I Lived Near Where The Photographer Would Have Stood

A Memory of Oakdale.

23 Markham Crescent was the address of Albert Parsons my Grandfather whom we lived with for several years. I believe that at the time this picture was taken was the year that my Grandmother Alice Parsons died, she would have been 63 years old. I remember swinging from the cast iron lamp posts. Next door the Trimborough family (Spelling may not be correct) The Matthews Family lived at the top right of the picture and the top left the Parry family. Just out of shot on the top right lived also the Smith family and of course behind the photographer would be the Baptist Chapel which I was compelled to attend. Opposite No 23, lived the Nightingale family. Notice the lack of cars! Cars were so rare we used to collect car registration numbers and many a time did we play skipping and Hopscotch in the middle of the road. The Johnston family lived at the top right just passed the junction I was friends with Tom (Keith Johnston) his brother Ian as gone on to be Gwent Police Commissioner. Happy memories indeed, outside toilet as well, down the back steps, many a time with a lit rolled up Argus to see the way down the steps at night, that is when it was not pinned to the wall in the loo. I am 58 this year (2014) but remember it well.