Born in Battle Hospital in the 60s. Lived in Tilehurst till I was 9. Exiled now for nearly 5 decades but my heart will always be in the town of my birth.
Thought I'd do a bit of a fly-over view of Reading since I can't come there and experience it myself. You see, my ancestry information tells me my connection to Reading Berkshire goes back hundreds of years. Where others get a bit of this and a bit of that on their ancestry DNA results, mine are around 90% all based in Reading. To top that off, I've NEVER been there! I came once to the UK about 30 years ago but didn't know my exact genealogical location until about 7 years ago. I wish I had known it when I visited. I could have explored the area more in first person. Now it's too late and difficult for me (with a disability). So thank you to ALL who have put up videos and photos of the area so I can get to know it a little.
Magic video. Born in Reading 1976, left in 1993, went back in 2011 and it blew my mind how much it had changed. Lovely video thank you for uploading and sharing it.
Brilliant compilation! At first you think you're seeing things, with then and now so cunningly blended. Born in Reading early in the war; knew of the tragic People's Pantry bombing but had no idea that Greyfriars had also suffered so badly. At 3:21 a rare picture of one of the Leyland Titan TD1 double-deckers---my favourites when they were still on the road---with their quietish petrol engines and chiming gearboxes. Very sad that so many fine buildings for which a new life could have been found were simply wiped off the map by the ignorant, narrow-minded decisions of unimaginative Councillors. There must have been a few dissenters, but they were always overruled by the bulldozer-happy brigade.
You never really hear much about Reading during WW2, I assume some of the damage we are seeing is a result of German bombs. I grew up near Reading in the early 1980s...my mum used to take me to the centre a few times a year. Sometimes we'd go by bus, other times by train (preferred by me, at the time.) Reading was one of our 'go to' places for shopping, especially for things we couldn't easily get in my town. My mum never liked driving far; Bracknell and Camberley were out of the question unless we went on a weekend with dad. So Reading it was!! It was a fun, carefree time to grow up. Reading has become a lot more pedestrian-friendly since then I think, but I remember the long line of dirty diesel buses lined up and trying to figure out which one we needed to take to get home! The trains were easier, although they were elderly first-generation electric or diesel units back then, depending on where you were going (we were on the non-electrified line.) Funny, those decrepit old trains would have been 20-25 years old back then...people must feel the same way about Thames Turbos on the route now, also 25 years old and due for replacement. Apologies for the rant. I only lived in Berkshire for 5 years of my life...such a short time, really. But because of my age during those 5 years, I consider it the area that 'I grew up' in, and it always feels like home when I return. It's kind of weird. Thanks for sharing the photos, history and nostalgia.
I want to join your group but you must have disbanded? I can't find you on Facebook, shame as I'm Reading born and bred, I now live in Australia but your short vid had this now Aussie bloke blubbing! 😭😭😭 So many memories of my youth! 💖💖💖
Oh yes lovely stuff, Wellsteeds damaged following the bombs dropped on 'The Peoples Pantry' area around Market Place during the Second World War & some supporters at the 'Reading End' of the Norfolk Road entrances to dear old Elm Park.
+Peter Moring Come Join the 'Old Reading' Group and you will get all the information you need about Reading and it's Greater Surrounding Area:facebook.com/groups/Old.Reading/
![Oxford, England 1920s in color [60fps, Remastered] w/sound design added](/img/n.gif)
THAT WAS VERY INTERRSTING THANKS ALOT
Born in Battle Hospital in the 60s. Lived in Tilehurst till I was 9. Exiled now for nearly 5 decades but my heart will always be in the town of my birth.
Thought I'd do a bit of a fly-over view of Reading since I can't come there and experience it myself. You see, my ancestry information tells me my connection to Reading Berkshire goes back hundreds of years. Where others get a bit of this and a bit of that on their ancestry DNA results, mine are around 90% all based in Reading. To top that off, I've NEVER been there! I came once to the UK about 30 years ago but didn't know my exact genealogical location until about 7 years ago. I wish I had known it when I visited. I could have explored the area more in first person. Now it's too late and difficult for me (with a disability). So thank you to ALL who have put up videos and photos of the area so I can get to know it a little.
Brilliant , I loved Arther hills swimming baths and the trolly buses.
The peacock pub, Burtons (two shops)
Magic video. Born in Reading 1976, left in 1993, went back in 2011 and it blew my mind how much it had changed. Lovely video thank you for uploading and sharing it.
Fabulous
Fascinating blend of the old and new! Clever and rather poignant. More like this, please.
Absolutely wonderful. such a lot of hard work beautifully blended Thank you!
Brilliant compilation! At first you think you're seeing things, with then and now so cunningly blended. Born in Reading early in the war; knew of the tragic People's Pantry bombing but had no idea that Greyfriars had also suffered so badly. At 3:21 a rare picture of one of the Leyland Titan TD1 double-deckers---my favourites when they were still on the road---with their quietish petrol engines and chiming gearboxes. Very sad that so many fine buildings for which a new life could have been found were simply wiped off the map by the ignorant, narrow-minded decisions of unimaginative Councillors. There must have been a few dissenters, but they were always overruled by the bulldozer-happy brigade.
Reading born and bread! Great video!
Bred!
Excellent. Very enjoyable to watch. Thanks.
You never really hear much about Reading during WW2, I assume some of the damage we are seeing is a result of German bombs.
I grew up near Reading in the early 1980s...my mum used to take me to the centre a few times a year. Sometimes we'd go by bus, other times by train (preferred by me, at the time.) Reading was one of our 'go to' places for shopping, especially for things we couldn't easily get in my town. My mum never liked driving far; Bracknell and Camberley were out of the question unless we went on a weekend with dad. So Reading it was!!
It was a fun, carefree time to grow up. Reading has become a lot more pedestrian-friendly since then I think, but I remember the long line of dirty diesel buses lined up and trying to figure out which one we needed to take to get home! The trains were easier, although they were elderly first-generation electric or diesel units back then, depending on where you were going (we were on the non-electrified line.) Funny, those decrepit old trains would have been 20-25 years old back then...people must feel the same way about Thames Turbos on the route now, also 25 years old and due for replacement.
Apologies for the rant. I only lived in Berkshire for 5 years of my life...such a short time, really. But because of my age during those 5 years, I consider it the area that 'I grew up' in, and it always feels like home when I return. It's kind of weird. Thanks for sharing the photos, history and nostalgia.
The famous player of the Mozart horn concerto whose name escapes me for now, lived in Reading I believe.
Brilliant,what more can I say,👍👍
Good old days 😜
love to see my street how it looked back then
Does anyone else any old photos of the pub in Reading The Engineers Arms before it was demolished please?
Brilliant
0:29 - What happened to that tower thing on top of St Mary's Church? Was it bombed?
I want to join your group but you must have disbanded? I can't find you on Facebook, shame as I'm Reading born and bred, I now live in Australia but your short vid had this now Aussie bloke blubbing! 😭😭😭 So many memories of my youth! 💖💖💖
Hi, it's now called 'The Old Reading Plus Group', hopefully this link works facebook.com/groups/213251102163921
Oh yes lovely stuff, Wellsteeds damaged following the bombs dropped on 'The Peoples Pantry' area around Market Place during the Second World War & some supporters at the 'Reading End' of the Norfolk Road entrances to dear old Elm Park.
It's a great shame there were no captions in this video :-(
+Peter Moring Come Join the 'Old Reading' Group and you will get all the information you need about Reading and it's Greater Surrounding Area:facebook.com/groups/Old.Reading/
What road is it at 1:19?
Elm Park football ground on Norfolk Road
@@thebiscuitmen Ah thought it might be, thanks
Huntely is very old bisuit factory