Peckham Memory

Hi, I am posting on behalf of my father (because he never gets round to doing stuff like this !!) he was born in 1950 and lived just near Claude road, in 48 Philip road (now walk), near to the electrical sub station, he also remembers the bomb sites and has lots of other fond memories of the area as a child in the 50’s.
He is Stuart Smith, he was one of 4 brothers, Malcolm, Melvyn and Bruce Smith. Their Mum and Dad were Norman (an electrician) and Ivy (worked in several shops in the area, inc Ayers Bakers that is still there today in Nunhead lane. Dad went to the St Mary Magdeline school just at the top of Claude rd - 1955 to 1961. We only live a few miles away in Catford and a few times over the years Dad and me have visited the area for Dad to remenis. That area is re developed now and is a big estate, though the road layouts are recognisable to an extent, but the big square electrical sub station still remains in Phillip walk. Dad said there was also a baker shop close to it and he used to sit by its warm back door on the step and smell the bread and cakes cooking. 48 Phillip road was above a sweet shop and one night Dad remembers some crooks tied a scaffold board to the back of a Jag and reversed it through the window, waking Dad up, they got away with a T.V and Dad remembers hearing that they almost ran down a policeman in Surrey keys when getting away. I wonder do you have any other memories of the area around Claude rd/Phillip road to share or possibly remember my Dad or his Brothers ? Kind regards Tom Smith.

Hello Tom, my name is Frank Gillman and we lived in Manaton Road. Directly opposite our house was Galatea Road, (on the right a bombsite) and the opposite end was Philip Road. We used to play on the bombsite at the junction of Claude/Philip Road; a sweet shop on opposite corner. Your dad will I'm sure will remember there was a semi-buried water tank which we played in. How we didn't suffer with asbestos related problems I'll never know. Located on the other side of the road were pre-fabs. A family your dad may know were the Ashley's'? Papes and the sub-station, (and later the bookies), I remember well. My family also went to the same school but I am five years older. At least one sister and a brother may have been in the same year group as your dad. Hope all is well and this short message reaches you. All the best, Frank.

Hi Tom....we used to live in one of the prefabs in Claude Road opposite the ‘debris’ ....loved it! We had so much freedom as children then ...less cars around: I remember the sweet shop (Mrs burnett) on Claude Road and the sweet shop further along in the corner of Vivian Grove. I remember a family with boys who lived next to sweet shop on corner of Vivian Grove/Philip Road? That might have been your dad!!??

I remember that ‘tank’ ! Sitting in one of the corners! I also remember playing knock down ginger.....along Claude Road...! I lived next to the ‘Ashbys’ !!!!

Hello am Bruce Taylor lived at 27 clauderoad prefab next to bomb site 1947 -1968 has any one got photos from back then