Mixed Memories in and around Letchworth, 50s/60s.

I lived in Bowershott, Letchworth, from 1945 to 1964. My Mum lived in that house for 67 years. Went to St. Christopher School from age 3 to 11. As they didn’t have a pool, we had swimming lessons in the fish-shaped pool within The Cloisters – undoubtedly Letchworth’s quirkiest building. As a teenager, I played table tennis for Letchworth, and we practised in the attic room at The Cloisters. Wow! Spooky or what? Took the 11+, shivering in my shoes, at Hillshott School, then went to Hitchin Grammar. Had some great holiday jobs, first on archaeological digs with John Moss from Letchworth Museum, then at Shelvoke & Drury (dustcarts), also at a timber yard whose name escapes me. Later, I spent six months at Kayser Bondor, Baldock (now Tesco’s) before going to uni in Newcastle. Dad worked at Dent’s publishers (Everyman Press) in Dunhams Lane from age 14 to 65. There was a thriving Inter Works Sports League then, but virtually all the manufacturing firms from Works Road have gone. There was a trendy café opposite what is now Morrison’s where 60s youth would hang out. Eden Kane (“Well,I Ask You”; “Forget Me Not”) , Peter Sarstedt’s brother, came to open it. Like many here, some of my happiest memories were of summers spent at Letchworth swimming pool. Geoff Harris, I remember playing tennis with you! Spent eight years abroad; now live in Dorset. Happy to swap further memories with anyone of my vintage. Geoff Parkes