Border Gate Estate

A Memory of Mitcham.

I was born Patsy Evans the last of the 8 daughters of Ivy and Frederic Evans. Most of my sisters lived in Border Gate but I was born at 18 Hawkes Road in 1944. My best friend, Ann Halliday lived several doors down. I remember the Woolmers, Michael was their son I believe. Mr & Mrs Finch who had a daughter Sheila. The Teggs, Mr and Mrs Baker who were Welsh, the Costello family, the Goslings,
Ann and I went to Bond road school, starting in 1949 then on to Western Road Secondary Modern in 1955. Remember mainly Miss Freeman-Smith who taught shorthand (Gregg) and typing, Miss Norris, Head teacher, Miss Ward, deputy. Mrs Panachelli (spelling questionable!). We learnt Gregg Shorthand for a couple of years and then Miss Freeman-Smith left and they bought in a Pitmans shorthand teacher who had the good sense not to change but just to dictate and jet us read it back!
Some names from Western Road - Pat Trotter, Pat Davies (yes, Pat was a very common name at the end of the war), Ann Dalby, Jean Worgan, Edith Vickers, Sheila Asker (lived at the Swan end of Lavender Avenue).
I stayed in Mitcham until I married in 1967 when I moved to Crystal Palace but have lived in Hampshire for many years. Wonder what happened to the girls mentioned here. I'm in regular touch with Ann Halliday.
Marvellous site!