Gidea Park, Essex

Shopping

My mother used to take me from Hornchurch on the 66 bus when i was a small child. She always went to Lous' stall opposite the cinema (flea pit as we called it) She knew him well and could rely on him. We would go and see the cattle being weighed and the sheep and pigs being tagged ready for... [more]

School Days

I attended this school in 1952-1956. I can remember Miss Bubbers the headmistress well. She roamed the corridors with her black gown flowing about her. A very stern and not to be crossed head of school. My first teacher was Miss Parfait who seemed very young. Miss Brown was our science teacher who invited the class to have... [more]

When buses ran past Lloyds Bank .....

I am told that once upon a time buses ran through Romford Market towards Gidea Park. Apparently I was happily standing in the queue with my mother and newly-born sister in a pram waiting for a 174. I held tight to Mum's coat so as not to lose her. Imagine my surprise to find that the coat in question belonged to... [more]

Romford and Havering-atte-Bower,very fond Memories

We moved to Romford in 1951 from Havering where we lived with Nan and Grandad in Pinewood Road. It was an exciting time for me but also an unhappy time leaving Nan and Grandad's house. We moved in a council house in Chelmsford Ave, I made friends with a boy called Raymond Crane, we started school together ,his mother and father... [more]

Doing the Shopping

I lived a mile or so east of Rush Green, in Barton Avenue but my Mum would send me with a note to get the shopping for the family. She would give me sometimes had eight half crowns or £1 a lot of money then. I would cycle down, first to Brown's the butchers, the first shop after the... [more]

Memory Joggers

We moved to Romford in 1954. First we lived at Mawneys and attended the primary school there. In 1955 we moved to Oaks Avenue and I attended Pettits Lane Secondary Modern School. I left in 1959. The pillars just below the trees in the photo, was the gateway to the Whykam Hall which belonged to the church. I remember spending many... [more]

First Home

I was born in Hornchurch in 1934, but my mother, father and myself were the first residents of 121 Warren Drive, Elm Park.  My brother was born in the house at 121, in 1945.  This is the last view I had of the street, as we left in a taxi, to sail to Canada in 1946.  Made a brief visit to... [more]

timber yard

I worked at Mayfield Timber, the first shop on the right, when I left school, 1972 to 1976. Great memories.