Long Ago My Heart Was Given To Elizabeth Cloud

A Memory of Crystal Palace.

I too was born at Stone Park in 1950. My mother was Joan Cloud and my dad was Joe Mannion. My mother Joan was the youngest child of Elizabeth and Ernest Cloud of 88 Anerley Road, Upper Norwood. I never knew my grandfather as he died when my mum was 15. My mum used to work in my nan's fruit shop with my uncle Alby. The shop was known as Cloud's and everyone came there. I was the favourite grandchild and used to stay at my nan's most weekends. I loved her so much and we would play games and snuggle in front of the fire.

My primary school was St. Anthony's at Penge.

We lived across the road at 7 Brunswick Court and one Sunday evening mum came to collect me but I didn't want to leave so mum left me with my nan. I used to go to Our Lady's Convent and would get the bus outside the fish and chip shop a few doors from my nan's shop. On this morning I told my nan I didn't want to go to school so she said I didn't have to. About an hour later, when I would have been at the bus stop, we heard this loud noise and a Big Bang. A steam roller had got out of control on Anerley Hill and crashed into the fish and chip shop. We heard the screams of the injured. Some critical. One lady lost a leg. I would have been at the bus stop if my nan had made me go to school.

Elizabeth, my darling Nanny (as I called her) died in July 1964. She is always with me even here in Australia where I have lived for many years. Joan, my mum passed away in November 2014 on her 65th wedding anniversary. She was, as I said, the youngest and the last of the children to pass away. She was 86. Joseph, my dad passed away in March 2012 and he was a month shy of his 87th birthday.

Some of my childhood friends were Jeanette Taylor, Marco Delpitzo, Janice Conaluca, David Kenway, Leslie Kenway. I often wonder where they are now and have tried to find them on Fb without success.

I returned to 88 Anerley Road with my mum in 1994. Although I knew where we were I had to remind Mum. She didn't recognise it. She remembered what was not really the way it was. She remembered Anerley Road as a wide main road when in fact it is a very narrow road.

Lovely memories 🌹