Eagle on a Raft of Logs

Eagle on Log Raft.

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This is a Boxing Day gift for Birdman, and all who enjoy bird watching.

A message from Father Christmas.

A few word from Father Christmas.

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 A few words direct from the North Pole to all the children who follow Cookham.com.

Buttercups on Widbrook

Buttercups on Widbrook.

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There was a time many years ago when parts of Widbrook were very marshy and there were a profussion of Marsh Marigolds in bloom. Thanks once again to the photo by Kingfisher.

Cookham Bridge & Cliveden Woods

Cookham Bridge by Kingfisher.

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This is another technique that you can use to make your still photo appeal more interesting using the AVS4YOU Editor programme.

Ovey's Farm

Ovey's Farm, Cookham.

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Up until 1915 this farm was active as a mixed dairy farm, with a specialty for producing high quality malting barley. Upon my grandfathers death, my grandmother sold up and moved to Wisteria Cottage at the top of the high street, together with the family retainer Miss Emma Serles.

Mrs. Snapes Classroom.

Mrs. Snapes Classroom.

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Once again I take a quick look back at what was once the classroom of Mrs. Snapes who certainly taught her students well and by rote and with a tongue as sharp as a needle.

The Jolly Farmer.

The Jolly Farmer.

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One of the few remaining true English Pubs serving good traditional English Ale with excellent English Food.

Wilmink's & Poppett's

Wilmink's & Metz's

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This is another shop that had a colourful pre war, wartime, and post war history and served the village well during those years. It was also the home of the village taxi service.

Major Bridge Repair 2000.

Major Bridge Repair 2000.

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This clip is to show what work was carried out on the Cookham Bridge back in March 2000, when I happened to be visiting with my camera in hand. Prior to this the bridge I remember just after the tolls were lifted in 1947. The bridge received a major overhaul as well.

The International Stores.

The International Stores.

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Where the Cookham Arcade is now located only a few of Cookham’s older residents would remember it as “The International Stores.” Being one of two grocers shops in the village, the other of course being “Budgen’s.”

Again, very few people will know the fact that it was one of the first grocery store chains, as we know them today. The idea came to Hudson Ewbanke Kearley, a young man who had failed his civil service exam, so turned his thoughts to commerce and obtained a position in the office of E. Tetley & Sons, Tea Merchants. From the general office he went into the Sales Department and started traveling on the road taking orders. While on his rounds he noticed that a lot of customers were being missed, due to the fact that their orders were not big enough. So he persuaded Tetley’s to be able to sell on his own account provided that he bought all his tea from them. This was so successful that another member of the Tetley staff, a Mr. Heseltine offered to back Kearley and so, Heseltine, Kearley and Co was born. The first retail store came into existence in Brentford, and known as The International Tea Company, later this name was changed to The International Stores. Within ten years the business had grown to 200 retail stores, one of which was in Cookham. Kearley, s idea was to buy direct from the producer wherever possible and had engaged agents around the world to achieve his aim.

During this period Mr. G.A. Tonge joined the firm from Tetley’s with whom he been an apprentice. Becoming the third partner in the firm. Eventually Mr. Heseltine retired and the company became Kearley and Tonge.

The store in Cookham remained in operation until it was purchased by The British American Tobacco Company, who was taken over by Gateway Stores, who then became Somerfield’s, which bought out the chain and the Cookham Store was closed after being in existence for over 50 odd years. I can still remember their famous slogan: “The worlds largest grocers.”

Annie Slack & Mrs.Tuck's Dairy.

Annie Slack Sweets &

Mrs. Tuck's Dairy.

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This is the story of two village families with connections that very few people have little or no knowledge of. When the village was very much a self supporting community.

The Copper Kettle & Eileen's Hair Salon.

The Copper Kettle &

Eileen's Hair Salon.

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Now it is a Chinese Restaurant and a private home. Once again I try to capture some of Cookham's past and its characters.

The Smythe's and The Moon's

Smythe's & Moon's

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Yes, in the 1930’s and 40’s this little shop did a thriving green grocery business. Later when the Moon’s arrived in the village it became a little pottery business, together with what was the boot and shoe repair shop with Mrs. Vale’s sweet shop became the Torquill Restaurant.

The Royal Exchange.

The Royal Exchange.

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The Royal Exchange at one time was a very good Benskin Brewery House, run by a very jovial and well known landlord Jimmy Mayes.

It was one of the 13 public houses to be found within the three Cookham's, each one had its crowd of regular customers. Mind you most of them were within walking distance.

Tiddleywink The Barber.

Tiddleywink The Barber.

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Mr. Loveridge, better remembered as "Tiddleywink." A widower and supported in the business by his daughter Annie who ran a small tobacconist kiosk just inside the entrance door. Besides tobacco, she also sold a line of ladies cosmetics as well. They were sadly missed when they retired to Pinkneys Green.

Boots, Shoes and Mrs. Vale.

Boots, Shoes and Mrs. Vale.

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Boot and Shoe repair and the likes of Mrs. Vale and her sweet shop, were two very staple items in village life during the 1930's and 1940's. One was very aware that boots and shoes needed to be repaired once in awhile and not to be thrown out as soon as they became a little scuffed.

Mrs. Vale on the other hand, her shop was a childs dream world for sweets. Her half penny Bran Tub was well used, sometimes you were lucky to come up with something that was worth more than a half penny. She was also famous for her "Big Hearted Arthur" gob-stoppers, and Sherbert Dabs.

Pryce-Jones the Chemist.

Pryce-Jones the Chemist.

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Pryce-Jones the chemists was quite a well known character of the village life in the 1930's. If you wanted a doctor, one had to go to Bourne End, or into Maidenhaed. So if you had some aches and pains, or was suffering from a cough or cold, then PJ as villagers called him, was the man they went to.

Holy Trinity Church.

Holy Trinity Church.

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The views of Holy Trinity Church, Cookham. Were taken in March 2000, therefore some things may have changed when visiting today.

The Infants Classroom of 1935-36.

1935-36

Infants Classroom.

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This classroom use to hold about 40 to 50 five and six year olds, who use to come from as far as Whiteladyes Lane, Maidenhead Court and Bourne End. Classes started at 9.00 a.m. and finish at 4.00 p.m. With two 15 minute breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lunch from 12 noon till 1.30 p.m. This gave the children who lived close time to go home for lunch. Others  brought sandwiches.

The Fleet Bridge

From the Fleet Bridge.

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Built in 1928 and from here Sir Stanley Spencer painted his 1937 landscape of the village.

Singing in the Orchard.

Singing in the Orchard.

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Eleven years ago I had the privilege of sitting in on a Holy Trinity School Friday morning assembly at the kind invitation of the then headmaster. I have called it “Singing in the Orchard.” Due to the fact that when I attended Holy Trinity School between 1935-41 there use to be a lovely orchard there with Coxes Orange Pippen apples and juicy Victoria Plums that use to belong to Mrs. Cheeseman who lived at Halls Corner, where School Lane meets Sutton Road. Students in this short clip will by now be either at University, Technical College or in the work force already. Anyway I hope they enjoy picking themselves out.

The Bells of Holy Trinity.

The Bells of Holy Trinity.

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Most of the short clips that you will in the beginning of this series of Cookham in motion were taken in March 2000, some eleven years ago. Those taken part will be able to look back on their youth!

Cookham in Motion Introduction by James Hatch

Cookham In Motion.

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We have now been running the Historical Cookham Blog for just a little over three years, and as my video learning curve has reached a point now where I can add a video view of Cookham looking at old buildings. Not only old buildings, but life in Cookham and this part of the Thames Valley.

If you are interested in the making of videos, but have no idea where to start. Then, may I suggest that you contact the Bourne End Video Camera Club. First you can find them by looking at their very informative website: http://bevcc.socialgo.com/  They also are looking for budding actors for their various competition entries as well.