Hounslow, c.1954
Photo ref: H162006
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Photo ref: H162006
Photo of Hounslow, c.1954

More about this scene

Hounslow has changed a great deal since the heady days when several hundred stagecoaches a day passed along its great street. The once-notorious Hounslow Heath, the haunt of such famous highwaymen as Dick Turpin and Claude Duvall, has been urbanised and retains little of its old atmosphere.

Memories of Hounslow, c1954

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. These memories are of Hounslow, c.1954

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I used to go to the Saturday morning 'flicks' at the Odeon (got thrown out a couple of times too but mum didn't know). Sometimes went to the Ambassador dance school above. Spent most Saturday evenings in the Odeon at the time when you could see 2 films. Sad it isn't a cinema now. I also remember waiting at the bus stop for many an hour for the 203 only to find it had been cut. Could have walked it 3 times while I waited.
About 1963 I used to visit the Odeon and was allowed to play the Compton Organ. I became friendly with Don Galloway (the second projectionist) who also played the organ. He emigrated to South Africa in around 1965, and we lost touch. I remember he played for the cinema shows occasionally. Another friend of mine, Ron Rogers of High Wycombe, was resident organist at one time.
Every Saturday morning my brother Frank and sister Lorna and I were there for the children's matinee so much fun. We were born during WWII and I remember how close our neighborhood was and the Odeon was part of it. When I got a little older I used to go to the dances held in the room on top of the Odeon. What beautiful memories it has for me. We lived on Broad Walk not far from All Saints Church where the bomb shelter ...see more
I remember going to the Odeon every Saturday morning, it cost 6d (about 2 new pence). We used to go to the 'pictures', as it was called then, as a family most weeks, and I well remember coming out at the end of the film in 1940 to find thick fog, you could not see more than a few feet in front of you. As no buses came, my dad said we would walk home. There were no street lights (because it was war time) ...see more