Tag Archives: Pam Cotton

Pam Bone: Thorley Services, 1950s, 1960s

Library van 1960s

Library van 1960s

The Library van, with Mr Satherley at the wheel, used to come each week. It was a focal point for women to meet and probably exchange gossip.

The coalman used to deliver our coal and coke. The Corona lorry used to come and sometimes we would buy bottles of Lemonade or Cherryade from him. You would get 3d for taking back the empty pop bottles.

Our groceries were delivered each week by Mr Burt and my mum would write out her order for the following week in a little red book that she would give to him.

Sometimes our milk that was delivered had round cardboard tops on the bottles which I used to make pom-poms by wrapping wool round them through the hole in the middle.

Our GP was Dr Drummond in Yarmouth and I only remember going to see him twice. Once was to have 3 stitches put in my chin after I fell off the school rocking horse and the other time was to have immunisation when there was an outbreak of Polio.
Pam Bone nee Cotton b 1948

Pam Bone: Thorley 1950s

Charlie Courtney lived in the cottage next door to the Hilliers. He worked at Newclose.  Charlie Bryne, the man who lived in Whitewalls Cottage, the next house down, had an orchard and I remember getting told off a few times, along with other local children, for scrumping apples.

On the other side of the barn in Whitewalls lived Mr and Mrs Frank Squibb and next to them in Woodmans, lived Miss Drake. Further up the road, past the field next to Hilly’s house, in Upper Place, lived the man you would take your tom cat to if you wanted it to be neutered. Pam Bone nee Cotton b 1948

Whitewalls and Woodmans

Whitewalls and Woodmans

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Pam Bone: Thorley, St. Swithin’s Church, 1950s, 1960s

Thorley Church, St. Swithin's 2010s

Thorley Church, St. Swithin’s 2010s

As a family we would go to the local church regularly and when I was older I was in the Choir. I went to the local Sunday School run by Miss Pearce and I collected the required number of religious stamps until I had enough to get a free bible.

The church was quite a significant focal point of the village. It was also very significant for me when I started school because it was where I knew the conductor rang the bell for us to get off the bus opposite our house when we came home from school. I used to worry that he would forget to do this and I would be carried off to the wrong stop. Pam Bone nee Cotton b 1948

Pam Cotton: Thorley 1950s

Primrose bank, Thorley

Primrose bank, Thorley


As children we played outside most of the time in the surrounding fields and in the stream across the road behind the barn where we would catch minnows and sticklebacks. Sadly I can also remember sitting in the field near this stream decorating the cow pats with buttercups and daisies! I liked collecting wild flowers and my dad made me a press so that I could put my collection in books. Sometimes we would go over to what was called the Rew, a small copse at the cross roads. It was a bit dark there so I didn’t go alone! Pam Bone nee Cotton b 1948