Ilderton Road

A Memory of Bermondsey.

I became a Bermondsey boy after moving from a prefab where I was born in the big snow in 1947. We lived at 14 Caulfield Road, Peckham, just around the corner from Jordans Dairy in Lugard Road s.e.15. (The last dairy farm in London). I attended John Donne school, Woods Road from age 5 to 11. I remember Peter Matthews who lived in Burchell Road and Janet and Jennifer Ransome who lived in the same street. They were twins and we were in the same class. Our prefab was demolished in 1957 and we moved to Brodie House, Coopers Road s.e.1. I stayed at John Donne school and became a commuter on the 63 bus to school. I did my secondary education at Creedon Road secondary school for boys until I left at 16. My best friend there was George Buckberry from Silver Walk, Surrey docks. At 16 I joined the metropolitan police cadets and became a police constable at 19 posted to Highbury where I met my future wife. I decided police life was not for me so l left and joined the london ambulance service. I was, after training, sent to Deptford station as a relief driver. I covered the Elephant and Castle, the Old Kent Road, Lee Green and best of all New Cross at Ilderton Road ( now closed). The men I remember there - Fred Dole, Alfie Harris, Jack Mckeown, Ian Jameson, Ken Diment, John Evans, Fred Woodbridge. Mick Golding, John McHattie, Charlie Dean, George ? and myself. In 1970 l applied for and got a job in the West of Ireland as the troubles were starting to get bad. I stuck at the job and became leading ambulance officer, Sligo. l was the second ambulance at the Mountbatten bombing, a bad day in history. I am retired for the past 17 years but I still remember good times in London - Peckham / Bermondsey if anyone knows me please make contact.

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