Some of my fond recollections of the Abbey Gardens began early in life during the summer when I was about 7 or 8 years old, in 1946.
My Mum used to pack a lunch for my sister Gwen and I, and send us off bright and early after breakfast with instructions to be back in time for tea.
Of Maypoles, Swings, See-Saw and Roundabouts
We would spend all day down the Park, playing on the Maypole, swings, see-saw, round-a-bout. Handstands and rolling down the bank were all part of a day in the park. We would wander over and watch the old folk play bowls, Ha, we never thought we would ever reach bowling age.
It’s funny a good share of our life involved the park. Watching the brass band concerts.
Dance Lessons in the Cloisters
Practising our dancing lessons in the cloisters, always remember the huge Oak tree that used to stand there. Even for less admirable things like skipping school and using the park as a good place to spend the day until it was time to go home.
Queen Elizabeth
But I will never forget June 2nd 1952, it wasn’t in the park, but outside on Angel Hill when all the school children marched down to Angel Hill to celebrate the Inauguration of Queen Elizabeth. But hey, after all the festivities, we finished up in the park.
I keep calling it the park, but that’s what we have always called it the Abbey Gardens, The Park. Such an important part of our life growing up in Bury St Edmunds, but never fully appreciating it until you move away.
Janet Lester
Abbey Gardens | Happy Memories | Bury St Edmunds
Abbey Gardens – When my daughter Andrea was small, she spent every weekend with my parents as I worked.
My mum would take her into town and get a Chinese takeaway from On restaurant and take it down to the Abbey Gardens.
Have a picnic that was their special time just for them.
Then they would go to Woolies and take funny pics in the booth.
Happy memories just for them. It’s a special place and we are lucky to have such a lovely park. I take my granddaughter there now, she is 6. When she was younger she used to say can we go to Abby’s garden?
Dot Horsman
