Noddy's Shop

A Memory of Elm Park.

I moved to Elm Park in 1960 when I was 4 years old with my mum and dad, from Hackney, East London. My dad owned and ran the Newsagents in Station Parade and we lived in the flat above the shop. I remember it was next to the green grocers, and have memories of being given slices of watermelon and eating it, standing in my paddling pool at the back of the shop, in the hot summer! There was also a pet shop and I was allowed to handle the yellow chicks that arrived at easter time! A couple of years later, we sold the shop and moved to a house in Mungo Park, Hugo Gardens. My dad then bought another shop in Elm Park, called Noddys. It was a toys and fancy goods shop, with two floors, toys downstairs and 'fancy goods' upstairs. I think it was called Elm Parade, and was on the opposite side of the road from the Station, and down the hill a bit, right by the electrical rental shop. I often helped my dad in the shop on a Saturday, and I remember them lending us a TV so we could watch the England/Germany World Cup match in the shop! I went to ballroom dancing classes too Saturday mornings in the co-op hall on the corner. Does anyone else remember the shops? Many many happy memories of Elm Park. Im now 67, and not been there for decades, Wonder whats it like there now?