Loughton

September wedding

St John's Church, Loughton is a lovely church much loved in our town.  I was married there in 1963.
Contributed by kathleen rice

My wedding

When we arrived in Loughton in 1956, we were visited by the then vicar and decided to join this church, which stands on the High Road, in the centre of Loughton. In 1964 my wedding was held there, and the vicar was the Rev. Vine.
Contributed by Diana Dioszeghy

Shopping after 1956

We moved to Loughton from Preston, Lancashire in Easter 1956, and during the summer holidays that year I got to know the town. On the left can be seen the Century Cinema, where I often went to films and which was demolished at the end of the 60's. In the centre of the picture can be seen the handsome post office, which was purpose built. As I've not been to Loughton for many years, I don't know whether the building is still being used as a post office.
Contributed by Diana Dioszeghy

Saturday Morning pictures

I went to Saturday morning pictures here every week. We had a club with a badge that said "Grenadier" as it was a Grenada cinema, though the actual building said Century above it.
There was a confectionery shop next door that sold packets of fake cigarettes - they were hollow tubes with foil at one end to look like glowing ash. We filled them with talcum powder and blew it over the kids in front of us. The seats must have been very dusty!
At Christmas we had a competition to make the best decoration. I won it one year but for some reason they thought I was a boy and my prize was a kit to make a toy tank!
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Contributed by susan capes

One lost cinema

I love this photo of Loughton High Road as it shows just on the edge
the cinema we used to have. Kids could go to Saturday morning pictures.
We could see locally all the latest films.  To depart this asset from our town
was not really progress I think.
Contributed by kathleen rice

Shopping in Loughton

This picture was taken further down the High Road from the Century Cinema and the Post Office, going towards the war memorial, and in these modern blocks there were several shops I regularly visited, including a hairdresser's.
Contributed by Diana Dioszeghy

the new arcade

This parade of shops always seemed very modern to me - flat glass fronts instead of the curved windows with recessed doors, and flats above the shops. It was the Traps Hill end of the town and so was the first place we reached when we walked from home. Luckily there was a sweet shop at the beginning of the parade so we could refresh ourselves.
Contributed by susan capes