Hook memories
Here are memories of Hook and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Hook or a Hook photo.
The Ace of Spades And Hook Underpass
I was born in Kingston on Thames in 1943. In 1947 my family moved to Thames Ditton close to the old AC car factory and then in 1949 to Lovelace Gardens in Surbiton. At the very young age of 7 or 8 my mother used to send me off on my own on the 65 bus with my rubber flippers and inflateable ring to learn to swim on my own at The Ace of Spades Hotel swimming pool. This was a popular up market out of town venue at that time and on one occasion I met Diana Dors who was teaching her husband Dennis Hamilton to swim. I went to St. Andrews Primary school, then in St. Andrews Road Surbiton and made a huge number of friends in the surrounding area. I later attended (unsuccessfully) Ewell Castle School, famous for Oliver Read. I became a keen motorcyclist and, like him, a bit of a tear away and one of my main meeting places was the Tip Top Cafe... Read more
Memories of Greater London
High Slides!
I remember getting stuck up the top of one of these slides when I was about 4 years old! My big brother, who is 16 years my senior, took me out for the day with his girlfriend, to Chessington Zoo. I went up the steps of one of these slides and found it was so high I was too scared to come down, despite his encouragement from the ground. He had to climb the steps and, as children followed him up, had bring me down the slide on his lap, quite an embarrassment for a 20-year-old lad! To make matters worse a child at the bottom, who was being called away by his mother, remarked loudly "Wait, I just want to see this man come down the slide"!! My brother has never let me forget it!!!
Origin of Pub Name.
The pub was originally known as 'The Gate' - hence the sign hanging over the door. The current name is a corruption of 'Borne's Gate' from the time of the landlord whose name was Mr Borne. The pub still exists, beside the stream of the same name, Bonesgate Stream.
The Bones Gate After The War
My uncle used to live in Cranborne Avenue, Tolworth. We would visit and all troop across the fields - many with remains of war time crashed bombers etc. - to the delightful Bonesgate Pub.
Happy days!
The Zoo
I remember these slides, especially the ones with the bumps in...great fun. My dad used to work down the road at the fishmongers and he would take fish at the end of the day for the penguins.
Is That my Great Grandfather?
I believe from birth records that my Grandfather, Leonard Lambert, was born in the Bonesgate in 1890's, I have always wondered if that is my Great Grandfather, Joseph (Joey) Lambert, standing in the door?
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- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
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I Remember When...
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