Childhood Memories Of Barnes. 1956 1963

A Memory of Barnes.

I was born in Cleveland Gardens In April 1956 and went to Westfield Infants until just before my eighth birthday and then we moved to Surrey.
I have one particular memory when it was my fifth birthday. I decided to sit on the front door step and tell everyone who walked past that it was my birthday! As I sat there I saw Mr Sell, an elderly neighbour walking slowly along the pavement. I told him it was my special day and he said that he had something he wanted to give me and told me to wait until he returned from his nearby house. When he came back he handed me a little bag. Inside the bag I discovered 7 silver sixpences, one of which dates back to Queen Anne. I still treasure them.
I have fond memories of living a short distance from the River Thames and the railway station. I could see the steam trains bellowing smoke from the upstairs window of my house as they passed through on the way to Putney or London.
One of the most exciting and busy days of the year used to be the Oxfords and Cambridge Boat Race. It was a day when the village was swamped with people and cars. Family and neighbours would run down to the river cheering and wave their flags to support either Oxford or Cambridge. I always started off with a Cambridge flag in my hand and would only swap to a dark blue flag if I thought Cambridge was going to loose the race.
One of my favourite shops was the toy shop in the village which someone else has already mentioned. My grandmother used to go and look after the shop at lunchtime so that her friend the owner could have her lunch. I used to think that the shop was a bit spooky and covered in cobwebs, especially in the window!
One of my claims to fame is that one of the episodes of Dixon of Dock Green was filmed in Barnes and the Cameras were located just outside my house and we invited all the actors in for a cup of tea. It was the episode where Andy Crawford got shot.
These are just a few of my memories and one day I will make the the journey from where I live now in Salisbury to revisit and take a walk around Barnes pond.

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