Leaving Old Coulsdon
I was born at 52 The Glade in 1960 and can remember a happy childhood, although my mum was a single mother (unusual then) and we struggled with money. I remember the parade of shops near me up the hill and especially the sweet shop with Mr Newby as owner. I went to school at Keston and loved it there. It had a swimming pool and that can't be usual for that time. We used to have a maypole at the summer fair and I loved dancing around with those coloured ribbons! I loved the area, with its common and the pond and Happy Valley. I can't forget the 190 red bus that took us into Coulsdon, Purley and Croydon and how we always seemed to be waiting ages for it! Unfortunatly circumstances were that my mum needed to move, and I was pretty heartbroken leaving at 14, about to take my CSE's at Purley High School, and leaving behind my friends. I'd just discovered The Grange Youth Club that did a disco and had met my first boyfriend Graham! But I had no choice and we moved to Cliftonville in Kent (not that far, but it might as well been Australia to me). I remember being very lonely and, as you can probably tell, although I'm nearly 50 now I still miss my very special place Old Coulsdon...
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RE: RE: Leaving Old Coulsdon
I was born in Redhill hospital in 1948 and lived in Shirley Avenue. I went to Downland School which was a stone cottage called Pound Cottage just before Stanley Close. We used to use St John's hall to do plays & PE. I then went to Chipstead Valley School. In 1970 I got married in St John's Church and in 1976 we moved to Tollers Lane. The only problem was the snow. It was always worse on the hills. If you worked in Croydon no one believed you when you phoned up and said you couldn't get into work because the buses couldn't get up the hill! A few more houses have appeared over the years but a lot of the area hasn't changed. If you walk 5 minutes in any direction you are in woods or common land. I moved to St. Leonards in February 2010, to be nearer my son. But I know I will miss Old Coulsdon after living there for over sixty years.
Comment from Margaret Collins on Wednesday, 11th August 2010.