My Years In Radlett

A Memory of Radlett.

I lived at 33 Craigweil Ave from the 1955 to 1973 when I moved to Canada. Best friends were Jonathan Matthews who lived next door and Chris Allum who lived around the block on Newberries Ave. I went to Fair Field School at the corner of Watford Road and New Road, then St Columba's College in St Albans. Does anyone remember the big old estate at the corner of The Ave and Shenley Hill, owned by Mr Rose (of Roses Lime Juice)? A number of us used to hang out with the gardener (Mr Wanacott), never new his first name. He would take us into the estate via a tunnel that ran under 'The Ave' to see the amazing steam trains that Mr Rose built to ride on around the estate. I wonder what happened to those? The track wound around the estate and the lake and there was a shed where he kept all the locomotives. It was such an amazing garden, quite magical, and a real shame it was re-developed. Radlett was a great place to grow up. I used to go tobogganing on the golf course and remember being chased off on many an occasion. I delivered papers for WH Smiths on the weekends and was a member of the Tennis club. The Village was a great place to grow up and I still miss it today. John Knowles.