THIS week’s selection of photographs are inspired by a recent conversation with a lady who has lived in Worcester for more than 80 years.

Elaine Clayton was born at home in Croydon Villas, just off Oldbury Road and went to Comer Gardens Infant and Junior schools, which have since been demolished.

She and her family later moved in to the prefab houses in East Comer before later moving to Hallow.

Elaine told me: “I have such happy memories of living in the area, and though I moved to the other side of Worcester later on, my heart has always been in St John’s.”

Elaine’s father saw active service in the Second World War and like many had some terrible experiences, though thankfully he lived to tell the tale.

One particularly poignant memory shared was of VE Day, and the celebrations on Worcester Bridge.

Elaine was only seven years old and afterwards her father carried her home on his shoulders, walking all the way along New Road, Laugherne Road and home.

Elaine went to college in Bromsgrove before at the age of 16, training as a nurse at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital, followed by time at the QE.

After training she moved back to Worcester and worked at the Worcester Eye Hospital in Barbourne for four years until she got married.

She and her husband moved into a house in the Brickfields area. Elaine went on to work at Elbury Mount Junior School in various roles, as dinner lady, classroom assistant and in the office, before finally taking an active role bringing up her grandchildren alongside a few hours working at the sandwich shop on Foregate Street station.

Many thanks to Elaine for sharing her story, and inspiring this week’s article. Several of the places mentioned are ones that we don’t have photographs of, so we’d love to hear from anyone who might be able to fill the gaps!

Many people across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are now creating their own life stories via the new web platform Life Stories Herefordshire & Worcestershire at life-stories.hacw.nhs.uk and capturing elements of their lives that can be downloaded, shared or simply enjoyed as a digital slideshow.

You can also share your knowledge and photographs via the Community layer on Know Your Place Worcester – kypworcester.org.uk. 

Worcester Life Stories is a collaborative project bringing local people together through shared stories of the City of Worcester. It is co-led by Dr Natasha Lord, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Sheena Payne-Lunn, Worcester City Council and funded thanks to National Lottery players.

For further information or to share your stories, visit worcesterlifestories.org.uk, our Facebook page or Twitter @worlifestories.

You can also email worcesterlifestories@gmail.com or call 01905 721133.

And why not visit the We grew up in Worcester page on Facebook?