Slough A Time In A Life

A Memory of Slough.

Monday 7th July 1958, aged 8, moved to Britwell, Slough from Merstham in surrey with my brother Martin, Mum & Dad (Joan & Ron). Transport was a problem - we didn’t have any. There was only room for three of us in the removal lorry. Dad drew the short straw, so had to make his own way on public transport. Luckily, working for London Transport, he had a bus pass. It was a hot and sunny day, and on arrival we had to walk up to the council offices in Wentworth Avenue to get the keys for access to the property. It was also Dad’s birthday, he was 36, but I don’t remember any birthday cake nor party!
Those summer months of 58’ where spent exploring in the part-built houses around us after the builders had gone home for the day, and at weekends.
1963 was the start of my working life, I was 13, Mum got me a job as a paper boy at Bunces Newsagents 406, Farnham road. I delivered morning papers & magazines 7 days a week. Luckily, I had the smallest 'round' which included my house. Fridays and Sundays were the worst days, Fridays with the addition of the local ‘rags’ and Sunday with the papers having weekly magazines in them. Got paid 10 shillings and sixpence per week. Towards the end of my time there I got promoted to ‘marking up’ the paper rounds, an inside job, out of the rain and cold. Wages increased to 16 shillings a week. Sunday mornings I would go debt collecting from people who couldn’t get out easily to the shop and/or were bad paying customers. Got paid 10% of the money I collected. The Manager, Maurice had, a MkII Jaguar – British racing green, I think, which Trevor (school friend) & I would give the Jag a wash & shampoo occasionally.
August 1966 saw the start of my 4 and half year apprenticeship at Satchwell Controls Systems, next to the railway bridge on the Farnham Road. These years were the start of my independence (a starting wage of £4-10s-00 per week)! Friday lunch times spent in the Windmill pub, Bath Road.
September 1967-1970 - block release and evenings at Slough College to complete City & Guilds T6 cert. with evening courses ending up at the Pied Horse pub, Slough High Street. Opposite the Pied Horse was the only place you could buy 'Brut' aftershave, a men's clothes shop called 'Squires'. Which I seem to think was next door to Tommy Cooper's brother's magic shop.
Lots of happy memories occurred during the 16 years living and working in Slough, including meeting my first wife. I may allude to these at a later date.

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