Southall 1950's

Hi April,
I was born in Hillingdon Hospital but lived in Southall. My aunt used to take me to a cafe in South Road on Saturday mornings after we'd been shopping. This would have been in the late 1950s. It was full of Teddy boys, which is why, I later discovered that my aunt, who was around 17/18 years old, wanted to go!
The reason that all hope for the future of Southall has long gone is that the Asians that took over the town from the late 1950s onwards have simply turned it into a town just like the ones they left behind in India and Pakistan etc. They are comfortable there, living in the same appalling conditions that they left but in a far better environment with free health care, good schools and social security. This isn't a racist comment, it is fact.
Gina

Dear Gina

I understand where you are coming from, I truly do, but Government policies have been at fault for many years, not encouraging a feeling of patriotism amongst those who wish to live in this country (as they do in the USA) However, the east end of London is also full of immigrants and has been for generations, and much of it is being regenerated. I am reading that there is to be some rather upscale development along the canal - maybe this is a start!. We may deplore the way some of our neighbours live, but it is even less acceptable when it is supposedly well educated anglo saxons who have benefitted from the british way of life for generations and should be setting an example, leading the way forward. Do not think that as a white woman, that I have not experienced unacceptable codes of conduct ( by my standards) when visiting the town, but I have also met some absolutely charming immigrants who have chosen to live in our country.

I moved to Allendale Avenue in 1954 we were right near where the plane crashed, it was a scary time, we couldn't sleep for weeks every time a plane came over we would duck, I still remember that day, my dad helped doing what he could, he had just gone to bed from night shift, the explosion shook him out of bed. It was a nice place to live. Ann Melleney nee Mansfield

My father - born in 1895 - used to play football for Southall. I have recently been in touch with the Football F.C. and hope to visit sometime. They have been very helpful - produce a great little magazine and would welcome any information available from former Southall residents. The Union and Conservative Club which provided parties for local children also has historical photographs. Maybe now we all need to make some positive contribution to remind all of those with Southall interests of the origins of what used to be a charming country town.
April WOOD Ashton

Gina.... l am Asian that my parents came over to Britain was no fault of the Asian that were allowed to come here.... Looking at my father's paperwork say it all.... my family had a rough road the Journey from Indian... to African was because the had to leave India..(BTW which was under British Rule ... Queen Victoria rule in India well over 100 years)... in fact her rule made such a mess in India by the 1947 Partition which caused nothing but murder, crime and hate when she came back here. It was Britain who left a mess of a Country after her rule... than she bought back a 7 year old Maharaja here in Britain...(poor thing was Asian .. what you think he came to make mess...? When people like my father arrived here... it was because jobs were offered to them.... jobs that maybe English people did not want to do. Oh ... it was building work that my father had to do back in the 60's to give us a roof over our heads.... and not told to cut down trees for the Govenment and destroy the country side... (which my lovely English Neighour used to talk about.... Those house that Stood way before we came over... where not build by the likes of my father.... (my father was allowed to come here... because Africa was still under the British Rule..... so we had the right. Of BTW why not stop the American who are going to build a Theme Park in the heart of London... l lived along side with the most happiest moments in life with my lovely English Neighbours... where they had no baths and central heating ... my father worked hard in the Snow to modernize that... it is the Government who wants Towns like Southall to be on the map as a Tourist Centre.... and enjoy the best Curry dish of England... recently awarded to an Indian Restaurant in Southall.... don't hate it but love it., for what Asians have worked hard for... thank you.

Gina .. Visit Osborne House in the Isle of White... is where Queen Victoria herself bought back (what u think we left behind.).... She made a Hall like back in India.... along with bringing in Indian Craftman..yes they were Indian that came in when she came back after ruling India in her days.. .. and do research on the Indian Arm that came over to Fight for Britain a lot of them lost their lives for Britain... the wounded were housed in Brighton Pavilion... and handed a pension and benefits by the British... maybe you born in the wrong era... had you been born when the War was on... than like the British people back in those days highly appreciated Asian for laying their lives down for Britain...and should not be insulted not everybody live of benefits... people have worked hard.

I was born in harrow, moved to Hayes when I was 4, lived there until aged 22, then got a flat in Southall with my husband, as it was the cheapest place to live. I made a lot of nice Indian and jamaican friends, and felt so sorry for the conditions they were living in. Sometimes 40 to a house, rats and mice were everywhere, when I left after two years I was one of the two remaining white families who lived in Townsend Road, which was a very long road. The flat that we had was owned by a really old couple who needed some help, so the rent was very cheap, in exchange for a few hours help a week, the rooms were big, and qwuite well furnished, unlike most of the immigrants houses. i think someone blamed the government for what was going on, and I have to agree, The jamaicans, Indians and africans were promised a better life, and they came in their thousands, there weren't the houses to accommodate them, that is why in most cases there were up to 40 living in one house, plus the attics were all lived in, and at one time, people could runa along all the houses over other people's accommodation! I was glad to go to a new town, where i goy=t a nice new house, good schools and all that we needed.