Herne Hill, Dorchester Court c.1955

Photo ref: H410010

I recall a happy childhood living above my Grandfather’s and father’s hardware store LEACH’S at number 22 Also, going to Dulwich Hamlet infant and junior schools along with singing in the choir at St Paul’s Herne Hill

My father Frank Clarke was the caretaker at Dorchester Court for many years, and we as a family lived in the bungalow which went with the job. In about 1957-1958 he was given the sack, and a friend of the owner was given his job. We were devastated. We had nowhere to live so my sisters and my mother were sent to a 'rest centre' in Camberwell Green. My father was not allowed there and had to get a bed and ...see more

My uncle George Bowen and his wife Rene ran the Manor Farm Dairy out of 12 Herne Hill Road.  According to my mother who would visit them during the holidays - milk was delivered in those days in big churns pushed on a barrow. The housewives would bring out their jugs and milk was ladled into the jug.  There was only one kind of milk no choice with regard to skimmed or semi-skimmed. ...see more