Ampthill Past Memories

Alan Bush was born in Ampthill. Hear the third part of his story here, read by his son Paul.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

This special edition podcast, the last of the series - links the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on the oak trees in Ampthill Great Park.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

This special edition podcast - links the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Ampthill during WW1 and WW2. John Hele talks about the training camps and prisoner of war camps Ampthill hosted in the 20th century.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

This special edition podcast - links the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Ampthill House. Sir Anthony Wingfield kept a menagerie there in the early 20th century.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

This special edition podcast - linked to the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on how the masquerade came to Ampthill in 1979.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

This special edition podcast - linked the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Richard Nicolls. He led a mission to seize New Netherland (which later became New York) in 1664.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

This special edition podcast - linked the sculpture "If The Oaks Could Speak" that has been entered into the Ampthill Eco-Sculpt competition 2025 - focuses on Katherine of Aragon. She ended up in exile in Ampthill following her divorce from Henry VIII in 1533.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

George Maxted was born in Edgware in 1938, moving to Ampthill in 1972. Hear his story here.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

Mavis Knight was born in Ampthill 1935. Hear her story here.

Ampthill Past Memories is a podcast series from the Ampthill and District Preservation Society.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.

Marion McClurg, interviewed by Mariella Cook for the Ampthill Past Memories Project, recounts her life in Ampthill since her birth in 1941. Marion's father, an engineer from Dublin, met her mother, Hilda White, at a dance in Bedford. Marion attended St. Claire's Catholic School and later Russell School, where she was a first student. She worked at various jobs, including at the Trade Protection Society and Bedfordshire County Council, before becoming a qualified social worker. Marion reminisces about Ampthill's shops, community activities, and the changes over the years, including the growth of Hampton Rally and the impact on infrastructure.

Long-standing residents of Ampthill and around, have recorded their memories of Ampthill Past giving a unique insight into their personal and working lives of several decades ago.  The interviews conjure up a fabulous picture of how Ampthill used to be and highlights some of the interesting goings on and colourful characters that used to reside in the area.If you would like to be involved and help us continue to preserve Ampthill’s historic past, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Ampthill and District Preservation Society website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for further information.