Memories of Greenford 1954-1964ish
I was born in Perivale and lived with my parents and grandparents in Greenford Road (no.283), just 2 doors along from Croyde Avenue. My Nan and Grandad owned the sweet shop in Greenford Market, where the buses used to start and finish from (Windmill Lane). My Dad was a bus driver at Southall Bus Garage and his buses would terminate there. I often used to work in the sweet shop with them on a Saturday. Their names were George and Rosy Thorne. Their shop was directly next to the fresh fish stall and the green grocers. There was a fabric stall (Mr and Mrs Gillan), also a haberdashery stall towards the back of the market. I remember there being a Police Box on the corner (like Dr Who's Tardis) - is that right? I recall the 'The Stall' (greengrocers) on the opposite corner to the Red Lion pub, which was always busy, I believe that may still be there, but not in the form I remember! My first real boyfriend used to work there. When I was a baby my Mum left me outside either Woolworths or Sainsburys in the pram and went home without me (being a new mum she wasn't used to taking a pram out and just forgot about me!). I went to Betham's infants school in either Costons Lane or Oldfield Lane. I remember Creamery Fayre with the posh coffees and later on when Tesco's took over the old Granada cinema. Lists bakery and Toni's Milk Bar. I had a Saturday job in a clothes shop one or two doors along from Creamery Fayre. Bentley's jewellers where I had my ears pierced. A lovely fish and chip shop up by the Post Office. I also recall there being a MacFisheries in Greenford Broadway too. My Mum worked at NCR back in the 1970s I think. I feel I can recall Greenford Hall being opened. We moved to Northolt (Racecourse Estate) in 1960 but still spent lots of time in Greenford because of my grandparents living there. I have just looked at Greenford Broadway on Streetview and it's hardly recognisible now. My old school - Greenford Grammar has now been demolished, it had that lovely 1930's tower. Will post some memories about my days in Northolt too.
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RE: RE: Memories of Greenford 1954-1964ish
I worked on the fish stall (Peter's) as a Saturday boy in 1958, firstly doing the shellfish stall which was alongside the fish stall only on Saturdays. When I left school I worked full time in the market alongside Charlie the manager, Peter the owner's son and another five fishmongers. We used to smoke the fish in the yard at the back of the market. It was always very busy with a queue most days. George Thorne was a nice man and let us have our ciggies on tick and we paid him on Saturdays when we got paid. I remember George had a small Standard car which he used to get his supplies from the wholesalers but he was reluctant to use it if it was raining. The haberdashers was called Gilberts, the greengrocers was Johnny King, the chemist was Philips, the fashion stall was Greens, there was also a hardware shop at the entrance to the market opposite Gillhams, the fabric stall, I can't remember their name. Peters also had stalls in Wembley, Richmond and a shop in Hounslow. I left after six years to open my own shop but have fond memories of my time in Greenford.
Comment from Gordon Piper on Sunday, 19th December 2010.
RE: RE: Memories of Greenford 1954-1964ish
Blimey! Johny Kings! Yes I remember very well, my mum always bought her veg from there every week after shopping at Sainsburys and at Chirstmas time she bought loads and loads of fruit and veg. Does anyone remember the box of dates that all parents brought (yuk!!!), I hated them. My dad used to use a stick to eat them with. She also brought loads of nuts! mmm, yummy. And how many people can remember when nuts and fruit were always in your Chirstmas stocking! More memories soon.
Comment from John Nicholls on Wednesday, 2nd February 2011.
RE: RE: Memories of Greenford 1954-1964ish
The fish and chip shop next to the post office was called Goddards and my mum and dad used to take me there on a Saturday lunchtime. We used to eat upstairs and the food was delicious. I had one set of grandparents living over Skethleys on Greenford Broadway and the other set lived in Stanhope Park Road. I also had an aunt and uncle that lived on the prefab estate near the post office.
Comment from Norman Munns on Tuesday, 1st March 2011.
RE: RE: Memories of Greenford 1954-1964ish
I worked as a 'Saturday Boy' at Mac Fisheries in Greenford Broadway. The Manager was a Mr Choules who had a Sunbeam Rapier (that's a car!) with wings and a red stripe and we had great assistants in Charlie (he was old then!) who cooked chickens, filleted fish etc and Rose I recall; Mrs Levy did the books. Lunch across the road at the Windmill Restaurant was great 2s/8d for Steak and Kidney Pie and 2 veg; 2/10 for Chicken and Mushroom (or was it the other way round?). We sold cod at 4/- a pound (3/8 on special offer); 3/6 at the market! 4/6 for haddock. On occasion I would be sent over to the market in my overalls when we had run out - cooperation as well as competition. I was a student at Eliots Green Grammar School in Northolt (1960-7) and thoroughly enjoyed having money I had earned. I lived on the Grange Estate in Northolt (nearest bus stops at the White Hart Yeading and at Kingshill Avenue). Steve Perryman the footballer who set up the sports shops in Greenford and in Hayes was in my brother's class at Eliots Green. Our mum worked with his mum serving school dinners at Walford School. I found this site while looking for former cinemas of the area - trying to remember the 'flea pit' on the left down the hill from the Red Lion (ie not the Granada that became Tesco). We had such HUGE choice then with three or four in each of Hayes, Ealing and Harrow with others too at Southall, South Harrow, Rayners Lane, Ruislip, Uxbridge, ... and all those Bond movies ... Happy memories
Comment from Brian Wood on Thursday, 1st March 2012.