Chingford Hatch

High Beech Church 1903
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I remember the Manor pub, it used to have an air raid warning siren on the building. I remember hearing it once, testing it I think as the year was about 1956. I too remember the tea van which had an awning on it in the rain. As small children my sister and I always frequented the friendly atmosphere of the tea drinking bus men, so that we could buy a sweet lollipop from the tea van owner. When we first moved to Friday Hill I can remember the children playing on banks of mud where the workmen had been finishing the main road probably. The year would have been about 1954. Up Newgate Street was Chingford football ground where my brother and I would watch all-stars like Tommy Steele, Bruce Forsyth, and others play. My brother lived down Jim's farm and rode the horses bare-back up the hill into our back garden. My mother was used to cows always coming in the garden. Once Alma Cogan, the 1950s' singer, knocked on our door in search of a phone. My sister and some friends showed her where the telephone box was in Bluehouse Road. We stood outside while she talked, in awe of her film star appearance. The doctor was old Dr Winch, replaced by his son when he retired. I used to come down Friday Hill sitting on a book placed on a roller skate. People walking up the hill used to have to run out of my way. I liked going to Bill Land's for sweets as well as Bob Kent's down the hatch. There was also Martin's toy shop where I would buy my replacement straps for my skates when I had enough money. I remember also the Biddle and Jingle lorry selling lemonade and ginger beer round the streets. I used to play in the Ching stream and have to hide my socks when I went home so mother didn't see the state they were in. I also liked going into The Prince of Wales off sales to buy a penny arrowroot biscuit.