Wonderful Childhood Years

A Memory of Golders Green.

I grew up in Golders Green in the 50's and 60's. I loved going down Golders Green Road on a Saturday night just before Christmas with all the shops lit up and decorated and advertising gifts. We lived just round the corner from the library, in which I spent many many happy hours. I remember specifically when I "graduated" from the children's section to the adults. The librarian lady used to wear a watch on a pin on her chest which drew all the boys to peer at her and ask the time!
I have wonderful memories of chasing about the green lawns of Golders Hill Park, and watching the winter sunsets over the trees. One of my earlier memories is going with my mum to some clinic near the underground station - can't remember exactly where - to get a glass bottle of orange juice for little me. And I remember her ration book, which she used at the grocers, long before supermarkets.
A yearly treat was the panto at the Golders Green Hippodrome, always filled with excited screaming kids.
When I moved to grammar school in Hendon, we were directed to Pullens in Temple Fortune to buy school uniforms. But I remember the grownups complaining about the price of everything, until we discovered we could buy white shirts and navy pullovers much cheaper in M&S. I think only M&S was missing in Golders Green! My history teacher Mr. Betts used to tell us of arriving by train to Golders Green Station and walking through the fields to Hendon School.

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