Susan Johns Remembers Stanmore

The Broadway c1955
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This is Buckingham Cottage, it was the hunting lodge of the Duke of Chandos.  When I was a child, two old ladies lived there and there were always butterflies in the garden which us kids used to catch. The story was that the two old ladies used to wake up to the sound of wild parties and were overcome by the smell of burgundy wine. This happened frequently but burgundy wine was never found. When the workmen were tearing down the cottage they were overcome with the smell of burgundy wine but still none was ever found. I would like to add that the people responsible for tearing down this beautiful cottage should be shot!  

I was born above Wyman's shop on Church Road in 1944, my father was the manager there. I loved Stanmore with all my heart. My parents were married in St John's and I was christened there, and although I have lived in sunny San Diego, California for forty years I bought my daughter back to Stanmore at ten months of age to be christened in St John's. My friend, Faith Mesger, and I used to haunt the churchyard looking for frogs as children. I always go back to Stanmore like a homing pigeon when I am in England. Chips (French fries) never tasted so good as they did fresh from the chip shop and munched in Bernays Gardens, and a little place called The Pantry which was owned by my godmother had the best rabbit pie and mashed potatoes that could be found. What a GREAT childhood, I wish I could go back to it!