Wandle Road

A Memory of Croydon.

Although I was born in Newcastle on Tyne, I came to Croydon when I was nine - about 1958. My maiden name was Fawley, and my parents (Ron and Irene) had a sweet and general shop at 6 Wandle Road. It was near the swimming pool in Scarbrook Road, and a lot of trade came from there after swimming (do you remember how hungry you were after swimming?) The shop used to advertise what was on at The Grand Theatre, and sometimes we used to get free tickets. I went to Howard school before South Croydon Secondary Modern - Mr de Voile was the head and he was always telling us 'how lucky we were' - heavens knows why. I have very fond memories of old Croydon - the market, the town hall and library, Turtles in Crown Hill, C & A, Swears & Wells - the fur shop, Lyons tea shop in North End where Macdonalds is now, Wilsons coffee shop in North End where you could smell the coffee before you got to the shop and lots lots more...The guts and stuffing has been taken out of Croydon, never to be replaced. Thank heavens we have our memories and lots of 'Croydon from the Past' books.