My Portsmouth school was built on land where we tethered our horse
More memories today jogged by the picture of St Mary's Church, Fratton, looming over wasteland in Manor Road/Cowper Road .
Today’s come from Ann Richardson (née Hogg) who lived opposite this site with her parents Harold and Gwen in the greengrocer’s shop on the corner of Olinda Street.
Ann says: ‘Dad also used to have a delivery round in Stamshaw and Tipner which was done by horse and cart and he used to tether the horse quite a bit on this land – land that we called a bomb site.
‘In 1956 they started to build what was called Kingston Secondary Modern School for Girls and, as I was 10 at the time, I was very excited because I would be attending this school in 1957.’
Ann continues: ‘Dad and I watched with interest and the builders brought a good trade into the shop.
‘Sadly, dad died of a angina attack in July 1957 so never saw me in my uniform. He was 56.’
She rememers that in the winter of 1957/58 there was an epidemic of Asian ’flu which killed many people.
‘I did get it,’ she adds, ‘and after a few weeks,when I went back to school, I was not allowed to go out to play.
‘Instead we were allowed into the lovely apartment that was used for domestic science lessons and given a hot drink. Such a treat!
‘So this photo, I think, must have been taken in the early 1950s.’