We've been collecting people's memories of Eaton Park by interview, at the open day and through the Norwich Evening News and Radio Norwich. Here are four interviews of local senior residents who recall things about Eaton Park. All of them have made and/or are still making a great contribution to the activities and running of the Community Centre.
Shirley (pdf)
Clem (pdf)
Merryl (pdf)
Betty (pdf)Through the press, we received a few calls with some memories. Here is one from Brendan who now lives in Canada:
As a kid growing up on Elizabeth Fry Road I spent a lot of time on the park, on the swings and slide, crawling through the bushes on the North Park Avenue side, sailing yachts on the boating pond, playing cricket and football and later on playing golf on the pitch and putt. Before the golf course there was a dump we use to spend time rumaging in. There used to be a cycle track were the golf course is and in the same area is where the circus would set up, Billy Smarts, Robert Brothers and Chipperfields. We spent time before the shows started watching them set up the big top and sometimes helping. Watching the elephants help raise the tent was something to see.
Thanks to all the people who responded to the Evening News and Radio Norwich requests. Do you have any memories of Eaton Park you'd like to tell us about. Please either phone 01603 451015 or send an email. Does anyone remember the rocking-horse?
At the open day on 15 June 2008 we put up flip-chart sheets and asked people to write up their memories. We ended the day with nine flip-chart sheets and here are some of the things people said:
Lisa, 38: Coming out early in the morning '87 [16 October], after the big storm, to look at all the damage and flooding!
Jennie, née Barrows (Australian), 60+: Tormenting the life out of Reggie, the then park-keeper.
Janet, 46: Coming here as a child and riding trains with my grand-dad as a driver. I now bring my own children here.
Jill, 66: Playing tennis here with my friend Vivien who gave me a drubbing.
Shirley, 45: Getting a hole-in-one on the putting green.
Mike, 82: I myself cannot remember the opening [of the park in 1928] but my sister assures me that I attended it in my pram!
Jonathan and Julia, 47, and Caitlin (10): sailing our home-made yacht, it didn’t go very well.
Jamie, 5: Having ice-creams and playing on the playground.
David, 43: Playing in the Norwich parks tennis tournament every year as a teenager.
Elaina, née Culling, 42: Climbing through the hedges from one end to the other without putting our feet on the ground. Also playing on our bikes on the skateboard dome (old one). Many more memories but we’d be here all day writing them.
Olly, 45!: In 1978 I took part in a talent competition with my comedy magic set. I came second! It was a fantastic sunny day – lots of people came.
Jack, 10: Biking with Kyal, Aiden and Jack last week.
Harley, 7: Flying that kite.
Eva, 3: Racing around the speedway track on my first bike (stabilisers), time 40 seconds.
Vic, Watching my grandsons playing tennis on a very cold Boxing Day.
Colin, 53: Seeing my father-in-law dancing!
S Khan, 34: Lovely park. Came with kids every weekend. Come and practise cricket.
Jane: Having a picnic September 27th, 1943, under the silver birch tree.
Amy, 6: Biking here.
Paula, 30 something!: Flying over the park in a hot air balloon after my wedding.
Clifford: playing football for the now defunct Norwich Rangers and the [unreadable] in the Thursday league.
CF 44: Playing in the boat pond and throwing my sister’s shoe in.
SA, 51: Bringing my children here as toddlers when I lived locally.
Kayleigh, 13: I came here with my best friend Becky, and made a cup of tea.
Trevor, 50+: Falling in the lily pond aged 7!
Bj¢rk, Danny, Ocean, 11+: Sailing home-made boats on the lake with Norwich Woodcraft Folk.
Tara, 12: It is very good to play in.
Kirstie J, 12: It’s very good to play in.
Casey, 14: Boat building.
Becky, 13: Working here with rangers. Lots of fun. Hope you did too!
Kayleigh, 13+: Came to work with West Norwich Junior Rangers. On break we sat in a fire engine and a coppers’ car!!! 4 fun.
Neville, 85: Standing at Colman Road shops in a crowd of mums watching Prince of Wales in open car coming to open park. Mums waving nappies to greet the Prince of Wales (they couldn’t afford flags).
Donna, 42: Hanging by my knicker elastic stranded at the top of the slide.
Erin, 7: Taking the dogs for a walk.
Lynn, 60: Watching Parkside Athletic losing 38-0.
Irene, 80: Riding on the top deck of the last tram to visit Eaton Park. From then on visiting regularly as a family with children and grandchildren.
Sophie, 12: Boat making.
Anna, 47: Watching my husband rescue a sailing boat stuck on an ice-flow in the middle of the boating lake on Boxing Day!
Sophie, 12: Helping the Rangers with all of this.
Jean, 63: Playing hide-and-seek around the bandstand and tormenting Reggie the park-keeper!
Unknown: My favourite memory is coming with my friends on weekend in my younger years. I’m now 78!
Amy, 21: Rolling down the banks and watching the sunsets.
Ali, 21: Playing on the playground and going for runs!!
L Jones, 58: Wonderful childhood memories, spent a lot of happy years in this park (teenage ones too).
Jess S, 12: I learnt to ride my bike without stabilisers.
Frankie, 10: I took a photo here and it won the Sainsbury’s 2005 photo competition. I won an £85 camera for free.
Lisa, 38: I remember the two big metal slides!
Paula, née Day, 62: Me too! Moved here in 1952 and practically lived in the park. Jam sandwiches and lemonade for lunch!
Holly, 5: I like the park.
Kevin, 14: Being told off by park-keeper.
Janet, 17: Met first husband over here 1963.
Helen, 44: Seeing a woodpecker in the rose garden early one summer’s morning.
Rick, 16: Taking a wicket - my first!
Christine, 62: Summer 2007: a heron every evening on the edge of the boating-pond until pond drained and fish removed!
Clifford, 70+: Sitting on the yachting pond wall, probably about 1945-6. Came with mother and friends from Mulbarton.
Becky, 13: Went here with Lucy and Hannah had fun with my cousins 3 to 6.
Kaylee, 13: I fell down a hole and laughed all the way home.
Amelii, 4: Cycling in the park this year.