I was recently sent a copy of a Memory Lane article about Mellis by my pen pal Valerie Grose.
She and I used to spend our summer holidays with our respective grandparents in Mellis.
It was very nostalgic to see the 1948/49 photo of the Mellis school pupils as I recalled many of their names.
My stays in Mellis were during the 1950s, although I did spend the first two-and-a-half years of my life there.
Grandad was the village postman for 14 years and used to collect all the village news on his rounds.
When he had finished, he and I would go to his allotment, which ran alongside the railway line, and the train driver would always blow his whistle at us.
The station was an exciting place for Valerie and myself. We were invited into the signal box one day and shown how the control levers etc controlled the trains.It was great fun, in the days before health and saftey.
We would travel to Diss on the train, but grandma had to take in the washing before we went. She would hang it between the trees on the Common and the cows that used to roam freely would get entangled in it if it was left out.
The washing was done in an old boiler and the water was collected from a pump in the pub yard.
Evenings were spent in the light of a Tilly lamp, listening to the radio, which was powered by an accumulator; running water and electric had not yet reached Sunnyside Row.
Such happy memories!
I still visit Mellis and when I see the row of trees my grandad planted along the Thrandeston road in his days as a gardener, I know Mellis will always stay in my heart; the lovely friendly villagers and happy childhood memories.
- Read readers' Mellis Memories in full here:
Lauren Fox - School in the 1990sDawn Francis - Mellis in the 1950sArnold Garnham - Schooldays in the 1940s and 50sValerie Grose - The Railway Hotel and village lifeSuzanne Lawrence - 1994 nativity playJoy Mathews - The old school dollWhat are your memories of life in Mellis in the 1950s? Did you attend the old or new village school? Write and tell us: Mellis Memories, Diss Express, Mere Street, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4AE or email editorial@dissexpress.co.uk
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