Hounslow In The 80s

A Memory of Hounslow.

I was born in 1974 and grew up in Rosemary Avenue. I went to Alexandria Infants school until 1980 when I started Hounslow Heath Infants school and then junior school. My teacher at the infants school was Mrs Crump, I think there was a Mrs Manning too. Mr Gair was the headmaster and the Junior school. I remember the fantastic Christmas parties at the junior school - we each had a jam doughnut and a Mr Kipling French Fancy - this was a huge treat! I remember one year, Mr Gair and the teachers recreated a Winter Wonderland and Mrs Twhoey was the Snow Queen - so magical!!

I remember Giltrows bakery opposite Hounslow West tube station, where we used to buy cakes and bread and also Quality Shop next door to the cinema where we’d buy Cola Cubes, pear drops and humbugs. I remember watching The Jungle Book and Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the Odeon. There used to be an International supermarket where Icelands is now located. We used to go to the High Street to shop at Bejam’s! We’d always okay at Beaversfield Park which had a great spinning Witches Hat in the playground, an enormous slide and swings. The area where the older members played bowls was incredibly neat and the lawn was like carpet - the kids respected the fact that that area was out of bounds for us. I went back to Hounslow about 10 years ago and that area had become overgrown and wasteland.

I went to Lampton school between 1985 and 1990. Does any one remember Rajinder Sangha - she was more often known as Rosie? I’d really like to get in touch with her. I remember Mrs Smith for History - fantastic teacher, Mr Martin for English - another fantastic teacher, Mr Lawrence (I think he was a reverend). Mrs John (a lovely teacher - firm but fair) was the Deputy headteacher and Mr Jordan was Headteacher. I have extremely fond memories of my time at that school.

Hounslow has completely changed since the 80s and it’s very sad. Pam