Fair Oak

Read and share memories of Fair Oak and Hampshire inspired by Frith photos

Snow in moonlight

It was that cold, cold winter of 43/44 during the war that I remember so well. Please forgive me for I was not a Fair Oak boy but my memory is from there. I lived in Bishopstoke as a lad before, during and after the war so I knew Fair Oak very well. I had the privilege to lay on my back as a "casualty" one Sunday morning for a ARP exercise in the square and I found it cold and hard but I forgive you.
My memory started one winter day in I believe 1943. It had been snowing ...read more here
Contributed by Frederick Cannock

Fair Oak Infants 1953

55 years on I still remember the infant school in the village. The toilets were outside at the end of the playground with very cold seats in the winter - pre the flushing variety!! (or does my memory serve me wrong) and there was a round heater in the classroom that we all used to gather round in the cold weather. We used to walk up to the building that is now the Acorn club for some of our lessons.
I lived in Horton Heath where my dad's side of the family came from (Mum came from West End). We used to walk to school it was about a mile.
Dad was on the parish ...read more here
Contributed by Susan sandy

Fair Oak as it was ...

My first day of school was September 1965 at Fair Oak Infants. It wasn't too bad the first day as my Mum was allowed to stay at the back of the classroom, but after that I was left on my own. I became very frightened and one day I thought I'd make a "run for it". My plan was to ask to go to the toilet, and while I was gone (as in those day's the toilet block was at the other end of the playground) I'd make my escape. Alas, it never happened, I can't remember if I had taken longer then expected, or the teacher Mrs Cockrin sussed what I was up to, but she came outside and told ...read more here
Contributed by gary houghton

Yes, I remember

We moved to Fair Oak in 1950 and yes, Gloria, I remember Mrs Treasure and Mrs Dowse and was taught by both of them between 1950 and 1953. I also remember Hatch's corner shop, wonderful smells of sweets. I'm surprised the photos are dated 1965, I would have put them earlier than that. I think the Morris 8 in one pic belonged to the District Nurse who lived just there by the Cricketer's Arms. Between 1953 and 1957 I went to the "big school" and Mr Lewer was still the headmaster, his wife was my class teacher in 1957. They lived in Mortimer's Lane and had a large horse chestnut tree in the garden. Many's ...read more here
Contributed by Robin Hill

School Days

I am surprised that no one has added any memories to this page.

When I was a child the village was small and everyone knew everyone else, now it has changed out of all recognition, apart perhaps from the very centre by the tree.

Fair Oak Primary School:
The headmistress was Miss Elizabeth Ayers (she married late in life and became Mrs Treasure), and who remembers Mrs. Dowse who taught in infants when they started school. I understand she had absolutely no teacher training, which was not unknown in those days, nevertheless she was a jolly good teacher. We lived next door to her when we lived with my grandparents whilst my father was away in ...read more here
Contributed by Gloria Knight