VV_December 2020

I know of a couple of people, one a
close friend, who grew up in the village in the
50’s and 60’s and are still here, but I wonder
how many more there are. So many people
moved out for job opportunities and to perhaps
less expensive areas. Of course, it’s mainly
friends in your school year that you keep in
touch with. Kenny Allen arranged a School
Reunion in 2009 of retired pupils and I have a
wonderful photo taken in front of the school of
the mainly 70 or so who managed to come back
to the village. I hope when this wretched virus
has been sorted there will be an opportunity to
show it at some event so that names can be put
to faces. I know most but am unsure on some.
Of course, in the 50’s much of the village as
we now know it had not been developed,
particularly huge areas between New Road and
Hazlemere except for the main road from
Potters Cross or Muddy Bottom (as it was
known in earlier times) to Hazlemere and some
roads leading from it.
On the left of the playing fields along what is
now Ashley Drive was Kite Wood which was a
great place to play, make camps, get wood for
Bonfire Night and get up to mischief in general.
One great trick was to set light to a gorse bush
which would always burn very brightly and
fiercely. Unfortunately, one of my friends did
this on his own one Saturday afternoon, and
inevitably it got out of control and the fire
brigade had to be called out!
We were and are still lucky to live in an area
of large woods, which are available for walking
in and enjoying the outside life. with HS2 and
the M40 bypassing us. Penn Wood, now run by
www.pennandtylersgreen.org.uk
Village Voice December 2020/January 2021
the Woodland Trust, is the largest and still
supports huge rhododendron trees and bushes
which are a pleasure to see in the Spring and
Summer. In earlier times this area was off limits
for the locals except for Whitsun (Spring Bank
Holiday). In later times before the Woodland
Trust became involved, contractors made a real
mess of this area by cutting down the
magnificent confers which bordered the
rhododendrons. So, if its wet, wear stout shoes
or Wellingtons to see them. I walked through
these woods many times during this Covid year
which helped lift the gloom. (If only the Penn
Street pubs had been open!). The paths are well
marked thanks to our local volunteers.
Memories from our younger days are
generally strong and as I walk around the
village the names of the inhabitants and which
shops and pubs were where always flash
through my mind. I look forward to reviewing
the 1921 census when it’s available next year.
The quickly taken 1939 census which is
available with some names redacted due to the
100 year rule is fascinating in seeing how many
inhabitants worked (or didn’t) and in which
industries and where they lived. Brian Harding
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