These memories from Gene Wintersole:

My remembrances of Burtonwood have been stirred recently by reading others recollections and from contact from George McCurdy, one of our Sunday School teachers. 

Our experience began in June of 1957.  Dad had gone about 3 months before us so we could finish the school year.  I was just a few weeks shy of 12 and Janie was 6.  We boarded a train in Columbus Ohio for New York City.  Our first view of the Empire State Building was from a taxi that we had taken from Penn Station.   From New York we boarded a military transport ship, the General Alexander M. Patch for a fun filled 7 day cruise to England.  I don’t remember how many times we watched “The Creature From The Black Lagoon” but it was several.  Dad met us in South Hampton in our new 1953 Plymouth.

We lived off base for the first year and a half in Hough Green near Widnes.  Our house was known as the Lilacs.  It was big, very old and loaded with antiques that were stored in one of the bedrooms upstairs.  That was our favorite room to explore.  The house was cold, dark and drafty.  I remember having to keep the fireplaces going with coal.  There were orchards that we played in behind the house.  I remember working for a farmer near our house.  I have a picture of my sister Janie on one of his 2 draft horses (Bonnie and Major).  I picked potatoes from the cold muddy fields and helped load his barn with hay we pitch forked from the fields next to us.  I think I made 10 shillings for a full days work.  My mom and dad had bought the Plymouth and had it shipped over.  It was just very plain and had almost no options, just a heater I think.  The English kids everywhere we went were amazed at it and called it a “Ply-Mouth”.  You would have thought it was a Rolls.  It was big compared to their cars.

We took the Blue Goose to school every day.  I too remember the fog that got so thick you had to walk beside the car to follow the curb with a flashlight. 

I set pins at the bowling alley like others mentioned and also bagged groceries at the commissary.  Loved paydays.   I bought my own Levis and 45’s with the money.  I still have Elvis’s first album I bought in the PX.  I remember seeing Elvis’s first movie Love Me Tender, at the theater with my folks and hearing all the GI’s laughing.  

I recall our pony league baseball trip to London area by train (I was a terrible player and sat on the bench most of the time).  I was supposed to be 3^rd baseman.   I was just never coordinated enough to play sports.  I was also on one of the school trips to Belgium and Holland that Mr. Nuttall arranged.   I brought back an antique sword (that I still have) from that trip…..That was really fun.  

I have a copy of the 1957 Vapor Trails yearbook that I have looked at frequently since I was contacted last year.  It was a labor of love scanning the pages to create this site.  Looking at those faces makes it seem like only yesterday.  It appears that a lot of my classmates have been found, John Bass, Gordon McDugle, Charlotte Hines, Jerry Garza, to name just a few. 

Fish & Chips in newspaper was the most wonderful food in the world.  I can still picture and taste them in my mind.   I remember how my mom first got upset when one of the shop keepers called her “Love”.  Cadburys chocolate, from the local sweet shop, mmmmmmmm.  Tea and biscuits and pastries at 5 O’clock. I wish I still had the matchbox cars with boxes that I had collected.  Two of my English friends (John & Derrick Bingham) and I used to collect cigarette packets that we found along the roadside.  I think mom threw that collection away when I joined the Air Force.  I recall my first time going to a movie in town and hearing “God Save the Queen”.  I remember staying away from the Teddy Boys.  Janie and I took riding lessons for a while and that’s where she developed her love of horses (she has 3 now).

I recall a visit to Burtonwood by William Boyd “Hopalong Cassidy”.  Don’t remember exactly when that was though or much about it other that mom and dad talking about his blond wife.

When we moved on base things were quite different.  We had three quonset huts joined together with a long hallway (dad was a Chief Warrant Officer).  It was my job to keep the heaters filled with kerosene from the big tanks out front.  That is also when I started working.  I spent quite a bit of time at the youth center and playing pool in the room next to the make out room in the Youth Center.  I remember the dances there too and the free juke box.  When I look at the Vapor Trails I can’t figure why I wasn’t in most of the pictures because more than likely I was there.

We rode our bikes everywhere.  I had a blue Raleigh 3 speed with touring handle bars (I wanted the 10 speed racing kind like the Crain boys had).

We were active in Chapel Four and my parents were friends with Chaplain Johnson.  Janie and I can still recite some of the lines we had from the Christmas play.  I also played a trumpet solo in church once (terrible I might add).

One of my favorite memories is of our family trip to Scotland.  To me it was one of the most beautiful places on earth and I would love to go back and live there in the countryside for a while.  Edinburgh Castle was most impressive.  We also stopped at a couple deserted castles along the way.  We saw Lock Lomond and ate in a quaint restaurant there.  When we pulled into the parking lot at Gretna Green, the piper saw our Ply-mouth and started playing Davy Crockett on his bagpipe.

In June of 1957 we flew home on Flying Tiger Airlines through Gander Newfoundland and into Idlewild.  Dad had been PCS’d to Lockbourne AFB in Columbus Ohio.  I graduated from Whitehall High School there and joined the Air Force in August of 1960.

There, I became an Air Traffic Controller and after 4 years got out and later went to work for the FAA at Cleveland Center for many years.  I last worked for the Air Force, and was the Airspace Manager at Tyndall AFB, FL.  On June 2nd 2004 I was fortunate enough to be able to retire and now reside in Zephyrhills, FL with my lovely wife Barb.

Gene Wintersole  (Burtonwood 1954-1957)

Graduated 1960

These memories from Earl Mahoney:

"The Hopalong Cassidy Story"

Graduated BHS 1955

I've been looking at some of the pictures you have posted and have read your recollections of Burtonwood at that time.  I, too, have great memories of Burtonwood.  We first went to Burtonwood in early 1951 (I was in the 8th grade at the time and my teacher was Mrs. Leigh), returned stateside in late 1951 and then returned again in February of 1953.  I was graduated from BHS in 1955. 

As to the William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd  visit, I can fill you in on that.  There had been a contest in the U.S. for newsboys to enter.  The multiple winners would be escorted to England for a tour and vacation that was led by "Hoppy" and his wife.  When arriving in England, they would be joined by British newsboys who had won places on the similar contest held in England and would tour the country.  Burtonwood was to be one of the tour stops and the Youth Center, with the help of Special Services, hosted a luncheon for the group.  As an officer of the Youth Center at that time (President, I think), I was selected to go with Sgt. Shelly (last name forgotten) to meet the buses and to escort them to the base.   I remember driving out to the selected meeting place and waiting for the buses to arrive.  As I recall there were three busloads of newsboys, led either by a Rolls Royce or a Bentley, containing "Hoppy" and Mrs. "Hoppy."  Anyway, we were  all introduced and then off to Burtonwood and the luncheon.  It turned out well and it is another one of the nice memories I have of that time.  One of the memories that has stuck with me of that event was William Boyd himself. He was not a tall man but was very impressive, dressed all in black, from his hat to his boots.  His hair was almost a silver color and it contrasted with all the black clothes.  Both he and his wife were very nice.

Anyway, now you know what that visit was about.

These memories from Charlotte Hines:

The house that Gene talks about in this message has memories for me too, as my family moved into that house right after the Wintersoles moved on base. There were so many neat treasures: butterfly collection, delicate china, opera records, tall black top hats, beautiful mahogany furniture, carved ivory pieces, old musket rifles (like the pilgrims used), feather bed mattress. The lilac trees in front of the house were so fragrant. The yellow daffodils and tulips popped up all around the countryside. The warmth of the coal fire in the living room, so cozy and inviting. It was mesmerizing just looking into the red coals. The shivering cold bedrooms. At night weighted down with as many blankets as you have to try and keep warm. We had a little green English Ford to take us around. We discovered many hedgehogs along the roadside. Funny little creatures. We lived in St. Helen's and Warrington also. I am taken back in time to many good memories. Thanks for sharing yours.  

More from Charlotte:

I remember the sun dial now that you mention it.  Remember the steep stairs, the first room (beyond the bathroom) upstairs filled with the landlady's household treasures?  I believe my brother and I shared that bedroom upstairs and slept on the featherbed mattress, weighted down by tons of blankets, wearing socks and a couple of pair of flannel pjs in hopes of staying warm!  My parents slept downstairs in the library (behind the french doors).  Remember the gray/black marble countertops in the kitchen?  My Mother polished the beautiful mahogany dining room table until it gleamed and reflected the glow of the coal fireplace and sunlight streaming in from the window.  I can see an arrangement of yellow daffodils on that table even now.  It was a cozy, warm room.  We all curled up with a book or just stared into the red glow of the coals.

Graduated 1960

These memories from Sharon Russell:

Hi, y'all!  I am about to totally get into this Burtonwood thing!  After reading thru memory lane I realized that as Wayne Morris told Bob Morgan, it wasn't until later that he realized what a big influence BAFB was on his life. 

    There has always been an unsettling component to looking back over my 'childhood'.  Whereas my daughters got to go K thru 12 in the same home and town with 'their' friends, mine were scattered to the winds.  Sorta like -  always the bridesmaid,  never the bride.  It didn't matter how popular you became, nor how you achieved, these were the local kids who had ties.... back to first grade.  That exclusive alure that at this stage of our lives probably should mean little - until you read about the boys putting the Lts' Morris Minor in the bathroom.  And, then, it hits!  I have a history.  It's just in pieces all over the darn place!  

    Oh, those BAFB years.   Mr. Hamilton taught us in 6th/7th grade.  His off the wall British humor has stayed with me all these years.  He'd call our names in cryptic codes and if you didn't catch it you were absent.  We all missed the USA so much!  Remember how we'd have all the new kids sing the current t.v. commercials.  (Ajax- the foaming cleanser, Robert Hall's Clothing, etc.) 

    Mr. Wadleigh was our 8th grade teacher in '55 to '56.  We also had Mrs. Davis (Virginia?) for English.  She was the toughest teacher.   Mr. Hamilton was really jealous that we "no longer belonged to him" when they gave us the new American teacher in 8th grade.  I remember once he 'watched' us while Mr. W. went to the office.  He teased us so much.  But, the new kids thought he was just strange because they had 'missed' all the original fun with him. 

   Sara Jane Hack, Sharon Phoebe, Carol Cheney, Jerry Garza, Louise Welch, Doug McDougal, Alice Fairfax, Stan Mortimer, Gene Wintersole, Gary Franks, Pauline Fitzsimmons, Penny Lee Peddycourt, Mary Lou Jacobson, Suzanne Downey, Bobby Baker ..... to name a few.   Must have been an important time to remember all those  names.   There used to be a long, thin  room off the side of the gym where they put the 8th graders.  I think they used to stack up the gym mats in there.  That used to be the in place to hang-out and talk things over.  I can remember there being wall to wall kids in there.  And, the time Sara Jane came to school with bandages on her hands because a Teddy boy got rough with her while she was walking home from the school bus.  (Some local saved her from that attack.) 

    Riding the school bus home to Scotia North was a blast.  We didn't dare breathe sideways for fear one of the high school kids would nail us!  It was very dangerous to use British terminology... like the huge lecture Pauline gave me after the bus ride because I had called galoshes - 'rubbers' like our English chums did.   And, remember buying the left-over hot baked potatoes from the UKES  ( u kids eat scraps) lunchroom to eat on the way home.   I was the girl who baked cakes at home and sold them in the lunch room until UKES complained that no one was buying their desserts, so I had to quit.  I don't know what was with the entreprenueral  gig... but, I did get permission to sell pop-corn in the Scotia North theater.   Major Frank Johnson would fly the pop corn in from  the Weisbaden P.X. for me.  My only obligation was I had to sweep the theater afterwards.  I also remember Frank bringing me white penny loafers -called Lucerne's - from Germany, too.

      I remember the hay-rides, too.  Those big trucks, loaded with hay.... getting lost on the way back so the hay-ride could last longer.... hahaha!   Or, the high school boys buying "Squash" drinks with their fish and chips after ice skating and then just as the Youth Center Buses would pull out,  they'd pop the tops on the shaken sodas an spray the Teddy Boys lined up against the outside wall of the ice rink.  If anything should have started WWIII, that should have!     (Don't you all think we must have skated with the Beatles!.... they were there in Liverpool during those years, you know.!)

    Oh, the fog!  Yes.  One time the school bus only got as far as the Church in Wiggins by 11 am and had to turn around and go back to Scotia North.  Or, the orange fog lights on the highway into Liverpool.    And, didn't we have an airman bus driver named Bob Stone? or did he drive the work-bus that we could take home later... so that we could go to the youth center after school.  

     Or walking along the paths near Scotia North, and standing in the smoke as the train ran underneath, or biking all over the countryside -  on our Phillips or Raleigh bikes.  Or 'rolling down' the center wheat in the farmer's field...  Or going fishing in the lake north towards Newton-Leigh-Willows, or the Polish man who watched the boilers at Scotia North- who was so desperately thin and had his WWII prison #'s tatoo'd on his arm -  a survivor.  

    Or the big sleep over in 8th grade when Penny's folks had gone to Ireland.... and a few who remain nameless.. got to drinking her dad's whiskey.  We would shinney  up the steam pipes  at the S.N. grade school and climb into the gym thru windows and run and slide in our stocking feet on the gym floor.  After a while, we heard crying and went back into the kitchen area - because this used to be an RAF Hospital.  Two of the girls were sitting inside  one of those giant cooking pots (about 4' across) and just as deep and they were so drunk they couldn't get out.  We had the darnedest time getting them out and home!  !   

    Or the school exchanges to the Girl's school in Liverpool.... Bootle (?)  2  from h.s., and I think,  Stan Mortimer and I from 8th grade.    We sat on a panel during the day, went home with a family for dinner, and then returned for a dance.   That's where they asked me if I had ever seen Tikas (Texas),  or a  Red Indian, or a Jack-a-lope!  (someone had given them a post card with a cowboy sitting on a saddle on a Jack Rabbit - one of those superimposed  photos.  I remember doing my best to keep the myths alive and assured them that we had lots of those rabbits around Arizona.   soooo bad!)  

And, probably not last nor least,  but how did the highschool girls know/learn the names & ages of all the M.P.s on the base?   

   And, I do remember Mrs. Leigh and her daughter.   If I remember correctly, Mrs. Leigh was an American who married an Enlishman .   We used to feel so sorry for her that she would "never get to go home".   (and now we have Hugh Grant!  and Nottingham Hill.....  )  She was ahead of her time. 

   Aaaahhh!  Yes,  those were the days!    Looking forward to a reunion.

Dr. Sharon Russell Johnson 

Graduated 1960

These memories from Caroline Worley Hodges:

I had been in a Christmas pageant under Dr. Schmeltzer(?), had classes under Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Hindboch (sp?)...I loved England.  Not just Burtonwood, but the whole polite genre...I've put over 3,000 miles on rental cars since we left in trips back over...the motorways ruined a lot of the quiet way of life..grafiti all over the rest stops.  I think though that Liverpool has held its own..in fact, upgraded.  Warrington is nearly smothered under motorway overpasses...I lived in Newton-le-Willows, never on post.  We had a rag-a-bone man, and an ice cream (lolly) truck, played tiddly-winks by the year-round fire, and I learned to drink the institutional hot tea which I never gave up.  We watched Cafe Continental on t.v., Mr. Turnip, and we collected car tag numbers, bird eggs and butterflies, and had wonderful trips to north Wales, the clifs, London, Scotland, etc...I left Burtonwood in 1953. We went over on the GEN Maurice Rose in 1951. I was class of 60. In your elementary class picture I recognize the teacher on the far right, Ms. Hindboch.

Caroline Worley Hodges

Graduated 1960 (Burtonwood 1951-1953)

Do you remember the "Rag and Bone Man" and the goldfish he gave?

Share your memories with us........

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