Here is another wonderful story we have received recently. Thank you, Alan!
If you also have a story that you would like to share with us about why you love Epping Forest, please email us at: LoveEppingForest@efht.org.uk, or post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, use the hashtag #LoveEppingForest and tag us.
Alan’s story
Firstly a bit about WW2
The air was thick with the toxic smoke, it was another night of smoke from the burning houses and factories, it was just another night of bombing during the Blitz on London where I lived with my Mother, Farther my elder Sister, and Brother near the docks in East London. I can remember the day WW2 started and very soon after the awful noise of low flying enemy aircraft dropping their bombs close by, our damp smelly Anderson shelter in our tiny back garden keeping us all safe. Fingers crossed.
After another month or so of the same during which time we lost all of our meagre belongings through theft and bombing the council offered us a single room in a hostel in a place called Buckhurst Hill on the corner of Gladstone Road and the High Road, which brings me to the important part of my story.
Three months later we offered the ground floor of a house requisitioned by the council in Algers Road Loughton which we discovered was very close to Epping Forest. It had a huge lawn with an orchard beyond. We lived there for 12 years.
When the war finally ended all of our school holidays were spent in the forest with our new posh friends, they were to us, playing cricket, football, rounders, fishing, climbing trees, and riding our bikes. We also learnt a lot about the forest.
I have lived with my wife for the past 40 plus years in our house overlooking the forest which has been a huge privilege. Our 2 grown-up Sons and their 5 children visit us as much as possible and still love to play in the forest for hours.
It probably took the war to fully appreciate how wonderful and how lucky we all are to have Epping Forest.
May I say in finishing find as much time as possible, not just when it is hot and sunny, go when it is raining or frosty or when the trees are in bud. How about the Autumn colours, take some pictures of the sun setting over the forest. There are 6000 acres to explore. It should make you feel better too. And it’s all free.
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