Maidenhead Heritage Centre

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Archives for May 2020

May 6, 2020 By Alan Mellins

World War Two Memories

As we approach the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on the 8th May, we wanted to look at some personal encounters of the Second World War from the people of Maidenhead.

A few weeks ago, I spoke to one of our late Volunteers, Roy Almond, who lived in Maidenhead for 93 years. When I asked if there were any comparisons to his life during Coronavirus and the Second World War, I was taken aback when Roy said he had never experienced anything as disruptive to life as Coronavirus. Having lived through the Second World War, I assumed that would have had far more impact on him and his day-to-day living, however he said that during the war, life carried on much as normal. I asked about rationing and he said that for the most part, you could get what you needed during the war, even if it was rationed, whereas he was surprised by the empty shelves during the Coronavirus pandemic.  

At the start of the pandemic, when everyone was rushing to the shops first thing to try and get loo rolls, some people were relaxed in the knowledge they could resort to wartime alternatives if needed. One of our Volunteers said that during the war her father used to put shreds of newspaper on a stick so she was prepared for the worst… Private Eye took a leaf out of her book when their front page jokingly boasted ‘48 free sheets of toilet paper free with this issue’.

Below are some snippets from the wonderful, atmospheric and nostalgic insights into our Volunteers’ war experiences. These will form part of a larger project in due course. 

Roy Almond talking about his short wave radio set:

“after D Day when (soldiers) landed back in France you could pick up the war correspondents sending messages back to the BBC.  So you could sometimes hear what was happening before the news.”

Jenny Spear:

“We had Bantams laying eggs that we preserved in isinglass, and a veg garden and raspberries all around the edge.”

“There were evacuees in my grandmother’s road and next door, we just accepted them as new friends if they were our age.”

“Next door was a Jewish family who had a toy factory in London that was bombed and they brought me lots of the toys down including a beautiful twin doll’s pram that I used to take the dog for rides in.”

“During the war and shortly after when I was still very young, people at the end of the garden bred rabbits and I was always given a baby one to look after until it was grown when I handed it back in exchange for another small one!!”

Jenny Evans:

“My childhood was a very protected.  Even though I was born during WWII I never recall ever feeling frightened. My mother cocooned us in warm security, she even used to get up in the middle of the night to replace our hot water bottles.”

Jenny and Elizabeth with their Mother Nellie, 1944.

Filed Under: News

May 1, 2020 By Alan Mellins

Clifford Roy Almond (1926-2020)

Today, the 1st May 2020, would have been Roy’s 94th birthday but sadly he died from a fall at his home in Malvern Road on Saturday. Many who knew him will remember his incredible memory, his anecdotes, his knowledge of Maidenhead where he had been born and educated, and where he had lived for all of his life, all of which he was happy to share with an honesty, integrity and enthusiasm that were as welcome as they were infectious. He was determined to find out the truth with rigorous scholarship, and was always delighted to find the answer to a problem or a mystery that had been baffling him for many years. His discovery of the Ancestry website proved to be a revelation and a source of much pleasure as he compiled our family trees going back to the sixteenth century. He was pleased that we were ‘locals’!

Isaac Almond, Roy’s Father, third from left, at the front of a group of workers at Rogers’ Laundry in Furze Platt.

Leaving Gordon Road School at the age of 14, Roy recounted that the locals were educated in the morning, and the evacuees in the afternoon, and so he only really received half an education! Despite his colour blindness he trained as an electrician, and built his own radio and television.

His mind was as active at 93 as it had been at 73 or 53, and rarely if ever did you see Roy walk with a stick despite his age. He was the oldest and an active member of his exercise class organised by THROB (The Heart Rehabilitation Organisation of Berkshire), and he will be sadly missed by all those who participated in that group.

The Heritage Centre was something very special to Roy, not only for the ways in which he personally could contribute to the recording of Maidenhead’s history of which he was a part, but also for the helpful and supportive folk who are involved with the Centre, valuing most especially their friendship and their love.

One of the highlights in recent years for Roy was the Christmas lunch, organised by the town, and which the then Prime Minister, Theresa May, attended in her role as the town’s Member of Parliament. To be introduced to her and shake her hand gave him enormous pleasure and pride.

Roy will be remembered as a kind, straight-forward, modest man whose care, enthusiasm and determination are an example to us all. We shall treasure our memories of a dear friend who will be greatly missed.

Roy Almond Roy Almond

Roy Almond (left), the Bishop of Reading (middle) and David Boulton (right) at the dedication of the extension to Cookham Dean Church where Roy’s great grandmother is buried.

Written by David Boulton, Roy’s Cousin

Filed Under: News

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