Sundays in South Arbury - minus the open shops, mobile phones, the World Wide Web, etc, etc, etc... the 1970s were rather different to today. Sundays used to be very quiet days back in the 1970s. In South Arbury, the estate seemed to go to sleep. And, as a kid back then, I was often bored to death. The day would sometimes start with a couple of the family's adult members feeling rather... er... fragile - after a night out at the Labour Club in Romsey Town the night before. Saturday nights were always the main weekly 'night out' for the 'night outers' amongst the elders of my tribe. Over-imbibing was not usually a problem, but sometimes a head or two did throb the next day. I used to wonder why adults bothered with alcohol. Until I left school and disappeared into the nearest boozer (the Snowcat) to celebrate. Klackers weren't really as interesting as the World Wide Web - and they could be pretty hard on your knuckles. Great Nana lived in a flat in Brackley Clos...
Is Arbury simply an electoral ward in the university city of Cambridge, the boundaries of which are arbitrarily redefined by Council planners whenever they choose? Or is it an area with a history of its own? We've studied Arbury, North and South, its prehistoric origins, Roman times, the old farms, the early housing estate and right up to date. We cover the original area, from Carlton Way to King's Hedges Road.