Winton man has lived in same house for 90 years

90-year-old Harold Feltham was born in his house on Markham Road, Winton, in 1931 and has remained there for his entire life.

Since then, Harold has lived with his wife of 57 years Sheena, where they raised three children, welcomed two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The house, which Harold believes is approximately 115 years old, was purchased by his parents in 1928 for "several hundred pounds".

He said: “I’ve been lucky. I started life with two of the best parents anybody could wish for, and I’ve had a great life. It has been a very happy tenure here at Markham Road, very long, but very happy indeed.

90-year-old Harold Feltham has lived on Markham Road since the day he was born

“I can remember when I was about 12, I could go outside my house and look down towards Charminster Road and I was lucky if I saw one car. At that time, I knew at least a hundred people in the area by name and they knew me which you can’t say about nowadays, that’s how it was back then.

“Having said that I do have tremendous neighbours. I know that when the chips are down, they can be relied on.”

Interestingly, Harold’s father was born on Charminster Road – less than a mile from where his son would eventually be born.

Harold suffered a stroke four months ago but defiantly says that he has “kicked that into touch”.

The retired decorator has seen much change during his 90-year stint on Markham Road. He listed helping 'bomb-proof' his house windows during World War 2, the transformation of Winton Recreation Ground from a gravel pit and the introduction of the university student community as memorable changes.

A local lad through and through, Harold was stationed in Blandford Camp during two years spent in national service but frequented his Winton home during that time. He met his future wife, Sheena, at the Bournemouth Pavilion Ballroom in 1962 and has been a member of the Bournemouth Table Tennis Association for an incredible 74 years – he still plays.

Harold has always been an avid motorbike fan

Another love of Harold’s life is cycling, both via bike and motorcycle. He used to cycle to school in Wimborne during the war and rode motorbikes throughout his youth and adulthood.

At the age of 65, Harold completed a 100-mile bike ride in six hours for the Bournemouth Special Olympics, of which his wife was a trustee.

When asked if has ever considered moving, Harold laughed and said: “My wife once said to me, ‘what if I want to move one day?’ So I said to her, ‘that’s fine, just make sure you tell me your address’. If I ever get bored, I walk down to the garden and all these happy memories come flooding back.

“So why should I move? Because wherever I move to, I won’t have those memories.”

Our current top three residents with the longest local one-house stint are:

1.) Harold Feltham – 90 years on Markham Road, Winton

2.) Frances Rawlings – 87 years on Beresford Road, Parkstone

3.) Evelyn Mary Wareham – 82 years on Uppleby Road, Parkstone

Have you or someone you know lived at an address in the area for longer than 90 years? Email newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk.