Palmers Green

A Memory of Palmers Green.

I came across the stories related to Palmers Green and was immediately taken back to my early years at Franklin House school in the 50's and 60's. I smiled when I read about the visits to Dom's Cafe, just a five minute walk from the school. My entire lunch money would be spent on a Cola float, Coke and ice cream with a cherry and a fruit pie for dessert! How everyone stayed so skinny in those days I have no idea! The school was run by Mr. Hope, the headmaster, who lived in the house next door. At recess, with soccer being played in every corner of the playground, the balls would go flying over the wall into his garden. If you ever get caught retrieving one you faced "six of the best" at assembly the next morning. He died not so long ago but I did receive a lovely letter from his wife saying how much he enjoyed 'his boys" and his year's at Franklin House. We lived in those years in Chase Side on the road to Cockfosters and caught the bus to Palmers Green. Sprinting when late and launching on the bus by grabbing the pole the conductor would give us the "thumbs up" and a "nice one kid" and sometimes a free ticket! How we survived London Transport and the Cola floats I'll never know! Andrew Phillips.