Swimming Pool, Kingsbury Road c1955, Kingsbury
Swimming Pool, Kingsbury Road c1955, Kingsbury Ref: K142054
Memories of Swimming Pool, Kingsbury Road c1955, Kingsbury
Swimming Lessons
The pool was a lovely place to be on a hot summer day, but not so good in cold weather. I attended Kingsbury County Grammar School nearby, and we had our swimming lessons at the pool. It wasn't easy plucking up courage to jump in on a freezing cold April morning, despite the voice of our PE mistress (fully clothed in warm tracksuit) telling us that it wasn't that cold once we were in the water. The school were strict about uniform, and we were expected to wear one-piece swimsuits, but they forgot to specify colour. My minor rebellion was to wear a bright pink cozzie, which went well with blue skin! My mother remembers the pool for less pleasant reasons - she was about 8, and a non-swimmer, when she was thrown in the deep end and nearly drowned (1939?). She didn't learn to swim for another 35 years.
Kingsbury Pool And Area
Hello. I lived in Kingsbury from 1943 until 1962 when I moved to Canada.
I lived off Old Church Lane. We walked to the pool with our sixpence and had to stand in line for what seemed hours - as they only would allow a certain number of people in the pool area. We had to wait until someone came out, before someone could go in. Were all PE teachers the same? She would also stand warmly dressed and practically force us to jump into the frigid water!!
I went to Fryent Infants School; Tylers Croft and then on to Kilburn Poly.
I worked at Smiths in Wembley Park and was thrilled to also see photos of that area in this site...... thanks for the memories!!!
Swimming Lessons
I went to Roe Green school, living in Princes Ave. We had to walk across the grass to the pool to have swimming lessons, very cold water, but great fun. Funnily enough my sister and I have been recalling our lives in the area recently. She went to Kingsbury County, while I went to Orange Hill, all the shops have changed og course but the basic layout is still the same. It appeared countrified back then.
The church is where our parents married , we were christened. A lovely church.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who lived in the area then.
The Good Old Days
My memories are of walking to Kingsbury Sec school opposite Colindale Lane then we were transfered to the new Tylers Croft, Bacon Lane. The memories of playing football and cricket at Silver Jubilee Park, Townsend Lane where I first lived from 1947 to 1958. Then I enlisted into the army for 12 years. On returning from Kenya my parents had moved to Mead Court, Buck Lane, Kingsbury Green. I married in 1966, lived in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Surrey and now in Somerset. Anyone who has memories of the same at the same time I would be glad to hear from you.
Ray Filler
Kingsbury Swiming Pool
My friends and I .Mick Abbott John Bryant we were the first swimmers in @Kingsbury for 4 years running ,one year it was a FREEZING 48 DEGREES!!!! We sometimes went before and after school also during the summer holidays from opening till closing most days.We joined the Kingsbury Swimming Club and trained with them in the summer @ Kingsbury and during the winter months @ Finchley Rd and Swiss Cottage Pools. Nigel Allum
Kingsbury Road Prefabs
We lived in the prefabs in Kingsbury Road from 1955 until 1961, when we moved to Maple Grove off Church Lane.
I remember taking our pets to the PDSA van in the swimming pool car park, which was a 300 yard walk for us. As well as swimmimg in the pool, it was mostly freezing cold, and we could only afford it now and then.
I also remember the Express Dairy milk coin machine, but I could never afford the 6d to use it, I used to dream about using it.
Saturday morning pictures at the Gaumont was a religion, as was swinging on the shop canopies after a special Western episode had been watched, and getting chased by the shop owners for endagering their awnings, what memories.
We lived at 322 Kingsbury Road, next to a huge maple tree, once we had our photo taken and put in the local paper, all us kids holding hands by the maple tree.
Opposite was the big mysterious ballroom, it was to... Read more
Brilliant (but Sometimes Dangerous) Times at The Pool.
I was born at Edgware General in 1974 and lived on Church Lane in Kingsbury (not far from the Express Dairy) until 1994. My friends and I used to go to the pool as much as we could before it closed down and was filled in.
I remember how dangerous it could be, I constantly cut myself on the concrete edging at the poolside and the changing rooms downstairs had the slipperiest surfaces EVER! I could probably name at least a dozen occasions where even though I was being careful I would slip and go flying into one of the concrete walls!!! But I was young and never got badly injured.......some of the best summers of my life were had here.
Stumbled upon this site by accident and sure glad I did, thanks!
Kingsbury Swimming Pool Before World War 2.
I remember waiting impatiently for the pool to open on May 2nd each year. The entrance was 2d, and 7/6d for a season ticket. There were always long queues on the first day of opening. I was 11-12 years old when I first could swim, learning on the river at Marlow bathing place which had been fenced off as a swimming centre. My favourite drink afterwards was hot oxo in the cafe there.
As a junior at Roe Green (next door) we were never taken for swimming lessons before the war as local children here in Brighton & Hove are now. We really loved the place. I remember Mike Ashman who was a wonderful diver, he hardly made a splash. His father was Mayor of Wembley and a local headmaster. The pool was I am sure subsidised by the Council. It was of great benefit to the children particularly.
Winifred Jeffers (nee Neighbour) - aged 81 years and still swimming regularly!
Kingsbury Swmming Club
I swam for Kingsbury swimming club for a number of years, representing them at national level at the ASA championships. I too, swam at the old Finchley Road pool then we moved to Swiss Cottage. I swam for a young England team in front of the Queen at the opening ceremony, I think around 1962 or 1964. I held a number of records at the club. Some of the records were made by swimmers from the Hungarian water polo and swimming team who stayed in England after the 1948 Olympics at Wembley, Kingsbury was the nearest swimming club to them at the time. Some of the records held until the early 1960s. I have memories of swimming with Kevin Murphy, a long distance swimmer, who swam the channel on a few occassions including multiple crossings, he broke the ice in the open air pool, I went in after him and stayed in for about 2 seconds before the quickest exit you could imagine. He was quite happy and didn't appear... Read more
Kingsbury 1938 -1951
Wow, what a page to have. I lived in Kingsbury from 1938 when I was born till the family moved to Canada in1951. My first school was Roe Green. When the 2nd world war ended, all those that lived on the other side of Kingbury Road were sent to Old Church Lane Primary. There was a tuck shop on the lane where we use to buy ice cream wafers and licorice root. After Church Lane I went to Claremont Secondary Model off Kenton Road and then it was off to Canada. I still can't figure why we moved. We had a nice house, my Dad had work, but we did. I could go on forever. Kingsbury pool in the good summers. The wire baskets we put our clothes in, laying on those "huge" tarmac steps picking our initial in the tar with our clothes tag pin. Getting plain bread and jam at the windon on the left side of the dance hall for a penny and finally buying bryllcreem from the... Read more
Fryant School - Church Lane - Wartime...
I remember the war time in Kingsbury - I lived in Deanscroft Avenue. Do you remember Mr Phillpot the local plumber - I am his daughter - I married in 1958 and moved away. Dad served in the ARP during the war time and was based at Eton Park (I think that is the name) does anyone remember him?
Kingsbury & local memories
Read and share memories of Kingsbury and Greater London inspired by Frith photos.
Dear Dear Old Kingsbury
Oh so many memories! Where does one start? Looking at this photo I remember the milk dispensing machine outside the Express Dairy shop. I think it was 6d you'd put in, and after a lot of rumbling, out would come a small 'bottle' of ice cold milk (glass too!). Of course we all remember Saturday morning pictures at the Gaumont, where us boys would try to sit next to our favourite female; after being let in through the back door!
I remember well the Welsh Harp rubbish dump, where most of us (having no money) would go to get bits to build a bike. If you were lucky you'd build one with 'cowhorn' handlebars and race it around the cinder track in West Hendon Park, near the old (now gone) swimming pool. The Welsh Harp, yes, how many of us nearly drowned on the rafts that we'd make to 'sail the seven seas?' The Welsh Harp seemed like the seven seas to us little folk then. What a wonderful place... Read more
From When I Was Born to 15 Years of Age.
I was born in Brampton Road 1950. I went to Roe Green School. I remember Standford's the little sweet shop where we could buy four shrimps & four black jacks & four flying saucers for 3d. I would go to a house in Brampton Road and play with my friend Johnny Eaton, his big sister was often there Shirley (Goldfinger ) but didn't know at the time she was a star in the making. My big sister and I used to play with our home made bows and arrows opposite Woolworths - in the trees before the shops where there. I enjoyed Saturday morning pictures and still have a picture from the local press of my mates and I reading a telegram from Lord Rank on the celebration of the 18th anniversary of the Gaumont Club for boys & girls. Went on to Tylers Croft and enjoyed my days there, I was a good gymnast then and so Mr Williams or Mr Symonds would let me... Read more
Amateur Dramatics
Remember doing 'Billy Liar' in church hall. Any other thespians out there?
Kingsbury Green
Corner of Kingsbury Road, Church Lane and Buck Lane. I remember it well with Bryant's newsagent on the corner.
Holy Innocents
Holy Innocents in Kingsbury Rd, adjacent to Oliver Goldsmiths Primary School. I attended there and brought my daughter back from Australia to be christened in Holy Innocents.
An Old Book
I purchased this nice old book in a town in Australia today, and inside there was a little certificate: "Holy Innocents Kingsbury Sunday School Prize - Awarded to Richard Francis - Ist Prize - Boys Division, Class I, Christmas 1903" and signed by the vicar (A G Locke? I think it says). I just found this very interesting and was wondering if anyone had any other information about it. (I'm a historian; I love these kinds of things.) I was also wondering if this was the church in question. I think it is the only church named such in such town, but still. :) (The book is 'In The Wilds of Florida' by W.H.G. Kingston, by the way.)
Nostalgia For Kingsbury
Like several others on this memory page, I attended many a show at the Gaumont, especially Saturday Morning Pictures, which I suppose were especially for kids, but what also intrigues me about this picture is the Swan's Travel Agency, just next to the Gaumont, because this was where my parents booked our passage (me, my parents and two of my brothers) on a Transatlantic ship for us to emigrate to America, in June of 1956. It was on the SS 'New York', which sailed regularly between Cherbourg, Southampton, Cobh (in the Irish Republic), Halifax and New York. I attended Kingsbury Green School, not far from the Post Office and still remember being given a souvenir mug for the Queen's coronation in 1953
Memories of Tyler''s Croft 1959 to 1963
I attended Tyler's Croft from 1959 to 1963. I have good memories of Tyler's including Mr Flint. He was a good and fair Headmaster. I was called into his office a few times, including when I cut classes. He had a mean cane. My parents knew him well since my brother also went there (1958 to 1962. Mr Curtis was the deputy head. I had him for Geography. Mr Horn - English, Mr Perkins - Music (I was in the orchestra for 4 years.) Mr Gregory - Maths, Mr Kadish - Art, Mr Coutts - Crafts, Mr Lovejoy - wordshop. Mr Roberts - light engineering. Mr Jackson - Technical Drawing. I sure I had other teachers but their names escape me. The last time I was at Tyler's was in 1997 when I was in England on vacation. I now live in California. My wife and I spoke to the custodian, I believe it was Mr Allum's son. I also saw the ceramic tiles of the London Zoo which... Read more
Sunday School at Holy Innocents
Living nearby at High Meadow Crescent I used to go to Holy Innocents for Sunday school as a youngster then church as I got older. Apparently I was christened here too. I have gone on to become a Christian writer of devotional articles, songs and poems. Thank you Holy Innocents for my excellent start!
The Fresh Fish Barrow
My parents both grew up in Kingsbury and my Nan lived in Branksome Way. As a child, I remember being taken to visit my Nan on Saturdays, going shopping first and walking all the way up one side of the road and back down the other. There used to be a tobacconist next to the entrance to Kingsbury station, and we always used to stop and buy fresh prawns, winkles, cockles and sometimes a crab, from the fish stall on the corner, which we would then take to my Nan's. Although we lived in Edgware, we regularly visited Kingsbury. Our dentist was in one of the flats in Honeypot Lane - his surname was Magnus. I had a Saturday job at the ABC bakery and my friends and I used to frequent 'The Bandwagon' on Saturday and Sunday nights to dance to the live music there. Happy Days.
Kingsbury Swimming Pool
I remember queuing outside the pool for what felt like hours on a hot summer's day. The price to get in went as low as 1d - or am I mistaken? We used to climb up a drainpipe at the back of the pool to get in, not to save money but to beat the queue. I remember the wet slimy discarded paper tickets that were on the floor in the mens' changing area, also the safety pin with a small piece of material with a faded number on for your clothes basket, and getting a hot Oxo drink from that window. I also badly cut my leg on the big concrete steps. We lived in St Paul's Avenue and went to the Glebe Infants School. We were taken to Kingsbury Pool for swimming lessons. It had to be 62 F degrees (16c) or above, many times it was 62 and we were made to get into what felt like ice water - then the long walk back.
We came... Read more
The Prince of Wales
I lived in the Prince of Wales as Mum & Dad were the managers and we had a corgi named Sandy and two boxers, Maxie and Susie who enjoyed the big garden at the back. This was the last years of school and I think we were there until the early 70's maybe 71 or 72. There was a large dancehall at the back with 'dances' on a Friday and Sunday night with a live band and then this room changed to being The Bandwagon disco. Happy memories.
Kingsbury Swimming Pool
As a school girl from St. Bernadette's, I remember learning how to swim in the very cold water. We had no choice but to jump in the icy water. It was really freezing when we changed out of our cold wet bathing suits back into our school clothes. Also, I remember walking to Kingsbury Swimming Pool with my cousins. We carried our towels, lunch and money to buy "a bottle of orange juice." I can still taste that juice! I left London in Dec '57 for America but I still have fond memories of living in Kingsbury.
Tylers Croft School
My father Albert Allum was the School Caretaker from the day it opened in 1952 till he retired in 1982 Mother Alice also worked there as the School Nurse and Auxilary Assisant.My brother went there till he passed a Art exam and went to Harrow art college.I also went to Tylers from 63 till 67.We moved in the School House in Roe Green when I was 6 weeks old.
A bit of school trivia ,did you know the painted tile mural of London Zoo outside the old Head Masters office Mr Flint, his office was on the boys side, was done by Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones!!!!!!! It was still there in the late 1990's, not sure if it still exists.It would be worth a few £££s on EBay
Living in Kingsbury
I lived at 20 Princess Avenue. I worked for Charringtons Gardner coal firm. My daughter Sharon learned to swim at Kingsbury swimming pool.
My Grandmother Was Born in Buck Lane
My great grandparents lived in 'Vicarage House' in Buck Lane, Kingsbury. Does anyone know anything about it? Great Grandfather was an ostler at 'The Green Man' pub. I'd love to know if it's still there.
The family name was Pidgeon.
Thanks,
Kingsbury
Kingsbury was great in the early 1970s but not now, it is a dump, full of alcoholics and drug users, it is time to move on I think.
