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Post by The Historian on Feb 13, 2022 13:25:46 GMT 1
Hello, Following on from previous comments written 12+ years ago (!), I am trying to locate exactly where on Clock House bridge, Beckenham was the record shop I used to go in in the first half of the 70s. I've seen comment here that it was run by someone called Harvey who (also/had) worked at the Station over the road, but cannot get a name of the shop nor its exact location. Was it only selling second hand records (as suggested here)? I recall seeing a few new albums at least in there. I revisited the area on Wednesday last week and wrote on my personal blog about it. I hope you don't mind me putting the specific address to that here deiradiary.blogspot.com/2022/02/penge-by-bike.html It might jog a few memories. Best wishes, Neil. If you go to the galley here and select image number 26 you will see the Record Shop, it is the 7th shop front from right to left. It has dark wood windows and no canopy. beckenhamhistory.co.uk/imgallery/clock-house-2/
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Post by The Historian on Jan 27, 2022 18:52:16 GMT 1
I've just come across this site and I've really enjoyed reading everyone's reminiscences. My name is Bill Kitcher, and I left Hawes Down in May 1964 to move to Canada with my family. I was just turning 7 when I moved so I have selective memories of my time at Hawes Down. I remember the path to the school along the railway track, and that still seems exotic to me... I think my teacher's name, in my final year of Infants' School, was Mrs. Woodrow, and I remember a teacher named Miss Turner, who taught Music among other things. In Class 1, we had Sewing, and I was terrible at that, so I got to go to another class and do Music, which was more my style... I remember the names of a lot of classmates. I lived at 170 Langley Way and I believe these other classmates lived on Langley Way as well: Roger Figg, Norman Froment, Stephen Bryant, Andrew Buckley. Gregory Hanley also lived on Langley, but I think he went to a Catholic school. Other classmates I remember: Judith Harris, Julia Mallet (who may have been a year younger), Peter Jeffs (who lived on The Avenue or The Drive), Andrew Morris (who lived somewhere on the opposite side of the school from me), Stephen Dillane (who went on to become a famous actor!), Stuart Anderson (?), and there was a boy named Nigel who wore glasses (although I suspect that every class in England in 1964 had a boy named Nigel who wore glasses). I remember a girl named Elaine, who moved to Scotland shortly before I moved to Canada. I still have 2 photos of plays we performed, from 1963 and possibly 1962. In one of them, Norman Froment is dressed as a Christmas tree. I played First Fir Tree, and Roger Figg and Andrew Morris were 2 of the other fir trees. Stephen Bryant, Andrew Buckley, and Stuart Anderson appear to be woodsmen. I don't know what the other play was about, but Norman is dressed as a cat (and the only cat at that so he must have been the Best Actor in those days. Take that, Stephen Dillane!). Other children appear to be mice. There's a boy wearing a weathervane on his head; my dad made that weathervane. (We had two groups of children performing the same play.) I also still have a letter that Judith Harris wrote to me in July 1964 after my family was in Canada. My memory is that the whole class wrote letters to me but I have only this one, and don't know what happened to the other letters. I'm glad I still have this one. Judith told me about a trip to a museum (possibly Hartman's?), and she also said that Stephen Dillane was now sitting in my old seat... If anyone remembers me (and even if you don't), you can find short stories I've had published on the internet. If you search under "Bill Kitcher" and "William Kitcher", you'll find some of my short fiction. I have a lot more on the internet but they don't come up on a search for some reason. If any of my old classmates want to contact me, please e-mail me at billkitcher3000@outlook.com. Ah, memories! Bill, Hawes Down has a Facebook page. www.facebook.com/groups/868862930205356
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Post by The Historian on Jan 7, 2022 13:14:48 GMT 1
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Post by The Historian on Jan 7, 2022 9:16:22 GMT 1
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Post by The Historian on Jun 24, 2021 5:56:22 GMT 1
A wealth of information here. It was the Mistrale ad here are some flyers with 1968 dates of gigs. Prior to 1968 it was the Beckenham Ballroom
Thanks Grantham, only just spotted this - will take an in depth look this evening. www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/mistrale-club
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Post by The Historian on Jun 4, 2021 5:40:43 GMT 1
I have been searching for so long to find pictures of Beckenham Road Baths - the baths in the 1970s. Number 1, 2 and 3 pool. I have wonderful memories of swimming there almost every day. The cafe upstairs with the balcony viewing area for number 1 pool. The long walk down the corridors to number 2 pool and finally number 3 pool at the very end with the deep end of the pool actually being in the middle of the pool. I remember Vince Lamp who taught me to swim and canoe. The Kerr family living in the house on site, Joan on reception and that very cool ticket machine they used to use for your entry for a swim (almost like what the bus conductors used to use). Then there was the scholarship time trails once a year to earn you a free entry for a whole year. No diving blocks, they used to use towels on the edge of the pool. And talking of towels - I remember you could hire a rough white towel for your swim! Number 2 pool had a very small spectator area along one side and Vince Lamps office was at the end. The corridors always smelt of paint and had that flecked paint effect. Ken Hodges was the pool supervisor in my days! Why are there no pictures anyway on any site of these wonderful pools? If anyone can help - I would be very grateful. My mum still swims at the new pool after swimming every week there for over 50 years!! Wow, how weird. I just googled Beckenham Baths and up this post comes! EXACTLY as I recall it. I certainly remember Vince. His surname was actually Lamph (sorry to be pedantic) and he taught me my lifesaving skills to Bronze Medallion standard which meant....I could work there as a lifeguard which I did throughout the university summer holidays. Yes with Ken (short chap, black hair, looked like he was a rock and roller back in the day) who was my supervisor. Cleaning the actual baths that existed (down the corridor on the left) wasn't great! Yes, you could hire towels and trunks!! I can recall someone called Jean-Pierre, girls called Shirley and one called Janet (separate changing rooms natch) and someone called Scotty working there. Paul Conroy was a delivery person and various other things. Called himself 'Crazy Fox'. I was a member of Bromley Swimming Club that operated from there - got a scholarship one year but that was it - we trained in pool 2 as I recall. Pool 1 was sometimes covered and used for wrestling remember? Pool 3. Yes deep end in the middle and I can recall a diving board there two lower level and one higher. I learned to swim in that pool as a youngster. I think the board had gone by the time I worked there. The ticket machine....I had forgotten that. You dialled up the service on it! If I ever go back down that way I must visit. . Photos of The Baths here beckenhamhistory.co.uk/imgallery/spa-to-memorial/
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Post by The Historian on May 12, 2021 5:11:03 GMT 1
Hello, i,ve long been aware that my birth place was Stone park maternity but i know absolutely nothing about the place as i was shipped about from pillar to post and am now settled in Wirral. Is the hospital still there? I was born there in 1970, i know nothing about Beckenham except walks in a park, a paddling pool (i presume it was), and it always being lovely and sunny. Living in the Northwest of England you tend to miss hot weather and sunshine! Just kidding!All i really would like to know about is the hospital, it seems to be important to know where i am from now. It was a wonderful hospital, my daughter was born there in 1967 If you go to the Gallery on the main site here and go through the images there is a photo of Stone Park hospital beckenhamhistory.co.uk/imgallery/kelsey/
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Post by The Historian on May 1, 2021 12:04:32 GMT 1
Hi, There is a list of burials at St George’s from A-K. Where can I find L-Z? Thanks What names are you looking for?
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Post by The Historian on Apr 29, 2021 6:21:10 GMT 1
Hi, I am wondering if you can help with a piece of research that I have been doing for the last five years. 20th April 2021 marked the 80th Anniversary of the Old Palace School Bombing in WW2, which is still today, the largest ever loss of life at a single incident, for the Brigade. 32 Firemen and 2 Firewomen sadly lost their lives that night with a large proportion of them coming from Beckenham and East London. I have been researching the incident for a number of yours and I am hoping to trace living descendants from all the families that lost their life that night. My own Great Aunt, Winifred Alexandra Peters was one of those that died. All my work and photographs can be found here on my website. chidthingysfamilytree.com/2017/08/17/old-palce-school-ww2-bombing/Kind Regards, Paul Chidthingys Hi, I have forwarded your post onto somebody who may be able to help you. The link you posted does not work. Ian.
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Post by The Historian on Jan 4, 2021 23:12:58 GMT 1
Hi Yes the Southern Region Divisional Offices in Albemarle Road was where it all started for me. My long (and relatively happy) railway career began in August 1970 as a not quite 18 year old brandishing my A-Levels cos that meant I could start at the highest salary scale for a Clerical Officer Grade 1. Facing the Divisional Office was another large block which was linked internally to the DMO. This was the Southern Region Training School where I went for my induction. I started in what they called the Works Department where I was shown my place in the grand scheme of things - do the filing, make the tea etc. No millenial managers then. Managers were older, knew their trade inside out and you disrespected them at your peril! Yes there was a tunnel to the up platform of Beckenham Junction station. You came out of the front of the building, turned back on yourself through the small car park, went down a ramp and then through the base of the bridge carrying the main road. This was a godsend at going home time and saved you from taking your life in your hands crossing the main road. I can't remember the name of the pub but I know their trade virtually disappeared when the DMO closed. There used to be a semaphore signal which stood outside the pub. Back then of course there was no drinks and alcohol policy and it was common practice for some staff to suitably imbibe themselves in said hostelry. Happy days, especially in the summer months when people ate their lunches on the (then) vast area of grass in front of the offices. But managers were still managers, even back then. I will always remember Christmas 1972 when the Divisional Manager did his annual tour of the offices. He came up to me and said "Hello, how long have you worked here?" "Two years sir" I said. I rest my case. The pub was The Golden Arrow, still there under another name.
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Post by The Historian on Jan 4, 2021 23:10:44 GMT 1
Can any one remember the name of the coffee shop on the corner of the High Street that used to roast coffee beans on site, I remember the smells but not the name. Thanks, Cliff It was called Importers. There is a photo on the main site in Gallery One and 3 Tuns to Thornton’s Corner album
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Post by The Historian on Dec 29, 2020 17:53:25 GMT 1
Can any one remember the name of the coffee shop on the corner of the High Street that used to roast coffee beans on site, I remember the smells but not the name. Thanks, Cliff It was called Importers. There is a photo on the main site in Gallery One and 3 Tuns to Thornton’s Corner album.
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Post by The Historian on Dec 12, 2020 19:27:47 GMT 1
hi ian, thanks for that but not having any luck with that link, takes me to some bowie memorial pics and nothing obvious in the menu at left.... It is in the Sports Teams album.
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Post by The Historian on Oct 10, 2020 2:47:48 GMT 1
Hi - just joined. I was born 1949 in one of a row of cottages linked by a right of way path called Mount Pleasant - The opening to the Mount Pleasant cottages and gardens was off Stanmore Terrace (which was off Kelsey Park Road). Google maps does not show Mount Pleasant, only car parking where the houses used to be. Does anyone know what happened to the area and when? I am tracing my baby steps and would like to find the cottages or what happened to them. I was pleased to find Thornton’s Corner still preserved. I have fond memories as a 4 year old, leading the rag and bone man’s horse into the gardens to feed on the flowers! I’d be very grateful for any information about the area. Mount Pleasant was still there in early 1960’s. Thank you 🙏 Hi, I am sure Mount Pleasant is still there, however the area did get bombed in WW2. I will go and have a look.
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Post by The Historian on Sept 3, 2020 3:43:35 GMT 1
Hi, I live in Brockley and have dug up an old bottle on a railway cutting. It has 'Pence and W.J Herbert, Beckenham' on it. I'm just curious about it's age and the type of bottle/drink. If anyone has any info that would be useful. Thanks Anna-Maria View AttachmentHi, The bottle is from Herberts Dairy in Penge, it is a milk bottle. It would be manufactured between late 1800s to c1930.
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