Pitt Crescent Sw19

A Memory of Wimbledon.

I recall The Dump, climbing across Dursford Road bridge on that sewage pipe as a dare on the way to Wimbledon Park primary school ignoring the danger getting smashed to pieces by rush hour trains. My brother, Bern, and me, Mick, played that Dump amongst all railway rats, asbestos, and that terrible stink of raw sewage. The River Wandle was a "dead" river and such a toxic mess its a surprise that kids survived..I remember taking broken mopeds over there and fixing them up. I found a Luger air pistol which I used to shoot rats and running out of pellets I'd resort back to my ever read Spud Gun...We grew up in the flats at thep of the Crescent which confused people as back was front, and front was back. We had a panoramic view of the local cemetery, the train depot, and the railway flyover. Out "front" was the bare paving slab car park the back in 50s when no-one could afford a car. This was our playground where 20 aside football matches took place -which Germans always lost 30-0. Or cricket where England would win. Smashed glass was everywhere, fights, Kiss Chase. Then there was boxcar racing...Bored out of our heads we would liven up a so-called cricket matches by slinging rocks at the batsman, who would wisely run away!...There was gangs up in the flats but it was all so innocent compared with today. The only thing i recall passing on was cigarettes. Maybe, if we were lucky someone would nick .spirits from their Dads drinks cabinet. My first real drink was sharing a bottle of Teachers whiskey behind a neighbors garden shed...Many great memories. Thanks.

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