Barking/Ilford

A Memory of East Ham.

Born in Ilford 1947 I lived just a few yards from Barking Park. I spent a lot of happy times there in the outdoor swimming pool, running around the field, riding on the little train, boating on the lake (especially the steamer), having an ice cream from the cafe and listening to the music from the bandstand. I remember the Carnival and the fair that came every September and if you got the same ride as the Carnival Queen you went free. All the shops displayed the Queen's attire - the dresses and cloaks and tiaras. There was a huge parade on the Saturday of Carnival Week. Having passed the 13+ I went to the South East Essex High School and got the train from Barking Station every morning to Becontree and back again. I remember the steam engines, very big and black and the smell. Sometimes I got the 287 bus going to Becontree along Lodge Avenue just for a change. My uniform had to come from Lucilla and David which I believe was in Gants Hill and was bought bit by bit as my dad got paid on Fridays. On the other side of the lake at the park was the Prairie where us children played cowboys and indians. I am told the cinema which used to be opposite the station has gone now. As I became a teenager I frequented the indoor market and remember buying butter and bacon at Sainsburys. They had to pat the butter into blocks from huge ones and every Easter there was a butter sculpture in the window of the shop. I do remember Bulleys the jeweller - I was a customer as was my mum from time to time. I think she knew Mr Bulley as they both came from the East End. I also remember Woolworths displaying a gigantic chocolate egg every Easter. It was decorated with sugar flowers and was given to the local children's home afterwards. Christmas baubles were bought in Woolys which had big glass edged counters full of loose glass balls of every colour and shape and size. It was a magical place to a child. Of course, I could walk to the town up Fanshawe Avenue but I could just as easily get to Ilford Broadway; both within walking distance. My son was born at Upney Lane Hospital in 1974 but by then it had a state of the art maternity wing. Green Line buses went out to places like South Ockendon and Aveley from Barking. My dad used to take me to watch the football when I was little. Having no interest in football, me and some other youngsters would play at the back of the stadium and had a good time running around. Once or twice the ball came our way and we always hurried to throw it back to the players. I think it was a lovely town then. Busy, bustling, every kind of shop you needed (there was a lovely underwear shop down the hill from the station and a good butchers). Further on was a shop where I bought a lot of knitting wool. As a teenager I could only go out on a Saturday night - too much homework and not enough money to do anything else. Even when I was 21 I had to be in by 10.30. We used to go dancing, mainly at the Two Puddings in Stratford or The Church Elms in Dagenham. One time, near Christmas I think, there was a dance at the Assembly Rooms in Barking Town Hall. It was a huge hall and very nice. It is a shame it has changed so very much. I haven't been back in many years but my cousin, who was born in Oulten Crescent has, and says it has changed beyond all recognition. I hope St Margaret's is still there as I was christened there and attended many family weddings and Christmas Eve services although at the time I didn't appreciate its ancient and famous history. Where I lived in St Thomas Gardens, we were in easy reach of Loxford Park as well. A very pretty park where I walked to Woodlands Infants School along an avenue of Cherry Blossom trees. Mayesbrook Park and Valentines Park spring to mind too. We were so lucky to live so close to London and yet be surrounded by all these lovely green spaces. We had good libraries too. Where I lived my Mum was within a few minutes walk of a newsagents, chemist, greengrocers, hardware shop, wool shop, fish and chip shop, butchers, a corner shop selling practically everything, and quite a few others I can't recall. Mr Orbell, the herbalist, lived at the end of our road and Mr Harris who ran his own bakery in Glenny Road. He sold the best bread and doughnuts I have ever tasted. We always got our crusty bloomer warm and it tasted so good smothered in butter. Sometimes he would bring it home for us as he passed our house on his way home early in the morning. His bakery was tiny, set up in what was probably a coach yard but his bread wonderful. We knew our neighbours and called on them if we thought they might need help. I used to shop for the elderly couple over the road and my mum's neighbour always came over when there was lightning about as she was frightened. The Rossitors, the Bathos, the Emersons, the Woods, the Kissens and many more whose names I can't recall were our neighbours. I enjoy reading other people's memories of the town I lived in until I was 21.