Delapre Abbey reunion is a trip down Memory Lane
A group of 40 former neighbours who had not seen each other for 50 years met have enjoyed a trip down Memory Lane at an emotional reunion at Delapre Abbey.
Former Far Cotton resident Roger Labrum organised a meeting of all the people who lived on his estate or in Delapre during the 1950s or 1960s, advertising the event in the pages of the Chronicle & Echo to help spread the word.
Mr Labrum said: "There is always someone you recognise. There were a few here today who found out about it from friends of friends. All the people here have got some sort of connection to Far Cotton or Delapre.
"Some people have moved out of the town now but a lot of people still live within a 10 to 15 mile radius of the Far Cotton area."
Janice Walter, who used to leave in Salcey Street, Delapre, said: "I came here after I saw the bit in the Chronicle & Echo. I left Delapre in 1966 and I've seen some people today that I did not know even lived in Far Cotton at that time."
Janet Shaw, who lived in Far Cotton in the 1960s but now lives in Buckinghamshire, said: "I remember the queues of traffic when the railway gates came down and the town would be covered in smoke."
It is the second year in a row the event has been held and an effort was made to contact former residents of the "lost streets" of Far Cotton, including Oxford Street, Riccard Street, Henley Street, Delapre Street, Letts Road, Main Road, Alton Street and Alton Terrace which have now been knocked down.
However no residents of these streets were able to attend the event.
A mix of memories were shared by the former Far Cotton and Delapre residents, with many bemoaning the decline of the town centre market.
Peter Ellis, who grew up in Far Cotton in 50s and 60s, said: "I had the best time of my life in Far Cotton.
"I did not have a care in the world and there was no sex, drugs and rock and roll. It was a brilliant time. I've seen people here I've not seen for 50 years."
Stewart Wixon, aged 66, who still lives in Far Cotton, said: "A few of us have all got together who used to be Teddy Boys.
"The Market Square used to be really good when my mum took me up there at Christmas."
Adrian Thacker, chairman of Friends of Delapre Abbey (FoDA) said it was a pleasure to play host to the reunion. "I would like to thank all the volunteers and trustees of FoDA who have helped make the reunion event such a success."
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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