Memories of the Brickie recalled

SIR - When I opened the March 18 edition of the Herts Advertiser, what a lovely surprise I had on page 15!

There, in all its glory, my old haunt the Brick Field. Why oh why cannot the children of today enjoy this place?

It's full of history. To the front of the picture stood the air wardens' brick lookout point.

Under the hill stood the air-raid shelters with two escape hatches which my friend Betty and myself would climb down and have a sing-song.

It was naughty but we did not ruin anything.

In the distance was our football pitch which was worn out by us. Just across the field, roadside, was our cricket pitch.

No-one cut the grass, it used to grow so tall but we loved running through it.

Right at the bottom of the field soldiers were billeted and trenches were dug in the back garden.

We used to poke our heads over the garden wall and pretend we were invaders.

Lots of children came and played in the brick field from different streets. No-one said "clear off this is our patch of field".

The children of today are all copying other cultures.

Don't do it kids, you have your own culture. When the children from London came to stay during the war years they were made most welcome.

Why the hell are the so-called teens so horrible?

We used to make go-carts out of pram chassis. We even made a race track on the flat top of the hill.

This is 'my' field and if you behave, enjoy it like we did.

By the way, in case you did not know yobs, the brick field is Roman, and the clay from the field was used to make bricks hence Brick Field .

I am now 75-years-old but I have such happy memories.

Oh yes I forgot to mention the railings running along the fields - we used to see who could walk along the top all the way round.

I would have loved a picture of the old field. I'm now disabled so cannot get out to see my old field.

MAUREEN DOLLING

Bolingbrook, St Albans