My Lovely Streatham

A Memory of Streatham.

I was born in Ferrers Rd (behind Ice Rink in Streatham). Moved to Kempshott Rd at beginning of the sixties, it was the road past the Pied Bull pub and South London Motors (a huge car sales place) was on the corner. Spent many a happy day on Streatham Common, never allowed to go paddling by my mum cos there was a polio scare at the time and she was too scared for me to bathe in one of the two paddling pools. Remember how lovely the Common was then, I used to walk to my school, Bishop Thomas Grant, via Streatham Common, there and back and never worried about being mugged etc. We used to go to the Astoria Cafe after school and then on Saturdays, with mum and my sisters, to have the best cheese on toast in the world! All the staff used to wear pristine white overalls and were lovely. On special occasions we used to go to Pratts for high tea, it was all silver service and they had proper waitresses with hats and all!! As I got older, the places we'd go to were The Cat's Whiskers, which changed when I was about 15 from the Locarno. The Stork Club was attached to it, but never went in there, don't know why really. The night club one of the other contributors mentions is the Bali Hai which was attached to the Ice Rink; went once but didn't like it. Also, the other contributor talking about getting skating boots, the shop you couldn't remember was Ollie Owl's (everything used to be 'chucked' in the window), it was a real hotch potch of a place and quite unique. Got married at St Bartholomew's Church and had my reception in the church hall opposite Streatham Common. Have lovely memories of Streatham and it breaks my heart to see it now. I moved to Surrey a few years ago and have only gone back on a few occasions, it is completely different now and not in a good way, but I have it in my head and will always remember it as it was, Random thoughts that come to mind, does anyone remember the big man who used to sell papers outside Barclays Bank, on Stretham High Road and Gleneldon Rd? He used to wear a flat cap and always had a fag going? The coffee shop next to Sybil Richards, which was further up nearer Streaham Hill and Kingscourt Rd? They used to just sell real coffee and I can stilll remember the pungent smell today. Also, Kennedy's the shop where my mum used to take me to get fishpaste in a wax carton? The man in there always used to make such a fuss of me. Also they used to do the world's best sausages. Closed now I think. Gleneagle Mews where I used to work in the little stables and loved every minute of it, mucking out etc! The lovely little shop in Leigham Ct Rd, Chez Jene (think that's correct spelling). The lovely delicatessen, Cordeau's along Streatham Hill High Rd. The Greyhound Pub in Greyhound Lane. I remember when they used to have a really old lady playing a piano (mostly classical stuff) in a huge room in the Greyhound before it was 'trendied up' in sixties or seventies. The Thrale Hall Hotel, now a block of flats. The Honey Boutique (first boutique in Streatham) which was fantastically groovy. Rumbling Tum cafe was great and there was also the Harbour Lights where you could get a fantastic spread for about six shillings! There was also a downstairs night club next to the Post Office further along that bit of the road, can't remember what it was called, anyone remember? It was always changing hands. The Redisnax cafe where my mum worked before they demolished it and put the Safeways there. The record shop further down, where you go in a booth and listen to the latest discs!! Gadsby's the lovely art shop that also sold beautiful ornaments and pictures. Downe and Deane (the furniture shop in the dip in St Leonard's). We used to get all our furniture from them. As I got older they opened a great Italian restaurant next to the Horse and Groom pub in Streatham Hill, called Il Carreto. Could get a fantastic chicken kiev there. It was where you went for birthdays or special treats etc. The lovely Regal opposite, which still looked like it had in the thirties and was a great venue for young couples competing for the back row!! Lovely to read other people's memories of dear old Streatham.