Phil Munton

A Memory of Selsdon.

Hi - I have just discovered this site and was interested by memories of Selsdon - particularly from Jaqueline Cook remembering Littleheath Woods! I spent the first eighteen years of my life living in Ingham Road -the other side of the primary school from Foxearth Road - from 1948 - 1966 before I left for university.
My parents Les and Chris Munton moved there just before the outbreak of war in 1939. Apart from a short period being evacuated to Swindon after a V1 bomb demolished 41 Ingham Road in 1944 the house was in our family until my mothers death in 1994.
I went to Selsdon Primary School from 1953 -1959 - my sister Mary from 1949-1955 - and I can remember most of my time there including my teachers Miss MacDonald, Mrs. Sully, Mr Russell, Miss Williams and last but not least Mr Younghusband who we liked and respected, particularly because he took us for foot-ball and he made me a captain of the school team!
I remember Littleheath Woods very well since our house backed on to the woods and I spent half of my chidhood in them exploring, building dens and taking short cuts from Littleheath Road and my piano lessons - even in the dark because I knew them like the back of my hand!
I also remember almost all the original residents of Ingham Road and Ingham Close because I used to deliver the Church magazine for my Mum. I used to go home at lunch time from school which co-incided with Nobby the milkman from the co-op delivering milk from his horse-drawn float. I remember his horse was called Duchess - but anyway Nobby gave me my first job as his helper and payment was by way of a bottle of orange juice and the delight of riding on the float between deliveries - no health and safety in those days! I can also remember most of the original shops in the village - particularly Monty's the bakers and the chippy on the parade - visited on the way back from cubs and scouts! Phil Munton