Living in St Helier

Schooldays

By Beryl Talbot

We moved to Love Lane, in 1947 into a new house which had been previously bombed during the war. As children this was wonderful to have our own space. My dad worked at Morden Underground station, I think doing repairs to trains. My mum was a housewife. As children growing up this was heaven to be able to go out to play on the green but never in the bushes on the corner, otherwise the gardener would be after us! And of course our parents My early teenage years was spent going to church choir in the Congregational church in Green Lane where my dad was choirmaster also ran a youth club and later a football team. I also was interested in putting on shows and tried to gather the local kids into performing. At school Glastonbury Road really was the best. Keeping on with music and drama held me in good stead for the rest of my life, although only amateur I have had the best times. I remember our neighbours Pat, Janet and Peter Forth, the Lynches who lived up the road, quite a large family. Our next door neighbours were the Kentletons who used to come in and watch our 9inch TV with a magnifying glass on it to watch the Coronation and Cafe Continental on Saturday night when we were allowed to stay up and have a few sweets and an orange, a rare treat. My parents continued to live in the same house right up until they both passed away seven years ago. Although my family has now gone their separate ways I still have almost daily contact with one of my siblings. Having moved away from the area when I married, spending thirty two years in Bracknell and now nearly eighteen years living in mid Wales, it is nice to ponder over past times and wonder what everyone is doing now. It is nice to have found this site.

Beryl Talbot nee Sholl

 

Photo:Morden Station

Morden Station

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This page was added by Beryl Talbot on 25/05/2015.
Comments about this page

I was thrilled to find this site and its brought back many memories to me. I was born in St Helier hospital in 1958 and shortly after moved to South Wimbledon, however I continued to visit my grandparents in Tintern rd every Saturday through the sixties. The highlight of the visit was a walk down "The Lane" to visit Woolies to spend pocket money and I remember it going self service, I think it was one of the first and we didn't like it so much.We would then get some fruit and veg from the barrows and lovely greengage jam.Then back up the road past the hospital which seemed to dominate the whole area, and stop at the park to play on the logs, big slide and swings, not much else there I don't think.

Nan's house had a lovely view from the back bedroom window as far as Croydon aerodrome and I spent many hours gazing at all the landmarks from it, remember the hospital laundry chimney, bet that's gone now.I remember the disruption when the bathroom blocks were added early seventies I think.Nan wasn't bothered about having one, she loved her little house just as it was,to her it was a palace having come from two rooms and a cooker on the landing in the East end.

I came back to visit the area a few years ago having moved down to Dorset forty years ago and thought it had changed a lot,but only like everywhere else. The biggest change is the houses aren't so uniform now, many being privately owned and the neat hedged front gardens are gone but I'm sure its still a very good place to live. Anyway congratulations on an excellent website !

By Hilary Ford
On 05/09/2015

I went to live with an aunt in 1943 and I attended Winchcombe Rd.  Girls Central School until my 14th birthday in April 1945.  The headmistress was Miss Frances Bradley and some years later I heard there had been a programme about her on the Home Service (radio) which unfortunately I missed. I would dearly like to know what her story was, if anyone can help.  The names of some of the teachers at the time I was there are : Mrs Helen Price, Mrs Garland, Miss Read, Miss Henneker (sports), Miss Dodds, Miss Fletcher,,  Miss Hodges (domestic science) Mrs Reid (art). I enjoyed the brief time I was there so thank you, St. Helier.  By the way, my older   daughter was born in St.Helier Hospital in 1956.  Life is funny  isn't it!!

By June Mayne nee White
On 10/03/2016
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