Pre Fab Kid

A Memory of St Paul's Cray.

Hi. Only just discovered this website so would like to share my memories. Does anyone remember the prefabs in St. Paul's Cray? We were living with my Nan & Grandad in Chislehurst and after the War, my Dad was still away in the Navy. My Mum applied for a prefab and when I was two and my brother a few months old we moved to Robin Way opposite Corke's Meadow, which was a gypsy camp. This was either the end of 1946 or beginning of '47. My Mum loved her prefab especially the kitchen which was fully fitted with gas stove, fridge and 'copper' for doing the washing. I remember the dreadful winter of '47 when Mum and other service wives used to queue for rationed food and fuel.
I started school in January 195O at St Paul's Cray Infants School - a Victorian establishment next to St. Paulinus Church.The headmistress when I started there was Miss Hunt - eventually replaced by Miss Picket. My first teacher was Miss Robinson. There was a Miss Gavey, Miss Holt and Mrs. Kirk.
We too had visits from the rag n bone man and our goldfish (Stan!) survived many years alongside the saucers! At the end of 1951 many of us moved back to Chislehurst to a newly built estate - Edgebury which was a wonderful place to continue growing up. I am still in touch with some of those I knew in the Pre-Fabs. I seem to have inherited my lovely Mum's great memory.
She sadly died on 1st March this year aged 92.
Just to say I remember Cotmandene and all those houses being built, it was all orchards before.
Kathryn Bradley