Memories are made of this

Before I continue with the following story I have a request to all readers of this lovely site. I have decided to not only interview local people for my next book 'Voices Now And Then' but also appeal to anyone reading this request. Do you have memories you would be happy to share with me? Although I would be delighted to forward a copy to you; if you were happy to cover the cost. Thank you.

Anne Reynolds nee Pinnock
Born 28.11.37
St Mary’s Kettering.

I lived with my mother Bett Stanley a Finedon resident who lived at Box End. She married Reg Pinnock who came from Irthlingborough but sadly he died of consumption when only in his thirties. My brother Roger was born on 28.6.39. Our home in Dolben Square were one one up and one down and had a toilet down the bottom of the yard that you flushed with a bucket of water which you would take with you and our coal was also kept at the bottom of the yard. Many of the cottages at the time were riddled with rats. When I was about the age of ten mum married Frank Bates who was part of a large family; related to Maud Loveday. My very earliest memory of Finedon is of going through Finedon Banks Park with my mum who was pushing my brother in a pram. There used to be arches with roses round and also band concerts; to me it was like fairyland

Employment
Mum worked as a forewoman at Whitney & Westleys in Burton Latimer.

School
I attended Finedon Infants then the Girl’s Junior School. We had already heard that one of the teachers locked you in a cupboard and I happened to be repeating this tale when the teacher in question overheard me in the playground and I was taken out of line and asked where I had heard this story from.
I was really petrified of what I saw as stern schoolmistresses and so as far as I was concerned school was a nightmare. I have no fond memories of the girl’s junior school. It seemed that if you were naughty then you were taken to the front and humiliated.

I then went to the local Secondary Modern School on Wellingborough Road when Pop Jefferies was there (he had been in the army) and the two teachers I remember were Miss Lindley and Derek Pearce-they really brought me out. Mr Pearce recognised in my brother a flair for cricket and it was he who got him into the County Colts.

Employment
I left school in the November and then after Christmas went to work as an office junior for Gammidges. When I left school I went to Wellingborough Technical College on day release as well as evening classes. I stayed at Gammidges for thirteen years until I had my son Peter who was born in 1966.
I married 28th June 1958 to Jeff Reynolds from Finedon, actually born at the same house that we are living in now. Rev Gill married us. Annie Reynolds, Jeffs mum, was a meek, quiet, shy person. She had left school at eleven and went into service. His dad was a shoemaker and shoe repairer and he had a shop in the High Street. After I had been at home for sometime someone from Gammidges asked me if I would go back to work. I remember Johnny Gammidge and Alfred Minney who were the company Managing Directors.

Interest in Politics
Mum worked with Bessie Henderson at Nutts factory and they built up a genuine friendship. It was as a result of this friendship that my interest in politics grew. I had always had political feelings and had something in me which said I was destined/capable of something. I campaigned strongly,with others, for Comprehensive Education as I felt that it was the only way to go. I thrived on talking to local people like George Henderson and he used to take me to Council Meetings. I stood with him-we went on to help form Finedon Parish Council and I was an original member in 1982. Other members included Brian Foster,Syd Miller, John Bailey, George Henderson, Bessie Henderson, and Mrs Spencer.

Following local elections I polled a good third out of four. Although I did not get on I still remained interested in politics.George Henderson sadly died suddenly;he had worked diligently for Finedon people. After this the constituency thought it would be a good idea for me to go forward and we had a Bi-election and I won. I was on for a short time then there was another election and I lost to Brian Foster. Some years later I became a Councillor for Finedon and did this for twelve years-non stop helping people. I always wanted to feel that I was effective in helping local people with a variety of problems.

I became involved with Finedon Volta’s Football club and assisted them in gaining a Regeneration Grant which then facilitated them to get lottery funding. I was at the time working about thirty five hours a week.
I have been Chairman of various committees including:

 Amenities
 Technical and Leisure
 Waendel Walk working party
 Social, Cultural & Housing
 Chairman of Finedon Ladies Bowl Club
Management committee of the Victoria Centre in Wellingborough.
I got involved in a lot of community things which I thought might make an impression within CAB.

Youth ClubI am Secretary of Finedon Youth Club, in Orchard Road which is a Drop In Centre. It is open every Tuesday and up to sixty members have been attending and enjoying pool, computer games, TV and controlled access to the internet. We are really seeking a secured income as well as more adult helpers which will enable us to open on a second evening specifically for the ten to fourteen age groups. Organisations can only function with the help of volunteers. You might also be able to help us significantly by just becoming a friend/helper/make an annual subscription which is five pounds for a single member of seven pounds fifty for a couple. We need more for the young people to do.

Retirement
Since my retirement I have returned to the Management Committee of the Community Centre. I was actually on the very first steering group but came off when pressures of other commitments increased. Every household in Finedon has been distributed with leaflets informing people as to what is going on at the Community Centre and Radio Northampton are also informed regarding events. Pam Wilton has worked like a little Trojan and so have others. The coffee shop is no longer open apart from a Wednesday morning when the mums and tots use it.

Police
We have a new policeman in Finedon Andrew Rodgers and he will bring in new ideas- it is planned that he will be here for about twelve weeks then be replace by another policeman for twelve weeks and so on with the intention that each brings in new ideas.

We have two grandchildren who live in Worthing and are now free to go and visit them more often as I am no longer on the council

My dreams for the future of Finedon include not to live in the past whilst not changing too much and to really embrace change .