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???
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RE: RE: Early Years
How I agree with Michael Tedeschi. I also was born and bred in Acton. I lived at Oak Way on the Acton Vale estate. At that time it was all very well kept, my Dad always planted flowers in our window box and on our balcony as did all our neighbors. I remember even at a young age thinking how pretty everything always looked. It was just after the war and many of the tenants were professional people, teachers, nurses, policemen etc. I drove through Acton Vale in 2005 and it looked awful, no flowers, just sheets and clothing hanging over the balconies. I would be ashamed to say I had lived there to anyone that didn't know what it had been like in the past. How can a place like Acton change so much in such a short time. I remember Acton Carnival, something that us children always looked forward to. Also the special trips to Tony's Ice cream shop, that was always spotless. Acton Park Cafe, the swimming baths and special trips to Ravencourt Park paddling pool and sandpit.
HAPPY DAYS
Comment from Maureen Preston on Saturday, 16th February 2008.
RE: RE: Early Years
Hello Maureen I also used to live in Oak Way on the Acton Vale Estate. You are right, it's not as it used to be, it was so clean and tidy back then as was Acton itself. I lived there from 1949 to 1970, yes and the flower boxes are not there any more, just washing and rubbish in some cases on the balconies. The pram sheds have been knocked down to make way for all the cars, in my day you were lucky to have a bicycle let alone a car. I think the reason Acton has changed is that the good people who were proud of Acton moved out and the people who don't care moved in, a sign of the times. I think we had the best of Acton and the flats in our time, never to be the same again. Let me know what you think?...
Comment from Roger Brown on Tuesday, 20th December 2011.
RE: RE: Early Years
I was born in Brassie Avenue in East Acton in 1958. Born at home, we lived with my Nan and Grandad (as was the case in those days). After 4 years in Swindon, we moved back with my Grandparents, who by this time were living in Larch Avenue at Acton Vale. My walks to and from John Perryn school were lovely, past the beautiful Acton Park and the Rootes Sports Ground and could actually cross the Western Avenue (try that today!!) into Long Drive. I have fond memories myself of John Perryn School. When we moved to Lefroy Road in Shepherds Bush, my walks to school were even more enjoyable because they were longer! Acton was a great, safe place to be for a small boy in the 1960s and I consider myself very lucky to have such wonderful memories.
Comment from Michael Hamblin on Friday, 13th January 2012.