Regal, Bexleyheath

A Memory of Bexleyheath.

I lived in Church Rd, for the 1st 7years of my life. (1943 - 1950. My Father, Bernard John Musgrove was the Chief Operator at the Regal, & Mum, Joan Richardson (married 1942,) was an usherette. Dad & Mum were sleeping in a room above the organ works, after working late, when a flying bomb hit the organ room. The Manager (Jack Frost) & his wife were not at the Cinema. The 2nd operator was a Don Briggs. Friends of Mum & Dad were Harry Watley, & Harry Waterfall. In live shows that were staged, produced by Dad, Ballet girls from a Miss Ayling dance school were used. During the war, many of the staff partied on after the cinema closed at the "Kings Arms." I only remember the lady in the pub was "Aunty Olive." I have a movie clip taken at one of these parties, which shows me sitting on my G'mothers lap. Mum & Dad had their wedding reception at this pub. I also have quite a few pics of the Regal, and from the shows staged at the Regal. I have clear memories of bombed houses around, and also going up the shops with ration books. I remember the Silver Lounge, where we used to get ice cream cones, with chocolate on top.