Nostalgic memories of Burnt Oak's local history
Share your own memories of Burnt Oak and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 31 - 40 of 68 in total
I went to all three of these schools and left st.james about 1952.I read the comment from Hilary Leopold and remember her,we were in the same class at one time.I remember Irene Butler,Maureen Sexton Joan Whte and Kathleen Oates.Kathleen and I e-mail each other,she found my name on an irish site when I was doing my family history.In my church magazine on Sunday there was a note stating St.James ...see more
My name is Beryl Lyall I lived on Littlefield Rd. I went Woodcroft Girls School. I think it is now a mixed school. Used to love to go to Toni's for an ice cream. Would love to hear from anyone who knew me. I am married now live in Texas.
Burnt Oak was a place of indiscriminate and random violence. If you were unlucky enough to be a minority I'm sure it was much worse. There were several years when skinheads (and other plain thugs) ruled the streets.
I'd like to know what happened to a friend of mine (with an unpronounceable - and equally unspellable) name. He was a coloured fellow with one ear that was missing ...see more
I attended Annunciation, St. Thomas's (Stanmore) and, finally, St. James. I think that the education we were given there really prepared us for the rest of our lives. In my case, I ended up in the USA where I had a long career with the International Monetary Fund. I am retired now living in the Washington, DC suburb of Bethesda, MD. My memories of Sister Catherine are not as harsh as some that I have read. She ...see more
I passed the 11+ in 1952 and started Grammar school in Sept that year at Orange Hill Girls' Grammar. I caught the 140 bus from Streatfield Road, Kenton every day for 5 years which is when I left with 8 O levels and a choice of jobs. The buses were always full when they got to my stop and I often used to wait for several before getting on. At Burnt Oak station I walked through Deansbrook Park to ...see more
I remember Sister Catherine, headteacher, and her nieces at St James; we were all frightened of Kate, as we called her. Her nieces used to throw books and rubbers and also hit us on the knuckles with rulers. I also remember the dreaded strap. I also remember there were three of us in the class named Sheila. There was Sheila Sisk, Sheila Earl and myself Sheila Potts. I was friendly with Sheila Sisk and have often wondered what had happened to her, maybe she will read this and reply to my email.
Hated St James, Sr K Smelly and the Walsh Sisters. Sr Imelda used to peer in the prefab classrooms and carry a large strap with her blue lips. St Thomas's was not so bad. I often wonder what happened to my friends there; Krystyna Idczak, Jocelyn from Malta, Catherine West ( I heard she died tragically) and Veronica from Apex Corner. I've been gone so long, I live near Phila in US and I am now Grandmother but I still think of those days and wonder where you are.
My great grandparents, grandparents, and my mum all come from Burnt Oak. Got quite sad reading all the memories, they made me cry. They lived in Barnfield Road. I remember the ice cream man that had a hatch in the wall, the Co-op, Princess and Sainsbury's. Does anyone remember Mr Puddy the second hand bookshop man? Had so many happy memories. At one time four generations of us lived in Barnfield Rd, the Somervilles and Packers.
I was born in 1957 in my nan and granddad's house (May & Fred Gloster). I went to Buckingham Road nursery school, then Edgware infants & juniors. I remember the head had a black and white dog and I would give it one of my ginger biscuits. We lived at 96 Vancouver Road, I used to watch benches being made over the garden fence in the wood yard. My dad, Joe, worked in the pie shop, just over the ...see more
I was born in March 1972.
We lived in Blessbury Road with my grandmother until I was 1 and then we moved to Blundell Road. I went to Woodcroft Infant and Junior school. I remember on a Saturday morning looking down Watling Avenue, and there would be swarms and swarms of people...it would be so busy.
There was a bakers and a newsagent on the end next to the library, Alfreds was across the road on the ...see more