Stanwell 1950's When I Was Young & Life Was Easy
A Memory of Stanwell.
I lived in Stanwell in the1950's from the time I was born until I was 13 when we moved to Ashford. We lived is Selwood Gardens, near to the Iraqi estate. The Iraqi estate was mystery to us. There were always swarthy gentlemen driving Rolls Royces - at a time when no one else had a car. After King Faisal was killed, the wonderful old mansion went to ruin and became a gravel pit.
Selwood Gardens was ideal for kids. It was (and still is) a u-shaped road with a large green in the middle and a few trees. There was also a huge reservoir behind the flats (that were called maisonettes). All the many kids played together on the green outside. It was safe and the parents could keep an eye on us. In fact, the parents took it in turns to discreetly supervise us kids.
I spent a year at Lord Knyvetts School, and the moved on the newly built Town Farm School. There were lots of kids our age, all of us walking to school, and getting into hijinks. These were simple and happy days to be a young child.
Most of the people who lived nearby worked at the airport, and most of them came from a long way away. With no nearby relatives, the in-comers quickly made friends, and set up organizations like the residents association that met in the Village Hall, the scouts & guides, etc. In fact, the local Stanwell people rather resented "the newcomers". I can understand it. We were changing their ancient little village with lots of new building and business, and the rising cost of homes and cost of living.
Later a new housing estate, Site10, was built that housed a much larger number of people, and has a small parade of shops. This meant that the older part of the village became a little quieter.
It is a very long time since those simple childhood days in Stanwell, but whenever I come back to England and land at Heathrow airport, I always go the Stanwell to see that it has not changed much. I used to go and pray in the 12th century church, but these days it is locked up. So I pray in the churchyard among the gravestones.
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I went to St Annes primary school which sat between Long & Short Lane. There were still air-raid shelters in the playing field. (Head Master: Mr Silk), then off to Ashford Secondary Modern, later named Abbotsford County Secondary School.
Early memories of stanwell: paddling and fishing in the two rivers ay the top of Long lane; Duke of Northumberlands River & Longford River. I believe they were re routed for expansion at Heathrow Airport.
I well remember the extensive building works to house all the airport from Bristol, with the main streets Clare & Clide Roads and the building of the shops and pub opposite; The Happy Landing.
From about the age of about nine I was enrolled in the Woodcraft Folk (nothing to do with woodwork), on reflection rather a Communist organisation. Later I joined the Boys Brigade which met in the Congregational church Huts in Viola Avenue, just before the new church was completed in ...... Road, I remained a member, and later a leader up to the time I Married in 1970
Life was so simple then With my friends we cycled everywhere including all round the airport with the exception of the central operational area. Little security needed in those days.
At that time aircraft often used to take off in the direction of our house in a south-westerly direction, and I can remember a twin engined aircraft with one engine not working, skimming the roof tops of neighbouring the houses before circling back to the airport.
So many more Memories, too many to recount now, may contribute again one day.
Gerry