They were queuing outside the door of St George’s Church Hall in Fordington to have copies of David Forrester’s book signed. Fordington Remembered: Growing up in and around Dorchester seems to have struck a chord with many local people.
David expresses his heartfelt thanks to all who attended and bought the book. He was sorry not to have been able to circulate and talk to so many people, most of whom he had not seen for 50 years. ‘In the room you could feel the warmth that you can only experience in a caring community such as Fordington; it’s something money just can’t buy.I would love to hear from anyone who lived in or had relatives in Mill Street, as I’m now researching this particular area’ (tel. 01305 250882).
Mayor Stella Jones says: ‘I’ve been Councillor for Fordington for 40 years and have seen a lot of changes, many mentioned in the book, but, although part of Dorchester, Fordington has kept its community feeling. It was lovely to see so many people sharing their childhood memories with friends not met for a while.’
Trevor Vacher Deane, Editor of the Society of Dorset Men’s Yearbook, said: ‘I read the book cover to cover, couldn’t put it down. Even if you didn’t grown up in Fordington, the story relates to people my age, anywhere. I remember shooting squirrels in the wood with a bow and steel arrows – terribly dangerous but no-one batted an eye. We enjoyed such freedom in those days … the things we used to get up to’ (chuckles).
Happy memories seem to have been the recurring theme of the evening. One lady recounted how as youngsters they used to congregate at Salisbury Fields. ‘I didn’t have a bike (couldn’t afford one) so I used to borrow the boys’ bikes and remember one time coming a cropper on the cross bar.’
Another gentleman recalled how it was in David’s home that he first used the telephone. David says, ‘Dad was obviously waiting for a call and when the phone rang he said to my friend, “Answer that, will you?” My friend had never used a phone and said he didn’t know how, so Dad said, “It’s easy, pick it up”. “It’s a man,” my friend said. “I know,” replied Dad, “ask him if he has two left feet.” It was someone my parents went dancing with and of course Dad was taking the mickey. This obviously had an impact to be remembered for 60 or more years.’
The book is on sale locally and available from publisher Roving Press (tel 01300 321531).
