Bletchley photos!

Just recently I put up a post about two teachers called ‘Jones’ who used to teach at Bletchley Road Secondary Modern, see:

https://talkaboutbletchley.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/2345/. One of our visitors mentioned other teachers who taught her at the school. I have found this photograph of the teaching staff from the early to mid-’50s some of you may find interesting.

Of course, for those who used to go to Bletchley Road Secondary Modern there were also ‘two’ other teachers called Jones, can anybody recognise them?

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Bletchley photos!

In our photographic archive at BCH we have a varied mix of images, some modern and a good selection of ‘old’ photographs. Many of you will recognise this one below and its location, others may not be so certain.  Because of its age it’s a bit grainy but fortunately still has plenty of detail.

The Elms, 1870; this is the junction of Victoria Road and Vicarage Road.

 

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Bletchley City, government planners suggest in 1964!

Government planners have chosen the Bletchley area as the site for a possible new city which, ‘in the very long term’, might house a quarter of a million people. They foresee that the present population may explode from its present figure to something near 100,000 by 1981.

The use of the words ‘Bletchley area’ would seem to imply the big expansion would be more than just a growth of the present Bletchley town. Indeed the report states that the present town is not a sufficient ‘base’ for such expansion.

Mr H. J. Price, the town’s Development Committee Chairman, thinks the new development would be shaped like a figure eight, having two centres, one of them being the present town centre.

The report goes on: ‘The existing town of Bletchley had a population of 16,900 in 1961 and there is not a sufficient base for building up the area by means of expansion of the existing town. The growth potential of the area’s existing industry is not only moderate but has the natural economic advantages of the location and this should ensure the success of the new town.

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However, The Bucks County Planning Officer, Mr Frederick Pooley, is insisting that Bletchley itself will not be part of the proposed city. The town will retain its identity.

He is taking the phrase ‘Bletchley area’ used several times in the report to mean that the city would be near the town, but not ‘on’ it.

Cllr H. J.  Price, Bletchley’s Development Committee was asked to comment upon this said: ‘If the Ministry is prepared to go along with the views you quote expressed by Mr Pooley, then this could virtually be sticking a knife in the back of Bletchley, and one would expect a wholesale resignation of local councillors.

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Fifty-one years on we have a thriving Milton Keynes, much as Mr Pooley predicted; also I have no evidence of a mass resignation from Bletchley Council.

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Bletchley Council ‘Briefs’ – February 1964

A new convenience for Bletchley Road is to receive the Surveyor’s urgent attention.

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Queen’s Pool is to be lined in time for the opening this season.

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Bletchley Salvation Army has been granted the use of the Leon Recreational Ground on June 13 for their annual fête.

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Bletchley Round Table are again organising a Donkey Derby this year, in aid of ‘The Coppice’ old people’s home and the local Blind Association. This will be held in late May or early June and Bletchley Council have granted the use of land in Derwent Drive.

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The Area Planning Officer has submitted a plan of the proposed new Holne Chase Primary School.

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A ‘Slow, major road ahead’ sign has been purchased for the North Street/Cambridge Street/Western Road junction.

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Bletchley photos!

As many of you know the ‘old’ Pavilion in Bletchley Park has been a talking point for many years. Once a hub of sporting activity, plus of course the venue for the Bletchley Show over many years, latterly in its life it was the home of the North Bucks Music Centre; now sadly it has fallen into a dreadful state of repair. Below you will see two photographs from our archive at BCH, these show the Pavilion in its heyday.

The old Pavilion in 1907.

View looking towards the Pavilion as I used to remember it as a child in the 1940s and 1950s

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Just for interest I’ve included some links for you to have a look at, firstly from the MK Heritage site and written by local historian, John Taylor.

http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkha/mkha/projects/jt/tw/docs/3.html

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Here’s one from the BBC, highlighting the state of the building in 2011.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15235988

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Also, in the same year this website commented on the Pavilion.

Bletchley’s Buildings

 

 

 

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Bletchley photos!

It was confusing for many of the new intake at Bletchley Road Secondary School during their first year, the reason being that ‘four’ of the teachers were called Jones. Two of them were brothers who used to live I believe I’m correct in saying in Stony Stratford; they were Mr Horace Jones and his brother Eric Jones. Both excellent teachers, much loved by many for their kind helpful manner.

Below you will see both teachers with their respective class photographs from the 1960s.

Mr Horace Jones with his class.

Mr Eric Jones and class.

If you were in one of the Jones’ brothers classes please let us know.

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The day the Circus came to town!

The year was November 1972, Robert Brothers Circus were parading their troop of elephants from Bletchley Railway Station down Queensway, the excitement brought out many of the ‘locals’, were you there?

For a larger view of the photograph just click on the image.

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Snippets of 1959 – ‘the first six months’

 

January

The Minister of Housing, Mr Henry Brooke opened up the 2,000^th post-war Council House. Tenants were Mr and Mrs B. Spencer from London.

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Bletchley Police Sgt. Frank Wilson retired after 25 years service in the force; he started his career in Bletchley and in between served at Burnham and Stony Stratford.

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The Working Men’s Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee.

 

February

Fifteen people married at Bletchley Methodist Chapel during the past 10 years renewed their marriage vows at a special service. Afterwards a ‘wedding breakfast’ was held.

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Thieves using plastic gelignite failed to open a safe containing £1,000 in the Co-operative bakery department Park Street. They got away with no more than £25.

. . . .

A yard foreman at Bletchley Station, Mr H. Coleman of 8 Mount Pleasant, Bletchley, received a gold watch after 43 years.

 

March

Plans to build a school for Bletchley’s mentally handicapped children on a site next to Wilton County Secondary School were confirmed by the Education Authority.

. . . .

Eddie Biggs won the Bletchley Darts League and with his brother one the doubles championship.

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It was reported at the annual Church and Congregation meeting at St Andrew’s Baptist Church, that collections at services averaged £10 a week, the attendance had considerably improved.

 

April

Mr Bernard Brown of 56 Water Eaton Road, Bletchley, became president of the Northampton Magicians Society.

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Sir John Hunt of Everest fame visited Bletchley for the annual display of the 1^st Bletchley Company of the Boys Brigade, presenting Duke of Edinburgh’s award medals.

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Postman Mr Frederick Shouler of 149 Buckingham Road, Bletchley, retired after 28 years service.

 

May

Record audiences enjoyed the Bletchley Amateur Operatic Society’s sixth annual production of ‘Blossom Time’.

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Captain and Mrs Eric Standing came from Abingdon as the new Bletchley Salvation Army Officers.

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The finals of the Bletchley table tennis singles was won by David White, who beat last year’s winner, Tony Wickens.

 

June

In the 11-plus and older pupil’s examinations, 112 children gained places to Bletchley Grammar School.

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Due to injuries received in a car crash, Dr Gordon Evans resigned as North Bucks Labour prospective candidate.

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St Andrew’s Baptist Church’s new hall, formerly a hut used by the RAF, was officially opened.

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Rugby came to Bletchley a long time ago

Rugby’s coming to Bletchley was the line used for the Rugby World Cup matches at Stadium MK but we know it’s been around in this area for much longer.

Bletchley Town Rugby Club was formed in 1947 and by the January of the following year was ready to take to the field or its first competitive match.  The first point scorer was Vince Hankins, who converted a 40 yard penalty goal – no mean feat in the days of heavy, leather rugby balls! (Source:Punting The Pill About, by Colin Spence)

Other local teams in the Milton Keynes area go back even further. Wolverton Rugby club originally formed in the mid 1870s and, after a break covering the period of the two world wars, reformed in 1958. Their name was changed in 1974 to Milton Keynes Rugby Club.

The first recorded game involving Olney Rugby Club took place in 1877 on Cherry Orchard, a meadow on the banks of the River Ouse (now a cemetery).

So while we welcome the international interest, and enjoy the attention (if not the traffic), we must remember that the game has long history in the area, thanks to the enthusiasm of many volunteers and amateur players.

Bletchley Rugby Club celebrate a victory!

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East West Rail

East West Rail is a scheme to re-establish a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford to improve rail services between East Anglia, and Central and Southern England, with enhanced connections to national mainline rail services.

Most of these lines existed prior to the Beeching Report in 1963, but they disappeared during the cuts. All that remains running from east to west in the Bletchley area is the Bletchley to Bedford service.

We were thus deprived of our service to Oxford and Cambridge and  the towns and villages in between.

The above photograph shows Bletchley station in 1938. The line to Bedford and Cambridge can be seen on the left, and the one to Oxford on the right.

          Bletchley Fly-over and Railway Bridge

When the East West Rail scheme is finished, there will be two new platforms at high level, connected to the existing station by a foot bridge giving access to trains using the fly-over.

The above photograph was taken when the new bridge was being built. The old foot tunnel can be seen next to the old railway bridge.

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