Childhood Memories

A Memory of Chadwell Heath.

Furze Infant school and being allowed to go in the garden to pick Lavender (still whenever I smell Lavender it takes me back). Running down 'back alley's' behind the roads around St Chads; Warren Junior School (playing netball), Saturday morning pictures (taking part in talent shows), playing over St Chads Park (playleader hut), Betty Finch Dance school, Brownies (Church Parade at St Chads). Sunday School in the hall behind St Chads and collecting the stamps depicting religous scenes that were stuck in a book. The man living/sleeping in a black car in the church hall grounds (just accepted fact as a child, then one day the man/car disappeared). The Blacksmith place in Back Lane, walking down Back Lane past the workshop attached to 'Pasks' bike shop as I fancied owner's son, who was always working on his sports car (never got a date). George's fish bar (best saveloy's ever), Woolworths (buying broken biscuits for my Mum & having to take a brooch back which I spent all my pocket money on, I was mortified). The White Horse pub (playing in pub garden), Ballroom dancing above the Cinema in Chadwellheath, playing over 'Iron Bridge' in Heath Road, Sans Egal swimming club in Sevens Kings Pool & swimming gala's. Of buying in the cafe, Wagon Wheels & bag of crisps with small blue bag of salt in, John Preston in Marks Gate. Loved Friday afternoons; PE all afternoon, Warren Senior school, taking part in production of 'Oliver' at the Warren, playing sport, rounders on the sports field (smell of freshly cut grass always reminds me). School swimming in an outside pool in Dagenham (once pushed in by PE teacher Miss Bostock, so cold I couldn't speak) later the Warren had it's own indoor pool (very small). Trampolining, Drum Majorettes in Dagenham, Dagenham town show, Saturday jobs in Finefare supermarket & Chemist in High Street, the youth club in chuch hall that my Mum & Dad ran (organized brilliant Discos). Dances in Scout Hut (Shackleton Hall) & another scout hall cannot remember name of. Going to watch West Ham players train at training ground (many years later my younger daughter Amy was a Hammerette). Waiting at the bus stop (no's 193 or 66) to go shopping in either Romford or Ilford, Ilford Palais Saturday afternoons for teens (big sparkly disco ball hanging from ceiling). The 'Birds Nest' disco in Chadwell Heath & The Greyhound, moved to Brentwood with parents in 1973 when 17years old....