Village memories
Memories of the village
Michael Osborne was born in the village and can recall many aspects of life in earlier times:
Andrew Cadman moved to the village as a four year old in 1951 and he tells us some of his memories:
Memories of the Culling family - click here
Doris Doyle (now Doris DeGregorio)was a member of a US Air Force family who lived in the village from 1962 to 65. She has very fond memories of her time here and is looking forward to visiting in 2015.
I have many memories. The Whittons ran the store/post office for about the first two years we were there. We corresponded for many years until Margaret Whittons passed away. They had two sons....Michael and Kevin. I believe Mr. Whitton's name was John. I used to love to go to the shop and make purchases.....I felt so British!!! They were a lovely couple.
When they moved another couple took over but I'm afraid I don't remember their names. Oh, and Mrs. Rose used to babysit for us from time to time. That was 53 years ago.
We moved to Campsea Ashe in January of 1963 with a 16 month old toddler named Brad. In February his brother, Dru, was born. And in September of 1964 their little sister, Shelli, arrived. We left for the states in December of 1965.
I loved living in our little village. I used to see three or four young mothers with babies in prams walking to the shop every day. For a short time I had a woman who cleaned house for me. I don't remember her name but she lived in the council housing nearby. She took me shopping in Woodbridge once....with all three of my children in the pram......on the train. Oh my, what an adventure! Oh, and I bought my pram at the auction down the road and had it refurbished in Ipswich.
I used to have the bread man who stopped twice a week, I think. Such delicious bread. And the cleaners man came every week for the military uniforms. And I think I had a milkman, as well.
And we were there when President Kennedy was assassinated. I remember that day so well. And I remember the kindness of our British friends and neighbors who were so sad for us.
I remember snow one winter and a tractor pulling a homemade plow down the road. Several times I walked through the church grounds and looked at the very old tombstones. I have been working on our genealogy and many of our ancestors came from England and Scotland.
And living in Laburnam Cottage was delightful. It was fully furnished and we ate our meals at a very grand mahogany table with carved mahogany chairs with red velvet cushions. Life there in our little village was charming.
Well House around 1900
