Remembering Rodborough - Tony Andews - Remembering Rodborough - Tony Andews

Summary Tony Andrews interview

· Tony Andrews born 1937

· Allotments used to extend into the field alongside

· Used to walk everywhere as a child – Stroud, Lightpill, Rodborough Fields. Descriptions. Playing on the common – picnics – lost a favourite holster from Argentina in the dew pond where the B-Powell trees are – buried there! RB Common – descriptions of playing there during WW2

· In some ways things haven’t changed in the landscape – in other ways the estates have ended all thos eshortcuts through the fields – so the buildings the biggest change and the shops – Coop biggest loss – also the decline in the number of pubs – also cattle roaming around the houses – wasn’t until the late 60’s that the cattle grids went in – Tony used to be a councillor – that was the biggest bane of his life – cattle in peoples’ gardens

· Addition to timeline – the fire and deaths in the barn in RB Fields – can’t remember the date – might have been the 50’s

· Great place to come and live and bring up a family – the common – views to the Severn – walking distance of Stroud – good for work – good for rugby ground – County cricket at Erinoid – played hockey, cricket and rugby himself. Descriptions of the games and ground – a spinner’s wicket

· Has had many different allotments since he was 30 .

· Big walker – many favourite walks in the parish – but he and his wife have a favourite walk of about 3 and a half miles when they have a spare hour – likes the canal too – but tries to stay within the parish by cutting up by Ham Mill – learnt to swim at he canal – dad threw them in the lock

· Used to chew tar out of the barrels at SDC depot where Waitrose is now – used to skate on the canal too – ’47?

· Lyrical description of the allotments – buzzards – sparrow hawks – cuckoos – 270 degree viewpoint – one of the best views in the county

· 10 RB is a special place – on a hill with a view – and everywhere is within striding distance with a railway and ‘bus station – also the people have always been friendly . The stream is culverted beneath the new houses at the back of Coronation Road – Tony has measured it – it is 32 feet down – runs all year – joins water at Wallbridge

· Stroud had a motor-cycle football team that played on Fromehall pitch – 2 seasons – fusion of speedway and football - RB Football Team played down where Focus is now – boxing took place there too – sometimes open air – sometimes a marquee – semi-pro boxing – loads to do – golf course used to be on RB Common – evidence still exists – putting greens