CHILDHOOD goes by in a flash, and before you know it, you are plucking the grey hairs out of your head as your own children venture out to experience the joys of life.

There is a bittersweetness to growing up, undoubtedly, and sometimes looking back can conjure a sadness as you dwell on the speed at which time has zipped by.

But tapping into a particular memory of yourself as a youngling can also see a smile sprawl itself across your face as you dopily gaze into a daydream of nostalgia.

Gazette:

With that in mind, we decided to ask our readers about their favourite places to go in Colchester when they were a child.

Everywhere from the former outdoor swimming pool, Jacklins, Rollerworld, and the former Odeon to The Wick and Castle Park made the list.

Colchester United’s Layer Road ground, the Greenstead Youth Club, the Hippodrome, Friday Woods, Go Bananas and Sloppy Joe’s were also suggested, among others.

Millie Munchkin said: “I would meet my nana at Jacklins in the High Street every Saturday and have a glass of coke and a sausage roll – I was easily pleased in those days.”

The slightly more adventurous Ian Raison, on the other hand, cited Middlewick Ranges, Seven Hills and Friday Woods as his go-to childhood haunts.

He said: “I packed a bag with food, grabbed my big Rambo knife with built-in catapult and left home for the day – I came back at teatime.”

Click here to read all of our readers' answers.