LETTER FROM AMERICA
Memories from a West Ender living in Virginia, America

The following are extracts from a letter received by our Secretary from Eric Fray (of the well known local Fray family) recounting some of his memories of old West End……

The small building in front of the Workhouse (now Moorgreen Hospital) was used as a Headquarters for the Home Guard in the early 1940's. I was drafted into the Guard and I remember Peter Carne was also a member. I used to inspect an ammunition dump in a Nissen hut in Telegraph Road on the left in the woods when on duty and was very proud of my US .300 cal rifle with ten rounds, which I used to take home to "Merry Gardens". Also practised signalling with an Aldis lamp from an outdoor iron stairway to a confederate down Moorgreen at the railway bridge  (we had permission).

I remember the Parish Council of 1932 (see Westender October-November issue p.4) and of course Reuben Fray was my uncle. I have met Miss Acton of "The Jungle" - Peter Carne and I were a duo who went carol singing each year along Cemetery Road (now part of West End Road) - we sometimes had pennies! Peter Carne and I are lifelong friends. We started at West End School the same day and went on to Hedge End Senior School, as it was then known.

You asked about D-Day memories. I was overseas with the RAF at that time but vaguely remember US tanks head to tail along West End Road near the Church toward Bitterne when I came home on leave before D-Day.

I do have some memories of the old Parish Hall - not very good ones. Periodically it was used for dentistry on us unfortunate children at West End School. Just inside the front door was a "waiting room" and I can remember sitting there with my mother listening to screams coming from inside the hall. When I think of todays modern facilities this set-up was very crude and unhealthy, and after having five teeth extracted there once I was granted a half-day off from school! Receiving a red card at school meant some teeth pulling; a yellow a filling. We all dreaded seeing the man come in with these cards.

I always loved the "park" opposite my home (now known as Hatch Grange) , I knew every stand of furze; where the nightingale rested; and watched at one time a family of foxes playing around the oak tree still growing close to the Recreation Centre. I remember the house on fire one Sunday very well and the Spitfire zooming up from "Eastleigh" airport from time to time. Chapel Road was gravel and us lads played football in the road. Just memories - but wonderful ones.

left: "MERRY GARDENS" ERIC'S HOME BEFORE CHANGES.       right: HATCH GRANGE IN THE SNOW 2004