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| Ancestor Gateway Forum - STAMFORD MEMORIES GATEWAY (Lincolnshire England) used as PRIDE and PREJUDICE FILM SET | New Topic | Search |
| Thread Topic: 1963 freeze-up Stamford/photo added Topic Originator: mel Post Date July 9, 2005 @ 5:35 AM |
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| mel |
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The winter of 1963 was appalling. The icy conditions set in and the temperature stayed below freezing in Stamford for about six weeks day and night. Anyone else remember how cold it was and what problems they faced? Ed: send us your memories of the freeze-up. |
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| judy |
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My elder daughter was born in March 1963. I had trouble pushing her out in the pram. An austin mini was driven across the river welland during this winter. Ed: Thanks for that Judy. Any more memories from you about Stamford? We would be pleased to add them to the list as you remember them. Anyone see that Austin Mini being driven across the river Welland? Where did this take place? Anyone else recall it? |
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| Sam Harrison |
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I was 12 when the long freeze started. I can remember the ice on the river was about 8" or 9" thick. I fell through the ice where someone who lived on Water Street kept pigs, he had made a hole to get rid of the pigswill. Luckily the hole was close to the bank and not very deep. The Mini crossed the river from Water Street just downstream from the Town Bridge. The temperature dropped below freezing at the end of December and did not rise above freezing until the end of March. The night temperatures were around -10 to -16. Ed: Thanks for that Sam. Yes it was pretty grim. Sorry you fell in - you were very lucky to get out again alive. Fortunately it was not too deep just there. Anyone else have memories of experiences on the frozen river that year? |
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| Peter Fancourt |
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by kind permission of Stamford Mercury Double click on photo to go to larger image. You will arrive at Stamfordtown photogallery. Here you can see the photo collection so far added. Click on "any size at top of photo to see screen wide image of photo. The 2nd photo is also good as it shows all the old buildings that used to line the riverside. To return to this site click backbutton on your computer twice. A friend drew my attention to your queries about the mini being driven on the River Welland. It was in January 1963,access to the river was from Water Street about 100 yds. from the Town Bridge,and I was the driver. I have a couple of photographs on file,and would be happy to send them to you as attachments if you are interested, More photos and information are in the Stamford Museum. Regards Peter Fancourt Kate: Hello Peter. Congratulations on being the driver! It must have been some scarey moments there inside that mini. I would like the photos if you would email them to me. Unfortunately I cannot put them on Stamford Memories Gateway but may have a word with the Mercury if you are happy with that. kate@ancestorgateway.com |
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| Peter Fancourt |
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Ok Kate,I will be happy to forward the pics as requested. I see that another contributor to the website,Sam Harrison,correctly describes the point of entry to the river. It was not quite so scary as you might think(although I did get a roasting from my wife when she found out what I had done). I took the precaution of telephoning the Nene and Welland Water Board ,as it was then,to ask advice about the load-bearing capability of the ice ;I shall always treasure the reply:"My dear fellow,you could drive a loaded brewer`s dray drawn by four horses across the river without any worries whatsoever",they also told me that the ice was approximately 11" thick. I drove the mini downriver as far as the Albert Rd. bridge and back,then got the Stamford Mercury photographer who was with me(safely on the riverbank,initially!) to take some photos. The whole thing was a publicity stunt really,I ran a Garage known as "Fancourt`s Garage" at the time,we were Austin dealers,and in the issue of the Stamford mercury immediately following the event I placed an advertisement headed "You can go anywhere in a Mini!" Happy days. Regards Peter Fancourt Kate: Thanks for that interesting account of your "adventure on ice" Peter. I have received the photos and will have a word with the Mercury to see if they will put this in their memories page to jog a few more brain cells regarding that memorable winter of 63. I wonder if they know who the Mercury photographer was who accompanied you? Hope you will send us some more memories on other topics as I am sure you have plenty and I would like to get a good archive so that the younger generations can know something of our lives in years to come. |
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| MIKE |
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The photographer of the Mini was almost certainly the late Harry Cottrell. Ed: Thanks for that Mike. I can remember Harry Cottrell. In fact, he took a photo of my parents when it was their Golden Wedding. |
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| David King (Eayrs) |
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My Grandmother owned the tailors shop J Eayrs on the corner of St Marys street. My father was in the airforce and we came back from Aden to stay with my grandmother in the shop in 1963. I will never forget getting the train from London to Stamford and then my nan picking us up from the station in her Riley Elf, never been so cold in my life. Kate: Thanks David - yes, thoughts of it almost cool you down in summer! |
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| Kate |
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Photo of Peter Fancourt with his mini on River Welland. See earlier posting higher up this thread. |
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| Peter |
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I well remember the '63 freeze as at the time I had a pre school job working for the late Sid Woods of Newstead on his milk round. He had an A35 van with what was supposed to be a heater, although all it did was make a whirring noise! I can remember loading the van with milk from the large fridge and noticing that it was a good 10 degrees warmer in there than outside. What a relief when Spring finally came. I can also remember Peter Fancourt's icy excursion. Funny how life seemed to carry on as normal then, very different to last winter. |
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