Ealing memories
Here are memories of Ealing and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ealing or a Ealing photo.
Ealing 1962 Onwards
I moved to Windsor Road in Ealing in 1962 when I was 11. I remember the Grove with fond memories. All the shops! The tailor's shop and the barbers. The sweet shop which always had a bowl of water for the dogs outside in the summer, the butchers (Mum used to send me there on a Saturday for a piece of beef costing about 3s or 3/6d (15 or 17 1/2p) The man that ran the butchers along with his 2 sons also had a cafe a few doors up. (In the 1970s I worked in the offices along the Uxbridge Road and used to go there and have a good meal with chips which were 1p extra!) The penny library next to the car park (yes only a penny a book!). Along from there in the Grove was a piano shop, then the Kings Arms pub, a dairy, the paraffin shop and the haberdashery shop, then the bread shop (one of the first bakers with a bread slicer!). At... Read more
Bakers And Ealing Studios
My God! I remember the baker shop fondly as it was opposite the Ealing Studios, and we used to hang outside Ealing Studios loads of times as kids, hoping to see someone famous - and we did. I've said "Hello" to Hattie Jaques, she was so lovely and warm, I remember her just walking over to my sister to say hello and ask why were we there, we explained we lived in Northolt but our nan and grandad lived in Regina Road, West Ealing and our dad was in the pub so we always came here when he went for his drink. She kissed our heads and waved goodbye. Another week me and my brother Andy were there eating hard scones that the baker gave us free, I think they were the day before's, and Sid James came walking out of the studio to go to the bakers. When he came back he gave us a cream bun each. He had a fag in the side of his mouth and... Read more
Working Life
My father was a local Ealing man, who attended Little Ealing Boys school and Chiswick Poly. He was the owner of Gordon Garage, Gordon Road, W.13 from around 1950-1969. I worked for him at the garage, from 1962-1966, so does anyone remember Fred or Norman Flatt? My father's mother was Alice Hulks whose father, David Hulks owned a grocers shop in Warwick Road at the beginning of the 20th century. I moved from the area in 1962, so commuted to Ealing from Iver until 1966. I have not returned to Ealing since 1988, as there doesn't appear to be any family left in the Ealing area.
Woolworths
I worked in Woolworths, met a lot of people, was so sad when it closed, turned out to be Iceland. I have a lot of good memories of Ealing.
Working in Ealing
I had a few jobs in Ealing jewellers opposite Woolworths, I also worked in a ladies clothes shop which was Lilly and Skinner. My mum worked in Gino's Italian resturant near the station and my sister worked in Boots in the arcade. Happy days.
Family Members
Hi, I am trying to find anyone who grew up in Ealing in the 1930s and knew of the Mastin family. My mother grew up there and lived there until she got married and moved to Middlesex where she changed her name to Schofield, I am just trying to find anyone who might have known them. Any information would be great no matter how small. My mum spoke fondly of Ealing. Thank you.
I Lived in 7 Haven Green And Now I am Searching...
I live in Haven Green, 7, but in the year 1965 we movend to Switzerland. Now I am searching for people who knew us. My father's name was Peter J. W. Benning and my mother was called Margaret Benning - Bryan - Lambert (she was Argentinian). Whatever name she exactly used at that time, I do not know unfortunately. I have a brother born in 1956 named Jeremy and a sister born 1963 named Saskia. I know that I then went into a pre-school, but no idea what his was called. I just know that nuns gave us lessons there. My mother had a girlfriend, her name was Beba. If someone remembers us, I would be very happy if you would contact me. BTW: I'm in London in April :-) Nici
The Bakery in Ealing Broadway
This is for Gwynne Tilley. The bakers shop you refer to was 'Pauls', a family business not far from the church and roughly opposite Woolworths in The Broadway. Pauls was a family business delivering by horse and cart out to my home in Corringway but I do not know how long it survived after WW2. Trams ran along the main road in 1934 but were replaced about 1936 with Trolleys Nos 607 and 655 running from Hanwell, possibly Southall, to Shepherds Bush. Dudley Parker cryogenic@clara.net
Abernethie & Son Ltd
I was very interested in your web site. William Abernethie, owner of Abernethie & Son Ltd 140-144 Uxbridge Road, was my Great great grandfather. He also had a branch at 25 Broadway, Ealing. It was a very successful drapery department store and celebrated 75 years of business from 1879-1954 with a commemorative catalogue. The shop finally closed in 1983.
In 1944 the West Ealing store was destroyed by a bomb, Killing Frederick Abernethie and 14 members of staff.
My other Great great grandfather was a tailor to the shops. His name was Abraham Macdonald and he lived at 23 Broomfield Road, Ealing - I believe it was the road opposite.
Your photos helped me to get a feel of what it must have been like in the 50s.
Les Wilde Dancing Lessons
Yes Yes Yes!!! I remember Les Wilde. My mum and dad used to go there every Wednesday evening. and my brother and I were sent along there for the childrens dance classes, I think on a Thursday evening. I remember the hall above the, was it a billiard hall? and the tiny little curtained booth where they put on the records, and the kitchen that smelled of gas where you could buy a watery orange juice and a club biscuit! I spent a lot of time at Les Wilde dance studios. My parents were good friends of both Les and his wife, whose name I forget. A lovely lady. When I was thirteen, I would sometimes accompany my parents on a Wednesday evening - but only because I could sit in his newly made bar and nurse a coca cola, which seemed to me at the age of thirteen the height of sophistication. My brother and I both took up to... Read more
Ealing 1934 to 1953
I moved to Hanwell in 1934 and was sent to Wynnstay School for girls and little boys, it was in The Avenue, not too far from West Ealing Station. I went to school on the 211 bus for a year then cycled, about 1 1/2 miles each way. In 1937 I was moved to Harrow View House School in Cleveland Avenue to meet up with Billy Cato, part of the Cato ironmongery empire. September 1939 saw the end of that school and I was sent variously to Ealing College near The Boadway and later to Hamilton House School in Florence Road leaving there in 1943 for Merchant Taylors. During those years I lived in Mayfield Avenue, Brunswick Road, Uxbridge Road and Corringway from 1940 to 52 when I married and moved to 49 Madeley Road. Many a time I cycled past Hanwell Lunatic Asylum not knowing then that I had an ancestor buried in the grounds, my mother never told me! 1935 I was in King Edward Memorial Hospital for... Read more
The First
I was the first non-white student at Ealing in 1964 - we were a rare commodity in those days - and apart from the sporadic racist episodes, my period at Ealing till I finished 'O' levels and moved to the US has to this day had a tremendous impact. Everyone trembled at the sight of Mr Hartwell - I came across an alum at a UK consulate some years later who had gone to Ealing before me and he confirmed this.
Childhood in Ealing And Thereabouts!
Although I wasn't born in the Borough I spent quite a lot of time in the district. I also attended St Anne's Convent, Little Ealing Lane, from the age of 5 to 16 and from there went on to Pitmans College in Ealing Broadway. My much older sister was married in the beautiful Church of England church there in 1951. I remember Saturday morning shopping which included a necessity to queue for lovely bread at 'Parkers', I think it was called, but I am not totally sure. I also learnt to drive in Ealing and passed my test at 17 years of age in rush-hour traffic at 8.30 a.m. which I thought was quite a feat!
I emigrated in 1961 to New Zealand and married a fellow Londoner and we have been in our lovely, adopted country for nearly 50 years. However, the fond memories of 'Home' as it was then are never far from our thoughts. Gwynne Tilly, nee McBride.
Ealing Grammar in The Good Old Days
My family returned emergently to Ealing, from the U.S., in late 1969. We lived with my widowed grandfather in North Ealing and I was sent to school at Ealing Grammar. As we were not sure how long we would be staying, the headmaster, Mr. Hartwell, agreed to let me go to school in street clothes. So, for three months, I was the only boy allowed to wear regular clothes. The school had barely changed from this earlier photo, but was a fabulous place to get an education, for which I shall always be grateful.
The Mall
I used to work at Burnside high class stationeries which was opposite where this photo was taken.
Opposite Burnsides was the National Provisinal Bank where there was a suspected bank raid all the detetives were dressed as window cleaners and odd job men , at the time I was dressing one of the front windows when a detective came up to me and told me to keep quite and he would help me with the window which he did, but at the same time he was keeping an eye on the men who was going to do the raid.
The police caught them as they were entering the bank.
5 Uxbridge Road, Ealing
My great great grandmother went here in 1901. Her name was Elizabeth Potter. I am trying to find out whether she was working for a family at this address or possibly if this was a boarding type house at the time. If anyone has any way of finding out, that would be much appreciated.
Need Help Remembering Ealing County School For Boys
Hello,
I'm a biographer in the United States and working on the life story of Ealing native, Lionel Malins. Lionel would later be known as Lee. He attended the Ealing County Grammar School for boys between the years of 1931-1938. Did you know Lionel?
He is living in the U.S. now and is as healthy and happy and funny as ever.
Did you know he was/is a highly decorated RAF fighter pliot in WWII?
Unfortunately, he lost his personal photographs in a flood in Texas in the 1970s and we're having a tough time building a story visually.
Do you have any photographs, memories, personal statements, anything about Ealing, the school or better yet, Lionel Malins during this time?
I'd be happy to connect you with Lee if you'd like.
Thank you so much!
Katie Gianotti
San Antonio, Texas
1900 - 1988
My Gt Gran lived Oxford Road Ealing (I think Ealing Common or Ealing Broadway) she went under the name of Annie Crump although she should have been Annie Smart. She was a Boarding House Keeper. I cannot find any more information on her as I don't know which name she used, she was (maiden name) Annie Watkins, she married a Crump and had some little Crumps, her husband died and she married the man who was my gt granddad, Stephen Smart, in Worcestershire, they had my granddad Tom Crump (aka Thomas Smart), she changed his name to match the other children as Stephen disappears off the face of the earth in 1881. Our families Crumps, Bevan, Wilsdon, Fretwell, Farrington, Ferris, Smith and Roberts then lived in Ealing through till my dad died in 1989. He was Sid Bevan. There are lots of memeries of Ealing. Johns the hairdressers in Ealing Broadway was John Frieda family for one.
Perivale And The Maternity Hospital
I grew up in Michigan USA, but my grandparents purchased a home in Perivale in the 1930s and it backed up to the property of the Perivale Maternity Hospital. My mom and my 2 aunts spent their youth, including teen years, in that house. It was one of my aunt's homes until about 10 years ago.
My mom emigrated to the States in the mid 1950s, married and had 3 children. We were fortunate to have been able to visit my aunt/uncle and cousins in Perivale quite a few times during my life. I can picture the Maternity Hospital now. It consisted of a few brown brick buildings, maybe 3-4 stories tall and the setting was very green and spacious. I can't remember exactly when it was torn down, but the local council turned the property into a housing development. I think it's been housing for at least 15 years.
Some of the best memories of my life occurred in... Read more
Geo Ort's Bakers
My dad owned the above. I spent 22 years in Perivale and went through school there. I finally left in 1977.
I have fond memories of Perivale and my dad's shop was very popular, it was on Bilton Road. We lived in Devon Close. Johnny Kidd was one of our customers and neighbours.
Does anyone remember us?
My Life in Ealing
I was born in 1936 and raised in South Ealing and went to St Anne's Convent School. I married in 1957 and went to live in West Ealing with my husband Tom who also grew up in Ealing so we knew the area very well. As young marrieds we enjoyed going to the three cinemas in Ealing Broadway, The Forum which was the grandest, The Walpole and The Palladium where we saw so many great films which are now classics. We also loved to go dancing at the Town Hall, but our favourite place to dance on a Saturday night was The Park Hotel in Hanwell where we spent many happy hours with our lovely friends who also were all Ealing raised. We spent sunny summer days in Walpole or Gunnersbury Park, picknicking, pitch and putt or having a boat ride on the lake in Gunnersbury. Such wonderful carefree simple days with wonderful friends, most of which we are still in contact with... Read more
Youngs Bakers And Saint Saviours
I went to Saint Saviours around approx 1967/1968. We used to live at Number 6, Webster Gardens. My grandparents used to own Youngs Bakers which was opposite Ealing Studios and my father and his brother used to do the early morning bread delivery rounds on their bikes! Does anyone remember the baker shop? I burnt my finger on the iron one day and my father took me to Gunnersbury Park and hired a boat out so that I could dangle my burnt finger in the water. I live in Nice in France now and sadly my grandparents are no longer alive, however, my father (Karl Young) and his brother (Ernie Young) are still alive and kicking.
Jayne Young
Saint Saviour's School
Does anybody remember going to Saint Saviour's School? If so, do you remember carrying your little chair up to the church hall in The Grove every week for a church service? I think it was on a Wednesday, as our church had been bombed in the war. I remember this because I found a little chair in a junk shop and it brought it all back to me.
My grandparents lived as caretakers of the Welsh chapel on Ealing Green and I remember as a child creeping out the back to look at the Ealing Studios, not really knowing then how famous it was.
My sister married Edward Foley whose family owned several shops in the high street, sadly she died two years ago. I live in Oxford now and only have an aunt living in Hanwell who I visit regularly and often nip to Ealing centre to have a nose around but never see anybody that we used to know.
Doreen Grant, nee Bonnell.
... Read more
Walks in The Park
I was born in Ealing in 1955, my parents lived in Raymond Avenue my Mum worked at the Town Hall.Later she worked at the White City dog track.
I remember going to a big park,Gunnersbury in a huge old pram and I clearly recall the time I was lost on Ealing Broadway,I was soon returned to my poor Mum by a policeman!
Memories of Greater London
War Time in Perivale
I was born July 1932 and moved to Perivale new housing estate developed by Percy Bilton in 1935, the name Bilton Road after him. The housing side was built by Taylor Woodrow and to my knowledge the same for Medway Parade. Ref to Alan Grose letter. I well remember the landmine, we use to play on the bomb site after school. I remember Reggie Eels from Selborne School who lived in the first block of houses in Hodder Drive the Woodhouse Avenue end where I thought the bomb had landed. The photos were in the Ealing Paper which my mother had cut out. Would it be possible for Alan Grose to email me the photos please? At nine years, I remember those long nights of bombing. The target was The Hoover Building on the Western Avenue, Perivale, making munitions, and the Peerless furniture manufacturers, making Horsa Gliders. On the golf course opposite was an ACK-ACK gunsite and search light battery. The Hoover building was in camouflage and when the guns went off... Read more
St Nicholas Church, Perivale,Middlesex
On my way to school one morning in possibly 1944 there was the body of a woman in the river Brent where we crossed by the footbridge at the church. She was lying face down, motionless and her hat and handbag were on the bank. There was a policeman on watch and he told me to "Go on son you don't need to see that". I often wondered why she had apparently taken her own life. In 1944 the world was full of problems for so many people.
Bilton Road
I grew up in Perivale my dads bakers shop was on Bilton Road, Geo Ort.
Does anyone remember?
Perivale Maternity Hospital
I was born Penelope Anne Ashton one hour and three quarters after my twin sister. It was March 1944 and we were born in Perivale Maternity Hospital. We were taken from the hospital to our family home in Uxbridge Road, Ealing. Our house was bombed out just months later and we were evacuated out.
I've never seen even a photo of Perivale Maternity Hospital, nor do I know the road it was in. I was told it too was bombed during the war. And that it was no longer there. I wonder if any one else has a photo and can tell me more about it.
I have grown up in Australia but have visited back home several times Would love to know where to look for the hospital next time I come.
Hospital Records
Hi, my name is Julie and I am researching my past. I was born in Perivale Hospital in 1962. I am told that the hospital no longer exists. Can anyone tell me where the hospital records may have been moved to? Information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Julie
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