Growing Up In Maygrove Road

A Memory of Kilburn.

I was born in New End Hospital, Hampstead. My family lived at 92 Maygrove Road, Kilburn and my dad and his brothers and sister were all born a bit further up the road. I remember Timms Shop which sold just about everything you needed. Mr Timms always wore shorts, Mr Punter served the papers. The other end of the road which joined Iveson Road was a shop where I was sent for Golden Syrup.

I worked at F J Lewis in Maygrove Road, the building is still there, just across the road from our house. As kids we were allowed to go to the roof garden at the top of this building, we thought it was magical. Mr Lewis loved gardening and he had a wonderful garden up there.

I remember the little park in Iveson Road right next to the railway lines.

Saturdays were a trip to the shops and BB Evans on Kilburn High Road was my favourite, especially at Christmas. The Classic cinema near Kilburn Railway bridge, the Grange Park and Cinema were our usual haunts, not forgetting the State Cinema with its chandeliers and sweeping staircase and thick pile carpet.

Gunners the bakers (Mrs Brown, Mrs Gunner I called her) lived across the road from the shop, she had blue hair, I believe the shop was on the corner of Loveridge Road and Kilburn High Road, they sold the best rolls I have ever tasted. Gilllings the butchers (identical twin brothers ran this shop), Carpenters the hardware shop.

I remember going with my mum to the bag wash, I think in Netherwood Street and my mum's glasses getting steamed up. My brothers went to Kingsgate School where a brass plaque with the names of my uncles was on the hall wall.

Sid the greengrocer would come around selling his goods on his horse and cart, he kept the horse in the yard in Loveridge Road. Ernie Wass the coalman with his son, always covered in coal dust,one of his sons was killed when a bomb dropped on his house in the war. On Sunday mornings the tinkers would call round to sharpen your knife for carving the meat, they had some sort of machine worked by treadle, us kids would gather round to watch. Arthur the milkman, in the 1960s he got a milk float and would often give me a lift, although I probably could have walked quicker. The dairy was in West End Lane, Reg sold newspapers just over the crossing near the station. Everybody seemed to know each other and would stop for a chat, Oh I miss those characters.

I have fond memories of getting the "overhead" train at Brondesbury to Hampstead Heath Station and coming back we would sit in the waiting room by a lovely coal fire, didn't want the train to come as it was nice and cosy, Ladies had their own compartments in the train.

I sometimes went to Quex Road RC Church with my friends on Sunday mornings, then in the afternoon I went to St Cuthberts Church Sunday School in Fordwich Road. The little church hall in Maygrove Road was much used, next door to the garage. It was there I joined the brownies.

Carole Miller (nee Prebble)