‘We hid under kitchen table as plane burst into flames’
I AM responding to the interesting article on Wolstanton Marsh by Mervyn Edwards (TWWW, February 27).
Born in 1947, I spent almost 30 years in and around the marsh, enjoying the vast open spaces.
Away from the marsh, May Bank was and still is a village with one main street, but with something for everyone including a variety of shops.
These included a fruit and veg shop, specialist clothes shops, fast food, plus a very small chemist’s shop under the management of a Miss Thomas and her young assistant.
Standing outside the chemist was the old fashioned police box, pre Dr Who days!
On the opposite side of the road was Holdings fish and chip shop. Owners Tom and Barbara served delicious fare, having done so since 1954.
The previous year saw the terrible plane crash of an RAF Meteor jet which landed mainly on Porthill cricket ground, killing its pilot, local RAF man Richard Bolton.
My sister Pat and I watched his plane from our garden in Burlington Avenue climb higher and higher when suddenly it burst into flames. The marsh was covered in debris and luckily no one else was injured. We ran into the house and hid under the kitchen table for a good half-hour.
So many memories, including playing rounders in the street, rosy apple (knocking on people’s doors and disappearing very quickly), lovely tasting orange juice from the milkman and so on.
PHIL EAGLES BUCKNALL
Tell us your memories of Wolstanton or the area where you grew up. Email waywewere@ thesentinel.co.uk