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.