The 'big rec'.

The large recreation ground that lies off the left hand side of the lower coach road after you access it from School road was originally, like The Mead, Glebeland. When I moved into Coach Road (Then Liliy Lake) in the mid 1950s the current football pitch did not exist. At that time 'the rec' sloped down from a fence behind the broad oak to what is now coach road. Much of the slope was overgrown and provided excellent cover for children playing cowboys and indians. The undergrowth also provided opportunities for the trainee arsonists of the village to get some practice in and fires were not uncommon in the dryer weather. The tennis court was in existence by that time but the bungalows further up coach road had yet to be built. Where they now stand there was a sand pit, further upm the hill swings and above that, close to broad oak, stood a substantial shelter where many of the elderly women of the village would meet on a sunny afternoon to discuss the issues of the day. The shelter was also used in the run up to bonfire night to store materials for the village bonfire which was held nearby. Sadly, both the shelter and the nearby swings suffered repeated vandalism from the mid fifties and eventually the shelter was blown away in a major gale sometime in the 60s.

Eventually, 'the rec' assumed its current shape after the site where the bungalows now stand was sold \to developers in the mid sixties and the current football pitch was created. Its been long rumoured the the circumstances surrounding the sale of part of ' the rec' were dubious but no hard evidence has ever been found to support that. The football pitch was long famed for its rough, and often waterlogged condition but has been improved in recent years and the area has been made more accessible by the construction of a number of footpaths. 'The rec' also now contains a well used and maintained play area although from all reports, vandalism sometimes remains a problem.

Towering over it all, of course stands Broad Oak. The symbol of the village continuing its centuries long watch over us all. Generations have climbed its trunk and swung from its branches. Hopefully, Broad Oak, despite its asdvancing age will continue to be a central part of the identity of the village for centuries yet to come..