The business was started by William Thomas Webb known locally as Bill Webb. He first started repairing cycles in his garden shed in Tower Road North where he lived at that time.

In 1979, we became Raleigh five star dealers which means we must carry a reasonable stock of cycles and spares. For about the last five years the mountain bike has accounted for approximately 75% of our sales. This is a brightly coloured, many geared, tough cycle ideal for use on or off road or along the cycle track.

The future of the bicycle looks rosy with more places to cycle and Governments looking to reduce the use of the motor car and, therefore, pollution.

Cycling is healthy, its friendly, doesnt pollute, is cheaper than most leisure activities, and almost anyone can cycle at any age, at anytime and virtually anywhere.

What will the next 100 years bring? Possibly a battery powered cycles with a small solar panel charging the battery.

Brenda Durnell

William John Hembrough was born 17th September 1870 at Stoke Bishop and started work with his master mason father at the age of 11 years. William John married Elizabeth Pearce at St. George in 1890 and they moved with their family to Bristwood Cottage, Norman Road, Warmley in September 1899.

After working as General Foreman for several building firms, William John was appointed as Clerk of Works for Warmley Rural District Council in 1919. He started his own business with his eldest son, Bill in the early twenties, trading as W.J. Hembrough & Son. They became a Limited Company in 1930, by this time employing his remaining four sons, Arthur, Ernest, Daniel and John, now becoming W.J. Hembrough & Sons Ltd.

At about this time they moved operations from Bristwood to the old Crown Colliery, London Road. They built private and council houses in the area including Church Avenue, Tower Road North, Station Road, Warmley and at Winterbourne, Marshfield and Wick.

By this time W.J. Hembrough had moved from Bristwood Cottage and was living at Oakhurst in Church Avenue. The Company these days is run by three grandsons and one great grandson, making it one of the oldest family run building companies in the area.

John Hembrough

I was born in 1908 at Webbs Heath where my parents kept a wooden shop facing the Heath until their death. This was a general store also selling paraffin, etc., a necessity then as there was no electricity at that time. Cooking was done on the coal grate and often when mother was cooking I helped in the shop and so learned the prices, etc., of that period.

In those days, transport was by tram cars from Bristol to Kingswood, trains at Warmley to Bristol and Bath and there were no buses so you either walked, cycled or went by pony and trap.
The average labourer was on wages between 1.10s.0d to 2 per week.

At the Bridgeyate cross-roads a Miss Bence kept a general store with a slaughter house at the rear (now gone) and later opened the Bence Bus Service at Hanham (now gone).

Father was for many years in the Siston Choir. He brought us into the Choir, later joined by members of the scouts and football team, in which he took a great interest.

I will always remember an incident that took place at the top of the hill near the church when the road caved in. We reported this to mother who, to my surprise, said that her father had worked at Siston Court and he often worked on the underground passages so mother already knew of these. One passage led to the old castle at the back of the Star Inn at Pucklechurch, the other led to a farm house.

Another incident I recall, was when my brother and I, together with a neighbour, came across the Heath and found a big hole which we thought had been dug by a farmer for cattle drinking, so we showed it to mother. It was a pit shaft and the Warmley Council later filled it in and removed the tumps off the Common with horses and carts. Later the same spot became the wicket for Siston Cricket Club.

Another true story my mother told me was about her brother, Frank, who also worked at Siston Court. Election time came around again and he was working on the estate. His employer, I believe, was a man called Dickenson who asked him who he was voting for. He told him Labour and was ordered to come up to the house immediately where he was informed that he would not have a Labour man working on the estate and was sacked on the spot.

The old school at Webbs Heath I well remember and the teachers of that time, Miss Rose, Miss Johnson and Miss Burchill (our favourite). I well remember having to face the cane for mischief. At first they tried to place me over a form but they forgot my feet, so she tried the cane. I put my hand out but when she brought the cane down I pulled my hand back and she hit herself and fainted by which time I was away. On returning home later I found her waiting. Needless to say I left the school and went to Bristol where they had football, rugby, cricket and boxing which was my delight and from then I certainly made sure to get the class points to join in all sports.

Siston Lane in those days was narrow and used mostly by farmers with horses and carts. There were two ridges in the road where they passed through and plenty of dust but the old Warmley Council kept a roadman all year round for maintenance of ditches, grass cutting and hedge trimming. This was before the days of tractors and so gave the roadman plenty to look after from Webbs Heath to the top of Siston Lane.

The Council piled up heaps of stone for the workmen to crack up before repairs as there was little tarmac in past days.

Dennis Jones

In 1957 my parents bought two acres of ground in Tower Road North from Hembrough & Sons, Builders. The ground had a number of large trees which were dug out by W.J. James & Son of Longwell Green. In the first year potatoes were planted to help clean the ground.

When I finished my National Service in 19581 started to work part-time m the Nursery. My father worked for Warmley R.D.C. as a carpenter and joiner at Warmley House. Our first greenhouse was an old lean-to bought from the Council which was erected at the side of Warmley House. It was duly demolished, renovated and is still in use today, forty years later.

Over the next few years I erected two new Hortus greenhouses. My produce was now being sent to the Bristol Market. As the ground opposite the market garden was now being turned into a small trading estate, people began to wander into the market garden asking to buy lettuce, tomatoes and flowers. The small garden shed adjoining the house was now being used as a shop.

I purchased a Toogoods room extension which replaced the shed in 1966, which provided more scope to sell many lines of greengrocery, which were purchased from the Bristol Market.

My father died in 1971 and my mother remarried and moved from the area in 1978.1 moved with my family from Goldney Avenue to Tower Road North. As the kitchen in the house was extended, the shop was moved into the garden.

Since 1978, new greenhouses have been erected and we now have half an acre of glass, all of which is heated. In the outside ground we specialise in runner beans, lettuce and chrysanths whilst in the greenhouses we grow tomatoes, lettuce and winter flowering chrysanths. My main interest is growing bedding plants, fuchsias and geraniums and hanging baskets.

Gordon Grimster

The Barrettine Group of Companies enjoy a strong sense of history. The roots of the Organisation stretch back to 1879 when Mr. J.V. Barrett launched his Bristol based Company in River Street, trading in such commodities as oils, greases, tar products, pitch, Linseed Oils and Gun Turpentine.

The Company moved to the Tower Lane site, and at the time Peter and Colin Bailey acquired the business in 1973, it had matured into a respected trading Company.

The brothers continued to build on that heritage until Peter departed to pursue other business interests in 1976. The following years saw the Company expand its product range and areas of distribution, together with the updating of its production facilities from the use of fllling jugs and weights to automatic filling lines.

With the expansion of its area of distribution, came the first of its purpose-built lorries capable of carrying highly flammable products anywhere in the South of England.

In 1980 the Company moved to its present 2.8 acre site at St. Ivel Way with its purpose-built factory and office, plus a large tank farm for the storage of solvents and chemicals.

During the last decade Barrettine has gone from strength to strength and has evolved into a Group of three Companies manufacturing, distributing and marketing products in the home improvement, industrial and environmental health sectors both for the U.K. and for export.

Alan Emery

The company known as McBraida Engineering is situated in Bath Road at Bridgeyate.

The company originated in Hanham Road in Kingswood and came to their present site in 1959. Around 75 people are employed here, engaged mainly on components for the Aircraft Industry. The company has been run by its present Managing Director, Mike McBraida, since 1966 when he was in his twenties, following the retirement of his father, who was the founder.

The company celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer and is pleased to report having an excellent order book for its products.

On the 4th October 1944, sixty-four local residents attended a Public Meeting at the British Restaurant, Warmley, and resolved to investigate the possibilities of erecting a Village Hall as a Memorial to the Second World War.

This must be a suitable Memorial to those who will not return as well as for those who return victorious', said Mr. J.D. Clark (the first Vice Chairman).

Mr. W.C. Bowler was elected Chairman in 1945 and his first Annual Report makes interesting reading: 'Generally speaking it is a well known fact that this year (1945) has been a very bad one for all outdoor activities.'

This was a reference to the attempts to raise funds by holding Pony Race Meetings and a Horse Show which had been rained off.

Warmley Baths with its buildings became available and Ministry approval to open a Community Centre there was eventually obtained. The Centre was opened in 1947.

There were 204 registered Members in 1948 and in 1950 a Dance Club, Drama, Music and Education, Billiards, Horticulture and a Chess Club are mentioned. In the early 1960s a decision was taken to close the Swimming Baths (renowned for its cold spring water!) when the Soundwell Baths were opened and the Social Club was opened on the site in 1977.

An Appeals Committee was set up soon afterwards and this is still raising money for local Charity. Some 40,000 has been raised over the years thanks to the activities of people like Malcolm Baxter and his friends who cycle for many miles in the aid of Cancer Research, etc.

An Annual Harvest Supper pays for the Old Folks dinner at Christmas and other current popular events held at the Centre over the years have been May Day, Childrens Fancy Dress, the Annual Flower Show and the Remembrance Service. It should never be forgotten that the Centre is a Memorial to those who lost their lives in the war. The Committee Room Wall displays the names on a roll of Honour.

Warmley can consider itself fortunate that some fifty years ago a small group of local people had the will and foresight to set up the Community Centre. This has proved to be a flourishing concern which has, and continues, to serve the whole Community. This year two additional function rooms are being added under the Chairmanship of Ron Pyle and these will be dedicated to two previous stalwarts, Mr. Cecil Penny (Treasurer of the Centre 19481959) and Mr. Vaughan Vowles who was the first Chairman of the Social Club.

Pete Skinner
Administrator

Britton House was formerly known as Stanley House, then it was the offices of Warmley R.D.C. In 1950, following the move of the council offices to Warmley House, Gloucestershire County Social Services Department opened Stanley House as a training centre for the handicapped under the management of Frank Britten. With the support of dedicated staff he was, until he retired in 1967, able to support many of the less fortunate members of the local community.

Some twenty years ago the training centre moved to custom built premises at Blackhorse, Mangotsfield. Stanley House was very much extended and re-opened as a residential care centre for twenty-four disadvantaged people and renamed Britten House in respect of the sterling service rendered over the years by Frank Britton and his staff About two years later I was appointed Matron in Charge by Gloucester-shire County Social Services and after thirteen very rewarding years retired as Senior Residential Care Officer for Avon County Social Services Department. With the development of Care in the Community Services, residential units such as Britten house have an uncertain future.

Rosie Hopes. S.R.N.