My Childhood Memories
A Memory of Harold Hill.
I lived in Harold Hill from 1952 till the early 70's. My first school was Bosworth Junior, the Headmaster, a nasty old man named Gridley and our form teacher the great Miss Worril. When I left there I went to Quarles where once again the Headmaster was an overbearing bully named Mr Laws - the only salvation being the Deputy Head who I believe was Mr Gerard. Our form master was a skeletal man and the science master. I remember I won the annual prize for English and he was so convinced that it couldn't be me that he put another boys name inside the front cover of the book that was my prize. What with him and the Welsh maths/gym teacher who taught me nothing, its surprising that I made my way in life. However I was exceedingly lucky in being taught by a great teacher of english, Mr Dickman. He made the subject interesting and understandable and I owe him much.
I lived first in Dorking Walk, where in the early days our food would be delivered by van. One with groceries and one with green grocery. There was a small cul de sac in Dorking Walk and one dark day the green grocery van ran over a little girl there (Geraldine Smeeton). Around that time we were flooded out during some heavy storms. The waters rose to waist high and it took many weeks to dry the houses out. We stayed in them, living upstairs while this was done. I don't imagine that would be allowed today. The rag & bone man called round regularly, offering goldfish in a bag in return for old clothes.
I have good memories too. The street parties, where often we children would dress up in fancy dress. DeMarco's ice cream van and him with his french berrie (is that how you spell it..the hat I mean). There was a small wood at the end of the street where we would be cowboy's or soldiers or whatever fantasy we decided on that day. Later on as we reached puberty and our curiosity got the better of us it was the place where we first noticed that girls weren't as "yuk" as we had first thought.
Around this time we moved into a flat in Hilldene Avenue, above the shops. Then Central Park was the place to go, especially when the Fair arrived each year. Great times and many happy memories.....to be continued.
#235316
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My dad was a barber and he used to go around the estate on his bike cutting people’s hair. In about 1959 my dad got a black Morris minor. My dad was also a county table tennis player along with my brother they played for Romford and in the Essex tournaments. In 1962 my dad died suddenly from a heart attack at a table tennis tournament in Romford, my brother and I were with him at the time and it was the first time they had taken me to a tournament. We went in the ambulance to Oldchurch hospital where a wicked hearted sister told is he was dead in a most un-compassionate way. A little while afterwards we moved back to London to Stamford Hill, I was 13.
I now live in the US and have for over 50 years. Wow, time goes by quickly. If anyone out there remembers me, I would enjoy hearing from you.. By the way, my name is Pauline Veil, "NEE" Slight."
I remember being caught by Laws coming down stairs on the wrong side. When he caned you he always put his gown and hat on. If lucky, if you can call this, he caned in the morning because in the afternoon after he had a drink he would hit you on the wrist or tips of the fingers.
Regards John
I left after 2yrs as we moved to Taunton Road and I then went to Ingrebourne Junior until I was 11.
My form teacher there was a Mrs.Grove who was a bit of a bully to certain pupils,one in particular remember was a John Buxton,who she made stand up and poked mercilessly in the back and humiliated constantly. I felt sad for him and I've always hoped he made good in the end despite all that.
My favourite teacher was a Mr.Chiffeny,bald with silver mad professor style hair at the sides.What a diamond he was.He encouraged me in my art and gave me paint ,paper and brushes so I could create at home.Lovely man,so kind. My best friend was Dawn Collins who lived just outside the school with her mother who was blind.We used to ask if we could join Jimmy Harolds gang and play cops n robbers during break times,great fun.There used to be a climbing frame at the back of the school and one evening after everyone went home I decided to climb it,got half way across and froze with fear,not able to go back or forward,but in the end fearing more the wrath of my mother if I was too late back from school I managed to get down,phew. I still hate heights.
There was an outside swimming pool at the back of the school and once a week we all donned our cozzies and trooped over for a dunk in the cold water. I learnt to swim in that little pool.I also got my first verucca from there too.🙁 In those days you had to go to the nurse and have your toe scraped with a surgical knife and wear a big plaster until the verucca was gone. Painful.
Me and Dawn were given the job of laying out the tea and biscuits in the staff room,but I don't think they'd have been happy if they'd known Dawn used to scoop out a handful of sugar out of the bowl and cram it in her mouth quickly and there was always a few of the melt in the mouth biscuits missing that had gotten into our pockets! Never tasted biscuits like it,they were made on the premises by the cooks. 😜 delicious!
I liked my time at that school,but sadly then all too soon it was time to move up to Broxhill Secondary after failing to get enough points in the 11 plus that would've got me into grammar school. Broxhill had the better reputation at the time of the local schools and mum fought to get me in there. Hmmmm,was it worth the fight?! 🤔
I lived in Newbury Gdns and attended Broadfords Infants School, then Bosworth Junior School and finally Quarles Secondary Modern School for Boys. There was a girls school attached but segregation was practised in the schools.
Not sure what happened to Broadfords but Bosworth was demolished due to the "High Alumina Concrete" scare long after I left Quarles. Quarles is now a campus of Romford College or somesuch.
I attended the three schools over the period 1955 to 1965.
Bosworth had sports and craft activities on Fridays and each sport or activity was called a "Club". One year I was in Archery Club. Great experience using a long bow! I failed the 11 Plus and was sent to Quarles. I landed in Form 1D. 1 was the year and the D was the stream from A to F. There were about 40 to a class. I managed to work my way down to 2E by comming bottom in the anual class exams. These were used to determine your position in the streams. The top three scorers went up a stream and the bottom three went down a stream. I then found some interest in school and came top in 2E, promoting me into 3D. Mr. Clarke was the form teacher. He had a deep voice and spoke slowly. His favourite saying to me was "Your a half-wit, Northwood".
I'll have to continue this later. It's turned more into a memoir than a comment!
I lived in Newbury Gdns and attended Broadfords Infants School, then Bosworth Junior School and finally Quarles Secondary Modern School for Boys. There was a girls school attached but segregation was practised in the schools.
Not sure what happened to Broadfords but Bosworth was demolished due to the "High Alumina Concrete" scare long after I left Quarles. Quarles is now a campus of Romford College or somesuch.
I attended the three schools over the period 1955 to 1965.
Bosworth had sports and craft activities on Fridays and each sport or activity was called a "Club". One year I was in Archery Club. Great experience using a long bow! I failed the 11 Plus and was sent to Quarles. I landed in Form 1D. 1 was the year and the D was the stream from A to F. There were about 40 to a class. I managed to work my way down to 2E by comming bottom in the anual class exams. These were used to determine your position in the streams. The top three scorers went up a stream and the bottom three went down a stream. I then found some interest in school and came top in 2E, promoting me into 3D. Mr. Clarke was the form teacher. He had a deep voice and spoke slowly. His favourite saying to me was "Your a half-wit, Northwood".
I'll have to continue this later. It's turned more into a memoir than a comment!
I lived in Newbury Gdns and attended Broadfords Infants School, then Bosworth Junior School and finally Quarles Secondary Modern School for Boys. There was a girls school attached but segregation was practised in the schools.
Not sure what happened to Broadfords but Bosworth was demolished due to the "High Alumina Concrete" scare long after I left Quarles. Quarles is now a campus of Romford College or somesuch.
I attended the three schools over the period 1955 to 1965.
Bosworth had sports and craft activities on Fridays and each sport or activity was called a "Club". One year I was in Archery Club. Great experience using a long bow! I failed the 11 Plus and was sent to Quarles. I landed in Form 1D. 1 was the year and the D was the stream from A to F. There were about 40 to a class. I managed to work my way down to 2E by comming bottom in the anual class exams. These were used to determine your position in the streams. The top three scorers went up a stream and the bottom three went down a stream. I then found some interest in school and came top in 2E, promoting me into 3D. Mr. Clarke was the form teacher. He had a deep voice and spoke slowly. His favourite saying to me was "Your a half-wit, Northwood".
I'll have to continue this later. It's turned more into a memoir than a comment!
I lived in Newbury Gdns and attended Broadfords Infants School, then Bosworth Junior School and finally Quarles Secondary Modern School for Boys. There was a girls school attached but segregation was practised in the schools.
Not sure what happened to Broadfords but Bosworth was demolished due to the "High Alumina Concrete" scare long after I left Quarles. Quarles is now a campus of Romford College or somesuch.
I attended the three schools over the period 1955 to 1965.
Bosworth had sports and craft activities on Fridays and each sport or activity was called a "Club". One year I was in Archery Club. Great experience using a long bow! I failed the 11 Plus and was sent to Quarles. I landed in Form 1D. 1 was the year and the D was the stream from A to F. There were about 40 to a class. I managed to work my way down to 2E by comming bottom in the anual class exams. These were used to determine your position in the streams. The top three scorers went up a stream and the bottom three went down a stream. I then found some interest in school and came top in 2E, promoting me into 3D. Mr. Clarke was the form teacher. He had a deep voice and spoke slowly. His favourite saying to me was "Your a half-wit, Northwood".
I'll have to continue this later. It's turned more into a memoir than a comment!