David Platten was born at Holly Cottage in Hickling in March 1931.  After school (in Hickling and later at Stalham), David went to work for Waldo Beales at the garage and in the boatyard.

From there he went to do his National Service, then back to Waldo’s for a while before he sought a better paid job in a Stalham boatyard.  He enjoyed taking boat hirers out for their trial runs, and his love of art led him into signwriting the names on the boats.

He recalls skating on the Broad in the hard winters, the Home Guard and their searchlight, a Liberator crashing near Stubb Road, and sailing on the Broad  in his little 12 foot  gaff-rigged dinghy.

Other memories include the flood at Sea Palling in 1953, the kingfishers near Hill Common and the coot shoots.

David tells us that although Hickling has changed, it is still very much his home and he is very happy to live here.