Waylett''s Paper Shop Westmoreland Parade

These shops stood on the corner of Woodlea Drive, and my brother's mate from Pickhurst Junior School, Pete Frampton lived at number 12. Pete formed a band with my best friend Terry Nicholson called the Truebeats, then Pete left and started The Herd - then solo and stardom in the USA. My pal John Stephens lived at the top of Woodlea Drive and we would toboggen down the frozen road until late at night throughout the 'big freeze' of 1962/63 aged 14. Opposite these shops was a woodland connected to the big house in Tootswood Road which was bombed out during the blitz. Bromley Council transformed the house into a clubhouse for the Bowling Club and the whole park was officially opened by my friend Andrew's father - Councillor Petty in 1958 - the date on the gate to this day I believe. We lived in a huge victorian house on the corner where South Hill Road met Durham Avenue with a plaque proclaiming 1884 as it's date of erection - sadly now replaced by a huge multi-layered building of modern flats. I would catch the 138 to get to school - Hawes Down Secondary, in nearby West Wickham, then later on my racing bike through the golfcourse of Redlodge Road passing the girls of Beckenham Grammer School on the links - much better scenery!

Christopher Farey,I was interested to hear about Hawes Down,
Other bloggers have jogged my memory.
The school trip to Switzerland ,and T.S.Foudroyant,training ship in Portsmouth Harbour.
The Aussie sportsmaster,Alan Brent.
I used to cycle to School along Red Lodge Road.