row from the left: unnown, Valerie Betteridge,
Alan Trudgeon, Robert Swithenbank, Roger Nicolson, unknown, Richard Pinker, David Chave, unknown, Ann Daly, Joan Betteridge, Barbara Stanford.
Front row: unknown, Dennis Edgell, unknown, unknown, Diane Betteridge, unknown, unknown, Mike Betteridge.
Alan Trudgeon, Robert Swithenbank, Roger Nicolson, unknown, Richard Pinker, David Chave, unknown, Ann Daly, Joan Betteridge, Barbara Stanford.
Front row: unknown, Dennis Edgell, unknown, unknown, Diane Betteridge, unknown, unknown, Mike Betteridge.
The Neighbours at Boxfields
My first neighbours were the Betteridges who moved to Southlands, next to the steps leading to the lane that passed by Box Highlands School. The second neighbours were Mr & Mrs Reece with their children, Tony and Pauline who married Phillip Feeney. At number 26 Everley Road is where Mr and Mrs Lovering lived with their son, Peter. At number 32 were Mr and Mrs Lynch and family. The first people living at number 34 Everley, were Mr and Mrs Webb and family (I think one of the sons were called Tony). They had a mobile shop. After they moved, the house was occupied by Mrs Hawkins and her son, Les. Seven years ago I met Ginger Wiseman in Corsham High Street. At Boxfields, he used to keep us up to date with the latest football results - happy days.
Digging into my memory, I remember that number 34 was occupied by Mr and Mrs Tommy Taylor and their daughter, who married a man from the Displaced Persons Camp at West Wells and moved to the USA in the late 1940s. The neighbours at number 26, their neighbours, were Mr and Mrs Matthews and family, number 22 was occupied by Mr and Mrs May and their son, Tony. The only other families I can remember, on my side of the road, were Mrs Woods and her son, Geoffrey. I recall Mr and Mrs Pope and children on the community's outing to Barry Island. On the evens side of the road lived Mr and Mrs Jack Adams, who worked with my father.
Families on Portland Crescent and Aldhelm Crescent
I remember several of the families that lived on these streets. From the RAF athletics field end, in Portland Crescent, the Jones family were in the third dwelling and the Lidos in the fifth. From the Community Centre at the end were the Wisemans and about four dwellings later were the Chilcott family.
From the RAF end of Aldhelm Crescent were the Rice family (approximately in the second block). A few dwellings on were Turtons, Illingworths and Tyes and, up to a field opening, the Trugdeons, Mr Evans (a school teacher) and the Toombs family. Down to next opening towards the field that lead to Boxhill Sports Football Club ground, which was also used for greyhound racing and various other activities. From there were the Caerleon family, the Cousins, Ryans and Worthings, overlooking the Community Centre . On the other side of Aldhelm Crescent, from the Community Centre end, were the O'Tooles and the Henmans. On the road leading into Portland Crescent, the first dwelling was the Cooks. I am afraid that is all I can remember.
My first neighbours were the Betteridges who moved to Southlands, next to the steps leading to the lane that passed by Box Highlands School. The second neighbours were Mr & Mrs Reece with their children, Tony and Pauline who married Phillip Feeney. At number 26 Everley Road is where Mr and Mrs Lovering lived with their son, Peter. At number 32 were Mr and Mrs Lynch and family. The first people living at number 34 Everley, were Mr and Mrs Webb and family (I think one of the sons were called Tony). They had a mobile shop. After they moved, the house was occupied by Mrs Hawkins and her son, Les. Seven years ago I met Ginger Wiseman in Corsham High Street. At Boxfields, he used to keep us up to date with the latest football results - happy days.
Digging into my memory, I remember that number 34 was occupied by Mr and Mrs Tommy Taylor and their daughter, who married a man from the Displaced Persons Camp at West Wells and moved to the USA in the late 1940s. The neighbours at number 26, their neighbours, were Mr and Mrs Matthews and family, number 22 was occupied by Mr and Mrs May and their son, Tony. The only other families I can remember, on my side of the road, were Mrs Woods and her son, Geoffrey. I recall Mr and Mrs Pope and children on the community's outing to Barry Island. On the evens side of the road lived Mr and Mrs Jack Adams, who worked with my father.
Families on Portland Crescent and Aldhelm Crescent
I remember several of the families that lived on these streets. From the RAF athletics field end, in Portland Crescent, the Jones family were in the third dwelling and the Lidos in the fifth. From the Community Centre at the end were the Wisemans and about four dwellings later were the Chilcott family.
From the RAF end of Aldhelm Crescent were the Rice family (approximately in the second block). A few dwellings on were Turtons, Illingworths and Tyes and, up to a field opening, the Trugdeons, Mr Evans (a school teacher) and the Toombs family. Down to next opening towards the field that lead to Boxhill Sports Football Club ground, which was also used for greyhound racing and various other activities. From there were the Caerleon family, the Cousins, Ryans and Worthings, overlooking the Community Centre . On the other side of Aldhelm Crescent, from the Community Centre end, were the O'Tooles and the Henmans. On the road leading into Portland Crescent, the first dwelling was the Cooks. I am afraid that is all I can remember.
There are a lot more details you can enjoy about Boxfields at http://www.rudloescene.co.uk/archive-1/boxfields/