Crouch End (St Mary's School High Street Hornsey)

A Memory of Hornsey.

I lived in 57 Avenue Road just off Crouch End Hill. I lived with my mother, father, sister Pamela and brother Gerald in two rooms. My brother was 7, my sister 12 and myself, 14. There were 6 families living in this house. Mum cooked on a stove literally in a cupboard. One bathroom was shared by all families. There was an outbreak of polio in the house which two families contracted. One little boy I believe was in the Kerr family, and he was paralysed. We were kept off school for 3 weeks in quarantine. We remained in this property for 3 years. We would walk through Crouch End down Middle Lane to St Marys School. The Headmaster was Mr Davies, Mrs Rogers taught us shorthand and typing, Mr Frith who taught maths and Mr Glass, I believe, taught science. I remember some pupils' names; Susan Rogers, Pat Brown, Joan Garside, David Brookes and Dimpna Hilliard. At dinner time, winter and summer all the pupils would walk to Rokesley School for school dinners which I loved. Having lived in Ireland in real poverty and not getting enough food I could not understand why children left food on their plates and moaned about the dinners. My favourite was cheese pie, mashed potatoes and vegetables, followed by apples and custard. When I began work I took dancing lessons at the 'Russell Vale School of Dancing' in Western (or Weston) Road, which stood me in good stead for the rest of my adult life. My sister, Pamela, became a hairdresser in Wilsons and served under Miss Geddis. My brother Gerald attended Wolsey Road School. I remember the Clock Tower. When my husband and I were courting we stood by an art shop on Crouch End Hill near the bottom when suddenly a driverless car careered towards us, followed by a frantic young man running as fast as he could after it, and somehow he managed to put his hand through the car window and with all his strength he managed to stop the car. Truly a narrow escape for us. There was also a lovely restaurant near Weston Road, I believe it was called the 'Comedienne'. In 1970/1971 I took our daughter to the Town Hall as they put on an event for children and the entertainment was superb. It consisted of puppetry, some of it blacked out and skeletons appeared, the show lasted about 2 hours. Well this is the end of my fondest memories, although poor in childhood, I am rich in adulthood with happy memories of Hornsey. Hazel Pratt (nee Burton)