IN RESPONSE to the letter from Reg Wood, ‘Who remembers a house built into the chalk?’, I do. I lived at the very top of Old Winton Road opposite Up Yonder.

It was a lovely colonial-style bungalow with an impressive wide flight of steps leading up to a veranda and the front door.

On either side of the steps were two large garages built into the chalk under the bungalow.

The bungalow was in white render with black woodwork and black garage doors with a veranda that ran across the front and along the whole length of the left hand side.

I believe it was built in the 1920s by a Mr Simpkins; one wonders if he was ever in India as it was definitely in the grand colonial style.

The garden was large with a tennis court, orchards, various outbuildings, probably stables, etc. In the late 1950s it was let out to an Army officer and his family and I remember playing with his children.

It was a great place to explore, especially in the garages under the floor boards of the bungalow.

Sadly it was demolished in the early 1960s to make way for the maisonettes at the top of Old Winton Road. Nearby neighbours collected the wood from the building to use as firewood.

I have many happy memories of my childhood at the top of Old Winton Road; it was a great place to grow up.

We had the freedom of the Ladies Walk, the Roman Road, playing rounders on the golf course in the summer and tobogganing there in the winter, I could go on and on.

P.S. Reg, I also remember being friends with your brother Johnny, who I believe emigrated to Australia.

Diana Jones (nee Teal), of Mercia Avenue, Charlton, Andover