Dycorts And Harrowfields

I was at school with Alan Drake and Graham Furnival the mead
1952/1958 also remember the name Lovering but it was a boy but sadly cannot remember his first name I think it could have been Lenny
He may have lived in Colne Drive
I lived in Paines Brook Way and remember the Fryer boys Brian Colin and Keith. Christine and emilt stannard Joyce Wilden and Pat carr whose dad was a referee at the wrestling on a Saturday afternoon he was on the tv as well. John Bonner and The walshes from colne drive as well as the brannigan girls
Also Billy KIte from Colne Drive I remember him having a Mohican late 50's early 60's
And Charlie Yules from colne drive who wouldn't let us pass his house until my sister who was bigger than me lifted him up and chucked him over the privets he sure let us pass after thet
Happy days and loads of memories

Hi Barbara, thanks for the note. Alan Drake was one of our group in our late teenage and twenties. Used to go to the Harold Hill Football Club on a Monday I think with groups like Scrooge and the Misers, The Washington DCs. Also the Ilford Palais.
Last saw him about 8 years ago as we were both working in the City. If you knew Alan you might have know Brian Broderick who lived around the corner from Alan?

Hi Bob
I do remember Brian broderick and the football club at the end of our road seen the Washington dc's also the wickham hall in Romford good on a Saturday
And the ilford palais not sure it's still standing
I left in 1962 and have only been back once but memories stay with you forever sad that I never saw any school friends but that life we moved to the north west just outside Liverpool just in time for the Mersey beat a wonderful time to be alive and visits to the cavern so it did have its compensation still live there in fact
Do you remember John lamb he lives in new Zealand
If I remember any more I'll be back

Hi Barbara,
Brian and I have remained good mates since we met at Harrowfields back in about 1959. He lives about 10 minutes walk from me here in Wickford although with families etc., we meet far less than we used too!
The Palais closed in 2007 to make way for a block of flats although it had changed name a few times since we used to go. Remember the Wykeham Hall too at the church in Romford Market. Saw Amen Corner there I remember.
Living lin Merseyside at that time must have been great. The Searchers were always my group, still have all their LPs/CDs and still play them. They appear in local theartes occasionally but I always make plans to go but then chicken out at the thought of seeing blokes in their 70s (I am 69) who used to be great when I saw them back when.
Definitely remember John Lamb, another class mate from Harrowfields. I am always impressed how people have moved away to make their lives when I am only 30 minutes away from Harold Hill, perhaps too cautious.
Did you ever know Alan Drake's sisters at all, cannot think of the older but the younger was Sue. There was also a girl who lived near him with a Polish sounding surname called Brenda or Linda, terrible to forget as we went out once or twice!!
Really good to here from you, do stay in touch

Hi bob
Doyou remember the fryer boys brian colin and keith mum and dad george and lillian they had a grey alsation called tessie she used to jump over their back gate at no82 run to our house at no74 eat anything including cake jump up with her paws on the sink (those ones so popular today that cost a fortune) and drink from the running tap she would not drink from a bowl.the dad had a chimney sweep and window cleaning business they were the first people I knew to go to spain on holiday they moved to hornchurch I think beore I moved in 62
Think I have also sent you a message think I got onto to wrong part maybe bit too technical
Cheers Barbara

From: Barbara Findlow

To: bobnobes
Are you talking about maureen brozouski lived I think in one of the first few houses in retford road I have seen her name on face book not that I use it but looked on my daughters just for a nose Didnt know alans sisters Talking about maureen I went with a s hool friend and maureen to a dance school ballroom dancing cant remember where somewhere off cambourne/farringdon avenue I think A woman played the piano think it was friday nights I still dance today but do sequence There were 4 boys there and I think they were all called john popular name eh Groom archer but cant remembet the other two John groom lived like me in paines brook way had a sister called joyce I had a schoolgirl crush on him but was totally out of his circle I think he was in a crowd of us who went to see butterfield eight with elizabeth taylor of course he never even saw me sad eh but hes probably got no hair or teeth now or maybe not but thats just another memory I remember going to brentwood cimema queued up to see blue hawaii elvis of course but couldnt get in how disappointing was that Was it brentwood that had the open aur swimmimg pool Its lively to hear from you as its the first time I have shared any memories in over 50 years great stuff keep it u Cheers barbara
Reply
this is the message I sent you a while ago couldn't understand where it had gone anyway here it is
hope you are well

Are you the Bob nobes that had a sister called Linda and lived in Leamington road. And your dad was a milk man. I lived in sedge field crescent. My name was Lesley was Lesley Thomas. When I worked in the city you worked there to. I remember ad you had gone to uni and not many people had in those days..may be the wrong person?? Also I remember someone with the surname tremaine it was I think.Sandra and she was a twin not sure of it was Lawrence. Also Margaret brewer lived in.Leamington road who was friends with the blaber twins.

My name is, Lesley Thomas now but if was Lesley Cohen then.

Hi Lesley,
You nearly got all it right! My Dad, also Bob, was a milkman and my sister was Lynda.
We lived opposite the Brewers and I remember Christopher and John. john joined the royal navy when he was about 19 as I remember.
I used to go to school with Raymond Blaber but cannot remember twin.
I worked in the City from the age of 21 firstly with an insurance firm Provident Life and then with various stockbrokers including Vivian, Gray and Williams de Broe. did not go to Uni but did a lot of study on day release at college and night school.
If you were a mate of my sisters are you the one that worked Provident Life?
The guy I was at school with was Alan Tremain but you might also have known another good friend John Palmer.
Keep in touch
bob

Hi Barbara,
Found your message and hope all well with you.
Maureen Brozouski was the name I could not remember. I thonk the scool you might have gone to ballroom dancing near farringdon was Broadfords just opposite Camborne Avenue.
I think I knew John Groom, had fair hair?
The open air pool at Brentwood was a great place compared to the tiny pool at Romford in Mawney Road. I think it was pulled down when Aln sugar built his Amstrad factory there.
We also used to go to saturday morning pictures in Brentwood and used to walk home so we could use the bus fare to buy bangers at the newsagent in Harold Park!!

keep in touch
bob

Hi I didn't want to interfere with this conversation but.

Mr nobes ...was you the caretaker at pyrgo primary school in the 80's i used to live at 56 Leamington and I'm sure you was just down the road about 6-7 houses down.
I'm 36 now and your name has just took me back to being a kid again.

I'm sure you lived about 4 doors from the lollypop lady I believe her name was Anne middleditch.

Everone loved Mr nobes back in the day proper school caretaker who looked out for us kids......I'm sure it's you Mr nobes bob nobes.

Hi Dave,
not interfering, the more the merrier!

Right family wrong Bob.

The Bob you knew who was the caretaker at Pyrgo and then ultimately The Neave was my Dad who sadly is no longer with us having died in 2013 at the age of 89. Thanks you for your comments, a number of others have said similar and I remember there were always kids hanging onto him when he strolled about his 'domain'.
We lived at No7 which was in a terrace of 4 between Redruth Walk and Wickford Drive. If you were at No 56 you were in one of the houses directly facing Wickford Drive. When I lived there (I am approaching 70 and left at 25 back in 1972, I think your house was still owned by the Woodstocks , 54 was the Hansons from memory.

The lollipop lady is not known to me. when I was a kid it was Mrs Reardon who lived on the corner house as you turned left in Dagnam Park Drive. I went to scholl with her son Ray.

Thanks for the memory, are you still on the Hill, it has changed an awful lot.

regards
bob

Hi bob

First I'd like to say what a great man your dad was,when I see your name my eyes lit up I was like that's my old school caretaker!

you are right everyone loved your dad and thinking about it now I remember saying to him he should be our teacher and he would laugh.

I lived at 56 Leamington road from 1985 till the year 2000 that was about the last time I see your dad when I moved from there I went down to Harrow crecent then to Grange Road both off straight road,I'm now currently in rush green.

I can honest say I would never have wanted to be brought up anywhere else in my childhood everyone including your dad said hello to everyone and everyone knew everyone I met you dad at 5 years old and last see him when I was 20 and still the same we would have a natter and when we moved we went and said bye to everyone on both little strips of Leamington road.

I think we all basically done the same in our childhood because we didn't have technology back then football on pyrgo field runouts and covering every inch of the manor and duck wood.
Can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing.

I'm afraid now harold hill is not the same I've still got friends and family on there but it's gone to pot with all the new building work.
Any bit of green and there building on it.
The albemarle is no more hilldene is unrecognisable and I've been told there's no more community on there because they moved a lot of people from London on to there ,I know people need places to live but at least back in my day the 80's and 90's living at Leamington road we all knew and looked out for each other.

I'm currently looking into more info on things about harold hill so I will stay In touch.

Once again thank you for your reply and can honestly say I'm touched and honoured to have known your dad the great bob nobes the best school caretaker in the world.
Kind regards

David moore.

Greetings bob

Yes you are right I was bang across from Wickford drive.

When we moved in at 56 Leamington in 1985 no one lived in number 54 for years till about 1991-92 and they was a couple who had a little baby I forget there names but next to them was a man and woman called betty and frank you will know frank cause he drove a yellow Robin reliant they was there before us and number 58 I think was Pauline and Jeff Bailey and to this day I think they are still there.
Ann middleditch was our lollypop lady when we went pyrgo in 1985 and she left that job in about 98-99 she was in the first house in your dad's row across from me your dad knew her well but again we all knew each other back then I'm sure your dad's house had the garage on the side I might be wrong but I'm sure it was that house and in the 90's he drove a big silver car or something like that but I might be wrong again.

Do you have any info on who lived in my house before I was there in 1985 .
I loved that house and I still call that house my natural home and I'd do anything to move back there I really would.
Ive also been looking into the history of the dagnams and the neave family and how and when they sold off all the land I can't belive we used to go over the island/moat to play runouts and it's all part of another history and going over to the roman pond as we called it and now knowing it was lady neaves bathing pool so any info on anything would be wonderful. What was on pyrgo priory before the school I know it was the farmhouse but when you was there was it just field and the moat or could you see remains of a farm house and could you see any of the dagnams house at all.

Sorry to go on but I'm just curious that's all.
You said they was called the Woodstocks can you add to any more on that bob and did you know frank and betty who drove Robin relients because they was there years before us I think once again
Kind regards

David moore

Thanks for all he comments Dave, bringing back a lot of memories.

As we were in a block of four houses, nobody had a garage as at one end the gardens of Wickford Drive backed onto them and at the other end the gardens of Redruth Walk backed onto them.

We did have a lawn and roses in the front garden but long after I left, Dad had this changed to a hard standing and parked a Hyundi Coupe which was silver so may be what you are thinking of.
Afraid I cannot much more to who had your house prior to you. When I lived there the houses were council houses and most of the tenants had been there a long long time. Dad lived at No 7 for over 50 years and this was common. Then people start to buy their homes in the eighties and therewas a lot more movement as those who had been there a while got a discount and were able to move on.
I moved to Leamington Road in 1950/51 and can remember watching your house and others on that side being built.
I can tell you that at No. 58 was Frank and Doll Tripp, Frank had died but Dad mentioned Doll until the late 90's.
At 52 lived the Blackburns, 50 was the Johnsons, 48 the Brewers and at 46 the Prices. Now Roger Price, the youngest son was still there in late 90s . He was a builder and built all the walls and extensions. Lovely bloke, he and his brother David were playmates.
I know of Pauline and Jeff Bailey because Dad used to talk of them and I think he mentioned Ann but I did not know she was the lollipop.
You mentioned the Albermarle. When I was about 11 this was the site of a big old farmhouse where there was a youth club (do they still exist?) and you could not go in certain rooms because the floors were rotten. This was pulled down and became the 5 Star youth club which had a decent amateur boxing team.
I will get back to you on the Manor shortly.

Hi Bob no I wasn't at school with your sister. I think she was maybe a year older. I am 64. I did in fact work at Vivian Gray and couldn't remember the name where we both worked until you mentioned it. I do remember John.Palmer and his family as they lived a few doors away from us in sedge field crescent. Michael Street lived next door maybe you remember that name. Still think about the happy days on Harold hill and hate it when people talk badly about it. But things change I suppose. Regards

Hi bob thanks for reply.

Yes your right frank and doll was her name I don't know where betty come from I think I might be thinking of frank spencer and his saying oh betty and put 2 and 2 together but your right her name is doll.

I was 11 or 12 when frank passed away and he was a good fella who loved his Robin reliant.

And again from memory I remember your dad's big silver car but some bits are just a little blurry I always thought there was a garage on the end house on the side but must be wrong.
Across from you was Bedale road did that have a little park there when you was there.
1 adults swing
1 baby swing
1 see saw
1 roundabout
With just 1 oak tree on that bit of green because that's gone now.

Bob I'm afraid the albamarle is no more it's full of house's the whole of the alby field going upto the little bridge in central Park If you remember the two tennis courts on your left as you cross the little bridge that's all houses there now.

Please take a look on Google maps to see.
No more police station all ripped down and are going to build a lidl store there even though they opened tesco's at gallows corner for the estate.

Yes Pauline and Jeff was next door and I still believe they are there because he's had a granada for about 30 years and I went past Leamington the other week and it was still parked up under the tree so they gotta still be there.

The five star boxing club is now across from the swimming pool in a little building and as far as I know was always there when I was growing up never knew it was near the albamarle.

Can you clear somthing up for me did the rolling Stones play a gig at the albemarle in the 60's or some sort of rock group who was big because I thought I heard somthing about a rock group heading a show at the alby and it was in all the local papers.

Once again thanks for all your knowledge bob you have taken me back on a wonderful journey of harold hill and you can remember when my house was being built it doesn't sound right because to me it's always been there.

Anything you know on the manor will be greatly appreciated and I will stay in touch.
Kind regards
David moore

Hi bob
Good to hear from you
Read somewhere that harrowfield schools have been pulled down what a shame
Has there been anything put in its place so many changes
Had a look on an app similar to google earth found paines brook way on harold hill felt really sad that I probably will never see it but thats life I suppose all the pensioners bungalows have gone and the brook across from wherevi lived seems to have a path running right along the grassy bank much improvement
I think you are right about the ballroom dancing around cambourne avenue/farringdon avenue it was,a,good place not that I was,proably any good too busy watching john groom and yes he did have fair hair
Harold par shops I used to walk there from.school to get shopping for my mum think it was called dutch something what a walk especially back with sugar and potatoes.
I always remind my children about coming home from school in winter to find a note on the table with half a crown ( they dont know what one of them is) the note said get a gallon of paraffin from the oil shop in petersfield avenue it was my worst nightmare. It was for the paraffin heater in our kichen my worst nightmare
But enough of misery hope you are looking foward to christmas and new year I certainly am love it when all the family get together
Take care and keep in touch
Barbara

Linda Nobes was in my class at Harrowfields.

I have contact with Linda Tremain on Facebook her sister's name is Pauline. I also know them from Harrowfields.

I lived in Wickford Close from 1955 - 1969

Hi, I am/was Linda Tremain. Can you let me know who you are pls as I don't recognise mazcb.

?

Hi bob
You may not of herd of me my name is Charlie Heath and I know two names David watts & alan drake I think David was the son of my mums friend and Alan lived at Retford close where I lived. And the other lad who you think lived at colne drive is I think is Lenny lovelock.
Regards chas

Hi Chas,

You are not a familiar name but wonder if you are related to Robert Heath who was good mate and fellow rugby team-mate. He was also Harrowfields School Captain.

Remember David watts for Dycorts, he was a District Sports champion in the Long Jump from memory, tall lanky lad like a few of us who had shot up in the fourth year at Juniors. I think he and I both had a crush on the same girl Brenda Sellwood!!!

Lennie Lovelock is a guy I also remember from Dycorts but not Harrowfileds for some reason., good footballer. Thanks for the update.

I have just noted that it is 2 years since I last posted anything and I am now 71 which means some of the names are from some 60 years ago. Good grief - where did that time go!!!

regards
bob

I know this was two years ago, but I knew you and Pauline, Jean Ditzel, Pearl Newton, I was Janet Pizzie, now Norris.

Janet!! Lovely to hear from you! I often think of you, was only speaking a lady called Christine about you, apparently she used to baby sit for you.
I drive past your house when I'm on one of my reminiscing tours! We were playing in Your garden and your mum pulled a plaster of my leg, can still feel the pain!
Pauline and I both live in Colchester, my brothers are still ok, and I still have relatives "on the Hill" and often visit the Manor. Thanks for the blast from the past, lovely to hear that you remember me too!
Regards,
Linda Tremain (now Meredith)

Hi Bob long time no speak hope you are well just found a group on face book which may be of interest to youn
It’s mead and harrowfield school Harold hill 1957/1965
Give a go pictures on it as well
Stay safe
My email is. Jivehbc-pc@yahoo.co.uk
Barbara Findlow

Hi Barbara, good to hear from you, and hope that you have stayed safe over the past year or more. Thanks for the note on the new Facebook page, will definitely have a look at this.
Not sure if the name Tom Brien means anything to you but he was part of my band of reprobates with Alan Drake. Well just before the first lockdown, he contacted me via this site and we had lunch in Brentwood. First time I had seen him in about 50 years and it was like carrying on a conversation from the previous day.
Anyway take care, and stay in touch.

Hi Bob nice to know all is well with you
We are all well here in a raining miserable north west day
Sorry don’t remember Tom Brien but not sure if you remember Peter Crowhurst I was at school with him at mead he’d be 74ish now and on the Facebook site I told you about someone had written that he is very poorly with altzimers or similar
I think he worked at felixstowe docks apparently his daughter is on the site I told you about but sadly I don’t know her name . Such a shame for Peter or probably more for his family
Stay safe till this dreadful virus has run its course or we will just have to learn to live with it

Just a though around Christmas time I got a short video shot in Liverpool on the dock road it was at a pub and James Corbin was serving beer and working the jukebox all of a sudden Paul McCartney and his band appeared from behind a curtain and played it was so good and nostalgic if you haven’t seen it send me you email or WhatsApp I’ll pass it on