Growing Up In Brentwood

A Memory of Brentwood.

We moved to Pilgrims Hatch in 1971, such fun living on the Estate with a never ending hotch potch of mates to street rake with - knock down ginger, ipp dipp dog sh*t, duck duck goose, conkers and kiss chase. We'd bike to Ken Saunders sweet shop and get half ounce of Golden Virginia for Dad and penny chews or marshmallow mushrooms for us. There were Silly Syrretts the tiny grocery shop, the Butchers with sawdust on the floor, the fruit shop that sold boxes of apples for Christmas and at the end a wool shop which held no appeal whatsoever!

I went to Pilgrims Hatch Infants and then Juniors, lots of happy memories of donkey derbies, maypole dancing, singing All Things Bright and Beautiful, Onward Christian Soldiers and Lord of the Dance. Christmas pantomimes and nativity plays. The staff - Mr Broomhead, Mr. Wrankmore, Mrs Middleton, Mrs Ilsley from Australia. Obligatory bottles of milk and malted milk biscuits. School lunches - caramel cream tart with dessicated coconut, kids fighting for the skin off the custard. That freezing cold swimming pool with the draughty wooden changing rooms and concrete floor. I couldn't wait to be an adult so I could go to the PTA Cheese & Wine Evenings!

Recreation was feeding the ducks, picnics and tobogganing at Weald Park, strawberry picking at Calcott Farm, shopping at Romford Market. Getting on the bus by the wool shop to go to Saturday morning Pictures to see Chico the Rain Monkey, then after, Woolworths in the photo booth and getting a handful of Pick n' Mix. The outdoor swimming pool in Summer, the fairs at Larkins Playing Fields. Taping the Top 40 on my cassette recorder. Fish and chips from The Chariot, Cheese & onion pasties from "Ta Dear, Thank you Love" at Robin Hood bakery. Penny for the Guy and Guy Fawkes. Dancing lessons, shows and competitions at San Marie Dancing School. Riding the 'rich kids' horses at Bishops Hall Park.

I went to Hedley Deadley in the 80's when Mr. Fry was Headmaster, some of the teachers, Mr. Bender, Mr. Vickers, Mr. K. Brown and Miss. Hook. The ice cream van man called my little sister a "fuc*ing poo" for taking too long to choose! Hectic, hilarious school - mad times!

My first job was at The Wimpy making Knickerbocker Glories, Rum Babas, Banana Long Boats and Ice Cream Floats. The uniform was orange crimplene emanating static cling. I got constant complaints about my tea and coffee that I'd have to remake. After that I worked at my friend's Mum's cafe serving the patients from Warley Hospital. When I was 14 we used to bunk off the Youth Club and go to the Rising Sun where we'd sip Babycham and Snowballs!

I live in New Zealand now but a trip to Brentwood is definitely on my bucket list!

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