Heathrow memories
Here are memories of Heathrow and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Heathrow or a Heathrow photo.
Heathrow, Under Construction, From A Helicopter c1960
I suggest this photo was taken c.1954 as the Control Tower and Main Terminal buildings were complete and opened by the Queen in 1955. My first visit there as a planespotter was in 1961, by that time the airport was in full operation. Happy Days - open roof gardens for viewing, no terrorist threats and life was less stressful.
Memories of Middlesex
Sunday Gardener
In 1961 I got my first job after leaving school at S & R Smiths Garage on the Great South West Road. The owners were brothers Sydney and Raymond Smith. We called them Mr Ray and Mr Sid. I started in the stores department. It was a Ford dealers and sometimes I would be sent out on my bicycle to fetch parts from main Ford dealers. This could mean going as far as Staines or Twickenham. The stores manager was Pat, an Irishman with seven children. He would always insist on having St Patrick's Day off. There was also a nice old chap that worked in the stores part time, I only knew him as Pop, he was about eighty, had white hair and would shuffle along.
A panal beater started at the garage who was Asian, but came from Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the first coloured man I had met. The lads in the workshop wouldn't help him if he needed a hand to do something, so... Read more
My Move to Cranford From Croydon 1948
My father was a Aircraft Engineer for K.L.M. He started as an apprentice at Croydon Airport in 1934. After the second world war, Croydon was getting too small for the larger aircraft coming along, so K.L.M. moved to the then new London Airport and we moved with them. In 1948 we moved into 31 Byron Avenue, my step mother and my half sister, my half brother Neil was born there in 1950. I went to Cranford Scool at the end of Barkley Avenue, I was 9 years of age. I have fond memories of that house and Cranford, I was a member of the Scouts and our scout hut was just off the Bath Road next to the British Leagion. I use to go to work with my father, that was when Heathrow was open to all, you could walk around the aircraft on the North Apron. At the age of 11 I had to go to a higher school and attended Heston Secondry Moden, I would cycle to... Read more
CRANFORD 1938- 1946
My parents moved to Cranford in 1938, I was 3 years old. My dad was a pastrycook / baker and had got a job with a local firm in Cranford across from ‘The Berkeley Arms Hotel’ To the left of the hotel was a cherry orchard. A bakers shop and a hairdressing salon with a two bedroom flat had been built opposite, this was where we lived. The garden was huge, and had 26 fruit trees in the bottom half. My dad was to work in the bakehouse of the firm’s second shop. This was on the Bath Road as well. on the corner of Wellington Road near Hounslow opposite a pub called ‘The Windsor Castle’ which I think is still there. Next door to the shop in Cranford, was a detached house which was also a bank. Then came several more shops, a grocers, a greengrocers, a newsagents, a wool shop and a butchers. This was on the corner of Waye Avenue where several of my friends’ lived.... Read more
Cranford Shops
There was Hawkins grocers shop next to Cliffords and a newsagent next to the library. Think the greengrocer (opp. Victoria Wine) was called Lawrence's. Hardware shop was Parsons. Electric shop (next to the cafe) was Richards Radio. Was the butchers Deane's? Opposite side of the road was the post office/Leakes the baker and butcher. Few cottages, the Stagg & Hounds - pub - not licensed for spirits.
Berkeley Ave
I lived in Cranford in the late 60's early 70's. It was a great place to live. We moved into our grandparents house. I loved the old village style buildings near the Berkeley Arms and was sad to see a new hotel in its place. There used to be a small farm where my brothers got my cat from. I moved to Australia in 1972 but have returned 3 times only to find it's lost the charm.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,868 memories of 5,950 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Netherton, West Yorkshire
- Maesgeirchen, Gwynedd
- Godstone, Surrey
- Amble, Northumberland
- Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
- Taxal, Derbyshire
- Bexley, Kent
- Kempsey, Worcestershire
- Bull Bay, Gwynedd
- Ewell, Surrey
- Barking, Essex
- Wrexham, Clwyd
- Luton, Bedfordshire
- Patshull Park, West Midlands
- Oswestry, Shropshire
- Shotley Bridge, County Durham
- West Kirby, Merseyside
- Rochdale, Lancashire
- Birkenhead, Merseyside
- Kings Sutton, Oxfordshire
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
