Guest Book

Sadly, the original guest book feature used on this page was just too tempting to the idiots whose sole entertainment seems to be based around ruining other peoples pleasure. Therefore, rather than the interactive page we had before, please e-mail us your entries to the address below. Please place "Guest Book" in the title so I can identify it from the rest of the 'Spam' and add it to the list of entries the more genuine people listed below have left us in the past!

Guest@snarestone.org.uk

Date:
07 Nov 2005
Time:
21:36:41

Comments

I am an American who has had the pleasure of visiting your wonderful village twice since my brother and family moved there. I was very excited to see your ambitious website not only to enjoy it myself, but also to share with my American friends who are interested in the unique charms of the English countryside, its villages and friendly residents. Thank you, Carol Frey

Date:
29 Nov 2005
Time:
16:36:17

Comments

Wonderful to see snow in the run up to Christmas! And to see the good old British countryside again. Great website. Will be viewing regularly! Stacey Short, U.S.A.

Date:
08 Dec 2005
Time:
13:45:43

Comments

where are the photos of the xmas party would be nice to see them kimberley locke

Date:
08 Dec 2005
Time:
17:26:20

Comments

I have put some pictures of the party on the link from the "Latest News" page, under Christmas Party. If anyone has any others, please let me know and, with parental permision, maybe we can add them to the page. Snarestone.org.uk.

Date:
09 Dec 2005
Time:
22:40:10

Comments

Congratulations Matthew Evans on winning the mint chocolates - don't forget to save one for Nanny Mildred and Grandad Ron !

Date:
10 Dec 2005
Time:
15:47:30

Comments

Thank you for inviting us to the oap christmas party, we had a great time. It was nice to meet new people, you all made us feel so welcomed. It's quite remote where we live and we do not have the opportunity to meet many people. Thank you to the Committee and all those who helped, you all did a great job. Kathy and David

Date:
11 Dec 2005
Time:
22:20:40

Comments

Thanks for putting the photos up,but percy took a picture on his camera of kimberly,alex,josh and daniel and we would wish to copy it seen as daniels camera has broke with all the photos on it. Many thanks a snarestone villager

Date:
17 Dec 2005
Time:
10:18:11

Comments

My name is Carol Roberts living in Perth Western Australia, I was born at 67 Main st Snarestone to Cynthia Mcgregor nee Glover. This web page is excellent to show my grandchildren who will probably never get there in person. Thankyou again

Date:
18 Dec 2005
Time:
13:34:14

Comments

most enjoyable browse. how things change, it does not seem 43 years since i last rode my push bike through snarestone, i had a few beers in the globe , seasons greetings to all from Christine and Norman Roach. brisbane australia ex pat appleby parva

Date:
22 Dec 2005
Time:
12:35:37

Comments

I have been looking at your site for some time now with interest. I was born in Snarestone in 1940. Our house was attached to the Old Globe in Old Globe Yard, sadly now non-existent - though the last time I was there (some time ago) the outside toilet was still standing!! Snarestone was a magical place to grow up in and there are many stories to tell. The photographs bring back many memories. To Carol, who wrote from Perth, Western Australia, your mother Cynthia was a friend of my eldest sister Jean. Your grandparents' house backed onto the Old Globe Yard and we all grew up together. I remember your Aunts May and Josie, and Uncle Raymond, and of course your grandparents Cath and Jo, and also the dog Floss! To Norman Roach, who wrote from Brisbane, Australia, I went to Ashby Girls Grammar School with your sister Gillian from 1951-1956. I still have a cousin in the village, Judy, who lives on Quarry Lane, and a sister in Measham. Could go on and on, but don't want to bore everyone. My name at that time - Patsy Ratcliffe.

Date:
22 Dec 2005
Time:
16:03:10

Comments

Merry Christmas to my extended family in Snarestone. Keep up the good work - Neil, in Pedmore.

Date:
26 Dec 2005
Time:
12:04:43

Comments

my name is susan hutchinson, (nee brewin), my mams name is cynthia mcgregor (nee glover), my grandma was cath glover now deceased, she was the village postie for many years. i now live in lanarkshire, central scotland but visit snrestone a couple of times every year to see my mam and my sister helen locke. The village is so different to the days my older sister carol and myself used to go down to the canal with a gang including frank clamp, ian nash dennis nash and rodney wainwright. This page is great and brings back some happy memories of my youth.

Date:
12 Jan 2006
Time:
09:18:09

Comments

Following a visit to our good friends Ray & Chris Mounfield, we became aware of the Snarestone website and have just spent a very pleasant half hour browsing and reminising on your site. We ran the boarding kennels at Station House for 13 years until 1991 and would just like to send our very best wishes for a Happy New Year and in particular to the ladies of the Church Coffee mornings. We now live in the beautiful county of Shropshire, between Shrewsbury and Oswestry, and still manage to return to Snarestone occasionally to catch up on all the many changes that have been made since our time. Best regards Eric & Barbara Sutton

Date:
17 Jan 2006
Time:
10:45:50

Comments

I have a friend in the village I haven't seen for sometime, very good looking chap about 6ft,slim with short dark hair, although this may now be greying as he must be nearing 40 now. He married a lovely lady and has 2 smashing boys. He is a keen golfer and has been seen hacking his way around the Belfry on many occasions. He has probably retired from his footballing career but I have had the pleaseure of playing alongside the "midfield maestro" and witnessed his greatest ever goal! From his own half, he calls it a shot others call it a clearance, he belted the ball it bounced a number of times before trickling over the goal line. Oh such fond memories. Great website and lovely village from what I can remember on my few visits about 5 or so years ago. Thank you David.

Date:
03 Feb 2006
Time:
16:56:23

Comments

Hi, I first viewed this site after visiting the panto last year when I wanted to see the photographs. I am really impressed with how it has developed, how easy it is to navigate and how much information is available. I have friends in the village so look forward to the next panto. and will visit this site again, thanks to all who have contributed to it.

Date:
07 Mar 2006
Time:
21:00:49

Comments

hello i am Maureen Sumner nee Roach. my parents kept the Moores Arms at one time i live at Measham now. I have found your village website very interesting.I,m just getting used to my Lap Top and am exploring the places that i have lived in.ie.Appleby Magna also Twycross. I think its fantastic that I,m able to do this. thanking you again.

Date:
17 May 2006
Time:
10:23:47

Comments

Very good site.

Date:
16 Jun 2006
Time:
21:00:26

Comments

I am descended from a Snarestone family - the Spencers who were in Snarestone from about 1770 to 1870 or so. There are a number of Spencer graves in the churchyard. They were farmers but I have not so far been able to find out which farm they worked or which house they lived in. I have visited the village a couple of times and enjoyed looking around. I expected the church to be locked but was disappointed that there was no indication of how access could be obtained. If anybody has any knowledge of the Spencers in Snarestone I would be interested to hear about it. David Spencer (now of Wigston).

Date:
01 Jul 2006
Time:
19:35:48

Comments

cracking web site , We will be visiting Ashby in September ,And have a few pints in the village...

Date:
10 Oct 2006
Time:
15:34:32

Comments

To B and the 3 blokes, Unfortunately, due to "un-explainable technical events" (Translation: I blame the hosting company!) your last comment left here has been lost somewhere over the Atlantic! Please do not feel this is a personal slur! Quite the opposite infact, as the village hasnt been the same since you left it. But perhaps if you see this, you might want to place a new entry, now that you are hopefully settled in your home. R.

Date:
12 Oct 2006
Time:
17:43:49

Comments

********** CONGRATULATIONS JEAN ALLEN ********** Mum, well done on winning the gardening group photo competition! BTW, like the site....I'll be able to keep an eye on what my mum and dad get up to in the village now ;-) Lisa

Date:
15 Oct 2006
Time:
10:51:16

Comments

hi my names jonathan sullivan i went to school in the village and left for secondry school in 1996 when i went to robert sutton in burton i was just wondering if there was anybody who came on this site that went to the school at the same time it would be great to hear from my old classmates i still keep in touch with a few of them.by the way well done on this website

Date:
06 Nov 2006
Time:
23:07:40

Comments

Hello Snarestone and all of its residents ............ Web site looks great and maybe you could all work to supplement the history recording capability of the site - how about a hatches, matches and despatches (sorry for the irreverence but I know your general sense of humour can handle it!) section. You could actually run a daily BLOG so that the history of Snarestone is recorded for posterity. Just a thought - keep up the good work ! A regularly visiting Brummie .....

Date:
24 Dec 2006
Time:
21:43:54

Comments

Happy New Year!!! real good site! good news!

Date:
27 Dec 2006
Time:
00:26:40

Comments

HAPPY NEW YEAR to Helen, Ivan Locke, Claire and Matt, Suzanne, Gaz and kids, Kimberley, and mam Cynthia McGregor. Love you all. From Sue Hutchinson

Date:
19 Jan 2007
Time:
12:00:06

Comments

Hi, I am researching my family history and have found that my gt.gt.grandparents Thomas Willson and Ann Sylvester were born in Snarestone. They married at Snarestone 16th April 1811.I have been unable to find out more and would be grateful for any information about this family. Marj.

Thank you Marj for leaving a message here, our history pages will hopefully be taking off this year, and the gentleman doing this knows an awful lot about the people and events around the village for generations. Please email the website if you can (The address/link is on the home page), and I will pass on your mail  to him. - Richard, Snarestone Web site.

Date:
22 Jan 2007
Time:
17:36:57

Comments

I had an email from my cousin Kathleen Curley (this is her maiden name and unfortunately do not know her married name.) She recently moved to Snarestone with her husband Dave and has a daughter called Jacqueline who also lives in the village. She sent me an email via Friends Reunited. I clicked to reply and have to update by payment my Friends Reunited account before I can do this. Not happy with that so I am hoping this will be passed to her via this site. Please could you ask her to email me at roberta(Underscore)sandeman(at)yahoo.com Many thanks ps. If you cannot do this please would you let me know via the email address above and I will very reluctantly go via Friends Reunited.

Date:
04 Feb 2007
Time:
01:26:04

Comments

I AM LOOKING AT RENTING BRIDGE COTTAGES AT BRIDGE NO 59 FROM THE OWNER EDWARD GLOVER IN THE VILLAGE.AFTER SEPERATING FROM MY WIFE AND LIVING IN UPTON NEAR SIBSON I THOUGHT THESE COTTAGES WERE IN A WONDERFUL LOCATION AS MY MOTHER AND FATHER HAVE A NARROW BOAT WHICH THEY COULD VISIT ME ON AND MOORE CLOSE BY. I HAVE VISITED THE LOCAL PUBLIC HOUSE THE GLOBE WITH BOTH MY YOUNG SONS SPENCER AND ELLIOTT WHO CAN NOT WAIT TO PLAY IN THE BEER GARDEN ON THE ADVENTURE PLAY GROUND WHEN THE WEATHER ALLOWS.WE ALL HAD A WONDERFUL MEAL THAT EVENING AND LOOK FORWARD TO BECOMING PART OF THE VILLAGE SHOULD WE DECIDE TO RENT THE COTTAGE. BEST WISHES DAVID,SPENCER AND ELLIOTT WAGSTAFFF...I AM A YOUNG 41..SPENCER 9 AND ELLIOTT 6

Date:
08 Feb 2007
Time:
13:28:23

Comments

What an excellent website. I have been following events for a little while now as I am descended from a local family (Lawlass). I have not ever visited but intend to do so. Alison Wheatcroft

Date:
20 Mar 2007
Time:
17:43:28

Comments

Looks great! I found lots of interesting things here. Many thanks. Nice site.

Date:
04 Apr 2007
Time:
17:31:27

Comments

Hi, We are due to move into the village very soon, we hope - there have been several delays with solicitors and all the legal stuff, so the 'completion' date has been changed several times! The website looks very impressive and seems a very nice community. We are looking forward to joining everyone and will try to get in touch with, and get to know, people once we get the keys to the new house. We might drop in for the Easter duck race if we can... Cheers, Emma & Steve.

Date:
13 Apr 2007
Time:
09:15:05

Comments

Hi this Phyl & Dave Lowe Sorry we have not contacted sooner but finding, buying and moving in to our new home in France has taken quite a while. We would like to thank every one in the village for the fabulous presents and send off you gave us. The Measham teapot and Snarestone Mugs have Pride of place in our new Home. If anyone is passing or needs to stay in France please pop in or give us an e-mail or phone call, Mike and Trudy Gee have all our details. We miss the village but not cold damp England. Good luck with the return of the Summer Fair, hard work but very rewarding. Thank you all once again Phyl and Dave Lowe

Date:
23 Apr 2007
Time:
10:52:46

Comments

Thank you to all staff at the Globe for a pleasant weekend enjoyed by the Land Rover Caravan Club. Pam & Alan Bird

Date:
16 May 2007
Time:
12:21:37

Comments

Zoe, thanks for visiting our website and your comments and requests. I have passed your note on the school head master, and I wish you well with your career.

Snarestone web site.

Date:
02 Jun 2007
Time:
13:12:16

Comments

Looking forward to visiting my family in august for 4 weeks. Especially my mother Cynthia Mcgregor of Main st for her 80th birthday Sept 10th, also my sister Helen Locke and all of her family and hopefully my sister Sue Hutchinson will also be there see you all soon. Love you all. Carol Roberts Perth Western Australia

Fielding family history research. 

I am researching my ancestor’s family history which was all based in and around Snarestone and Appleby Magna in the early 19th century.

Using census records I find my 2nd great grandfather, James Fielding, born 1807, lived in Long Street, Snarestone with his 7 children. One of his sons, George H. Fielding, born 1837, became postmaster of Snarestone and his wife Harriet, the postmistress and they lived on Quarry Lane. They went on to have 13 children! One of James daughters, Mary, married a well known farmer’s son, William Taverner of Snarestone in 1874.

If anyone from Snarestone has any historical information, or remembers the ‘The Fieldings’ I would be pleased to hear from them.

Thanks,

Anthony Fielding  (James’s 2nd Great Grandson)

Hello,
    My name is Geoffrey Pallett who lived at Appleby magna in BLACK HORSE HILL, I was one of two brothers and have one sister, and as a family walk we used to get water cress from Snarestone brook.
   But having a disciplined father bordering on being a bully, he made us walk to the tip at Snarestone and collect cinders what had been half burnt and disposed of by ,the then called dust men, I recall it was dangerous as we used to scramble down the heaped rubbish and pick the best out.with a large quantity of water in the hole,how deep I dont know suffice to say if one got in it ,it would be difficult to get out. A fall would have been disastorous to say the least, but these were the lengths we went through to have a fire in our grate. further to this the bends to this tip from Snarestone itself were very acute and worked for our benefit. Lorries from the Measham main colliery were all day along that road taking coal to various power stations ect, My father had the idea of us taking bricks with us and placing them in the vehicles path on the road so tipping it as it come around the bend and when the vehicle was out of site we swept it up and riddled lost slack or coal,then took it home....Yes I remember Snarestone, the trains labouring from Measham ,the changing seasons ,the wonderful autumn colours and the singing of the birds, yes the popular song then was Yellow bird high in the banana tree, I used to sing it all day long between the shafts of our two 9 inch cast iron wheeled barrow, it was hard going I can tell you. I now live at Seckington and I walk my Black Labrador dog most days around Snarestone as I am retired 40 years in medical profession.  Happy days. Geoffrey....

 

(Dec 2007)

I have been searching the web and myself doing some research on family
history.... How strange and wonderful the internet is...
I am wishing to make contact with a Norman Roach whom may be the person who
wrote from Brisbane Australia on 18 dec 2005.
Is there some way I could obtain there mail address or email?
Thank you
Tim Collins

Norman, if you would like to reply, please email the web site and I can put you in touch.
 
(January 08)

wishing jez and debbie all the best at the globe.

Simon.

(April 2008)

Hello .
I am geoffrey Pallett of Black Horse Hill Appleby Magna, Have two brothers and one sister, see previous jottings in this guest book, Anyone around remember the Victory coaches based at Ibstock and picked up the children from surrounding villages and Appleby Magna calling at Snarestone, Swepstone and Heather before arriving at Ibstock, I think the coach we used was a Tilling Stevens, Also anyone remember the Pallets that went to Ibstock and remember  Miss Kendal. Mr Slack {woodwork teacher} Buck Jones,Metalwork Mr Parfit,Sports Rugby..I hated it ,so cold in shorts... Mr Harrison, Gardening teacher, Mr Broughton, Jim..  Mr Timmis, upper class ,should have been at Eaton.. and not forgetting the science teacher Mr Jackie Fought, and finally Mr Warner the Head teacher..I remember their was a discipline on the coaches home no roudyness and bad behaviour,I travelled daily with my best friend Patrick Gothard also of Appleby Magna and still is.. but a few were travel sick on occasions.I can smell the engine of the bus/coach today, I remember they smelt different in those days, but we were impressionable...anyone remember me/us do get in touch.I live at Seckington now.. Wonderful site ..thank you Geoffrey Pallett...

(July 2008)

Hello lovely village of Snarestone!  As we brace ourselves to face another day of Midwestern summer sunshine, blue skies, and temps nearing 100 F (37+ C), we paused a moment this morning to visit Snarestone (via the Website!) and fortify ourselves with friendly faces and fond memories.  We so enjoyed the recent "mystery trip" pics.  Ahhh, bracing winds, "fresh" air, strong tea...the stuff dreams are made of.  Enough to make us homesick!  Sending love to all our friends in Snarestone and hoping some of our heat blows your way soon.
 
Beth and the 3 Blokes
 
(November 2008)

I must thank you for putting the World War 1 casualties on your Snarestone village site. My great Uncle Sam Tilson is one of the men named.

Please keep up the good work on your web site.
best wishes
Patricia Gould

(December 2008)

I really enjoyed reading about Snarestone, and looking at the lovely pictures. It is my hope to one day visit this tranquil, and lovely place. Thank you. Yours Truly Jacqueline Madden Fields, Humble Texas, USA

 

January 09

Hello again , I have sent two notes about various things in the past under Geoffrey Pallett originating from Black Horse Hill Appleby Magna see previous jottings,  I often take a walk quite regularly around Snarestone with my faithful 6 yr old black Labrador named Alfie,
  Just before Christmas I decided to park my car at the old canal bridge going out of Snarestone towards Twycross and venture along the old canal side ,I must say it was rivetting to hear the birds singing and the distant sound of the agriculture at work providing our bread for the table , the constant ebbing two and fro of the waters edge, seeing the occasional water rat and voal and hearing the distant gas guns which as a boy we never heard , it didnt seem necessary to use them, As I walked I decided to venture up on the old railway which crossed the canal and found the bridge had been taken down, I was part of  British Railways in the 50s being employed by them and lived in a railway house along the old line, I felt a deep sadness at the passing of the railway and I could hear the trains in my mind and see them day and night with their firebox open and the fire glowing in the night sky as they passed our station house at Measham and I visualised the fireman working so hard to keep the steam going by building the fire constantly, how hard they worked I thought. and I came across an old wooden railway line key that kept the line secure and brought it home as a reminder of better times. Yes I spent many hours watching the trains labour to and from Shackerstone the sky blackened by their smoke also to the annoyance of the wife of a railway worker who lived at the Snarestone station house whose washing had been sooted,cant recall her name. As I paused I reflected on where it had all gone wrong and I came across the answer and agreed with myself that it was PROFIT. After the Xmas feast myself and my wife decided to take a night drive around various villages and see the christmas lights in the windows of the cottages, I have always been impressed with Snarestones efforts and we  were truly delighted, again I asked myself where has it all gone wrong, again I came to my previous conclusion PROFIT...When I was a boy we didnt have a great deal but I cannot say everyone was like our family, I remember getting a sixpence and an orange and nothing else ,we didnt expect it, Since these times are in my memory I in adult life have felt the effects of this austerity in so much since I got married 41 yrs ago I seem to have been spoilt and each christmas I am showered with various gifts and feel the pain of embarrasment as old habits die hard as we never received such presents as a child. because I know now that where they have been purchased it involves  profit/commercialisation the very thing that has brought us to being greedy and distroyed the true meaning of christmas I dont condemn businesses they are in it for a living but when you see things supposedly reduced by £400 and they are still making a profit , I question the real mark up price  to customers, I think it is shameful....Recently I have been poorly and still being able to get about I have come to the conclusion whatever your class , whatever ones possessions the most important thing you cannot buy is.. GOOD HEALTH..Hoping to submit some more Jottings/observations in the future a wonderful site thank you. I wish all the readers and the people who dwell in the lovely little cottages of Snarestone a very happy and healthy new year Geoffrey of Seckington North Warwickshire

January 2010

Hello Snarestone
Your home looks a great place to live.  My family roots are in Snarestone but going back to 1800's early 1900's - family name Bonser - I have never  visited but will do now that I have seen what a wonderful place it is.
Sally Bonser
 

 

 

 

 

February 2010

Hello Snarestone Guestbook,

 
I have been reading you web site, enjoying the photographs and especially enjoyed the letters you receive to the 'Guestbook' portion.  
 
I grew up in Appleby Magna, living first as a baby in Church Street, and then as a young girl oh so happily at Lower Rectory Farm with my Grandparents Annie and Charlie Bates.  I left to live on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada with my parents Margaret and Charlie Bates in 1951 at the age of 13 years.  My mother was Margaret Sutton - the eighth daughter, one of the ten daughters of Herbert Sutton of Beanfield Farm in Snarestone.  Yes, ten daughters and he a farmer who would have liked to have a son.  Those ten daughters are now all gone. 
It was the three letters to the Guestbook by Mr. Geoffrey Pallett which prompted me to write to you.
Mr. Pallett I do not remember you, I am a little older than you I believe.  I do remember the Victory buses, or the school buses, for I am not sure of their name.  All my Appleby and Snarestone friends took these buses to Ibstock to school.  I went in a separate direction because my Grandfather Bates sent me to Ashby Ivanhoe School.  I never knew the reason why, but in those days we didn't ask questions - we just did as we were told.  Now I wish I had asked more questions. 
Mr. Pallett wrote of getting watercress from the Snarestone Brook, this may well have been from where the brook ran through our lower meadow.  I too used to go and gather watercress for my Grandmother Bates.  This would be for a Sunday tea when her sister Lizzie Rowland or her sister in law Annie Rowland (both of Top Street - opposite the Black Horse Pub) would have been invited.  That was 'great' watercress and I have never found any as good since that picked in the late 1940's. 
Mr. Pallett mentioned the bridge over the old railway line in Snarestone being gone now.  That lane was one of the routes used to go to Beanfield Farm in Snarestone and my mother would tell us tales of picking blackberries along that lane with her many sisters.   There is another driveway into Beanfield Farm of course, this one from the Swepstone direction.  Also there were foot paths which we could walk across through the fields.  My mother was very homesick for England and most particularly Snarestone and she would tell my sister, brother and I stories about growing up in lovely Snarestone. 
Another name which has been written in the 'guestbook' is by a member of the Roach family of Appleby Parva.  Norman Roach who lives in Brisbane, Australia now.  I remember a young boy named Roach and I believe he lived at the farm next to the Appleby Grammar School.  He was a good young friend and I believe he died before he was a teenager.  I also well remember the two Gothard families.  My Bible is one given to me by Mrs. Gothard and the Sunday School Class when I left to live in Canada.   I still prize that Bible. 
For the past 15 years my husband and I have visited Leicestershire and Derbyshire every second year and it is always a thrill to drive the byways of Appleby and Snarestone.
I retired three years before my husband and finding time on my hands and waiting patiently to move from Ontario, Canada, back to Vancouver Island, I found time to write five 'stories' for the Appleby web site.  I did this because my memories of growing up in Appleby Magna are all good, happy memories.  Appleby Magna also has an excellent web site.  Marilyn Dunkelman has done an amazing job and the history articles by Mr. Richard Dunmore I find very interesting.
Congratulations on the excellent Snarestone web site.  The photographs are always good to view and bring back memories. 
 
Thank you, Margaret ANNE SILINS (nee Bates) of Chemainus, Vancouver Island, Canada.

 

 

For the attention of Mrs mary Anne Silkins ne Bates, of Vancouver Island Canada please get in touch through the site manager of Snarestone Guest book who will give me your contact details ,  Thank you Geoffrey...

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