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MEMORIES OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

CORBY IN THE 60'S
Julie Hagele (Nee Dowell)

I was born in 1962 at the Diagnostic Centre (across from the boating lake, which I saw developed).

Both of my grandfathers worked at the Steel Works (my maternal grandfather came from Glasgow to work there and my paternal grandfather came from South Shields to work there).

I went to Beanfield Avenue Infants School and my first teacher's name was Mrs. Nielsen. I also attended Kingswood (moved there when it was newly developed - Dorking Walk and my grandparents lived at Holyrood Walk).

My memories of Corby are the old town centre (i.e. Fine Fare, Finley's, Woolworth's, etc.). My nanna used to live on Occupation Road and as a child, she would take me for a walk to the town centre. So, walking through those woods was marvelous and such an adventure for a small child. I remember going swimming at the indoor pool and a grandparent watching me through the glass window from the cafe. I also remember going to Wicksteed Park in Kettering. It was marvelous.

We moved to Kettering in 1971 and I attended St. Andrews. My mother married my step-father who is an American. He was stationed at RAF Alconbury in the U.S. Army (they only have U.S. Air Force there now).

I'm still a British citizen even though I came to America in 1973 (too proud to give it up). I spent many years in Germany. I still have relatives in Corby (Brian and Nora Dowell are my uncle and aunt, Jane Tyler (nee Dowell) is my cousin, Moira Healy is my aunt, and Mary Lynch is my grandmother. Cousins who live elsewhere in the UK but still return from time to time are Paul Healey (aka Barry Vickers); DOnna Vickers;Christopher Vickers and Scott Dowell