My Reading

Hi Yasmin.
I was born in Dover Street in 1947 and went to Katesgrove School.
The reason I am writing to you is that on 8th November 2014 from 2pm – 5pm. There is a Coley School reunion. Please come along and hopefully you may be able to meet long term residents and see lots of photos.
Best Wishes
Bob Neale

Hello Yasmin
I was born in Coley and lived in Bright St,(just the other side of Willow St) from 1943 to about 1967.I also went to Coley Primary School.The Steps were all that remained of the terrace houses from the right side of Coley School to the bottom of Coley St.They also stretched from Coley Place down to Wolseley St.The housing was very poor.No lighting only Parafin Lamps,and no running water or toilets,these were all outside shared with neighbours.Most of the Courts were named after trees or flowers,i.e. Poplar, Hazel and Ivy Courts.If you would like,give me your email address and I will send you a couple of Pictures ,one before and one after (1953)they were demolished,and a map of how it looked before the Ring Road .The Steps were a local landmark as was the area left from the demolished housing which we children used as a playground,We called it the Buildings,We also had bonfires there on Guy Fawkes Night.I hope this helps a little.Regards Geoff Weller

Hi John and Yasmin,
good to hear of a Coley resident interested in the past. Joanie and I did a lovely walk around Wolsey street and Field Road etc at the end of July as we had just flown in from Australia that morning, and as an Australian she was interested to see my old home in Boston Avenue, before we hired a taxi to take us around Reading School and places that my parents lived in as well in Christchurch road.
My brother and sister went to Coley primary in the 1950’s and early 1960’s and now live in Horsham and Stanford, but none of us remember any references to Coley Steps other than the few photos.
It will be interesting hear what you turn up, as I would have thought the school and the church would have had some photos, records as well.
Regards Dave Wiffen
PS Iwill try to get my brother and sister to search their memories again too.DJW

Yasmin – go to the Posts page and scroll down to the end and select “older posts” and keep doing that till you find a post from Brion House dated 27 November 2012 which has a couple of photos of the Steps.

Hi! I’m Yasmin, a current resident of Coley! I love your site!

I live on Brook Street West and have done all my life – which is only 18 years long, as I’m not entirely familiar with the references on your site. However, I find it really interesting! I’m very intrigued by the history of my area, I attended Coley Primary School and my great-grandmother also lived in the Coley area at one point (Lower Brook Street, I believe.) I remember that when I was at Coley Primary there was a painting on the stairs of the ‘Coley Steps,’ and I’ve spent years trying to work out where they are/once were. Maybe you could help me out? I’ve love to hear more about your experiences in Reading. If I was to get a tattoo of anything, it would something symbolic of this place.

Thanks!

Ken – I would be very interested in the recordings you have, of Spring Gardens. Could you let me know of how to obtain a copy.Its great to hear you are still involved with music.Are you still playing the Euphonium,and have you any recordings of yourself playing.
Thanks & regards Geoff Weller

I used to live in Boston Avenue from 1960 until 1968 my Dad worked at Simmonds brewery later to be Courages for 40 yrs. Jenny Bristow is my cousin. Have loved reading all about Coley. I remember Brian Cooper we used to call him Boo Boo. I remember the Harper family and went to Cintra school with some of them. Jenny comes over to stay with me every 3 or 4 yrs as I now live on the Isle of Wight. Thank you for the memories!!

Hi Mervyn nice to hear from you, I remember the trip to italy very well although it seems like a lifetime away. I bumped into David Jacobs a couple of days ago had not seen him for must be 20 years he was also on the trip do you remember him he met his future wife on that trip.
Where are you living these days would be nice to hear from you again hope you’re keeping well.

Ken

Greetings from a sunny Normandie.
I am grateful to Ashmead and the Watkins family for providing me with the opportunities to enter the world of music. Am still playing, and involved in banding, jazz, and arranging music. Will soon be going to the USA for a series of concerts and to see some of the many friends you meet because of music.
We regret the passing of people such as Derek, George Rackley, Roger Pearcey, and of course George and Ted.
Have rediscovered Ray Lawrence and Dave Gash. Ray is the longest still serving member of Springs.
We lost Roger 3 years ago. Roger was the key driver in finding and sharing recorded test pieces played by Springs Gardens. I have copies of these recordings and will be happy to share them with band members.
Am looking forward to developing these contacts in the future.
Regards

ken

John I found your blog very interesting particularly with regard to the Wolseley Street section.  I went to Italy in 1963 with the Reading Central Club and made a friend on the trip from Wolseley Street, Ken Rose, so it was nice to see a comment from him in your comments section.

I was also very familiar with the Southcote estate.  A very good friend of mine emigrated from there to Perth.  What a small world it now is!

Kind regards – Mervyn Woodward

One of my sons recently gave me a book for my birthday – “Reading – the 1950s” by Stuart Hylton. Interesting book – brought back lots of memories like the opening of the Palomino coffee bar.

Hello Mick
I saw Jean Weller nee Mayo,yesterday and we were remembering some of Coley,and its characters.I believe you are distant cousins,is that correct.I remember you lived in Garnet St and of course you played for H &P,S and Reading Exiles of course with my brother Tony.I can remember when I played for the YMCA FC some great battles at Coley Rec. against you.
As for the picture I do remember some faces but most of the names escape me.Now you point out your Mum ,I can remember her.What always amazes me is the number of pubs in Coley considering how generally poor the area was.My Dad used to frequent the Rose and Crown on a Sunday before lunch and inevitably was late for Lunch ,which did not go down too well with my Mum Anyway nice to hear from you Mick regards Geoff Weller

Hello Tami
I have replied to your Dad and just to tell you he really did play beautifully,its good to hear he is still playing,and thank you for your contact,It brought back lots of lovely memories best wishes Geoff Weller

Hello Ken
How good to hear from you ,I hope you are well.It seems a very long time ago that we played together in Spring Gardens,with Derek.Am I right in thinking that you were taught by George at Ashmead before joining the Band.I can remember us playing several Quartet Competitions and coming Fourth in the National Juniors at Leicester I think.I know I was second cornet with Derek playing 1st and you Euphonium,Can you remember who the fourth player was.Was it George ….. ?Trombone .
Its good to hear you are still involved with music.I had a surprise for my seventieth birthday last year,my children bought me a cornet,so I have been having a blow now and then.Still not very good.Ken, it was a pleasure to hear you play,as I said before you could make it sing,just beautiful It was very sad to hear about Derek of course,I attended a memorial concert by Jo,s Spring Garden Band,It was very good and good to see that they are still playing,Jo puts in a lot of work to keep them running.I also was able to give Jo some pictures of Derek and myself not long after we joined the band.It was also good to meet Dereks wife and family who attended the concert.
When I think about it I don’t know how we fitted it all in ,what with practice,competitions ,London Parks,Forbury,the Prom,as well as Elm Park,Corpus Christie Procession from the Abbey I think,oh and also those freezing cold Remembrance services at the Forbury and Christmas Carols around Whitley.
I can also remember when we first changed uniforms from the old Guards uniform to the Blazers and Flannels.I was telling someone how my Dad used to make fun of me with my rather large peaked cap which was packed with cardboard in an attempt to fit us younger players,Happy Days.
Well Ken I must go now
I hope to hear from you soon
Regards
Geoff Weller