The Hill 1951 To 1965

A Memory of Harold Hill.

Moved from the East End to Wigton Road in 1951. First memories; going to Romford market seeing the livestock by Laurie Hall. Playing in the woods behind Quarles, all types of street games. My best was book and skate belting down the street racing my mates. Loved it when the fair came to the park. Pea picking in Wingletye Lane, we use to put stones in the middle of the sacks to help make up the weight. All day bike rides out into the countryside. I went to Dycourts then to Quarles from 1961 to 1966. I remember the boney science teacher, Mr Dickman the english teacher who I am sure use to put notches in his cane. Mr Evans my tech drawing teacher who I owe a great deal to, as his teaching gave me a successful career when I left school. I remember going on a school holiday cruise in 1965 to Iceland and Norway and Mr Evans came with us, really nice guy. Also went to Italy in 1962. Mrs Adams, the french teacher and her husband. All in all not a bad school. I remember other teachers there. We did have a lot of fun playing all the street games that are now lost. I used to cycle to Romford market on a Saturday morning to do car cleaning in the big car park behind the shops in the market. There must have been about half a dozen or so of us doing it. Then got a job on the fruit stalls. I hear the hill now has a lot of trouble these days. The last time I went to Romford about five years ago it had changed so much (for the worst). I don't think I'll ever go there again. Harold Hill was good in the 50's and 60's. All the parks like Harold Wood, St Neots and the big one in Cenral Park. Love the woods which went right up to Dycourts school and beyond. My older sisters went to Quarles when the big fights with Harrowfieds school happened, and it was reported on television.