Its My Lifes Ambition To Return Home

I have only just come across this site and read the 4 fascinating memories of people who lived in Belvedere when young. I was born in 1948 at Crayford Cottage Hospital in the middle of an Apple orchard. My mother was born in Albert Road opposite to the 'Pom Pom' at the bottom of the hill just before the Vickers factory.
I lived as a child in a prefab in Court Avenue a cul-de-sac off Bedonwell Road.
I went to Lessness Heath Primary School from 1953 to 59, whereupon I was one of first pupils to attend the new-fangled secondary education schools, Picardy Secondary Modern Boys School. In 1959 the local Grammar and Techical schools were closed and all pupils were 'streamed' into Picardy Boys and Girls Schools, (in Lower Belvedere) depending upon your Eleven Plus exam results.
I left School in 1965 after 6th form and immediately started work in the advertising industry in London and attended the London College of Printing at Elephant Castle. I used to complete all the school's exam certificates along with my Art teacher, Mr Burt in calligraphy handwriting.
In 1964 my parents and I were moved to Rutland Gate when the council finally decided to demolish the prefabs to build an old people's home in the cul-de-sac.
I was a 'Mod' from 1964 to 1968 and rode Lambretta to schools and then to work and College, whereupon I got my first car, a Mini van! I had to then drive to Blackheath in order to reduce my train fares to London.
From 1960 my father got me a paper round job with Dorman's newsagent in the old village and the first 'drop' was to the Doctor's Surgery in Erith Road opposite the Church on the opposite corner. Ironically used to deliver to what become our home in Rutland Gate.
After the big snow on Boxing Day in 1962 (which stayed until March 1963), I was delivering newspapers in 3-6ft drifts. Don't ask me how the papers even got delivered to the newsagents, or milk. But they got through. An age when life didn't come to a standstill because of a 'little bit' of snow!
Davies, the electrical/cycle/record shop was where I spent nearly all my money on records in the late 50s/early 60sx after giving my mother a bit gir housekeeping.
In the 50s even as a 6/7year old I was frequently sent to the village to buy milk, cheese, 2oz sliced ham or corned beef from the Dairy next to the Police Stn at the Eardley Arms cross roads. I used to buy sweets from a shop in a converted house down the road alongside the Eardley Arms, opposite the rec paddling pool which was eventually drained due to a Polio outbreak. I believe it was turned into a sandpit later.

It cut me off before finishing my reminiscences! A friend I was matched up with on the first day at Primary School in 1953 was Mike Dormer, who became my best friend until our early 20s, going every where together on our scooters during the 60s.
I eventually left home in 1970, moving to a flat in London, but my parents remained in Rutland Gate until my father died in 1978 and I moved my mother down to Devon to be near me and my family after living in Belvedere from her birth in 1916 until 1998, her 83rd year. I haven't been back since. But I suspect as I approach my 70s, I will get the nostalgic 'pull' to visit my childhood stomping ground as Belvedere holds many happy memories for me as in my era it was still Kent rather than Greater London and was still a 'village' in those days. Happy days!

I am a year younger than you being born in 1949. My parents bought a small house 3 bed Victorian house in Nuxley Rd. I went to school at Lessnes Heath. I missed some school due to Polio in Dec 55. Three or 4 had it not many. My friend Clifford Downs, his sister Susan, me and a boy called Alan Kerridge. I was lucky because our doctor, Dr. Home, accurately diognosed my illness, not easy as in the early stages it is similar to flu. That doctor's prompt action saved me from lasting physical effects. The others were not so lucky, except Susan as she showed symptoms last so it was easier to diagnose her.They had a different doctor. As far as I am aware no one really knew the source and the pool was drained in winter anyway. None of us had been there since summer. My sister never caught it either which was fortunate.
Michael Dormer designed an extension to a house I owned in Welling. That was in 1992.
I remember Mr. Burt. He had a red and blue Aries square 4 moter bike. Others were Messers Horner, Green, Brieley, Greenwood, Luce ,York, Porteous, Statham, and my favourites , Mr Bird, a charming and disarming man who taught metal work in a superbly equipped forge come room and Mr. Amos ,a West Indian history teacher. He took us to meet the West Indian touring team at the Oval in '63. He was a county / Shell Shield class cricketer and knew the West Indian team. A great team with Garfield Sobers , Rohan Kani, Derek Murray Gibbs, and Wez Hall and Charlie Griffiths in it.
Someone said the reachers at Picardy were sadistic. I never found that. It is true Picardy school was divided into Grammar, Technical and secondary but not because of the grammar and technical schools closing. Mr. Schofield ran it that way to give us a chance at O'levels which were not always available to Sec mod boys. Many of us only failed 11 + because of the baby boom. Schofield had a brand new school in '59 and tried to make it effective. I was in the Grammar stream. I did eventually get a degree in Chemistry at Woolwich Poly paid for by Court auld Industry but helped by having a shot at O'levels and A'levels. One boy went to Viennato study music. He was David Hulme. We had two music teachers, Mr Claire and Mr Ramsey. They also took us on Easter trips to Europe . I went to Switzerland and Germany because they gave up their time to take us.

Paul Mace

Predictive text. Corrections. Ariel square 4. Teachers. Vienna not Viennato.