Hendon memories
Here are memories of Hendon and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Hendon or a Hendon photo.
Brent Bridge Hotel
I am too young to know about this building but I found a stamp print of it and I am trying to find out about this building and what happened to it.
The White Block
Well Richard, I see you live now in the Black block, in March 1966, my first born was conceived in the flat on the second floor of the White block next door!! Happy memories!!
Fireworks
Oh yes! I remember the town hall all right!
I was 13 yrs old and a pupil at St. Marys,
I was tagging along one lunchtime behind three somewhat more adventurous
friends of mine and passing the town hall, when quite suddenly they produced fireworks (bangers in fact) and proceeded to run into the lobby of that building and "let them off" the resounding noise caused a number of people within the building to suffer a certain degree of shock!
Unfortunately for my "friends" they were recognised and duly hauled before the headmaster which resulted in a public caning before the whole school (after the girls were told to leave)
The seriousness of the public event was somewhat marred by the fact that as one boy was receiving his "dues" a rather load noise was heard coming from the area that receiving the attention of the cane! I'm afraid that the whole hall erupted into laughter much to the consternation of the headmaster!.
These things one never... Read more
Willesden High Road
Ah yes the library. Shame that they are in decline. The Bus Garage, did you know Billy Cotten (as in the showband) worked there. The Electric light house, Stubbings for radio gear where I saved up on my paper round to buy my first crystal set. That got me interested in radio. What was the general store on the left side on a corner. Was it "FRYS" a general hardware shop, it seemed to sell just about everything from mangles to bootlaces! Then going up to opposite the tube station there was a stamp shop where I used to have a good look around. Just wish I had my stamp album now! Happy days without mobile phones :-) Jim Rabbitts, ex 17 Normanby Road, NW10
Hendon Fire Station
After my training as a Fireman I was posted to Hendon Blue Watch who were a great bunch of guys but notorious for their practical jokes! We had many a pint in the Greyhound and the Chequers, after work. Bye for now, Jim Rabbitts.
Happy School Day Memories
I was at HTC in 1946, emigrated to Australia in 1957, lost contact with my friend DN, found him on 'friends reunited', then met up again at the 1st HTC reunion in 1997.
WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE!!
I live on the 1st floor of the black building next to the white block of flats... I can see the window where I normally have a nice view of Watford Way from the war memorial leading to Hendon central...swwweeet!!
Brent Street
At last, Brent Street as I remembered it all those years ago. I would have been 7 years old when this picture was taken. I was born in New Brent Street and shortly moved to Bellvue Road. I went to Bell Lane Infant School.
I would go shopping with my mum along Brent Street. I remember 'Rossins' the bakers, where mum would buy me a tiny hovis loaf, then there was 'Home & Colonials' that smelled of all sorts of cooked meats. At the corner of Bellvue Road and Brent Street was 'Phillips' grocery shop where the shop girls would give me Penguin bars.
The Classic cinema was in Bellvue Road, and I used to sit at my bedroom window in the evening watching all the people comimg and going to the cinema. Then there was 'Saturday Morning Pictures' at the cinema which I think was called The Odeon. All it cost was sixpence for a morning's entertainment.
You could buy an iced lolly for one penny at the... Read more
Martins Stores, 51 Watford Way
I worked as a delivery boy at Martins stores between 1965 and 1967. I had a large delivery bike with a basket on the front and delivered all around the Hendon area, often getting soaked through in the winter. The store moved to Vivian Ave in the 1970s. I can recall the Watford Way when it was not a dual carriage-way and you risked life and limb trundling the bike across 6 lanes of traffic.
The Greyhound Pub
this is the Greyhound pub next to st Marys Church. Both my Grandfather's downed many a pint here, my Dad learned how to drink here too. My Mum lived at 53 Sunny Gardens road behind the church and had to go and collect her father on a Sunday for dinner. One of my ancestors "Charles Bocking Rogers" is buried in the church graveyard under the tree. In my family research I've been here twice now and each time had a pint of Bombadier and raised a glass to my ancestors.
all the best
Pete Rogers
Watford Way
That's where we lived - above the shops in Queens Mansions!
I am sitting here bawling my eyes out from nostalgia!! Downstairs there was an optician and just a bit down the hill there was a hairdresser's shop where gorgeous David worked....
On the left side, there was Woolworths and later on one of the first Wimpy Bars...
Jean Philip (Kushner)
Gaumont Cinema
Saturday morning pics - mostly with Suzanne!
Used to walk up and down Watford Way with Helene, our hair in bunches, bright pink lipstick, carrying paraffin cans (have no idea why!!).
Jean Philip (Kushner)
Vivian Avenue...
Suzanne and I used to play truant from Sunday School... This is the exact spot where we got caught by my mother (What are YOU doing here??!)...
There was Goldstein's deli, where we used to buy the most delcious sweet & sour cucumber straight from the barrel, wrap it in paper and eat it in the street.
On Sunday's my dad used to get smoked salmon; went up the street a bit to buy fresh bagels at Ben Jacob's.... mmmmmmm
(nee Kushner)
Saturday Morning Flicks
I remember going to the Gaumont Saturday morning pictures. My mum also worked as an usherette in the evenings sometimes.
Gladstone Park.
Our family moved from Churchill Road, Willesden to the country right out to Dudden Hill, in Normanby Road. The entrance to the park was just down the end of the road near the old iron bridge. There was a rather short tree to the right of the entrance that for some reason I would continuously climb as if it was my passport to the glorious Gladstone Park. There were three paths one straight up to the house, right to a lovely flowered tree route to the playswings. and the left took around the rear of the swimming pool. I had many happy days there when my body was a shrine! It looks a bit different now, I'm 63, ok 64 this August. In between the pool upwards was an area of scrubland which was a bit like Vietnam. Thank God we didnt have real gun ! And the government didnt conscript us years later because we had already gone through our basic training. :-) I got into making model gliders, it was a... Read more
Gaumont Cinema/Greyhound Pub
I lived opposite K Garage at 476, Watford Way, a little way north of the Gaumont cinema. I also, along with friends from St Mary's School, Hendon, and my girlfriend (I like to think!), Susan Booker, the daughter of the publican of the Greyhound, went to Saturday morning pictures at the Gaumont.
I along with my friend Mickey Standon, used to do deliveries on the monster grocery bike of wines and spirits for the wine store in Vivien Avenue off of the Central. This would be before we left St Mary's around 1960.
I left 476 at the age of 19 and was shocked and surprised to find on my return to my old 'haunts' that my old school, dating from 1707, had been demolished and a 'modern pile' had taken its place.
Anyone recognising my name etc is more than welcome to email me on brian_schulz1@hotmail.com
Brian Schulz
Memories of Greater London
My Old Bike
Hi, just been looking at the photos of West Hendon Broadway. I was amazed, during my last school years I worked for a greengrocer on the Broadway, Tim Smith, his shop is just out of the picture, left hand side where you can see the wing of a car, what caught my eye was the old 'trade bike' which I am sure was the same one that I used to ride. He used to load the bike up so much that I couldn't ride it, I had to push it, going up Park Road was a real feat of strengh. I even had to deliver his own veggie order to Audley Road (at least his wife used to give me a tip, probably felt sorry for me) I used to get ten shillings for after school on Friday and all day Saturday. I started in the winter and the first job that he gave me was to take me to the yard at the back of the shop where... Read more
St John's School
This was the year I took my 11+ exam. There was such deep snow that winter that it was very difficult to walk to school. Luckily I lived in Milton Road where St John's was then situated. On arriving at school we were all so cold that we had to warm ourselves in front of the stove in the corner of the classroom before we felt able to take our exam.
St Johns CofE girls' school was tiny, only 2 classrooms. Father Chester from St John's Church would often visit the school and take morning prayers. Other times we would all walk up Park Road to the church for a service. On the way we had to walk over the railway bridge and I well remember how terrified one of the pupils was when a train passed underneath with all the steam billowing around us.
Another memory is of our teacher Miss Henderson bringing in primroses and violets each spring that she'd been sent by her sister... Read more
Bombing of West Hendon
I remember when three streets were demolished by a huge mysterious bomb just after eight in the evening. At the time my mother was out on fire patrol and I was fast asleep in bed whilst my three brothers and sister were downstairs listening to the wireless. The tremendous blast rocked our house in Milton Road causing severe damage to our ceilings but luckily not much else. I was carried, fireman style, down the stairs by my brother and can still picture all the plaster littering the lino. We all went into our next door neighbour's home as no real damage had occurred there. What a relief for my mother when she came home to find that we were all safe.
Village Road, Finchley
I was born at number 7, Village Road, Finchley in 1932 and lived there until October 1939 when my dad's businesses in London were requisitioned. Lots of memories. Milk was delivered by United Dairies and the horse would always spend a penny right outside our house leaving a horrid green puddle. 'Old Fishy' delivered his wares every Friday walking from house to house with a big wicker basket, followed by the local mongrels hoping to get a bite of an overhanging tail. Then we had Walls ice-cream with the tricycle and bell announcing the ice-cream man's arrival. The road was unadopted which meant that it was private, and once each year a chain had to be put across each end to reserve our ownership. It was gravel, not tarmac, then. Dad had a fish tank and I was detailed to go to the stream (River Lea?) behind our garden and catch little larvae to feed the fish. I went to Hendon Preparatory School in 1937 for a couple of years until... Read more
Summer Days
This photo brings back the - what seemed - endless summer days of the 50's and 60's when we would go with our togs and sandwiches (probably jam) in the care of an older friend and queue for tickets for the day. Our parents sometimes were working or didn't like to go because of the noise and excitement of the children. We were so lucky to have a such a great facility nearby - I lived in East Finchley - so there was the added bonus of a bus ride! How lucky we were to have such freedom. A treat was a couple of bob for a drink and icecream I remember getting very burnt one day and my mother covering me with calamine lotion - I always associate this smell with my childhood. Ah happy days!!
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