The Pictures
I was born on Clyde Road in 1950, and in 1954 moved to Caterbury Road in West Croydon, where I attended school Elmwood, and then Lambfrank (spelling?). Mr Reeves was a teacher at Elmwood, and always answered anything he didn't like with a WHACK on the bottom from one of many different shoes that he kept for punishment (depending on how much punishment he wanted to inflict that day). But the good thing about him was that, all we had to do was to ask a question and the war and he would talk for the next hour non stop about the jerry's.
I like other writers here also remember Kennards and what a joy it was to be there. We didn't shop too much, because funds at the time were very limited, and Kennards was not the place where we went to buy, (only look at what others could afford). But I do remember going to the pictures, and seeing "Old Yeller" at the Davis, "The Horse Soldiers" at the Savoy, and every Saturday morning at the Granada, to sing songs, see an old B&W serial, a movie, and stomp your feet shouting, "We want film, We want film". Serials, like Zoro, Flash Gordon, Buck Jones, and Hopalong.
My family and I moved to San Francisco, California in 1962. Today I live near Hollywood, but wouldn't trade my memory of Croydon for anything. From what I understand a cousin still manages a barrow at the Market, his name is "Redpath". Does anyone know of a Michael Gooch, Paul Bigrigg, or Michael Cody, that I went to school with?
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Comments
RE: RE: The Pictures
Hi Steve and Margaret
It's Keith here, I have been reading your comments to Christine and found it very nostalgic. I still live in England having moved from Canterbury Road after 30 years. Moved to Wallington by Beddington Park where you used to get conkers from. I now live with my wife Sonia in Selsey Bill in Sussex. My brother Ken and I both went to Lanfranc and Sue went to Tavistock girls. Ken remembers the plane crash in Norway, he tells me the story that there was one seat left on the plane and 2 kids in the class wanted to go and the teacher tossed a coin choosing one of them, one obviously died all on the toss of a coin. That's fate for you.
I told my sister Sue about this site and she told me about her and Margaret taking down your mum's curtains to wrap around like dresses. She also lives here in Selsey with my mother who is in her late 80's, my father died 1975.
Don't see that much of Ken he lives in Cornwall but we keep in touch. How's the rest of the family is Ralph and Ken ok?
I remember saturday morning pictures at the ABC Savoy and the film stopping halfway through and the manager coming out telling all us kids to calm down, all the kids were noisy when the talking was going on in the film and quite when the action scenes were on.
Talking of sweets do you remember the sherbert fountain with the licquorice tube sticking out the top? that was one dangerous sweet if you sucked too hard it nearly choked you. They still make them today.
Do you remember
Jamborie bags
Gob stoppers
Spangles
Sugar Mice
Beech Nut chewing gum
Black Jacks
Sweet Tobacco)
Sweet cigarettes) both banned now
Keith
Comment from Keith on Thursday, 10th April 2008.
RE: RE: The Pictures
Hi Keith, this is Margaret, I just got off the phone with Steve and he told me you had answered this site. Who would have thought, that 46 years later we would be in contact with each other. I remember playing with my mom's clothes and playing dress up with Susan, but not the curtains...my mom's fault, she should have had more clothes for us to play with, ha, ha. Whenever I go to England I always buy the "penny" candy. And yes, I remember all the candy. Now do you remember a bag that had candy in and you got a surprise..a toy of some kind?? What did you end up doing, for a job?? I never worked (lucky me), I had two children, girls, and they gave me twin boys, and then I got a grandaughter and another grandson. I was married for 38 years and I wish I could say he died, but no...we divorced two years ago. It was a good thing. I don't know if you remember what we all looked like, but I think I will go and look at pictures of all of us at the flats. Someone got most of the children in that picture. I wish we could email without everyone having to look at our memories. Guess you can't get the address. I live in California, in the north called San Ramon. Ken in San Francisco about 35 miles from here. Love to hear what Susan has been up to in the last 46 years, tell her to write. Margaret Matheson
Comment from Margaret Matheson on Sunday, 13th April 2008.
RE: RE: The Pictures
My brother Ken and I both went to Lanfranc and Sue went to Tavistock girls. Ken remembers the plane crash in Norway, he tells me the story that there was one seat left on the plane and 2 kids in the class wanted to go and the teacher tossed a coin choosing one of them, one obviously died all on the toss of a coin. That's fate for you.
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Hi there,
Was just reading through and saw the above so thought, I would contribute about the story and why there was a spare seat.
The reason that a seat was available was because my father was due to go onto the trip, but he had bad feelings about the trip / flight days leading up to going and he refused to go. Hence I am able to be here today and able to tell the story of the empty seat. Now that is fate!
My father has worked across the road from the school for many years and is now retiring. It's strange how things work out in the Tapestry of life.
Comment from Name withheld on Monday, 9th June 2008.
RE: RE: The Pictures
Hi, my dad went to Lanfranc School, his name was Paul Bigrigg, he was supposed to on the plane that tragically crashed but he fell ill and my nan would not let him go.
Do any of you remember Paul Bigrigg, my dad lived on Canterbury Road.
Comment from Tracey Bigrigg on Thursday, 3rd July 2008.
RE: RE: The Pictures
Re: Norway Crash....My father Robert Souter was also booked on the tragic trip to Norway. His parents made him pull out at the final hour after discovering that the dates of the trip, over lapped with their pre booked holiday to Spain that year. It's down to fate that my father never boarded that plane, and I even exist to post this story. My grandparents lost their deposit for the trip (my father recalls they were most annoyed at this). He has featured in newspaper articles many times in the years after the event, and remembered his 32 classmates and 2 teachers at Croydon Crem. To this day, my father has never flown to Norway, nor will ever. Fate played a part in his absence that day. He does not wish to remind fate that he may have slipped through its net. C'mon ... what are the odds? If there is anyone who wishes to contact my father, via myself, please do on the email address provided. To the families and friends of the souls lost in this most tragic event, please know that they are all in my thoughts and prayers in lasting memory.
Cherie Souter.
Comment from Cherie Souter on Friday, 23rd January 2009.
RE: RE: The Pictures
Hi, folks. An author (the sister of one of those lost in the Lanfranc air disaster) is preparing a memorial book for the 50th anniversary of the crash. She is desperate to trace the lad who lost the toss of the coin and so survived. Does anyone here recall his name or what became of him? Cheers!
Comment from Dr William Cooper on Tuesday, 25th August 2009.
RE: RE: The Pictures
This is a message for Cherie Souter: Hi, Cherie. Would you please contact Rosalind Jones on rosalind.jones@wanadoo.fr as she wishes to include your father in her forthcoming book? I tried contacting you by email but couldn't find your address. Many thanks. My email address is w.cooper3@btinternet.com
Comment from Dr William Cooper on Tuesday, 25th August 2009.
RE: RE: The Pictures
Message for Cherie Souter: Hi, Cherie. Would you please contact Rosalind Jones on as she wishes to include your father in her forthcoming book? I tried contacting you by email but couldn't find your address. Many thanks. My email address is
Comment from Dr William Cooper on Tuesday, 25th August 2009.