Oral History

ORAL HISTORY

For Those who simply enjoy listening.

Below are a selection of local memories from the archive that have been told to us by our visitors while attending our public sessions, or which have been transcribed from hand-written letters and documents that have kindly been sent to us.

If you have memories of your own that you’d like to share, please get in touch using the 'contact us' section of this website.

A career in the print industry by Barrie King

Barrie King Photo kindly donated by Alan Leventhall

Fakenham born Barrie King shares with us some amusing anecdotes from his school days, together with those from his life-long career in the print industry both locally and further afield.

Recorded during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive on 30th August 2022 by Howard Young and Robert and Bridget Fielden,

Introduction

School Days

Memories as an apprentice

Fond memories of moving to Norfolk by Chris Bagshaw-Lane

Image pending

Chris fondly remembers adjusting to life in rural Norfolk, after moving here as a seven-year-old from South Yorkshire, together with memories of her father, Ronald Bagshaw, former junior school Headmaster and Fakenham town Mayor.

Recorded during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive on 30th August 2022 by Howard Young and Robert and Bridget Fielden,

My Hempton and Fakenham memories by Dick Wright

Dick Wright Photo kindly donated by Alan Leventhall

Dick, a life-long resident of Hempton and Fakenham recounts some of his earliest memories of growing up,
going to school, and working locally.

Recorded by Robert and Bridget Fielden, during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive
on 28th June 2022.

Pudding Norton POW camp
and Hempton sea scouts.

School days and working career.

Motorcycling Escapades

'Memories of the Queen’s Coronation’ by Keith Meakin’

Keith Meakin. Photo kindly donated by Alan Leventhall

In 1952, Keith lived in Hempton and remembers vividly travelling by train from Hempton station to Manchester,
to watch the Queen’s Coronation on TV with his relatives.
NB. This clip also includes Keith’s memories of attending school in Fakenham.

Recorded by Robert and Bridget Fielden during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive
on 31st May 2022.

'Memories of RAF Sculthorpe by Tim Amos'

Tim Amos. Photo kindly donated by Alan Leventhall

Tim talks about his time working as an apprentice electrician at RAF Sculthorpe in the late 1950s.

Recorded by Robert and Bridget Fielden during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive
on 26th April 2022.

'First impressions of a Norfolk newcomer'

Brian Woods. Photo kindly donated by Chris Chalk

Brian Woods recalls his first schoolboy experiences following his family’s move to Norfolk from the Fens.
Recorded in 2011 by © Chris Chalk.

'Memories of a brand new school'

Photo kindly donated by Jim Baldwin

'When the entire school moved-in during April 1958 it was somewhat of a culture shock,
so much room and so many places to hide!' .... Jim Baldwin

'Ink under the fingernails'

Photo kindly donated by Jim Baldwin

Memories of a career in the print industry.
by Jim Baldwin

'Memories of Oak Street and Wells Road, Fakenham'

Photo kindly donated by Sarah Clowser

Hubert Dunthorne visited us at the archive on many occasions always with a story to tell. This audio transcription of Hubert's written memory, describes Oak Street and Wells Road in Fakenham when a wonderfully thriving business community catered for almost every daily essential.

'Evacuation to Fakenham'

Photo kindly donated by Adam Bunkle

Childhood memories of family life in wartime Fakenham by Mrs. Elizabeth Turner.
Transcribed to audio from Elizabeth’s hand-written letter, dated April 13th 2013.

'A Fakenham Wartime Memory'

Photo kindly donated by Adrian Vertigan

Hubert Dunthorne remembered the night the Salvation Army Temple in Oak Street
was destroyed by an enemy bomb - May 7th 1941.

'Lifetime memories of Fakenham Baker, Harry Moore'

Photo c.1987 kindly donated by Jean Ostler

In 1991, community news columnist Jim Harding interviewed local baker, Harry William Moore.
Mr. Moore was born in Fakenham on January 5th 1908 and shares his lifetime memories in this
questions and answers audio transcription.

This recording has two parts

'Memories of the 2014 Fakenham fire'

Photo kindly donated by Andrew Stewart

'As one of the bell ringers at the parish Church; Sunday May 25th 2014 began as any other Sunday'.
Nigel Westmancott