Memories Of Wealdstone And Harrow And The Ymca

A Memory of Wealdstone.

I enjoyed Reg Ware’s reminiscing of Wealdstone and the YMCA. I know all of those places like the back of my hand. I am guessing you are perhaps 3 or 4 years older than me – I was born 1941.
I used to live in locket road. Spurriers must have been one of my very first shopping errand destinations for Mum. I would chew both ends of the bread off before I got home. Best bread ever! I remember wrights the hardware shop – best known for me was the paraffin heating oil we had carry back home, Russell’s the fishmonger etc.
The sweet shop that opened just along from Wrights was absolutely devoid of sweets initially. You could only get sherbet dabs and liquorice straws – perhaps gob stoppers as well, and because the owner was Italian, some ice cream began to appear.
I went to the Baptist church Sunday school across the road. This was very convenient for me as I could to spend my 2 pence collection money at the sweet shop.
I can remember how initially, places like Sainsbury’s were also very empty – no fresh meat, butter or even bacon. There was tinned corned beef and sausages I think.
There was another shop with the word universal as well, it was Universal Stores, as second hand shop on the way to Harrow where I bought my first useless bicycle for about 4 shillings. Dad somehow took pity on me, paid for a few spares and I was mobile.
Now here is a curious thing I now remember, I had to wheel my first bicycle home because as I said it was useless and also, a friend towed me right across London home when I later bought my first car, a 1939 Austin 8 tourer for 8 pounds in 1961. I’d like to see someone try that today! I’ll leave out the motorbikes I had before the car.
The YMCA was almost my every night destination when I got to about 13 years. The Dad ruling was, I couldn’t roam the streets after dark. Ultimatum: join the YMCA or stay in.
I joined and enjoyed it. Yes, played a lot of snooker, table tennis and basket ball. The club manager’s name simply ‘H’, a very good man. If we wanted to go the Sunday evening chat time, we would get a bit of bible but nothing too heavy.
About once a week girls were let in probably from a girl’s club. So, there was a bit rock and roll going on within the walls. I can remember one couple of kids could really dance which I thought marvellous while a stood there as petrified wall flower.
I had better stop. There is such a lot to talk about.
Ken C

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