Pat Mayers Memories Of Staines

A Memory of Staines.

“My name was Pat Mayer, I used to live at 38 Ash Grove , not far from Keith and Janet Tucker as she was then, until 1961 when I got married,
I was brought up during the war years and after with Beryl Prangley and Jacky Parry
Beryl from 44 Ashgrove where the lampost was in the bend, and Jacky as few doors up close to the corner of Chestnut grove, our 3 families evedently all used to share Anderson Shelters and later the morrison indoor shelters huddles altogether, of course Beryl Jacky and myself do not remember we were babes in arms,

Have been told many many times of the bomb landing on 3 houses close by on Chestnut Grove, sadly of course all were killed, My Father said when he went outside he thought our house would be flattened,but instead he found our garden littered with the belongings of the 3 houses, photos, pictures ornaments etc, very upsetting.

Do remember the flood about 1947, the water was up to the height of 4 of the stairs indoors. My father with others had a boat and transported the ladies to the shops,

Also remember the street partlies, with the line of tables Flags and bunting across the roads from window to window, the parents used their most valued ration book tokens to give us children a good time, believe there was one for V E day

I went to Wyatt Rd School my Father taking me on a saddle which was attached to his bike, he worked at W.E Sykes by KnowleGreen,, Where so many of the local men worked, my Uncles and Grandfathers worked there for years,

Then I went to Kingston Road school, and remember well at Ascot week, the big gates were locked once all of us were inside, as the traffic was bumper to bumper for a long time along the Kingston Road, who went home for lunch were not allowed out, so our parents gave us packed lunches, which to us was a great treat,, we used to stand by the railings watching all the smart cars and the occupants all dressed up. it was very very slow passing the gates during the early days there was not a byepas,

My mother used to take me into Pats after school to get sweets and lollies, and sometimes go to the shop near the station and buy me wafers, which I adored. I was a prefect and somewhere I have a photo taken with Mr Robson remember Anna Bray, Joy Wright, Irene Middleton Caroline Meyer there were others on the photo as well. up in the loft know doubt will come to light one day.
I was captain of Bronte red, always wore my little red badge as well.
My Sister Pauline was born while I was at Kingston Road, most of my friends seemed to be having brothers at that time, so I was so happy having a sister.
she is now 66 and lives in Camberley.

I went then to Matthew Arnold made a lot of nice friends especially from Shepperton and Walton who used to come by coaches every day as there was not any schools built to take them in their areas, The coaches used to park by the alleyway in Elizabeth Ave, by the bars as we used to call it. where we used to do acrobats over,

The Royal Estate was being built in the 50s, and we spent many a holiday playing in the unfinished houses keeping out of site of the builders,

Having fun with our bikes over the corn fields where there was a huge dip where we would speed up and try to get over the top without falling off,
Laleham Park, The Lamas, Ashford Swimming Pool, and of course the pond along the Ashford Road towards Laleham - sitting in an old wash tub going from one side to to the other, my parents would have been mortified had they known. Naughty really, with Children of my own and 4 Grandchildren I can imagine how my parents would have reacted, had they ever found out. Think we called it the spinney.
It was all so innocent in those days and we felt free.

Some of the families from The Boots estate I can remember from Cherry Tree Ave - Mr and Mrs Welham and Mavis who had a brother later on, Valerie Angel, The Greenaway Family, an older person who always swapped comics called Veronica I think, she did not live far from Janet, Mrs Voak the lolly pop lady and her Daughters Linda and Molly. I can see others but have forgotton their names,

From Ashgrove Paul and Terry Flynn who lived opposite us on the corner. We lived in the bend - then Colin Jarman , Ivan Atkinson, The Powell Family, the Ridley Family, The Wyeth family - Ann and Barbara, The Simmonds family - Joyce and Michael, Michael Stevenson, and down Hurstdene Ave, Jean Davidson and her two elder sisters.

Hazel Grove there was Janice Howard and The Reeves family . After all these years and 9 moves in 56 years although I can see their features in my mind I can not remember their names.

It was a lovely era shame todays youngsters can not enjoy the freedom we once had, memories last forever.