John DeCamps was born in Town Street (Tip). His mother was Brandon-born, nee Dyer, so he has a few memories of his time there …
“I was born in my grandparents house in 1942. Mum and I lived with them till dad was demobbed after the war, then we moved to a Nissen hut on Rattlers Road in 1947. When my sister arrived we then moved to my dad’s home village in Lincolnshire in February 1949. However I used to stay with my grandparents during most school holidays, until 1960. I would knock about with John Croxall, Brian Muteham, John Rolls and Nigel Bond. I always reckoned our gang was the inspiration for the “Just William” books.
This looks like fun in the backyard at 3 the Street, probably about 1930. This is my nan Emma Dyer and my aunts Queenie and Babs, with my mum sprawled across Babs’ knee. I have no idea what they were up to.
This is the family at the fair. Left to Right: my nan Emma Dyer (Norton), Jimmy Dyer, Queenie Dyer, grandad Walter Dyer, Millie Dyer (my mum wearing grandad’s trilby) and Babs Dyer. This was probably taken in the mid ’30s.”