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Absolutely lovely piece Colin, very informative and brings home just how hard it was for our parents and grandparents.
Sir William McAlpine was a keen jazz enthusiast and booked one of my bands, The Charleston Chasers, for a celebration dinner at Fawley Hill. This gave me the chance to look round his private railway and transport collection. A successful day was had by all.
In reply to Linda Clarke (see comment below) I remember your grandfather clearly. He would often bring a dead wild rabbit to my parents house for 2 shillings (old money). All of his children were lovely people. When anyone mentions Derek Cooper it reminds me of the time we were playing cricket on the Atlas sports ground against Haslingfield. We bowled them out for 5 runs. Derek 5 wickets for 2 runs, I took 5 for 2 and 1 extra. Whenever I met Derek he mentioned that game. I remember your Mum too.
The ‘Mr. Counsellor Gatward, of Cambridge, probably a member of the Meldreth family of that name’ referenced in this article would have been Samuel Gatward the Recorder of Cambridge. He was born in Steeple Morden in 1675. He went to Cambridge University and was admitted to Middle Temple. I am still trying to connect the Gatwards of Steeple Morden with the Gatwards of Meldreth.
Ann Gattward was the daughter of John Gattward who was a Wheelwright. Ann was baptised in Little Eversden 5 Aug 1832. By the time of the 1841 Census, her father was living in Ombersley, Worcestershire. He started a new family there. Ann lived with her mother Sarah in Orwell. At the time of the 1861 Census Ann was working as a House Servant in High Street Royston (Census entry is Ann Guttworth). I wasn’t aware of the circumstances of her death until I came across this website. Many thanks.
I used to live opposite the Queen Adelaide in the Victorian terrace. The story goes that originally it was a dormitory building for the coprolite miners. The ground floor rooms were 10 feet in height because the site foreman told the builders to carry on building until he returned from the Queen Adelaide. He was much longer than expected, hence the 10-foot rooms. I don’t know if this is true but it is a cracking yarn!
I believe on the photograph “Group of Atlas Workers in March 1955” the back row, second from the left (partially obscured by the man in the white short sleeve shirt), is my Grandfather, Fred Briggs who lived on Station Road in Shepreth. I also think that in the photograph from 1940 of Arthur Ford, where Wynn Racher is on his right, that the lady on his left is my grandmother, Molly Jennings, who married Fred Briggs.
Valerie, thank you for providing us with that information. We have amended the date of the marriage.
I am writing this in my capacity as granddaughter of Lewis Albert Victor Harrup. Having read this article, I have noticed that there is an error in the date of my grandparents’ marriage. The actual date of their marriage was 18th September 1915.
My mum was the warden at Elin Way and we lived in the flat above the community rooms in the 80s…..I used to sit on the Kitchen worktops and watch the football out of the window on Sunday mornings. Loved my time in the village 😊
Great website! Just wondering whether I’m related to the Harrups on this page? My great great grandad was William Harrup, born in Meldreth in 1842. His parents were William and Lydia Harrup, who had a son Chas born 1838. Is Chas the Charles featured on this page? I’d love to know.
Lee Fallon, thank you for adding a photo of Amos Lee’s wife, Harriet Walduck.
I would like to make contact with anyone who is related to John Lee and Elizabeth Rayner
Thank you for this article. It is fantastic. Amos and Harriet Lee are my 6 x Great Grandparents, and I am researching the Lee Family. This has helped greatly.
I remember you all with great clarity, and such wonderful times at Brewery Farm.
Meldreth Local History Group are pleased to announce that a film crew from Canada came to Meldreth last month and filmed areas of Meldreth where Kathleen lived and where she took part in villlage life between 1912 and 1925. The film, Opus 28, is the work of Sofia Bohdanowich, a Canadian Film Director. Her personal interest is due to her grandfather being taught the violin by Kathleen Parlow. Opus 28 will hopefully tour various world film festivals next year so we look forward to its launch then.
Such an interesting story, Joan, about an eminent lady most people have never heard of! I hope the film is a success and maybe we will get to see it.
My mother, Marian Thurley, grew up in the cottage at the right hand end of 13, North End and we used to visit my Grandmother there when I was a child in the late 40’s and early 50’s. It appears that the block of cottages has been made in to one now.
The Chalkley family are well remembered in Winchmore Hill. With many references to them and their bakery, in the Facebook local history page, Winchmore Hill And Palmers Green Memories. Some family photos provided by John Chalkley’s niece, Carol Earle.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WinchmoreMemories/?ref=share_group_link
In response to Debra Dawson, I researched the Wing family only in relation to the Seduction Scandal of 1820, and so I’m not sure if there is a connection between the family mentioned on this page and your great great grandfather. I suggest that you try building the trees out for both families to see if you can find a connection.
Bill (Popye) Stanford on No 5 Machine, was my dad. He later worked in the Time Office until his retirement. I also worked at the Atlas in the Planning Office from when I left school age 15 in 1968 as an office junior and later becoming head of the office until I left in 1975.
My Father Sid Ash is in the pictures of the 1958 and 1959 long service awards. I am also proud to own his engraved gold watch which I still wear today on special occasions.
In the first picture next to Patch Camberlain, the name missing is Ted Stanford. He he was my uncle.
The Atlas canteen staff, I’m pretty sure the lady on the right isn’t Marina Thomas, I think it’s her sister Kathleen, with possibly her sister Sylvia behind her!! (Not 100% sure though) they were my aunts! I would date it at around the mid to late 40’s (my Dad Derek John Thomas also worked at Atlas when he left school around 1942/43 maybe?!) Haven’t seen any photos of him though.
In answer to June Bell, it clearly is a bare bottom, and, equally clearly from the first photograph, where three of the many children are obviously in the nude, I am prepared to bet that all of them are completely naked, and all of them enjoying it immensely, as well. One must conclude that the pool was used in the nude (by boys and girls equally) as a matter of course, and that this was encouraged, quite properly, in my opinion. If you contrast this with the press photo of its opening, where all boys wear trunks and girls one-piece swimsuits, they all clearly owned swimming costumes, but preferred to swim nude.
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