Walking into my Past

Those who come to our Lent Lunches or Parish Walks will know that they offer much more than expected.   They are a really good way of meeting people you hardly know or chatting with people you’ve known for years but usually only see for a quick talk over coffee after church.

On the walks lots of subjects are discussed along the footpaths of our nearby countryside and I was surprised on the last parish walk to hear Paul Deane mention the Bourne River to the group just behind me. I turned and asked why he was talking about the river and his answer was that he used to live in Virginia Water.  The conversation then went like this:

Me:      “So did I”

Paul:    “I lived in Trumps Green”

Me:      “So did I”

Paul:    “in Beechmont Avenue”

Me:      “So did I, at number 5”. 

Paul couldn’t remember his number so we went through the names of the people at each house finally ending with me saying that Mr. and Mrs. Deane lived at number 6 almost opposite my house and then realising that Paul was their son!  I remember Paul’s Mum and Dad, who were ballroom dancing teachers, and Paul and Pauline their twins.  I am 5 years older than Paul and we didn’t go to the same school but we had lots in common

Paul and I spent the best part of the walk reminiscing about playing in the field just behind my garden, climbing the crab apple trees in the woods and the annual bonfire night party when everyone chipped in during the year for shared fireworks.  Mr. Cox the postman used to collect everybody’s Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday as he was the first one up in the morning.  They were made at the bakery in Stroude Road on the way to Egham and we always had a baker’s dozen (13 buns) in each paper bag.

I’ve known Julie and Paul for many years but the subject of our childhood homes has never come up in conversation so it was a real surprise to find out that Paul and I were neighbours,   Last year I was talking with Lindy Durbridge on one of the walks and discovered that she used to live in Thorpe, very close to Virginia Water so we also had lots in common.

Thank you to all the organisers and leaders of the walks which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Pauline Richardson