This lovely painting was donated to the project by Pam Sharp. It was painted by Peter Corbin, a local optician whose practice was on the corner of St Edmund Church Street and Winchester Street.
Pam tells us that Peter died 20 years ago, but otherwise we know little about him. We hope someone might have some information to share.
Peter was certainly a talented painter, and this view of The Greencroft (dated 1980) will bring back memories for many people.
Many thanks to Pam for giving us this super picture.
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Further to my previous comment, I would like to add what I remember about some of the businesses depicted in this painting. Burlen Services was a car-tuning business which produced specialist parts such as carburettors and exhaust systems to make your Ford Escort or similar just that little bit faster. I believe the name Burlen was made from a combination of the partners’ surnames. It later became a printing business. On the opposite corner was the Little Junk Shop, which was an absolute treasure trove of all manner of curios. It was run by Jim Smith and his family. Jim was also a talented artist who produced a series of story books centred on the shop. At the Winchester Street end of Greencroft Street there was a lock-up type premises which was at some tine used by a sign-writer and then as a store-cum-shop by Billy Biggins (father of actor Christopher Biggins).
I grew up in St. Edmunds Church Street in the late 1960s and through the 70s. The Greencroft was the meeting place for local children as well as some from further afield. From there we would walk into town on Saturdays, maybe going to the ABC cinema (now the bingo hall in Endless Street.) I remember the bonfire being built every year. I also remember the “witch’s hat” roundabout, swings and seesaw. It was great climbing the witch’s hat and sitting on the very top while your mates rocked the roundabout from side to side! 😬
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