General Chat

sheila wasnt it great growing up in wycombe eh? i was born in 1959 . we used to cycle to the rye with a bag of food that mum had packed up for us lol we would stay out all day and she wouldnt worry.how things have changed:( susie

We used to spend the all day down the Rye too. At the swimming pool or on the hire boats just messing around..infact I think we spent all of the Summer Holidays down there And when I got my bike we'd go everywhere...ooooooh the freedom

Thanks, Gaynor. Glad Rob appreciated it. !948 was the year I bought my first house. Glad to know what he was doing then. In my late teens, I lived with my parents in Highbury, North London (about 6p, old money, to get into see Arsenal) and I used to cycle to Abingdon in Berks (then) to see relatives. My route took me through Wycombe. It was a delightful, sleepy old town then, till the planners made fortunes out of it. Len

Morning all, Len, - the words Wycombe, delightful and sleepy old town don't seem to go together!! I lived by Hammersley Lane so I spent a lot of my time on the Mead and wandering around the Marsh. There used to be a little playground on the Mead and I would spend hours over there.

I go even further back Susie,but you are right,it was a wonderful place to grow up.I spent lots of time in Totteridge woods learning about flora and fauna,with those little i/spy books you used to pay tuppence for,Boating on the back of the rye was good too,and the exitement when the council started to dig the foundations for the pool and hit the roman ruins. I spent time in Hammersley lane and walked round further to the watercress beds and the village.We even went as far as christmas common for picnics,and spent weekends at lane end where we had rellies.Happy memories.Fred.ptfg.

I was actually born in Huenden Road but moved up the road to Manor Gardens just off Coats Lane when I was 1 so my early childhood was spent in Huenden Park. There was a stream running through it in thoses days (which I believe dried up sometime in the 70's) and a little area called Horseshoe Island where we used to spend hours. Later we moved to Australia for a few years then back to Wycombe which is when I ended up going to Spring Gardens and Hatters Lane and that's when I used to spend all my spare time down at the Rye. I really must go back for a visit one day and have a good look around. Sheila

Trish The childrens play area is still there - somewhat modernised. Sheila The stream still meanders through Hughenden Park. I am the secretary of a support group for cardiac patients and we meet at Broomwade Sports & Social Club in the park once a month. So I keep an eye on it. Not yet deep enough to go fishing. Len

Len, Do you know the name of the little church up the back of the park? I remember my G Grandparents are buried there and we used to visit it often but I cant for the life of me remember the name. Sheila

Len, when you say the playground is now modernised - do you mean that I could no longer break my neck falling off the slide, or my leg on the roundabout that used to spin really fast?? And what about that old horse with lots of seats on it that used to go up and down (never did crush anything on that) and the spiders web that went round quite fast while you were clinging on from underneath?? Those were fun times :-))))

hi kat blimey thats almost in touching distance lol i live in booker near asda. trish and sheila dont know if you realise but the old paper mill at the marsh is no longer!! there are posh apartments and a retail park there now susie

I remember all those old playground things. Of course they are all banned now...far too dangerous...it's a wonder we survived them at all lol The paper mill has gone??? I expect they started suffering after Harrisons stopped making the postage stamps. When my Grandfather was young he used to do the run from the paper mill to the stamp factory on his horse and cart. He worked for Harrisons. Im guessing that was about 1920- 1930 Susie my friend lives in Brook Hill,Brook Lane in Booker. Sheila

sheila i think you mean booker hill lol or booker lane castlefield. i was born ,like my dad ,in booker ,just by booker hospital. i now live on holmers farm estate.when i was a kiddie i used to go mushroom picking where my house now stands lol susie

Susie, Apart from a very brief visit 2 years ago (for a funeral) I havent been back to Wycombe in about 26 years....I think it's about time for a refresher course don't you think lol She always say's her address is Booker/Marlow...up the hill from the hospital????? I never was very sure about that end of town. Sheila

Sheila Do you know, I took a photo of the church last week. I have walked round it many times, been in it....... but never thought about it's name. Mary would say "typical". I will find out. Better still, I will ask her. She was with me when I took the photo, we had been to the National Trust shop for Christmas presents. Trish I know I'm in my second childhood but must confess I have never sampled the playground. Only seen it when driving past, along the A40. I have an impression that everything is very safe and brightly painted in garish primary colours. Must stop off and have a go. Len ps. Am a member of a camera club and always taking photos. Anyone want a particular view, let me know. I took a photo of someone's ancester's grave in Ibstone in the summer. Got a nice shot of Wycombe High Street, anyone need a copy.

I've been asking around and the church seems to be known as Hughenden Manor Church. len

Sorry Len this thread seems to have dropped back a bit and I didn't read it until now. Thanks for that info Happy New Year Everyone Sheila x

Fred I haven't forgotten about the photo. Bear with me. len

Sheila I had to go to Hughenden Park last week so had a peek at the church. It is dedicated to St Michael. St. Michaels Church. Len

hi all ,i just popped in to ask if there was any news from susie ,and was she a new grandma yet?Hope all is well in wycombe and hope you escaped the bad weather of the past three days.When i lived at Totteridge ,we were so near the wood that the wind in the trees used to lull me off to sleep in no time,lol,i could do with some trees up here too as i'm sleepless in newcastle as normal.Fred.ptfg.

Hi Fred, Susie is indeed a Grandma again, her son and his wife had a little girl :-)). It's champagne all around. My good news is that after being on agency (after being made redundant), hubby now has a proper job again and starts on Wednesday :-)) - MORE CHAMPAGNE lolol