Growing up in Wallington
I lived in Bute Gardens West, from Oct 1943 to when I married in 1965. My friends were Donald Scott, Rex Poge, Yashew, an immigrant boy who we nearly killed with a bow and arrow, and brother Dave. We had a club, The Silent Death, we called it the T>S>D>, and to join you had to do all sorts of stupid things like jump off Donalds garage roof, or kick a hat [with a brick underneath it!] funny, we only had 3 members...us. My Dad had a small flooring company called Patey & Sons, which later moved to 110 Stafford Road. Saturday mornings we went to the Saturday morning flicks at the Odeon. It cost sixpence but you could take your own torch, but don't get caught. Went fishing down Beddington Park, for sticklebacks and carried them home in a bucket. All dead by the Sunday morning. Went to the Grange for tortuous dental work, but later graduated to the butcher who opperated out of his bungalow on the corner of Demesne road and Stafford Road. Fell in love with Ann Jackson, Beryl Ferris, and others when I was 7 or 8. Attended Holy Trinity Primary School in Bute Road and was friends with Jim Roamer and Nicholas Stoy among others. Went swimming with my class with the Headmaster Mr. Hood, down to Beddington Park - a had to break the ice to get in! You could get away with murder in those days. First paying job was as a paperboy for Wally Marshall up near the public hall in Stafford Road. Used to 'mark-up' everybody else's papers first and then go out and deliver 2 rounds of 75 papers each. Hated Thursday when the Radio Times came out and doubled the weight. Wally always promised to let me have some "horn powder" with the pittance I was paid [15 bob a week}... I had only an incling of what he was talking about! Wallington was a great place to grow up.
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RE: RE: Growing up in Wallington
Seeing a mention of the Grange reminded me of an odd experience when I was about 6 years old (about 1958). My mother had taken me to The Grange, Hackbridge, where I had to strip down to underpants and vest and wear yellow goggles and walk along narrow planks and various other feats of balancing. I think it was something to do with UV light and 'knock knees' but I have not found any record of such a clinic or activity in the Sutton reference library and sometimes wonder whether it was just a dream.
Comment from Tim Huitson on Thursday, 24th May 2012.
RE: RE: Growing up in Wallington
Hi Andrew!
I also grew up in Wallington and went to Holy Trinity from when I started in, I guess about 1955 until the 11plus in 1960. I got interested in your post when I read about Patey and Son being your father's company. I don't think I knew you, but did you have a sister by the name of Janet Patey? I think I was in her class for a while, along with people like Susan Dunn, Angela Wills, Geffrey Horton etc. I was in Miss Coates class, and knew Mr Hood although I was never in his class. I rememer Mrs Webber very well, and Mrs Barty, the head.
Comment from Ian Richardson on Thursday, 10th February 2011.
RE: RE: Growing up in Wallington
Hi Andrew, I was interested in your account about fishing for sticklebacks in Beddington Park. I did the same thing myself in the mid 1960s. I also went to Holy Trinity from Sept 1963 to July 1967. Then attended Elmwood Scrubs (as it was known) from 1967 to end of 1969. Can you remember the restaurant in the grange during the 1960s? I'm pretty certain it was an ugly red brick featureless thing with big picture windows at the end. In those days the Grange Gardens were policed by four park keepers, two of them were viciously authoritarian. They'd whack any kid for answering back, never mind pulling up a few wall flowers. I remember a big glasshouse for the garden staff to raise new bedding out plants, helped out there in the summer of `968, for a brief spell. The park was handy because I lived in Bute Road, just opposite the school. It was handy for that as well I suppose. I didn't like the headmistress, Mrs Barty. All us kids called her 'Farty Barty' and she was full of pompous ideas. Her hubby was metalwork teacher at Elmwood. I have loads of memories of Beddington Park, Carshalton Park too and surrounding area. Moved away from Bute Road in 1970. End of an era that was. Regards, Steve
Comment from Steve Poole on Monday, 16th May 2011.
RE: RE: Growing up in Wallington
I lived and grew up in the 40s / 50's very near the Wallington Green and went to Beddington CE Infants and Primary school later at Wall County Grammar but many of my friends were from Bute Road and Elmwood. Watched the Battle of Britain having bombs all round us including a buzz bomb doodle bug land next door. Lost several friends to Gerry bombing. Saw the first jet fly overhead. As kids we collected shrapnel, made trolleys out of pram wheels and loved roller skating (still do). We made kites, bows and arrows and model aeroplanes including control line powered ones we flew down the Grange Park. Yes, I remember the Grange house (of dentistry horrors) and nearby was a bowling green and a big mulberry tree which fed my silkworms well. Cycling and motorbike mad later, we used to go to the Odeon and the Granada and Gaumont County in Sutton. First drink was from the pub in the Square Carshalton (bought by an older, taller mate).
Comment from David Simmons on Saturday, 20th August 2011.