Happy Days

A Memory of Barking.

My name is Brian Newman and I was born in Barking in 1942. My old man was a grocer and his shop was Newman Stores in Ripple Road by the Harrow, or as we called it, the "arrer". There was a long row of shops either side of Ripple Road. I could name every one, but it will take too long. I will just mention Artheys the bakers, Bill Prutton the green grocers, and Gibbs the radio shop who were my Aunt and Uncle.
In those days to be a grocer it was a proper trade. Bone the bacon, weigh the sugar, pat the butter, slice the cheese with a wire to mention a few. I can even remember the large blocks of ice being delivered for the old fridge. A great community as all the shopkeepers and families would go to Xmas circus trips to Bill Smarts circus at Harringay, or Wembley Ice shows. All in the comfort of DIX luxury coaches from the Thatched House, ha ha.
As I lived where I did I, of course, went to Ripple School, infants and juniors. Very happy memories, except that is for Mr Clark a teacher who had favourites and I was not one of them. No child should have bad school memories because of a teacher. In those days you couldn't tell your parents as you might get another punishment. Never the less I do have happy memories of my time at Ripple School.
I then went to Eastbury School having failed my 11 plus, much to the disgust of my parents. Nobody wanted their children to go to Eastbury. Well, I am glad I did as I loved my 4 years there.
Yes it was rough, and yes I got the cane a few times, but boy was it worth it as we were always laughing . Didn't learn a lot but what happy memories. The headmaster was Mr Perry, affectionately known as " Winkle ". There was one teacher Mr Smith, another of my dislikes, who never gave the cane. Instead he had this large brown slipper which he called "Oscar".
Well, when Oscar had given me a few cracks on my bum, you could have fried eggs on it
as it felt so hot. I should also like to mention that there was a 6ft railing dividing the boys playground from the girls. Plus, there was a line about 10ft from the railings either side that you could not cross. What spoil sports. Don't worry, we knew when the girls would be coming out the back door to go to the gym in their knickers. Also, does anyone remember the game, Hijimmynacker?. Next time I will talk about our town Barking. As Chris Bowers says, the best town in the world. It was for me, and the same goes for its people.