Fond Memories Of Romford

A Memory of Romford.

I grew up in Romford and went to Mawney road junior school, then later Pettits Lane Secondary school for girls.
I still consider Romford my hometown even though we have moved around quite a bit since my marriage in 1966.
I remember the market well, shopping there every Saturday, and can still remember the cattle market just before it closed. A big memory for me also was the smell of hops from the Inde Coope brewery (we used to call it Inde Coope and Allslops) but I loved the smell of the hops. Also, there was Martin Ford's fashion shop and I recall the old Sainsbury's shop with tiled floor and queues for butter/meat/ cheese etc. There was the old Co-op store with the coin change cans on wires above our heads. My mum used to save in the xmas savings club. There was Taylor's restaurant upstairs near the old Gaumont cinema. A big furniture store and I think it was the Odeon cinema near the Station which used to stage the pop music groups and singers. Woolworths was visited regularly by us teens with its wooden floors.
There was a stall in the market (c.1960) used to sell modern shoes quite cheaply. They would have heaps of shoes, one of each pair. I remember saving my school dinner money one time to buy the coveted pair of stiletto winklepicker shoes (unbeknown to my parents who did not approve).

I don't recognise Romford now, with the town closed to traffic and the changes made to London Road roundabouts etc. I think I prefer it as it was, but then we always remember the best things.