Born In Hounslow 1963

A Memory of Hounslow.

I was born at home in Lampton Road (opposite The Bulstrode) in January 1963 where I lived until 1970 when we moved to Heston (not far from Henley's roundabout).

I can remember regularly cycling to Lampton Park and learning to ride my bike without stabilisers in the Bulstrode's car park. My sister who is 5 years older than me, taught me and my brother how to swim in Hounslow swimming pool and I can still remember the changing rooms at the side of the pool.

My first school was Alexandra Infant school but at the age of 7 I moved to St Anne's in Ealing (train from Hounslow West to Northfields).

I remember mum would sometimes treat us to lunch at Wimpeys and feeling grown up when the waitress handed me a menu and mum letting me order for myself!

My mum, sister, brother and me were all baptised at the Holy Trinity Church on the high Street and following in my mum's footsteps in 1979 my sister got married in Holy Trinity church and I can remember everyone crossing the road and walking to the reception which was held at the Town Hall (opposite the swimming pool).

I remember being glad that Hounslow East was never my local station; walking up all those stairs was never the problem it was the feeling of vertigo when walking down them!

When we moved to Heston I changed schools and walked to Hounslow West station everyday from the age of 7 to 16. I witnessed the extension to the Piccadilly line from Hounslow West to Hatton Cross and Heathrow and marvelled at the new underground (literally) Hounslow West station.

I remember cycling to Heston swimming pool on Sunday mornings and in winter before the cycle home buying a cup of hot bovril and a packet of crisps. The hairdryer was ignored and our hair would still be dripping wet for the ride home - my brother and I never got ill...

During the summer holidays my brother and I would pack a picnic and some games and cycle to Runneymede where we would spend the day swimming and playing - the cycle home always took longer then the journey there!

Sunday afternoons were quite often spent at Osterley Park where we would feed the ducks and find an out of the way corner to play badminton. We were also frequent visitors to Virginia Water as it was great for dog walking and whatever route we took my brother and I made sure we always passed the totem pole.

The last time I visited Hounslow in mid 1980 all the places from my childhood had been knocked down (except for the church) and I got lost! All my family have moved away from Hounslow so I have no reason (or desire) to visit - Hounslow has moved on as have I!!!