Lots Road And World's End

My aunt lived and worked in Brightmans Bakery-in 50-60-
lived in meek street-played football in the Ashburnham school in the summer break-my family lived in uverdale road and upcerne rd
love my days at lots road

paul wood-meek street

Hi Paul
My uncle Vic was a baker in Brightmans and my aunt Glad was on the counter, they married and moved to Hampshire after the war.
I recall Meek Street very well. My sister had a friend lived in one of the smaller houses at the Lots Road end. Bob and Marlene someone . . . . . not good memories of Ashburnham though. I bet we knew some of the same families and kids around there.

regards, Lesley (Dunning)

Hi Lesley,
I think you and I were in the same class at Ashburnham. If I am right some of the girls names were: Pamela Mayer: Janet Mills:Jean Rogers:Linda McEwan and Christine Copeland. Mr Lloyd was our final teacher, and I do remember Miss Knobbs. My sister also worked in Brightmans when Bill Wade was the baker. Your comments revived so many memories. Getting a sack of coke from Imperial road on a cold Saturday morningwill stay with me forever, give the man threepence and he would fill the sack to the top. The shops i recall are :Maxwells laundry, corner of Uverdale Rd/Bunaby St: The Off License on the opposite corner:Petchells ( which my uncle managed for a while) ,and at the very end of Burnaby St/LotsRd was "Anchors", run by Polish Stan and his wife. Of the boys in class1 I remember Ronny & Rodney Knight (twins) :Brian Dale:David Goldup: Johnny Bownes:Tony Gwatkin (only boy allowed to wear long trousers):Jimmy Kelly:Robert Coyle: Alan Tripp and "Chucky" Raymond. So many fond memories I could go on and on. As someone with far more intelligence than I said," We look fondly on the past because we are unhappy with the present and unsure of the future". How very true.

regards Peter Collins.

Hello Peter
we were indeed in the same class at Ashburnham. I remember all those kids. Janet Mills was my best friend. Also Linda McEwan for a while. Also many more girls of course.. Of the boys I remember you, and the twins Rodney and Ronald, Alan Tripp, Chucky Evans, Brian Dale, David Gold--? Robert Coyle, and Tony who got seconds at dinner because he was so big! Also Klaus Jordan. The kids were great.

If you would like to share more memories we could keep in touch and catch up on old friends via our email addresses. Let me know.

regards, Lesley (Dunning) 158 Lots Road

Hi Lesley,
Sorry for the delay in replying. The only person I kept in contact with was Tony Gwatkin, who, sad to say, passed away a couple of years ago from a heart attack while on holiday. After taking our 11 plus at Ashburnham four of us boys went to Chelsea Central, Johnny Bownes, Frank Atwell, Klaus Jordan and myself. Big Tony went to a boarding school but I think his parents fell on hard times and he too ended up at C.C. I cannot recall any girls from Ashburnham going to C.C. If you are on Facebook there is a whole section on Chelsea, type in World's End community, there are photos of Mr Lloyd and Miss White and several of Lots Rd.

Hello Peter
I am sorry that tony Gwatkin passed away recently. I recall taking the 11 plus very well. As there was no pressure from my parents I actually enjoyed it, although I sensed all the angst from those kids whose parents had promised them bikes and things if they passed. I passed and went to Carlisle School for girls in Hortensia Road. Next door was Sloane boys school. It was not a success for me and i left to go to Hurlingham school. Was Chelsea Central the old Kingsley School? I met Klause Jordon many years later, he was a school janitor and I worked in a school where he turned up one day to fill in for someone and I sort of recognised him. I recall 'chuckie' Evans (?) getting a tongue lashing from Mr Lloyd who routinely humiliated kids for not understanding arithmetic, and never knew your name. Mr Evans was a nasty piece of work and Miss White was a cold woman with nil empathy or kindness. Do you remember when she brought her son into school - Jeremy I think? what a laugh I went home and told my sister who did not believe me!
anyway Peter please reply soon
Lesley dunning

My name is Rod Knight and I used to live at 13 Upcerne Road in one of the prefabs. I responded to Francis last year but when I tried again it did not work. All.of the comments bring back memories. I used to go to get s sack of coke once or twice s month in the winter. I refer all.of those mentioned by both contributors. Brian Dale was head boy, not sure what happened to him. My brother Ron went to Cambridge University and became a doctor spending most of his time as a consultant at Frimley Park hospital. He is now retired living in the Cotswolds bit spends some time in his house in Florida. I went to Westminster City grammar and joined the Court servicr after leaving school..I ended up being managing part of the High Court in London and the national Probate service. Now retired living in.Bedfordshire. I have two sons and four granchildren.. Life long Chelsea supporter.
I always found Mr Lloyd to be OK as I did with Miss White although I think she was a bit straight laced. A few years ago I bumped into Johnny Bownes brother who reported that Johnny was still going strong.we spent hours playing football on the playground opposite my prefab and Alan Hudson would often play with us. He was about ten at the time.

Sorry I meant Lesley. The David she mentions was David Goldup
Rod

Hello Rod
We were meant to keep in touch but I think you were away abroad and I couldn’t, contact you. Yes I recall David Goldup now. Ron did very well in life didn’t’ he and you too. What a great pair of career brothers. I guess you have to thank your parents for encouraging your ambitions.
I met someone who knew Brian Dale. Brian worked in the chemist down at Worlds End and then moved to Wandsworth. He passed away I think in the
1990s. I met Janet Mills parents about 15 years ago in Kings Road and they told me Janet had become a solicitor. She had married Tony Tobias who ran the sweet shop in Kings Road just along from Brightman’s bakery.
I know Jean Rogers went to Lady Margaret’s. I met a woman who had been at grammar school with Pamela Meyer. All the other girls I never met again except for Vera Rae because she was a good friend of my cousin who lived in Edith Grove.
Old Ashburnham school has been replaced with a new secondary school. I just remember being about four years old and me and my brother playing on the rubble of the other Ashburnham
building that had been bombed flat. That’s why there was such a vast playground. There was another bomb site called the butterfly opposite Carlisle playground on the Hortensia Road corner with Kings Road. And more sites around I guess where the prefabs were built.
Lesley Dunning Lots Road & Sloane Square

Hello Lesley,

Many memories, I lived in Uverdale Road in a prefab next to Janet Mills and backed onto Alan
Hudson's Garden, I can remember the Knight boys, and many that have been mentioned in the
previous comments , Great Days! I wonder if anyone has heard from Johnny Moore or David Smith
they lived in the houses across the road from the prefabs , in Uverdale.
Also do any of you remember the school journeys to Swanage and Isle of white or the street party for the coronation down Uverdale Road ?
Pamerla Alan, Wendy Poppel , Babara Tyrel, June Dunn are some more names you may remember.
I Live In Buckinghamshire and sometimes go into London and Have been to revisit the memories.
Good old Chelsea its always with you were ever you are.
My best wishes to you Lesley and all who have left comments
Susan Gee

Hi, I didn't live your side of the river, I lived in Battersea but I do know (knew) Lots Rd. I went to school at Kingsley just off the kings Rd. I recall seeing boys driving off Battersea bridge and having played on the foreshore around and under the bridge and going home the stinking mud coming with me, I'd often wondered how the kids (teenagers) got on health-wise. when at Kingsley I had a sort of girlfriend and I think she lived on Lots Rd. no idea what her name was. The Kings Rd. was a great place to go to school, pity I can't say the same about the school.
Ken

Hi, I didn't live your side of the river, I lived in Battersea but I do know (knew) Lots Rd. I went to school at Kingsley just off the kings Rd. I recall seeing boys driving off Battersea bridge and having played on the foreshore around and under the bridge and going home the stinking mud coming with me, I'd often wondered how the kids (teenagers) got on health-wise. when at Kingsley I had a sort of girlfriend and I think she lived on Lots Rd. no idea what her name was. The Kings Rd. was a great place to go to school, pity I can't say the same about the school.
Ken

Hello Ken
One of those boys diving off Battersea Bridge was my brother Sid. He survived okay. I was a toddler and me and my older sister played on the mud by the houseboats. My sister went to Kingsley she was born in 1942. It was a disciplined school - girls got the cane. I agree that the schools were awful. Teachers were cruel and nasty. Kings Road was a good place to grow up on and go shopping, swimming, cinema etc. We used to go over to Falcon Road to Walter's a department store to buy clothes. Also had relatives that way in Battersea Bridge Road and Lavender Sweep. Shame you can't remember the girlfriend's name I bet we knew the family.
Also we played on bomb-sites. And the streets were our playgrounds. I did not go to Kingsley i went to Hurlingham girls comprehensive in Fulham.
Lesley

Hello Sue
I do remember your name I think you were a bit older than me. I do recall the holidays to Swanage it was two weeks - a long time for those of us who had not been away from home before. I can just remember a coronation party. Mum paid in three pence a week I think for each of us beforehand.
I used to admire Wendy Popple and I think she had a sister Sally? they had blonde plaits and nice frocks.
There was a well known family called the Hubbards. Jimmy Hubbard was involved in a shooting in the sixties down Lots Road area in the 60s. Yvonne Hubbard was in my class. There were more than 40 in a class then so some of their names escape me.Sylvia Pincott and Dahlia Butler were two of them.There used to be a big bon-fire on the St John's church site every November 5th. I was scared of Miss Knobbs she was horrible to me because I kept losing my glasses. We did sewing with her in one of the big halls. The teachers did not let you go to the loo in class time. We had awful dip in pens with splayed nibs. You did PE in your underwear, not nice for those with ragged underclothes. My sister had cod liver oil. We had milk in those little bottles and you had to eat up all your dinner or risk getting told off.
Keep in touch Sue
Lesley

I was born at 6 Upcerne road in 59 and my famly moved away in the early 70's. I was bridesmaid to Christine (surname I can't remember but became Hill) who lived further along Upcerne road. I would love to get in touch with her if anyone has any information. Jan Clarke nee Murray

Hi, Lesley, Jimmy Hubbard was stabbed outside the fish shop at the Worlds End, he tried to crawl to St Stephens but collapsed in Edith Grove. His brother Ray was in our class at Ashburnham.

Hello Peter
What have I got this mixed up with? I seem to recall a shooting somewhere near Lots Road, Obviously another thing entirely. I do remember the Hubbards I think they were a large family. Can't picture Ray Hubbard though. the class was big wasn't it, probably over forty kids.
If I still lived near the Kensington or Chelsea libraries I could look it up in the local papers. The other large family I recall were the Barnards I think it was Yvonne who was in our class at Ashburnham.

Does anyone recall hearing anything about the murder of Jane Holden by Edward Ernest Barnard that took place at 55 Uverdale Road in September 1947.

Hi - I don't recall reading about this crime against Jane Holden in Uverdale Road. It sounds like an interesting happening and I am sure my parents would have heard about it where they lived in Lots Road.
Would you be able to tell us more about it? thanks, Lesley

Sue I don't know if I asked you this before but do you remember Dixine and Janet Mills sisters who lived in the prefabs along the way from yours . ~The dad was a builder with a van. Janet was my best friend at school for a while. I often wondered what happened to them. I think Dixine married Tony Tobias but that didn't last. I would love to get in touch with Janet but don't have a clue where she is. Lesley

My family lived in uverdale rd i remember the prefabs when i was a kid, my family are the Bownes family george, john, colin, and mark

Hi Lee
I think John Bownes was in my class at Ashburnham School in the 1950s. I had a friend in the prefabs Janet Mills. The Mills family were very nice to me.
Are you a younger member of the family? What happened when they pulled the prefabs down?
Hope to hear more from you
regards, Lesley Dunning (Lots Road)

Hi,My name is David Goldup and I stumbled on this site quite by accident. I used to live on the corner of Burnaby st and Uverdale road. I remember nearly all the names mentioned by past pupils of Ashburnham.I enjoyed my time there with thr huge playground and all being football and Chelsea mad. I have contacted John Bownes and kept in touch through Christmas cards etc.We moved away to Wiltshire in 1962 primarily for a decent house. A prefab was a luxury house! All the comments brought back lovely memories as a child growing up there. Apart from John I remember Peter Collins around the corner and his brothers Francis and John and sister Vera I think,all foodall crazy.Also Rod Knight (Spadge ) .We both went to school at Victoria and would meet up on the bus. I loved those days but dont regret moving to Wiltshire to appreciate the lovely countryside.I go back now and again to see my old house,which is only worth a million +. David Goldup.

Hi David, I have a sort of image of you in Ashburnham. I am glad you enjoyed your years in the school, as you probably realised I did not. I found the teachers cruel and humiliating towards the kids. We lived in Lots road until I was about seven then moved to Sloane Square, but after school I used to hang around Uverdale etc. This is a mad question but did you have distinctive hand writing? I think I looked at your handwriting one day and found it very individual. Your surname is rare I think, I have not come across it since. I also moved to Wiltshire about 12 years ago, to Marlborough. Where do you live now.?I do know the state of property values in Chelsea, its tragic, once you move out you cannot go back unless you have half a million at least for a flat in World's End Estate. regards, Lesley (Dunning)

Hi Lesley,We live in Swindon,small world eh.We often travel to Marlborough, lovely place. Have you lived there long? Are there any more Chelsea's nearby you know of?. Hope all is well with you. David.

Was wondering if anyone remembers the Peck family from Lots Road? I was friends with Kay Peck ,but lost touch .
Ian Money.

Hi Leslie and all
CAN YOU HELP please?
My name is Richard Dunning. I'm writing a book that includes early years in the World's End and would love to hear any thoughts and memories of the period. I lived on the corner of Ashburnham Road and Burnaby Street for 30 years and was at Ashburnham School from 1948 to 1955. First question is does anyone remember the huge gun (Big Bertha?) that was being towed along Cheyne Walk when it broke free and went through the blitzed Cremorne Arms pub by Lots Road and ended up being put on the bomb site of the old church by Tadema Road? We kids played on it for days but I can't work out the date. And does anyone remember 'the slides' and did anyone ever go in them? Any thoughts greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Richard,I vaguely remember you,I lived on the corner of Burnaby at.and Uverdale road. I don't remember big Bertha as I am a few years younger than you but I do remember going down into the slides, scary! Old air raid shelters I believe. I do remember at your end of the road there lived triplet girls, unusual, especially as there were two sets of twins about the same distance in the other direction. Regards David Goldup.

Hi Richard
My maiden name was Dunning and I think we are related perhaps from quite a way back. I am glad you are writing a book on the area and I think I could help you with this. My grandfather was james William Dunning born in Kings Road near Worlds End in 1869. I am going to look at my family tree and notes, I have loads of it, and try and work out how we are related. I was at Ashburnham from 1951-1957. I remember the slides near the bus stop Kings Road and I just recall as a tot, playing in the bombed school building rubble in the playground, also the Butterfly bomb site corner of Hortensia Road. Also fireworks on the St John church site in the 50s. Please reply soon and I can give you my email for more cooperation on your work if you would like it.

Hi J Tilley
I gather you were at Ashburnham. Can you say what years you were there and your maiden name. I am sure we will have known many of the same kids and families.
Lesley

Hi J Tilley
I gather you were at Ashburnham. Can you say what years you were there and your maiden name. I am sure we will have known many of the same kids and families.
Lesley

Hi Richard
I wondered how you are getting on with your research and writing. If you would like to correspond about the Dunning family history or Lots Road area please feel free to leave a message , or an email address. Lesley Dunning

Richard did you live in Brickbarn Close?
Lesley

Hi Richard
Would you like to get in touch re. The Dunning family, World’s End, Lots Road and your book.
I would like to contact you on all this.
Lesley (Dunning)

we lived on 32a meek street next to the woods and probaly the only black family on the street aand went to ashburnham in the early sixties