Life In Kilburn
A Memory of Kilburn.
I was born in 1956 in Albert Road, Kilburn and lived in the area until I was 15. I remember the community as one that was very close knit, you would walk out of your door and say hello to everyone you passed, young or old. My dad came from a large family (Holder) and we all lived within a very small radius. I was privileged to have attended St John's primary school with the fantastic and eccentric Mr Kinsman as the Head and the great Mrs Chiltern. He made school so enjoyable, I can remember making pancakes (with the help of Mr K and 'another ' kid) and jacket potatoes for the whole school in the tiny, dark staff room. He would take me out of class with another kid and get us to polish his office and have a tidy up. Mr Caldera would go mad and have a good old swear up under his breath when he done this. I'm sure many pupils would remember at the end of a hot summer's day when school had finished we would all change into our costumes and line up against the playground wall and he would drench us with the hose, all screaming louder than the next. My cousin Kim (another one) and I visited Mrs Chiltern at her flat in Maida Vale until her death in about 1997. She was a fantastic teacher, real old school. She would send a couple of us out for her lunch (a cheese roll and a tiffin bar) and she would treat us with sixpence for doing so! We would skip all the way to the market (the precinct) loving the fact that we were the 'chosen ones' to do her errands. This just wouldn't happen today, it's a pity our kids can't have that freedom. Another 'special place' in Kilburn at that time was the Oxford & Kilburn (OK) club. Kids from surrounding areas would visit, it was that special. The people who ran it were brilliant, very patient people. They provided sport, music, food and 'Syd' the ghost! The club had a great football team and were well known in the local areas. When we left Kilburn for Wembley in about 1971, the leaders of the club (which was run by young Christian members) would take me and my sister Julie all the way home to Wembley at about 10 pm in the evening just so that we could still come to the club. Living in London was good then and I'm glad I was brought up there with the market, the pie & mash, my family dotted all around. It's a shame those good things about a community have to change for the worse, I couldn't live in London today and prefer to see a bit of green. But I'll always have those happy, happy memories. If anyone reading this has some photos of the school or club, please contact me through this site, I would love to reminisce and have a look.
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Comments & Feedback
to Albert Rd and our neighbours were Mr & Mrs
Holder and their lovely family.
Annie was my best friend and Margaret my sisters.
I went to St Johns school and remember it
as one of the greatest times, the teachers were so caring!
Pie & Mash was my favourite thing to eat after
Shopping in the Market on Saturdays with my
mum. We also lived in Ely Court Chichester Road.
Great memories of a growing up in a great place where everyone knew each other.
Your fond memories of growing up in that part of Kilburn are spot on. My Aunt Beatty was my Godmother and lived @ No. 111 Albert Road, the last house (or the 1st house?) in the street, next to a bus driver's cafe. All the busses used to park in Albert Road opposite her house. Sometimes I would sneak onto a parked bus and nick a few un-punched bus tickets from the clipboard left of the seat by the conductor.
My recollection of schooldays at Percy Road were just great. All the teachers were brilliant. Mr. Grave (Ernie), tall and lanky, Northern accent, smelled of Woodbines, taught Maths and English, lived in Harrow and took the train in to Queens Park every day. Excellent.
Then there was Wm. C. (Bill) Curette, a Science teacher, pipe smoker, had a temper, used to throw things when he got angry, older than the others. Great .
Mr Warr was the English teacher, always smelled of catpiss, also did History.
Mr. Kimber was a delicate little man, did R.E. and Mr. Johnson was a South African, always wore suede shoes, possibly gay, very strict and had no sense of humour whatsoever.
The head was Mr. T. P. Hall (Terence Peter) an ex-Naval Officer, always had a loud coughing bark when he was approaching, so as to warn you. Made me a Prefect in 1962 but still caned me for watching a fight after school. Very posh and well spoken, drove a Hillman Minx.
John Street, ex-boxer, was our caretaker.
Our 4 'house' names were Raleigh, Drake, Nelson and Grenville.
It is a pity there is not much evidence of the Percy Road School building these days, but does anyone have a foto, a memory or a story?
Best regards to all
Chris Moody (b.1947)
I remember Mr. Grave from my time at South Kilburn High School. He was our math teacher and heaven forbid if anyone spoke while he had his back turned to the chalkboard, he would spin round and throw the board rubber at the culprit. He had a good sense of direction!
I had completely forgotten about the house names! Mr Hall was a respected headmaster and his forewarning cough appreciated. Does anyone remember Mr Fitzpatrick who was the PE teacher for just one year I think. We had a good football team then and played a cup final in the stadium at King Edwards Park.
hi Chris. Don't know if you remember me my name is Alan Knight and lived in Malvern mews, i
remember all teachers you mentioned plus Mr Wosewarne, some of the class mates were Jonny Hill,,Derek Hill,,Robert Sangster, Ernie Maskell, Terry smith ,Francis Curran,Peter Harman, to mention a few.Left Kilburn and moved to Leytonstone and now living in Epping. Hoping to take a trip to around the old haunts in summer
I just came across your comment, while browsing on the subject of St Johns primary school.
I don't know if you remember me, but my name is Trevor Ellis
and myself, my sisters, Patsy and Paulette, and my younger brother Micheal ( he went to the nursery) that used to be in the side the school, not too far from the football pitch at the far end of the playground area.
Anyway, we all went to St Johns during the mid 1970s.
Our now deceased parents were originally from Jamaica and I have many memories of that school.
I used to hang around with Paul Curran, and his brother Gary, Paul Levy, Nygel Firminger ( he sadly took his life a few years ago) I also heard that Paul Levy died either from suicide or a drug overdose.
I was mates with Graham Miller, Billy Maskell, Darren Gachette, Phillip, ( I can't remember his surname) but I remember he was thin and wore glasses.
I remember Neil Fox, Beverly Smith, Rosemarie and her tall sister, and many other kids including James Cooper and his brother Heath who used to live on the opposite side of St Johns on Princess Road I think, along with Kim O Connell and her sisters.
I also went to South Kilburn High School with my 2 sisters from about 1978 until around 1981 when I got expelled after getting into a fight with Lenny Franchi.
My sister Patsy, jumped in for me, took off her shoe and started beating Lenny around his head with it!
Countless kids from the school were standing around watching, and eventually got round to Mr Heush and I got expelled.
Please write back when you can and share some memories.
Best wishes
Trevor