Burnt Oak

A Memory of Burnt Oak.

I was born in Barnfield Road 1945. Irene Postance and my brother Peter who was 3 years older. We went to Annunciation school, St Thomas's and St James. I was so scared of the Walsh sisters who taught at St James. Especially Vera! I do not think they were qualified at all just relations of Kate! Many happy memories of Burnt Oak going to the express at the top of Watling avenue with my mum for an éclair filled with cream from a machine. Walking to school in a thick green smog! All the Watling market barrows out especially at Christmas, with lanterns hanging. Hassains is about the only shop still there in the Watling now. Fords was at the top for school uniform. A lovely pie shop, so many nice shops. Eversfield youth club with my friend Marion Staples. and the church continental club. Which was run by Father Smythe. My friend Hazel Tucker who lived in North Road she had a very large aerdale dog! We used to go to the Dairy HQ along by that road where the milkmen's horses were stabled and feed them. Toni's for ice cream, and a convenient station for Saturday morning shopping to Golders Green which had just about every shoe shop imaginable! Yes happy memories of Burnt Oak from 1945 to 1968. I remember going with my friend Marion to see Adam Faith in concert at one of the cinemas along the Edgware road. And we used to catch a bus and go rollerskating at Crickelwood with Peter Hanratty who was in my class at school. And dancing at the State Kilburn. I do not however remember a Tesco being in Burnt Oak in those early days, or a Lyons Corner House. I thought it was called the Express Dairy. Now all changed beyond recognition.