Barry Howard moved to Tadley in 1954, when his father took a job with the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE). After a few weeks in a caravan in Mount Pleasant, the family moved into a new house in Huntsmoor Road, on the AWRE estate. He attended Tadley Junior School, on The Green from late 1954 until September 1955, when Burnham Copse Junior School opened in the old Chivers canteen building on Newchurch Road (above). He spent four years there, in Miss Taylor’s, Mrs McDiarmid’s, Mr Winter’s and Mr Fabel’s classes – with Roger Searing as Headmaster – before going to Queen Mary’s Grammar in Basingstoke. He left school just before his 16th birthday to work at Barclay’s Bank, Tadley, but lasted less than a year there.

This photo of Huntsmoor Road was taken with a Brownie 127 camera – hence the poor image quality. The blurry white building in the gap between the houses at the top is the telephone exchange.

This photo of Barclays Bank was taken in June 1964. I’d started work there as a Junior in April that year. The Manager was Mr Balmforth and the Chief Clerk was Mr Mortimore. Other staff included Ron Giles, Jeanne March, Steph Albery, Susan Ody, Sandra Eyles, Pam Townsend, Val Stacey, Martin Clulow and Val Mitchell

The New Inn, Baughurst (now The Badgers’ Wood); 1970 This photo of The New Inn (now The Badgers’ Wood) on Wolverton Road was taken in October 1970. I think that on the opposite side of the Brimpton Road from The New Inn, at the junction with the Heath End Road, there used to be a large pond or lake. I have a vague memory of there being a cottage there as well, set behind a white paling fence – but maybe not.

Tadley Old Meeting (United Reformed Church); 1970 This photo was taken in June 1970