The Gloucester. West Croydon.

I was born in 1949 in Northcote Road just across the road from the Gloucester. My uncle, Eddie Clements, lived there up until January 2012. He has just recently passed away. I have fond memories of the area. I went to Tavistock School in the 1960s. I spent many hours playing in Whitehorse Road Rec. Stanley Halls was a night out for me when I was not really old enough to get in. Later I moved to Pemdevon Road just off of Broad Green. The ABC cinema was a regular Saturday morning place to go. The manager used to threaten to cut the cartoon if we wouldn't calm down and be quiet. When I left school I got into motor bikes and used to frequent Thornton Heath Pond and the Nightingale Cafe in Biggin Hill. I now live in West Sussex. To me Croydon has changed but not for the better. You can take the Boy out of Croydon but you can't take Croydon out of the Boy.