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​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 monthly 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 ​or call Lyn on 01328 863377 
​
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Memories of R C Edmondson by Laurie Coburn
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Laurie Coburn
Laurie shares with us his memories of working at the Oak Street garage of R. C. Edmundson during the late 1970s and early 1980s, describing in much detail the many departments which existed there at the time.
Having gained considerable experience during his time with the company, Laurie left Edmondsons in 1984 to begin his own vehicle service and repair business. 

​Recorded during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive on 27th June 2023
by Bridget Fielden and Anna Coburn.

​Teaching at Fakenham Grammar in the early 1970s by Robert Fielden
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Robert Fielden
Robert recalls his early experiences after settling in to a new teaching post at Fakenham Grammar in the early 1970s. Adventurous days out in the school minibus was an interesting initiation, not to mention occasional mischievous behaviour as a harmless source of amusement.
​
Recorded during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive on 25th April 2023
by Bridget Fielden and Howard Young.

Memories of Fakenham during the 1950s and 60s by Roy Reynolds
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Roy Reynolds
During this 20 minute clip, Roy takes us back to the bustling market town he remembers during the 1950s and 60s when he first came to Fakenham. Roy recalls the quaint old shop interiors of Boots the chemist and Bailey Bird, together with the cinema, cattle market and numerous other businesses of the time. Roy began his working life as an apprentice electrician at USAF Sculthorpe, later establishing his own business locally.   ​

Recorded during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive on 28th February 2023
by Anna Coburn and Robert and Bridget Fielden.

Memories of a telegram boy by David Utting
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David Utting
David recalls fond memories of his fifty-year career in the post office, beginning at age 15 as a Fakenham area
telegraph boy. Following a two-year break to complete his national service, David returned to his job at Fakenham to become a postman, cycling twice daily round nearby villages delivering mail.

Recorded during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive on 31st January 2023
by Anna Coburn, and Robert and Bridget Fielden.

Memories of the Fakenham Little Theatre Group by Annabel Townsend
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Annabel recalls fondly her and her family’s association with a number of productions staged by members of the Fakenham Little Theatre Group, producer Amy Grey in particular, who’s enthusiasm was infectious and who had been involved in the group since it’s inception.

Recorded during a public meeting of Fakenham and District Community Archive on 22nd November 2022
by Robert and Bridget Fielden.

A career in the print industry by Barrie King
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Barrie King
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 22nd November 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

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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 
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Dick Wright
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’
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Keith Meakin
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'
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Tim Amos
​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'
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Brian Woods
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'
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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'
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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' 
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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' ​
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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'
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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'
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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'
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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

​© 2011 Fakenham & District Community Archive.
​Created in-house by Fakenham & District Community Archive
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