Nostalgic memories of Romford's local history
Share your own memories of Romford and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 41 - 50 of 57 in total
I also went to the County High! My teacher was Miss Hewson, the music teacher was Miss Harris and Miss Bubbers, I can see her now storming down the corridor, she made me stand in front of her one day and talk without using my hands, which to me was agony! LOL. I can only remember a few names, Ann Knight who was a brilliant painter, I believe she painted a mural on the class wall, Sidonie Platt and Valerie Powell who was ...see more
I was born in 1929 in my parent's house at 40 Medora Road, adjacent to the old football ground. Any time I hear the Sousa march - 'Liberty Bell' - I am reminded of Saturday there. It was played at the close of every match to get the people to leave in an orderly manner. My father worked at the Labour Exchange on North Street. In the first days/nights of the air raids we slept in the employees' air raid ...see more
I was born in 1940 at Recreation Avenue, London Road and have many happy memories of my birthplace. I attended London Road Junior School from 1946 to 1951 and remember three teachers as they were all vegatables, ie the headmaster was Mr Beans, the maths teacher was Mr Greens and the English teacher was Mr Onions. I came home through Spring Gardens in which there was Colverns factory. I spent many happy hours over ...see more
I'm wondering if anyone remembers St. Mary's High School in Western Road. I attended the school when I was very young in 1946-9, before my family emigrated first to Canada, then to the USA. My best friends were Zena O'Shea, Rebecca Brown and Valerie Dunbar - and I can still remember clearly most things about the school - not least, Sister Bernard, the formidable headmistress, Miss Hogg, who terrified us all ...see more
The BBC is looking at the day that Margaret Thatcher introduced the 'Right to Buy' scheme, allowing people in council houses to buy their own homes. The film will look at the benefits for several million people who became homeowners, and the difficulty for councils in replacing the stock of social housing. We have BBC footage of the time when Margaret Thatcher visited Harold Hill when the scheme ...see more
I remember very well the giant tennis racket outside of Wards Sports. A little further down was a menswear shop Smart Westons, and what was the name of the coffee bar that was near to both of these shops? Romford was a clean, and enjoyable place to shop in those days. To see it now is very depressing.
I remember going to the Saturday morning picture in the Laurie Hall, it cost 6d. We lived in North Street and going back through the churchyard to the next street there was an ice factory threre and on a hot day they would give us a pieceof ice to suck on the way home. Great memories.
I have such memories as a 17 year old of working in the 'Admins Office' in Oldchurch Hospital. I think I just walked in one day, got an interview and started on the Monday - no job centres or CVs needed then. The boss was Mr Totts and Mr Izzard and Mr Jarvis were his under colleagues. I used to have to walk across every morning to the Matron's office to collect the personal belongings of anyone who had ...see more
I was born in 1953 and lived for the first 3 years in an old house in Junction Road (Number 8) with my parents and Mum's mum (Granny). The back garden of the house seemed to be a jungle and had its end boundary with Whackets timber yard! I clearly remember turning left out of Junction Road and walking with Granny to the Saturday Market. The stalls at the top of the Market by Laurie Hall were mainly for ...see more
I recall Miss Bubbers, in fact I wrote a poem about her in recent years, recalling the way she strode through the corridors with her gown flowing behind her, and her beady eyes ready to spot anything wrong or out of the ordinary. I also recall Miss Garthwaite the history teacher,who was as dry as dust, although she made some sort of joke when I went into a laughing fit in class,and apologised by saying that I had ...see more