Cherry Hinton Memory Books Collection - Introduction to the books
In the autumn of 2021 I had a letter from a gentleman called Chris Gifford, who lives in a village close to Cambridge. He told me how, some years ago, he had written out a Cherry Hinton story from his memories of Cherry Hinton and had put it into an exercise book. He then went on to say...
“I showed it to another Cherry Hinton resident, and he wanted to write his stories. We were at Cherry Hinton Junior School in the 1940’s. The book was passed around from one to another all keen to write their stories! We have three books, and I continued with a 24 A4 pages of stories. One girl who lived in Mill End Close wrote about carrying her pet chicken to school. Upon reaching the railway line, she put it on the ground and told it to go home. Brilliant! Of course, there were few cars, and no stray dogs about”
Chris offered me the collection of stories and notebooks to add to our Cherry Hinton archives, which I hold. We arranged a meeting, and I visited Chris in the village where he now lives. We had a very enjoyable time, as he related some of the tales from the books and then showed me around his village where he does such a lot to improve the surrounding natural areas using traditional skills. Chris then entrusted the collection of stories to me to make available for you all.
There are three exercise books and one A4 written piece of 24 pages.
I will transcribe these tales individually and publish them here on the Cherry Hinton page. You will be able to find each complete book, once completed, under the link in the index menu on the right-hand side of the page or by following these links:
Cherry Hinton Memories Book One
Cherry Hinton Memories Book Two
Cherry Hinton Memories Book Three
Cherry Hinton 1946 Onwards by Chris Gifford
You can also click on the links below for each book/story.
I will index the names, places and each story and each book individually too, which you can also find by looking down the right-hand side clickable menu on the main Cherry Hinton page or by using the search box on the right hand side. In addition, I will add any historical reference pictures that I have access to, to illustrate the tales within the individual stories. I am currently working on adding the pictures to each individual story.
You will soon also be able to click on any of the names given below from each of these books to see individual stories or you can click on each book title to see the full collection of the stories within that book.
Please feel free to use the 'Contact' button to get in touch if you spot any transcription errors (I'm only human!) - Please do ignore some general spelling and grammar issues as these stories are transcribed as they are written, in general - it's about preserving them as they are, as best is possible. There are, of course, some names or other words that I haven't quite been able to work out, which I would encourage you to drop me a note if you know what they should be so that they can be corrected.
If you would like to add a memory or comment to any of the specific stories, then please do click the 'Comment' button at the end of each story. This will come through to me to approve and once approved it will show live in the comments section under the story on this site.
Alternatively, if you would like to get in touch privately with any comments please use the 'Contact' button at the top of the pages which will result in me receiving an private email.
Lastly, if you would like to add any of your own Cherry Hinton memories/pictures to the Cherry Hinton Archive and let me know using the 'Contact' button at the top of the page and let me know if you would like them published on this website too.
Book One “The Cherry Hinton Gang” Those Golden Years
Contains memories from:
Mick Covill
Bill Chapman
Kay Smith
Diana Lilley
Ann Gentle
Chris Kirch
Gill Rapley
Sue Gentle
Ronnie Clark
Tony Mason
BOOK TWO
Book Two “The Cherry Hinton Gang” Those Golden Years
Contains memories from:
Bryan Stevens
June Stevens
Pat Clarke
Julie Smith
BOOK THREE
Book Three “The Golden Years - Cherry Hinton, 1930's-1960's"
Contains memories from:
Unknown
Christine Wright
Mavee Williams
Malcolm Jobson
Bett Dawson
Stuart Nunn
Neville Cullup
Basil Simpkins
Tony Tabor
David Gifford
Kenneth Gifford
Chris Gifford Cherry Hinton Memories
Cherry Hinton 1946 onwards by Chris Gifford -separate written story on A4 paper.