Acton memories
Here are memories of Acton and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Acton or a Acton photo.
When I Worked in The Park
I was a park keeper and gardener, I used to cut the grass in Acton. I met Sean Connery when he lived in Central Road, the house was where nuns used to live and he bought it.
West Acton
I lived in West Acton for all my childhood (apart from the early war years when my school was evacuated). I attended Acton Wells School (now demolished !) and then went to West Acton School which had just been built, and which was near to where I lived in Saxon Drive. I started at Acton Wells School when I was 5 years old, and used to go there on the Central Line to North Acton Station. All the children from my road and surrounding streets used to go there too. Nowadays I doubt if anyone would send a 5 year old to school by tube unaccompanied !At one end of my road there was a small parade of shops - a tobacconist's, butcher's, newsagent, grocers, off-licence and chemist. I remember the excitement when one small shop became a branch of Acton Library, though I don't think it remained there for very long.
Acton, The Good Old Days
We moved down to Acton from Stafford in the midlands in 1949 when I was 4 years old. We were given a flat in The Vale, my first school was East Acton infants up East Acton lane, a cracking little school. I was very happy there until they moved me to East Acton House close to Bromyard Avenue. Oh happy days there, the sun always shone or so it seemed, not so when I went to my next school, John Perryn, I didn't like it there. The headmaster used to shout all the time. and it was further to walk to get there, not good, I couldn't wait to leave, it still gives me the shudders to this day to think of it. After that I went to Bromyard Avenue School, much better, it was closer for a start, and I could go home for lunch, not that I ever did. I liked school meals. The school was new when I first went there, very modern, very posh, which is more than... Read more
Tony Bros Ice Cream
I worked in the Tony Bros Ice Cream factory as a school holiday job in 1967 or 68. I vividly remember Tony Tedeschi, who chain smoked Benson and Hedges, Derek the gentle giant who took me under his wing and the lovely Yolande. It was hard work, but good fun and it's a shame it's all gone now. We definitely made the best choc ices in the area.
Chiswick High Street
I can remember my father having a bump in his car in the High Street and a lady took me into the Catholic church and told me not to worry as all I did was cry and I wanted to know how my daddy was, back in the early 1960s.
Corner Tuck Shop.
I remember as a small child living in a flat at Spencer Road, Acton. My cousin lived with his parents in the flat above. We always enjoyed our trip to the corner tuck shop where we could buy brill ice cream and drinks. I remember Acton as a clean, lovely place to live with its tall well-kept buildings and people were very friendly, we moved in the late 1950s but we often went back for a visit until my cousin moved too.
Tony Bros
My friends and I have just returned from a trip down memory lane. We all grew up in Acton and remember Tony's ice cream parlour. We trawled the streets but alas in vain. I have fond memories of my nan taking me there every Saturday for a treat. Acton used to be a lovely part of London. What has happened to it?
Early Years
I was born and bred in Acton and lived in Allan Way, North Acton. I went to school in St. Vincents Convent school. My family had an ice cream business in Acton: Tony Bros. I have many happy memories of Acton, such a wonderful place. So clean and tidy and I remember vividly all the well kept gardens where I lived. I drove past a couple of months ago and was almost reduced to tears: what a dump!! It is so very sad that such a wonderful part of London could be destroyed. Is this what progress does???
Memories of Greater London
Smitten by A Kitten From Marlborough Road
Smitten by a kitten from Marlborough Road.
A tall, elegant, green eyed, dark long haired lass from Chiswick, who charmed my heart with her music (an Accordionist).
Her family, in particular her father, were gentle-folk who gave me tea on Sundays then we would watch Sunday Night at the Palladium on the TV, or Robin Hood.
She would play Ramona, Sorrento, and a medley of sing-along songs for us to join in. I was in love, but she was only sixteen, and this was the 1950s. DPaul567@talktalk.net
Grange Academy For Young Ladies
My school in South Ealing was know as 'Grange Academy for Young Ladies', or rather, just simple Grange seniors. I loved my school days and equally net-ball, but hated the fact that we had to play in our blouses tucked into our navy blue knickers. Boys would congregate around our school gate where we would have to play in full view of them. It was most embarrassing. Our class rooms were made up with wooden doors that could be folded back in the Summer leaving one side open to the lovely weather. Compared to schools of today it was primitive yet wonderful in a way. I have never seen a school like it since. I did go back to have a look at the old place in the 1990s. The only change I noticed was they had closed in the sheltered area around the quadrangle so it is no more open to the elements.
I do cherish my school memories.
Mouse Goes to School
When I was about 11 years old I secretly bought a pet mouse on impulse, but quickly realised that it was a silly thing to do as I knew my Dad would not let me keep it. I couldn't afford a cage for it. I hadn't thought it through at all. Frightened to leave it at home I took him to school, stupidly thinking I could keep him hidden in my desk or up my sleeve, but of course the inevitable happened and somebody snitched on me. I thought, 'now I'm in for it' and waited for the screams to emit from my dear teacher as my friend popped his little brown head out from the cuff of my sleeve. but to my amazment she was wonderful about it. She took me aside and gently talked some sense into me. That teacher was Mrs. Lakin and I have never forgotten her. I loved her best of all my teachers. The school, Grange juniors. Consequently I did tell my mother about... Read more
St Mary's Church
We lived in an upstairs flat in South Ealing. The tube railway line ran behind our flat, and beyond that, allotments. We also had a good view of St. Mary's church. It was wonderful to hear the bells ring on Sunday mornings. I wonder if they still ring as a lot of churches have had their bells stollen. There is a path way through the cemetary which could be reached through the alley leading to Grange school. I often walked that path way to and from my friends house. It was very spooky, particularly in the dark, and the school alley way although lit, was not much better as nobody else was usually around. I would think twice about making the same journey today. It was a much shorter way home and I did'nt even stop to think of any danger like I would today. As a child I felt so free and the world was my oyster. South Ealing was a safe place to grow up. Cars... Read more
Gills Memories of Ealing
I went to Little Ealing Junior School which was at the bottom of my road. I remember on my first day running home to my gran, crying because they were using pencils and I had come from a school in Hounslow where we had got pens and inkwells, I thought the school was so backward. It was quite hard to integrate and I got bullied by some older girls from another school until my dad met me on the way home and gave them a talking to. I don't suppose it did them any good but they didn't pick on me again. I remember a lovely teacher called Mr Lim who was very kind to me and put my italic writing up on the wall even though it wasn't very good but I was so proud. Then I won an essay competition organised by Cadburys and had my name read out in assembly. I was so cross when I got home that I had to share my winning Easter eggs... Read more
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