Gates Corner Memories.

A Memory of South Woodford.

This is such a memorable photograph for me. This very garage delivered a new company car to my father in 1932. It was a Model B Ford with V8 engine. He drove that car for 17 years during the time he worked for W&C French in Buckhurst Hill.

I was a young child of seven when the Second World War broke out. Living on Epping New Road beside French's Yard. Dad was working away from home a lot bulding new airfields. Mum and I would often go to the Majestic picture house on a saturday ( in the distance of this photo). On this day the sirens had gone , the cinema screen had told us, but we chose to stay like most people. When we got home we found all our windows blown in and the front door blown down the hall and jammed into the opening to the kitchen. Our little dog Nan was wimpering and hiding upstairs under my Mum's big bed and thankfully unhurt but very happy to see us. Broken glass and wood splinters were everywhere. It was quite a mess, but within a few days we were back to normal. When Dad got home only some painting was left to do. Workmen had replaced the windows and doors and Mum had cleaned up the glass. Life went back to normal.
Gates corner was also where I picked up my rental car when I visited the area in 1992. It was also a Ford, but not as nice as my Dad's 1932 model !