Blue Pencil Cafe, County Oak Crawley
A Memory of Crawley.
Built as an Egg Farm and local produce outlet pre WW2 it became a Transport Café during the 1940's through the 1950's and into the 1960's. Well known on the A23. As a schoolboy I lived 100 yards south over the Surrey/Sussex border from 1945 to 1956. I remember the glass in our front door being rattled by overloaded trucks struggling to reach enough speed for the next gear change, and have been a petrol head ever since. My father set up as a Signwriter and Draughtsman, and for a while, rented one end room of the Café as a workshop. About 1948 he made new signs for the owner including one shaped as large blue pencil. It stood above the hedge opposite, and pointed across the road.
I hear tales from slightly younger friends about grabbing a pillion ride in the small hours to the one venue open all night, "The Blue Pencil." Tea, Coffee, and a Juke Box in the 1960's, a meeting place for Rockers. Now the question. Does anyone have a photo of "The Blue Pencil" Café from any period, that could be preserved for posterity?
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To stay open Kate customers had to be served food.. to comply with this regulation but to reduce costs, customers were served with a very small place of potatoes salad,!,, I worked there as an evening bar maid at this time
Brenda Smith...