Fleet EX PATS

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If you are a Fleet or Crookham ex pat tell us where you are now living and a potted history of your life in Fleet/Crookham.

Hi, I'm a Church Crookham expat having lived there from 1957 until 1967-68. I originally came from London but my stepfather moved to Crookham after retiring from the Army. We lived in a new bungalow at the top of Pine Grove and after leaving Wandsworth Grammar School I followed him. I played football for Crookham Ramblers in the hay days when they were winning everything and played with Ray Bryne whose family owned Bryne Brothers Newsagents on Crookham Crossroads. Other names I remember from the football days are Pete Savage, Cyril West, Kenny Cooper, Wally Cliburn, Cyril Dudley, Fred Dudley,
John Rose, Dickie Upwood, Kevin Donegan, Denny Grinham, Dave Oakes, Trevor Moreton and the best man at my wedding Charlie Peters. At this time I was just 17 and most of the other players were much older, but I am wondering if any one remembers me or my time spent in Crookham. My other big mate was Charlie Cheeseman who had an elder brother Gordon. They both lived in Weldon Close. I would be interested to hear from anyone who knows me from that time and my e-mail is sierracharlie806@hotmail.com . I do know and am recently in touch with Alan Lathan whose sister Susan was my first wife .I currently live in Thailand.

Steve Coutts

Hi/

Some time ago I left a message for Roger Vincent who had been asking
about the Scout Hut off Tavistock Road. You asked me to let you know if
I did subsequently hear from Roger. This is to let you know I have.
Interestingly, I copied in Peter de Lacey, Leader of one of the local
scout troops, who had also posted a comment. He in turn has put me in
touch with Ray Oldham who was my scoutmaster back in 1963 or so.
Amazingly, Ray is still involved with one of the local scout groups!

Thanks.

Mike Carter

mikea.carter@virgin.net

Email from NZ to fleethants.com - can anyone help?
Hi, as an ex pat of Fleet Circa 1944 to 1968 and having searched the net from NZ for any news of "the old home town" and having found zilch your site was most welcome indeed. I wonder if any of your followers can fill me in on the history of the old scout hall which was situated down near the cricket ground where Tavistock Road is now situated. the last leaders were Eddie Shrimptn, Neville ? and Mallinson? Perhaps you may wish to start a remember when column or expat ramblings! horror.

That's my Scout HQ he's talking about; I'm Group Scout Leader of Fleet Sea Scouts that meet there. If you forward this to him, I'm sure he will be glad to hear what's been going on!

Searching for the widow of:

                  Mr David Jolly (Deceased)
                  Who died 13 June 2006, Guildford
                  Born 15 February 1956 (Corsham Wiltshire)

Please contact:
                  Sharon Tarry @ NPI
                  on 01733 476214

I was so interested to come across your history of Fleet. I was only young when we lived there for a short time in 1953 when I was nine, but have some vivid memories of the coronation and a very hot summer and long walks in the country side with my brother and sister. I also remember walking to the railway station to take a train to London on a few occasions, and it was not that long a walk. I wonder if anybody could help me with any information on the house we lived in. My father was on leave from Burmah Shell in India, and we stayed I believe at St. Anne's in Elvetham Road. It was owned by a Lady Reynolds (who would walk around singing "How much is that Doggy in the Window - a big hit then!) and although I suppose we rented the house, it was definitely her home and she lived there at the same time. It was a wonderful place with a fabulous garden. Sadly, both my parents have died and now that I am wanting to write some notes for my children and theirs, I have nothing but my recollectionshich are very hazy in some areas after all these years. I am quite sure it has either been demolished or is now used for something quite different, but should anyone have any idea, I'd love to hear. After returning from India we lived in Chobham for a few years but then moved to Hertfordshire. I eventually married and moved to the States where we now live in Dallas, Texas. I do get back to the UK quite often, as still have many family and friends, and even after all these years (December 1972) England is still home, and where my soul is! Would appreciate hearing any info anyone might have.

I have some information about the old Scout Hut which I can pass to
Roger Vincent, but have no e-mail address for him. Alternatively do I
just pass it to you for posting on the ex-pat page?

I should add that I am not really an ex-pat, only having managed to
migrate as far as Bedfordshire!

Regards.

Mike Carter

I have been searching possible websites to find any information on the
enclosed picture. I have just been looking through your archive photos and
wonder if, through your website you can identify the time, date, people or
anything to help.
I live in Boston Lincs now but spent the first fifty years of my life in
Reading, so I know the area but this picture was even before my time! I
think I may know the young person in the foreground but unfortunately he
died some years ago so I now need help from other quarters.
I will be very grateful for ANY information you may be able to find.
Many thanks anyway, Sincerely B CHANDLER

I was very interested in the articles displayed on your web site
I am studying genealogy on my ancestors who have been traced back to 1700 and were from the parish of Yateley
I was particularly interested in the article ‘ A thousand years of History,’ by Fred Wilmot mainly because my Grandfather 9 times removed was living in Fleet farm and was known as Thomas Reynolds of Fleet. It may be that Fred Wilmot is also related to me as Thomas Reynolds son also Thomas married Mary Wilmot in 1762 and her brother Richard Wilmot married Mary Reynolds a sister to Thomas in 1759 Both couples were married at Yateley and form part of my family tree.
If at all possible I would like to make contact with Fred Wilmot or anybody else that knows the history about Fleet. Be free to pass on my e-mail address

Yours truly

D H Reynolds

Reply to david2611@btinternet.com

Hello.
I don’t know if you can help. I’m trying to find out about the church in Fleet where my parents married in 1958. A year or so ago they visited Fleet again for the first time and were told the church had been demolished and replaced by another building.
I’m trying to purchase a picture (or a book containing a photo) of this church as a wedding anniversary gift. Unfortunately I don’t know the name and don’t want to ask my parents as it will spoil the surprise. Do you know anyone that might be able to help?
Thank you,
Helen Murphy

Note: The church was the old Baptist Church in The Avenue and a photo of the old church was sent to Helen, by the fleethants.com webmaster, which her parents were delighted with.

Do you know Alan

I’ve been spending a pleasant hour or two reading all the articles in your excellent web site.

I was born in March 1943 in Reading Road South (opposite what became the filling station), although our home at the time was 23 Clarence Road, a bungalow built in 1936 behind which was our Grandad’s blacksmiths ‘shop’. He was Ernest Light, who had two sons and three daughters, and he was England’s champion farrier in 1923. Vera married Len Cane, whose family had a colonial store on the corner right opposite the Oatsheaf, commonly known as ‘Cane’s Corner’. Effie (Euphemia) did not marry but upon leaving school went to work for the Crookshank family at Windmill House, somewhere north of Fleet Road. Maj Gen Sir Sydney Crookshank had been aide-de-camp to Earl Haig (I guess during the Boer War), shared the same date of birth as King George V, and the house was full of memorabilia relevant to those connections. The well outside the back door had mounted over it the bell of the first ship to sail through the Suez Canal.

Dorothy married an aspiring RAMC lieutenant, Richard ‘Dick’, our Dad, and I can recall his odd weekend visits to Fleet from Woolwich where he was based (and where they nearly set up home – blimey, we’d have bin Londoners!). We’d always listen to Much Binding in the Marsh before he left to go back up ‘smoke’. If the electricity stopped we’d shove another shilling in the meter. The house we had moved to in Kings Road was rented from Goddards the builders. We didn’t have a phone or a fridge, and the ‘bog’ was outside next to the coalshed. Grandad had bought the family’s first b/w TV in 1952 for the funeral of King George VI. Things improved when Dad came out of the Army and we moved to Westover Road. Fleet Pond was our playground – a very happy time. I played cricket for Elvetham and Fleet II and foootball for Crookham Ramblers

Brother Richard and I both went to Farnborough Grammar, where on Fridays we dressed up as soldiers in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force). Dad saw to it that we brassoed our buttons and blankoed our belts and gaiters properly, but we still got ‘done’ on occasions for wearing non-regulation socks! Our ‘baby’ sister Susan went to work for The Aldershot & District Traction Company and later married. Sue lives in Ilmington, Warks. Richard did well with the General Accident and Norwich Union (but succumbed of leukemia all too soon after an early retirement in 1998), whereas I went to the FUDC in 1959 as a clerk in the Engineers & Surveyor’s department (Jackie Chivers was the E & S, followed by Tom Hough). My boss was Bill Rider, who eventually emigrated to Brisbane.

By then we had moved to Weldon Close near Crookham Crossroads. Through a buddy at FUDC I met Christa, a German nurse who was au-pair for a family of stockbrokers. Unable to support two thirsty mouths on our regular pub crawls, I had to get a job earning more dough, and a friend arranged for an interview with British Eagle at Heathrow Airport which company I joined in 1964. Christa had moved back to Frankfurt, and I applied for jobs there with various firms, one of which was interested, so I used cheap company tickets to attend an interview which proved successful, and to effect the move. That US company, Jeppesen, a provider of aeronautical charts and data for airlines and pilots celebrated its 50^th anniversary in Germany this year (2007) and I have been with them for 42. We started exhibiting at the Farnborough Air Show in 1976, and my last official visit there for the company was in 1996. I used to fly from Blackbushe with the Fleet vet Holland ‘Holly’ Birkett in his Auster, but he sadly died on a flight in France in 1963, a flight he had invited me on. I still correspond with Ginny Birkett, who was Carnival Queen runner-up in the mid-60’s.

I remarried and we have a son of 20, David, and daughter Selina, 14. Selina’s horse keeps us busy (and me destitute!), but of course, it’s in the blood, and I love it. I bowl (10 pin) and my average is 178 (not bad for an old’un!).

I’m in Friends Reunited, but have not been a good correspondent (it will improve, Ian and Mel, I promise). My email is atb1943@onlinehome.de and I’d love to hear from old friends.

Kindest regards,

Alan Lathan

Hi

Very glad I found your site, I would like to add something to the "ex-
pats" link but not sure if this is the right email.

I lived at 33 Award Road with my younger sister Alison and my parents
Bill and May Jones from the late 50's to about 1972. My father worked
at Pyestock and I understand he was well known there. We moved to
Leeds and a few months after we moved my father died. If anyone
remembers my father (or any of us) I would be really please to hear
from you. I'm now living in Bedford

Michael Jones
grumpygrapefruit@mac.com

Email to Graham Slingo (see last letter below) from John Mears. Both live in Australia.

From a local author living in Market Harborough.

I spent my early years in the Solent area -- Portsmouth Gosport and Stubbington -- and moved to Crookham Village during my teenage. This was the time when I had plenty to do but no money to do it. I remember spending hours, late at night, waiting for the last train from Farnborough Station. Or the last bus from Aldershot, only to be told that the Number 9 wasn't running and I'd have to catch the 8 and walk from Fleet to Crookham. Usually in the rain. My girlfriend lived near Fleet Railway Station, so I got used to walking from there to Crookham. Eventually, I got an old Austin Somerset which made things a little easier. Anyway, things didn't work out with the girlfriend so I ran away to Portsmouth and joined the police. There, I fell in love with the girl who made me tea in a petrol station on 3 Beat. I still had no money, so we spent our wedding night in The Oatsheaf at Fleet crossroads instead of a honeymoon. Thirty years later, we run a second hand bookshop in Market Harborough and I write detective novels. My wife is still waiting for the honeymoon.

The Harley Family actually came from Mottingham (near Eltham and Bromley)
with our parents migrating there from Deptford in the mid 30's. Michael,
and family, finally ended up in Fleet many years ago and their two daughters
and son live in the area too. My sister, Janice and I came to the states -
I live in Petaluma, California and Janice now lives in Florida after trying,
also, to live in Fleet - Her, and her husband, stuck it out for a couple of
years and decided it wasn't for them and moved to mid Florida to live. Our
other brother, Jimmy, and his family, had settled in Orpington, Kent, but,
sadly he died several years ago. So there are just the three of us now. We
visit Michael every year - that's why I know Fleet so well. We had all been
together a couple of weeks ago in Florida visiting our sister who is not in
good health.

Lots of loverly memories of Fleet, Farnham, Guildford, etc., which keep me
going from year to year. I'm about to retire and if I had my druthers
(where did that word originate?) I'd return to England and Fleet and settle
down. It's not possible I know - perhaps if I win the local California
lottery - ah! dreams.

Really appreciate your input. I'll look at the ex-pats site. Do you ever
look at the Telegraph Ex-Pats web site. Very interesting on how people live
and work abroad and the stories they have to tell. I've been putting some
notes together to develop a story for the site.

Keep well.

Muriel Truett

I'm also an ex pat from Fleet, 1940 - 1982. Have you got email address for Roger Vincent? I read his 'opinion' note but there is no contact address.

Roger V: If you read this Roger M's email is RMorgon@pta.wa.gov.au (fleethants.com)