Happy Days

A Memory of West Ham.

I grew up in West Ham from my birth until 1960, living at Stephens Road, Stratford. I remember going shopping with Mum to Stratford High Road, we would go to the market for all Mum's shopping. We would buy fish from Angel Lane and sometimes from a stall outside Woolworths, the shopping was done most days as we did not have a fridge, only what was a cool cupboard. While out shopping we would also go to the Lyons Tea Rooms, for a cup of tea with cake, a big treat for me.
I went to Napier Road school from the age of five, then on to Deanery Road School for girls, which was at The Grove, Stratford. I also remember going to Victoria Park at the holidays from school, we used to walk down Carpenters Road, the smell of Carpenters Road was not very pleasant, as there were many factories down that road, but the walk was worth it as the park was a joy. We would visit the small animals, paddle in the free pool, having such fun out for the whole day. Then there were days at Wanstead Park, and not to forget West Ham Park, games of cricket and football with Dad, and seven brothers. I remember the signs telling you to keep off the grass, but most children would run on the grass as fast as their little legs would carry them before the park keeper could spot us and blow his whistle, it makes me smile even now, full of fun. It was a long walk to the parks as we did not have the money for the buses, children walked everywhere in those days and we didn't mind.
I also remember the street parties, all the niegbours would put tables and benches, usually borrowed from Napier Road School, down the centre of the road, bunting would be flying in the wind, so many children, lots of jelly and home-made buns, we children loved it. I can also remember the big Shire Horses with all their shining brasswear, from the Watneys Brewery coming down the street, the sound of their hoofs on the tar block road,also of the large wheels on their carts. Do you remember the old rag and bone men coming round? All the children would ask their mums for old cloths just so they could get a free goldfish, we had one that lived for three years, a long time I think for a fish in a bowl. We also used to have races at the weekend, the boys from the neighbourhood would choose the best runners, the race would be run round the block, my brother won on many occasions. He went into the Army to do his National Service and became a P.T.I.
On Saturdays we would go to morning pictures at the Centrey Cinema, which was in West Ham Lane, then after pie and mash for lunch at Cook's, I think it was called, which had sawdust on the floor, that always seem strange to me, I never understood why they did that till many years later. Sunday mornings I liked because Tich the fishmonger would come round the streets with his barrow selling seafood, shrimps, winkles, crab, whelks, all sold by the pint, which Mum would buy as we would have that for tea on Sundays. I used to love preparing the winkles as you used to have to use a pin to take the black spot out of the shell, then pull the winkle out and put into a little bowl of vinegar, my sister Susan and I used to stick the black spot on our faces so we had a beauty spot, silly I know but it was fun. There are so many happy memories of my life in West Ham.

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