West Ham Buidings

A Memory of West Ham.

I lived in West Ham Buildings near West Ham Station until the age of 15 in 1963. Great community and all the neighbours helped each other. I remember the Queen's Coronation and the street party. A lot of the women used to go on Beanos and throw pennies to the children as they left on the coach. I remember particularly Aggie Coker, Dark Alice (as she was known then), Blonde Ivy and my Mum Louise, most of them from Hollins Avenue. Winnie Woods, the Pigram family, the Bristows, Joyce Richardson, the Nairnes, the Cossingtons, the Thomas's, the Flemings, the Howetts, Geraldine Lee who was a school friend, June Martin, Florrie Robinson, the Cook family. Also Mary Butcher. The local shops, Bootys, Fred's café, and Andy's. We used to play over the Cemetery which was known as the Cimmo. Sunday football, Gainsborough Infant and Junior School. Especially Miss Cook the best teacher ever. The ring in the centre of Belmont Road where the old man used to prop his suitcase and sell sweets to the kids. The ragman shouting 'Old Rags for China'. Playing Knock Down Ginger, Tim Tam Tommy and Runouts. Making barrows with milk bottle tops to decorate. Many many happy memories of West Ham Buidings.