Tales Of Chalfont

I'm replying to your post although it is a while back.  I've rejoined the list.  I lived in CSP for 14 years from 1973.  I'd be interested in your book and getting a copy, as I have very very fond memories of the village and my friends of that time.  I don't know if I'd have anything to contribute although I can remember the ford crossing the street!

 

Best wishes and keep up the good work, Lynn

  I can remember Frankie Vaughan coming to tithe barn and taking my nan to see him. He was her favourite. I remember her saying "when he comes in girls you got to grab him and say we love you Frankie!" my friends and sister thought she was mad but a great laugh.  

  Ted Heath came to visit the Hospital in the early seventies, my nan was in there and we weren't allowed to visit her till he'd gone. Margret Rutherford was in the bed opposite her.

  There were also many times we watched the parade through the village in the summer for the fate. The school fates where I was a welsh girl  (wierd I live here now), a round the world cyclist on my little sisters trike ten sizes too small for me and numerous other strange characters I was asked to potray 'for the school'. I could go on but I'd only bore you.

Intrigued about sledging in Foxdell Way as I used to do that too - ex Mark Drive.  I can remember playing football with friends in the Chalfont Epilepsy Centre's (then known as 'the colony') playing field and getting chased by a bloke who looked after it.  I had a donkey then, and we would walk it through the village - people would give it an apple and my donkey would drool all over the pavement!  We also ran it in a donkey derby which took place in the community centre.  I occasionally but rarely saw Chalfont Utd play, but met John Laurie on a number of occasions doing charity work.  Some amazing times, but a great childhood.

 

When I first moved to Chalfont in 1963 there was a ford crossing the road opposite the church into a carpark which then became the Precinct.  Budgen's was where the clothes shop is in the Precinct now.  I used to work in the baker's-cum-sandwich shop as a Saturday job, preceded by Woolworths in GX.  On one occasion on Christmas Eve we clearly had not a crumb on the shelves, and one lady customer came in and said "can I have a tin loaf please" (a long narrow loaf)!!  Dream on!

 

I remember listening to 'singles' in Rumbelow's as well, and also the grocer's with Mr Bail - his son was in my class I believe, or nearly.  There used to be a wool shop in the shop on the other side of the uphill road to Bail's grocery.  There also used to be a white horse in the field opposite both of the above shops, which then got built on.  He always used to have his head over the gate and so we children used to stroke his nose - then of course he disappeared with the housing - very sad.

 

I was deeply saddened a while back when I saw that Gravel Hill School was no longer used as a school and that there were weeds growing where we all used to play so noisily!  Then it also got built on - so many children's voices buried under housing..... so sad.  On the day that one of my teachers yanked me to the front of the class by the forelock, and gave me a real telling off and cracked a ruler over my knuckles (this would have been in about 1965) - I dared to make a complaint to the Head Teacher!

 

Ho hum!

 

Lynn

 

 

I left Gravel Hill before you began there.  I wonder why it closed?  Unless due to an ageing residential population maybe, who had been there for years.  We had Mr Berry as Head Teacher, followed by Miss Breedon who seemed to have quite left-wing views - very hippie in her physical appearance!  Such a great shame it is no longer a school (with no disrespect meant to current residents!).  We used to do cycling proficiency in the playground which I failed - the only one to do so in that group at least - which served as an early warning for my parents of the 11+ and drastic remedial action taken!  We had teachers such as Mr Best, Mr Bennell, Miss Taylor (who then went on to Beaconsfield High School) - I wonder how they are doing now?

 

Great memories, Lynn