"Think your site is great, my Parents live in St Ives,so I found it very interesting, as Mum's Brother in Law lived at the Golden Lion with his mother when he was three, she was the cook there, anyway we have always admired the Victorian photo there and would really love a copy/s to give to his children as a momento,(not that he is on it!) but I don't know where I found this photo, drawn blanks as to where we can obtain it from, looking on your site and there was the photo, so I'm now hoping that you may be able to help me get the photo for them Kind Regards" (Vivienne Fletcher)
Sorry, I can't remember the source of the photo. But try asking Bob Burn-Murdoch, the curator of the Norris Museum (tel 01480-497314).

"Great site it is so good to see someone who cares so much about St Ives. Is it ok if I put a link thru from stivesbiz.org.uk? One question what would you call a resident of St Ives - a St Ivian????" (Richard Waters)
All links welcomed! St Ivian sounds right to me. (PG)

"I think the page about Slepe Hall School is great - several things had changed by the time I was a student there from 1955-1960.  I wonder if Ms. Yeandle is still alive and well and able to attend what is likely to be the schools last Old Girls' Day in May of 2010.  Girls from my form, who graduated in 1960, have been been organizing them at Slepe Hall since at least 1997 every two years. These girls want/need to give it up and there do not appear to be any others (younger?) willing to take it on.  Contact Judy Poulter (née Stiles) at judypoulter@talktalk.net who has been editing The Buckfield Times for the last few years.
I emigrated to Canada in 1965 now living in Penetanguishene, Ontario.  I married, have 3 children and 6 grandchildren, and recently retired from my Admin Asst position at the local psychiatric hospital. Thanks for the site." (Wendy Maurice, née Tidd)

"I love your site,as a young American in the 70's. I was stationed at RAF Alconbury and loved every minute of it." (Gary Klein, USA)

"This is great - we visiting next weekend and were looking for some tourist information - you have designed this site for people just like us coming for a couple of days and want to know what to look out for I will certainly be looking above the shops as well as into them - thanks for all your hard work." (Lynn Stone)

"Follow through very good. Interesting and informative. My interest comes from family connected to St Ives. Sadly my search for my great-grandparents dwellings has gone under the Car Park." (Sandra Bullock)

"I searched St. Ives because my Great-Great-Grand-Father was born there.  His name was Thomas Askew.  He married an Anna Cozzens in 1828.   He came to America and settled in Scriba, Oswego County, New York.   I was born in Oswego, New York in 1940.  I currently live in San Antonio, Texas." (Robert Askew)

"Great. I live in St Ives and am doing a college project on how transport has affected the physical shape of town from 1822 (causeway built)." (Colin Hudson)

"This is probably the home town of my ancestors." (James F. Ives, USA)

"I have just discovered your wonderful and accurately descriptive site. I am a St Ives resident of some 44 years and continue to find new historical memories of our town. I am trying to find some history of a large house which is next to my property in Bury Way/Bury Close. Seems to have been built in the early part of the last century and was once owned by the Huckle family. Maybe they were farmers or corn merchants? It is still an elegant, red brick mansion, now turned into individual apartments. Would be great if someone knew more about its past. Thank you again for this excellent website." (Vernon Turner)
Many thanks for your message. I expect you know Bob Burn-Murdoch of the Norris Museum. He might be able to help you find out more about about the house. (PG)

"Fantastic site. Brings back memories of St.Ivo School 1975 to 82, camping /fishing on sea scouts island. Drinking at Oli (Cromwell) pub.  Football/Running at the Top Track (now Outdoor Sports complex)." (Steve Pywell)

"Excellent. I'm a St ivian living in Peru and excellent photos and topics" (will handley)

"I think this site was very informative.I used to live here from 1966-1969.  My dad was stationed at Alconbury.  I was a teen and I had the best time of my life in St. Ives. If anyone knows of Ronnie Wheeler, I would love to hear from him." (Christine Bertieri Zehring)

"Great site. Moved to St Ives from Birmingham in 1961. I was the only Aston Villa supporter in St Ives at that time. Many happy memories including North Road School, St Ivo and all nighters at The Rec Centre. Lived in Elm Drive but now live near Kettering." (John Barnett)

"Wonderful site esp. for me as I was born(1925) and grew up in St.Ives/ Hem Grey. Lived just over the New Bridges in London Rd. until I got a scholarship to Huntingdon Grammar at 11yrs, and we moved to Hem Grey. Crawled everyday, over the railway crossing (busy then with Mr Viles the crossing keeper) to first the Infants School in Pig Lane and then The Boys Council School in North St. I say `crawled` because we used to play marbles in the gutter nearly all the way home. Not much traffic then! I remember being taken out into the playground at the Infants to see a huge airship going over - the Graf Zeppelin I think. So many memories; October fair - the music and coloured lights, so rare in those days and even then naphthalene flares on some of the stalls. Health and Safety eat your heart out! Two massive steam engines throbbing away between the `noahs ark` and the `dodgems` in the Broadway - these can be seen at the Thursford Museum in North Norfolk, a place well worth a visit, regular visits by a circus in the old Dolphin field and one by the famous Alan Cobham Flying Circus, lots of sheep in the pens at the end of Market Hill, ice skating most winters on Hemingford meadow - wooden bodied skates that literally screwed in to the heel of your shoe with a strap over the front, sold by Whalleys ironmongers in Bridge St. An earlier correspondent mentioned the stables at the rear of the Bridge Hotel. One of these was used by the cubs/scouts as their HQ with  `young` Dr.`Billy` Groves as Scoutmaster - always `young` as his father was also a GP in the town. Owing, I think, to an alleged misdemeanor we lost our HQ and for a long time used to meet by a campfire in a field down Meadow Lane, even in midwinter. Mention of Pursers garage - I think it was Pursers, before Ramsey Rd, had their premises in Bridge St with two petrol pumps actually on the pavement (left side looking to bridge). I delivered papers for Mr.Dady at his newsagents shop nearly opposite. Could go on- and on,but must stop!I left St Ives in 1947 but my mother lived in Hem Grey till she died in 1988. I now live in Diss Norfolk and still miss the river - spent all my childhood in or on it!'' (Ken Favell)

"its great. I miss St Ives and this site lets me go back home now and again. I have been in the usa for 24 years now and have not been back home for 15 years but that will change next month, can not wait." (Donna Cuevas, NM usa)   

"fantastic!!!  i used to live in St Ives and surrounding villages and now live in Lincoln and have gone back to college.  I am doing a local history project on Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots, this has given me some invaluable information." (Dionne Mitchell)

"I visited St.Ives in 11/07. My first trip abroad from Barnesville GA USA. I love the place and the museum and Floods. I wish I was there now. Hey to our friends Steve &Tracy Small." (Charles Wheeler, 297,Freeman Rd. Barnesville GA 30204)   

"Brilliant, i actually came across your site whilst trying to find out the former name of what is now called "the lounge" i believe as i have some fond and rather drunken memories of frequenting during the early nineties, I live in ipswich now but my heart will always be in St.Ives." (jackie stewart)

"My father was in the US Air Force and we were stationed at Alconbury in the 80's (1982-1985).  Since I was only a little girl at the time, my memories are a bit hazy. I do remember going to an English school and having English friends as well as friends that were fellow Air Force Brats. My parents are Oscar and Shirley Vigil and I have a younger brother Anthony "Tony" Vigil and I believe we lived at 11 California Road. That's really all I remember except for some inexplicable reason, I remember my teachers names....Mrs. Bellamy??? Miss McClockland (Married name was Walker) and I remember the Headmistress name was Miss Barrett?" Anyone remember me or my family, email me at tracymarie_vigil@yahoo.com." (Tracy Vigil)

"You might be interested in that the new Stagecoach service 55 is shown as taking 37 mins to Cambridge. The inherited service scheduled time was 33. Whippet going thru Fenstanton and Bar Hill schedule for 36. It seems that Stagecoach are preparing for a longer time for the "high speed" guided bus costing £120m plus." (Colin Saunderson)

"I liked this site. Just enough to whet appetite for a visit. I live in Hitchin" (Peter Dane)

"Excellent, been to dinner at Riverside Restaurant The Quay, area lovely which got my interest going. we will be coming back shortly for a sunday lunch and a lovely stroll." (Ron Jack)

"Nice pictures. Something of railway interest would be nice!!" (Paul Webb)

This is all that remains of the railway: the old Railway Hotel, now used as offices, at the end of Station Road just past Waitrose. The station was just beyond it. The last train was in October 1970. (PG)

"This site is great! You have a real treasure-trove of information and photographs here, which must have taken ages to compile. Fantastic work! Is all of the information you have on your website? I'm trying to find out more about my house, Fairfield Bury, on the edge of the Hill Rise estate. If you know anything more about the house, or about the Lindsells, Newtons or Huckles, that would be great! I can provide you with lots of info on them if you would like it? The Lindsells particularly were a very well respected family, and Robert, who first lived in my house in 1898, was a co-founder of Wells & Co, the brewers. Thanks again for a really interesting site!" (Sarah Phelps)
Can anyone help? If so, I'd be pleased to forward emails. (PG)

"We have lived in St Ives for 15 years and we have gradually grown to love this quirky town.Your site was extremely informative. However , you have made an error in the description of 1 of the shops that you mention in your reviews. The WHSmiths store that is now prominent in the town centre took over from Choices and not Blockbusters as you mention in your piece. Choices was significant because it's founder lives in the nearby village of Hemingford Grey. The original chairman was very passionate about his local Choices store and when the chain of stores fell victim to the climate of internet downloading he was saddened. Therefore he would be very disappointed to see it referred to as a Blockbusters store." (Robert Hawksworth)
Many thanks for the correction. As an ex-Choices customer, I don't know what I was thinking of, especially as Choices had been a noted supporter of local events! (PG)

"excellent." (sue rice)

"I enjoyed this very much. I was a pupil at Slepe Hall from 1951-1955. At that time the school was rather grim, there was food rationing still and little in the way of heat. I would like to know why the school closed ten years after I left." (Jill McNichol-Harrell)

"I may be moving to st Ives and wanted to see it from a local perspective, you truly love it and it seem a georgous place to live." (Kellie Watts)

"Please can you help to promote the following event: Relay for Life is a unique event which honours Cancer Survivors, remembers those lives taken away by cancer and educates the community into cancer prevention. We have a Relay taking place in St Ives on August 2nd & 3rd 2008 at St Ivo Outdoor Centre. For more information please visit www.cancerresearchuk.org/relay or telephone 01223 404195. Thanks" (Victoria Gilham)



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A personal view
by Philip Grosset