Heathway Life
I grew up within a few minutes walk of this our local shopping centre. The photo was taken outside the Fifty Shilling Tailors looking towards Dagenham Heathway Station. Some of the shops I remember were Day's the newsagents, Meyer's the greengrocers, Gillings the fishmongers run by a pair of identical twins and Jenners which was a general store selling all manner of household equipment, linens, clothing and toys. They also ran a club whereby you could pay for things little by little and when paid for could take your purchases away. On the other side of the road stood the Church Elm pub, the Post Office and Burton's the Tailors. Above Burtons was the Snooker Hall and above that the Doughty School of Ballroom Dancing where half the local population met their life partners as I did. The large square building on the horizon was the Gaumont Cinema known as the "Heathway" . This was usually the venue for the first date after the meeting at the "Doughty".
The photo is quite early in my memory as later barriers were erected to protect shoppers from the traffic.
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RE: RE: Heathway Life
I also grew up not far from the Heathway shopping centre, and remember all the places described in 'Heathway life'. Day's the newsagents used to have 2 shops, one next to 'The Fifty Shilling Tailors', and the other further up the hill, they used to open alternate Sunday mornings, as I used to get my dad's Sunday papers there. There was another sweet shop next to the station, but I cannot recall the name, and next to that was 'Daily Wants' , a shop that used to sell all sorts of household items. I used to get my hair cut at 'Harry's' the barber that used to be just a few shops down from the Gaumont. I had a relative that worked in the 'Army & Navy' shop on that side of the road near 'Burtons', and I seem to vaguely remember an American style coffee bar almost opposite, near Woolworths. There was always, and possibly still is, a greengrocers stall on the corner of the Heathway and Headgmans Road, Outside the 50 bob tailors, as it was known, I think it was a family run thing, they seemed to be there for years. The 50 bob tailors became 'John Colliers' and then Barclay's Bank which I think is still there.
Comment from Mel Smith on Thursday, 29th July 2010.
RE: RE: Heathway Life
Yes, I went to the school of dancing above the tailors, I remember Harry Doughty and his wife teaching, also a guy called Stan and a lady called Peggy uesd to teach there as well. I used to dance with Val Nicholls and girl called Brenda, I wonder if they are still about. Happy memories.
Comment from Michael Pickett on Monday, 7th February 2011.
RE: RE: Heathway Life
my sister's friend was Val Nichols' sister - Carol Nichols.
Comment from Grace Leaman on Saturday, 14th May 2011.