© Copyright Mike Goodwin
Approximately 48,000 Arcon Mark V prefabs were constructed throughout the United Kingdom. This one has been refurbished in the original 1940s colours and now stands at Avoncroft Building Museum near Birmingham.
Mrs Eileen Amis moved into 17 Orchard Green with husband Albert and one month old daughter Linda in 1946, and remained there until she passed away in 2009. Two other residents , Mr Sydney (Jack) Freeman & Mrs Doris Stubbs, also lived there for more than sixty years.
The Beccles & Bungay Journal of 20th July 1946 reported that the first birth in a Beccles prefab was a baby daughter born to Mr & Mrs Clifford Hembling of 11 Orchard Green who had been living in their new home for only a few days before her arrival.
In 1947 Mrs J E Coney and Mrs A V Wood-Hill presented a silver cup for the best kept garden on the new prefabs estate of Orchard Green. Judging by two experts from Lowestoft took place in August with the result that Mr H M G Watson of no.2 won the cup, with Mr L F Beckett of no.18 being highly commended.
The following year the cup went to Mr D C Clarke of no.19 with the previous year's winner Mr H M G Watson being declared the runner up.
Tex is 2nd from right, on the top row
Tex Brown, who lived at no. 10 in the 1950s & 1960s, emigrated to Canada with his wife Hildegard and daughter Edwina around 1970. He was a well known amateur entertainer and in his youth as member of the "Leggettonians" Concert Party. I remember him as a friendly, kind and gentle man who was without doubt the best whistler in the area. Tex died in Canada on 25th January 2011, aged 89, and was predeceased by Hildegard, his wife of 60 years. Their daughter Edwina still lives in British Columbia.
SS Oronsay
Harold and Iris Briggs, the first occupants of no. 4, emigrated to Australia on the Oronsay in the summer of 1953 with their children Jennifer (aged 7) and Robin (aged 4). After a short stay in a migrant hostel they settled in Davis Park, Beaconsfield, Western Australia.
This model of an Arcon prefab decorated to celebrate V.E. day can be seen at the Maple Street Museum, Royston, Hertfordshire.
Beccles Town sign, 1966
The Beccles Town sign carved in 1936 by Judy Quinton Barber was badly damaged by vandals in 1980 and a replica had to be produced to replace it. The original was skilfully restored and repainted by Mr Arthur Josling and is now on display in Beccles museum.
Mr Josling, a talented artist and sign writer, lived at no. 7 Orchard Green in the 1950s and 1960s.
An advertisement from 'Our Cats' magazine, September 1959.
Rip, owned by Mrs Doris Stubbs of 8 Orchard Green, advertising
Kit-zyme conditioning tablets for cats.
In the 1960s this house at 23 Rigbourne Hill was the home of Janice Potter and her family. Janice's father spent many hours constructing an attractive and amusing front garden that was a firm favourite with the local children. When the family moved in 1970 he broke the castle into sections and transported it in a wheelbarrow to their new home, a prefab at no 1 Orchard Green.
The castle still stands in the front garden of no 1 and the present occupiers have named their home "Castle Cottage".