Memories Of Bedfont
These memories relate to about 1963-1966/7. My dad was a car salesman for more years than I care to remember, and worked at the car sales place in Bedfont.
We knew a lot of people in the area (none, alas, on this site so far), but I can remember the glass/pottery shop next door, the toyshop that I spent hours looking round, the sweetshop on the corner next to that.
Gerry who had the furniture shop across the road who used to let me watch Dr. Who on his tv (Thanks for that, I have never forgotten it), and Jack, who had the cafe, where I ate so many different meals!!
All the lovely almshouses on the green down the road (at least, I think they were almshouses), the road right next door to the garage, where one dark night an invalid car with one headlight came up the road and scared the life out of me!.
It wasn't until many years later when I came back for a visit, could I walk down that road to conquer my demons again!!
Getting ripped off at a jumble sale at the church, when I went there, pointed to a knife, and asked in all innocence to two scouts "Is that a real scout knife"?, and after looking at each other, agreed it was, so I paid my 3d and off I went to show it to my dad.
When I showed it to him he called me something unprintable, and ruined my day by informing me that my 'scout knife' was, in fact, a potato peeler!!!.
A lot of these people are long gone, how many remain, I have no idea, it has been a lifetime since my last visit, but I know I will never forget the place
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RE: RE: Memories Of Bedfont
Hmmm when you fellows post if you had sisters please give their names.
The almshouses were perhaps the Fairholme estate which ran along west towards the Library? The other way, yes The Toyshop - must have been the best moneyspinner locally.
The sweetshop ... as in The Old Post Office? Today there is a 'step' in the line of shops to the service road with a greengrocer, newsagent, laundromat, hairdresser, small market and on the end?? (they may be different yet again now). THAT site was redeveloped from the old Public Nursery which took up most of the space and was then only a short walk along Page Road to the Children's Welfare Clinic. Used to cycle there as a 9yr old along Beech Road and down Page to pick up the post-war orange juice and cod liver oil ... flat bottles with blue caps and blue/white labels with coded 'pinprick' labels. The post office went across the pedestrian walk, to the corner of New Road opposite Cliffords or United Dairy premises??
I think I could do a near perfect run of the shops on both sides of the road from the corner clothes shop(your furniture shop?) Martins sweets, the cafe right along to Bedfont Lane.
Get back on here and we can swap more notes. Hamiltons?? - a sister called Diane perhaps??
Comment from Olivia R-S on Saturday, 4th July 2009.
RE: RE: Memories Of Bedfont
Living in Ashford for about 30 years from 1939 and with family ties to Feltham and Bedfont I never did quite know where the one started and the other ended. But always thought the Church and green were splendid. There appears to have been quite a few Brunt's in the area I never really knew although my Dad did mention some just in passing. My Uncle was the manager of a Co-op grocers store in what appears to be the parade in the photo in the early '50s
Comment from Peter Brunt on Monday, 7th November 2011.