Beddington Corner 1940-1957

The Old Red Lion c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I lived in Seymour Road, Beddington Corner from 1940 until my parents moved to Carshalton in 1957. As a child I first attended Hackbridge infants school followed by the junior school and finally on to the dizzy heights of Elmwood County Secondary, having failed the 11 plus which was rigged in those days so that the bulk of the 10\% who passed came from a private prep school called Collingwood paid for by parents who could afford it. My parents were honest working class, Mum looked after the house and us and Dad worked at Mullards for a modest wage. I had a wonderful childhood despite the war with little traffic around we played in the streets ,yes Orchard avenue rec, New Road, York Street, etc .But best of all was Mill Green and Mitcham Common just down the road . They were allowed to grow wild during the war to save labour I suppose, but it meant that the wildlife and flora were never disturbed ,Butteflies abounded, all manner of insects were there, harebells, cow parsley,you name it and great for building secret camps in the long grass, we used hollow cow parsley stems as pea shooters and Agar berries for ammunition ( ouch! ). I have a 1945 picture of virtually everyone living around there taken at the VE celebration party in Goslings Yard ,I am the one looking fed up in the middle all dolled up in a tail suit because my Dad also earned money as a semi proffesional childrens entertainer,magic, ventriloquism,punch and judy and more and from the age of seven had trained me in a stage act of magic so I had to go with him to every show and perform on stage, the day of our street party was no exception and I had just rushed accross the street to find the party was over bar the last photograph. To my knowledge the Red Lion is still there although I have not been past it for some years now. I do know that the Skinners Arms at Beddington Corner is still there although some idiot has ditched name which had historical connection with the tannery trade and ludicrously called it "The Hungry Horse" Where I lived is now huge blocks of flats and just down the road where a man started a few car repairs during the war in his back garden garage is now an enormouse monstrosity of a petrol garage. I am now retired but as a Manager in the NHS for a good few years I had a sign on my desk which said "Permanent Change is here to Stay" .How true that is of the places we grew up in.