Exciting And Interesting Times

A Memory of Uxbridge.

Not sure if anyone reads their comments later in life, but in response to one, it was Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. Cliff lived in Long Lane, next door to where I lived when I was 3 or 4. We lived in the flats on the corner of Sutton Court Road. Though me and my mates lived in Hillingdon, Uxbridge was the place to be. Skinheads at this particular time in our lives (Ben Shermans/Brutus shirts/Harrington jackets) my first two-tone tonic suit brought from Temples in the High Street. Plain cap, brogue shoes and staprest trousers - we were the dogs!!! Levis at sixty five shillings a pair. Our evenings out included visits to the following:- Uxbridge Burtons, listening to amongst others Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band and drinks in the pub below, I think it was the Queens Head? The Pinn Inn (in the RAF camp) Top Rank Watford, New Penny Watford, Cheeky Pete's Richmond, Boat House Kew, South Harrow/Slough bird's nests, King's Head Harrow-on-the-Hill, Hammersmith Palais, Empire Leicister Square, the list goes on...The frontage of the underground was the place to be on Saturday afternoons, posing for all. I never had a scooter, but a mate at the time used to lend me his Vespa - I think a 200, where I would take a ride down to Hayes and back....leaning well back in the seat as one did, with ones kipper feet sticking out the side. The odd scrap with a section of the community who would 'visit' us from Willesden and other local areas!! Remembering the so called develoment of Uxbridge and demolition of the old Town. Nostalgic maybe, but 'Old Uxbridge' was the best rather than the clinical glass buildings today. Getting off the bus at St Andrews Church and having the first pint in the Eight Bells then, moving deeper into town for the evening. Going to the Odeon (trolley buses used to terminate outside and sweep round in a semicircle for the return trip to Shepherds Bush No 607) and of course the Regal. Getting married in the civic centre (my old dad, used to keep reminding me that the civic centre at circa £16m cost to build was a waste of money) registry office in 1974. At 15 being barred from the Vine pub in Hillingdon and then finding a lovely little watering hole called the Green Man at the junction of the Uxbridge Road and the Greenway. The pub was run by a lovely old boy called Ron Power, I can remember Ron giving me a bottle of Southern Comfort as an 18th birthday pressie!!!! We used to play in the darts team in the Courage Central League playing as far afield as pubs in Windsor and Eton. Fassnidge Park was one of the favourite courting venues with its many dark hidey places. Sign of the times as the 'Greenie' as it was affectionately known is now a chippy....very sad. Moving away to Norfolk in 1975, I suppose I have missed many of the major changes to the town, but it has been good to reminisce over what I can remember.