A POPULAR Evesham family are urging residents to recall special memories as they bid to put together a dedicated page of historical events.
The Raphael’s are hoping to piece together any special occasions and opinions visitors to their Hampton Ferry site may have had over the last 85 years.
This year marks the 85th anniversary of the family’s ownership of the Boat Line attraction and Evesham Town Councillor Robert Raphael is keen to leave a lasting legacy on their website.
Coun Raphael, who has lived at Hampton Ferry for 43 years, helped set up a ‘History’ page a few weeks ago but wants to hear from the people of the Vale to get a range of contributions.
He told The Observer: “I’ve been trying to get other people’s memories and opinions of things that happened to them when they were here.
“I know from a few years ago there was a marriage proposal and I would love to hear from them. I would love to glue bits together with different memories of the place.
“The 85th anniversary did inspire the idea, we’ve been putting this page together for a few weeks now but it was all our memories and our opinions and we’d love to get other peoples on there.”
In 1929 Ernie and Eileen Huxley moved to Hampton Ferry to operate both a smallholding market garden and the ferry, which was still the only link between the village of Hampton and Evesham.
And Coun Raphael is intent on making sure the hard work the Huxley’s did to put the site on the map does not go to waste.
“It’s a natural beauty spot,” he added. “It’s a gorgeous place to be, it’s unspoilt, if you look at pictures going back to the 1800s
it’s changed very, very little.
“I’ve lived here for 43 years so to pick a highlight would be very strange and I don’t think I could do that.
“Whatever memories people can send me that’s brilliant. It’s to log it all, I’m really hoping it’s going to carry on forever, there’s no end to it.”
Anyone with any memories or opinions of the historical Hampton Ferry can email [email protected] or call 01386 45460. The website can be found at www.hamptonferry.co.uk/ online
The river crossing in the 1970s. (s)
A photo from the 1950s. (s)
The site in 2014.(s)
