BLACKSMITHS & GARAGE

It’s out of position on the 1972 hand-drawn map as I think this is the site opposite me. It’s most recently a Fridge Recycling unit, although currently being shut down.

Historical details are needed.

Memories

Memories record people’s memories for locations, people and events from the village. These can be sent directly via the Contact Form or using the comments section below.

1920s – 1930s	Gerry Beeston	Wolsey Rolfe was at school with our dad, Ray Beeston in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s and he drove one of the funeral cars for Tony Clingo’s in 2002 when dad died.
1952	Andrew Forth	I remember walking with my dad and horse to have new horse shoes walked with him from the Pingle Upwell. Happy days
1965	Michael Cook Sandra Beckwith Georgie Gladding	Dad (Rob Cook) worked there 1965 / 1965. Sandra Beckwith: Harry was my dad, second from the left. Georgie Gladding: Jack Rolfe is the the man third from the left
1970s	Margaret Gilbert	I delivered car spares to them early 70s. When AT Johnson first opened at Downham Market.
	Mark Woodard	My Uncle Bill’s old Morris Million sat in the garage for years. Could never get them to sell it to me I must have tried for at least 15 years I gave up in the end. Martyn Roe Mark Woodard I remember this old Minor sat round the back of the garage in the mid 70s Mark Woodard It would have been early 70’s as Bill got a Viva next that was written of when one of the local farmers admiring his crops driving on the wrong side of the road ran head first into the Viva Martyn Roe I was 16 in 76 and it was before that so maybe early 70s.
1971	Gerry Beeston	Wolsey Rolfe sold me my first car, a blue mini in 1Wolsey Rolfe sold me my first car, a blue mini in 1971. He was at school with our dad, Ray Beeston in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s and he drove one of the funeral cars for Tony Clingo’s in 2002 when dad died.971.
1976	Richard Hughes	I worked there Saturday mornings 8 till 12 , £5 was the pay. A gang of us would also huddle round the forge , next to the welder , whilst we waited for the school bus to take us to Hereward!
	Martyn Roe	Great memories of buying my 2 stroke petrol from 1976.
1977	Nigel Day Richard Hughes	Nigel Day: @Richard Hughes when you left I took your place I think you helped me get the job as I recall and I worked with Gary Dodkin, it was great when we had finished sweeping up because we had a bloody great bonfire down the yard and found it amusing to throw aerosol cans on it 😉 Richard Hughes: @Nigel Day Yes! Gary’s Dad worked at the garage. I always remember finishing at 12 , than waiting outside the office for an hour to get the money! I think it was £2 not the £5 I thought. And yes , the exploding incinerator was the highlight of the job!
1979 – 1980	Paul Dalliday Sandra Beckwith	Paul Dalliday: Your Dad looked happy in that pic, he wasn’t that happy when I welded his boot to the trailer we were converting! I had to go back in and chisel him off while ducking! Sandra Beckwith: The only time I saw him go ballistic was when a rep put his foot on his anvil, the second time he heated a tine in the forge spat on the anvil and whacked the tine down on it. The small explosion sent red hot sparks all over the guys trousers , I can’t say I ever saw that rep again!
1984 – 87	Georgie Gladding Toni Leadbeater	Georgie Gladding: This is a picture from when my dad first purchased the yard but not sure of the date Toni Leadbeater: He first bought it somewhere between 1984-87