Tough Times

I spent all my youth Living in Steatham,hung out mostly at the Rumbling Tum coffee bar which was by STREATHAM STATION,and not by Streatham Hill as some have said,we were rockers there and it was owned by Norman Lee and his wife Ann.Opposite was another coffee bar called the Hopton,usually we would also go to the ice rink where I was a steward on the ice.On a Sunday we would have a curry at possibly the first Indian Resturant in Leigham Court road where the Toilets used to be .then to the Billard hall above Burtons.

I also knew many of the names you mention Robin Long, his brother Henry now lives in Paddock Wood. Gordon Smith Bob Richards died abort 17 years ago but I still his brother Jim and Arthur Ashford he also died many years ago his business partner was Tony Evans who died about 5 years ago. Some other names were Micky Chapman, Micky Smith, George Wilding and myself Jack Short. The owner of the Taj Mahal you mention in Leigham Court Road went back to India and is a Multi Millionaire and puts his success down Heinz soup which he used in his masala.