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Post by paduard on Mar 31, 2015 15:15:13 GMT 1
If you go to the photo gallery on this site and select gallery 3 then go to Maple Road there are some photos of the Button Factory fire in Maple Road. That was a question I asked in my mind. Obviously there is some difficulty in resolving it. I suppose one could ask - does it really matter? Since then I have learned that the aforementioned "Bruno" who won a scholarship, was to an establishment in Bromley. paduard
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Post by paduard on Mar 25, 2015 18:41:36 GMT 1
BBC War History – Blitz Stories I found an Interesting web-site which can be accessed at the following:- www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/categories/c55533/Click on Archive List Then click on V-1s and V-2s section Then go down to People’s War in Penge and click on. You then can read there an article contributed by Shelagh Worsell (nee Percival) You may find it interesting….. Additionally there are many hundred of texts; this is just one example I found. Happy hunting…. paduard
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Post by paduard on Feb 28, 2015 16:59:56 GMT 1
From various searches I have made, I gather that the Beckenham Grammar School - or the Beckenham & Penge Grammar School - are one and the same establishment. As far as my memory goes the location was definitely in Beckenham mid 1940's etc. as I was interviewed there (not really a pleasant experience). But that is another matter. My sister also remembers the place but didn't pass the examination that enabled you to attend the 'oral' interview which was obligatory at the time. That's all for now; any other info. I get will be passed on here.
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Post by paduard on Jan 23, 2015 17:32:27 GMT 1
There was a fire at Maple Road. If you go to Photo Gallery, Album 3, Maple Rd you will see photos of the fire. Thank you for that link direction Historian; there is an actual picture there of firemen entering the factory. The only interest for myself outstanding is the question of the Italian owners and the connection with Bruno Paloni [a British child of Italian parentage who definitely wasn't interred) paduard
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Post by paduard on Jan 21, 2015 19:23:31 GMT 1
My Dad Vic Young, now aged 90, lived with his parents who owned the newsagents shop at 52 Maple Rd next to the button factory from 1932 - 1945. Dad remembers the button factory opening, with the arrival of the Italian owners & staff to operate it. Also, he remembers Jim Sutheran & Mr Cromwell who worked there. In later years Jim Sutheran worked alongside my Dad at Twinlocks at Elmers End, together with Jim Cromwell, who was a cousin of Mr Cromwell. Dad also remembers Harry Byatt, who was the secretary of the company and who was appointed to manage the company when the Italian personnel were taken into internment. With regards to the fire mentioned in the above posts, Dad has no recollection of a fire in Maple Road, but they opened another factory at Barcombe Mill in Sussex, employing about 50 and there was a fire there in 1939. In the Penge Urban District Council elections shortly after WW2, amongst the elected Councillors were Harry Chapman - the button factory carpenter, and the aforesaid Mr Cromwell, and Harry Stander a barber in Maple Rd, Dad believes that Harry Chapman became Chairman of the Council. Interesting what you say Hazel - particularly regarding a fire not being at Maple Road, but at Barcombe Mill. My sister and I were never sure whether there was a fire in Maple Road, and now your Dad has answered that question. paduard.
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Post by paduard on Jan 18, 2015 16:56:22 GMT 1
My sister Ann went to school with Bruno Paloni (? Or Piloni) and knew her well. They were in the same class together. Bruno was born in England and being very bright won a scholarship to the technical school.
More perhaps to follow.
Paduard
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Post by paduard on Jan 4, 2015 16:55:04 GMT 1
As an off-beat postscript to your post; the only baths I ever experienced at Beckenham was those where you actually went and took a hot [very hot] water bath. My mum often sent me there with my brother - we had a bath at home but it was less expensive that way for my parents. I knew a Kerr family ( don't suppose for one moment the same as you mention) who lived right at the top of the Anerley Stn. railway slope just where Risdale and St.Hugh's Rds met.
Happy New Year. Paduard
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Post by paduard on Nov 23, 2014 16:27:10 GMT 1
I know that this is not exactly a football site; but couldn't refrain from mentioning that Palace just beat Liverpool 3-1.
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Post by paduard on Sept 5, 2014 21:45:00 GMT 1
Reading through this sad story, I thought I might put a similar one on here – not quite so sad though.
My uncle Sid [RIP] on the Turner side of the family tree was a Sgt.Major in the Army posted in Germany after the war ended in 1945. He was in charge of supplies and stores at some depot there. Subsequently his tour of duty ended and he left the army to take up running a corner shop in Sainsbury Road, Upper Norwood; in the same street where he and my Aunt Vi [RIP] lived. Subsequently he gave it up and worked for Guiness Brewery and shortly afterwards they offered him a bungalow at Park Royal in Ealing [c.1952]. But my Aunt Vi was not inclined to go west to Ealing. My Uncle Sid then disappeared – presumably went back to Germany, but not however in the forces.
What he did we do not know, but my Aunt got the Salvation Army (who specialized at the time in locating lost persons) to look for him. Without success. The reason for the search was because a person had to be gone for 7 years in order to qualify as being presumed dead and until that was done it affected certain pension rights. This forever has remained a mystery for our family, but about 1955 my brother Michael [RIP] saw my Uncle Side at Victoria Stn. In London – but they didn’t speak because he was on the opposite platform and didn’t see my brother. There was a lady present with my Uncle and that was all my brother noticed.
As you can imagine since then it not only has been a mystery for the family but in speaking of it – it became a sort of jovial story with a few laughs thrown in. That’s about all I can relate – hope I haven’t bored you silly with this.
Paduard
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Post by paduard on Jul 25, 2014 20:02:10 GMT 1
It could be that I am able to add a little information to the posts above. My qualification is that I am the son of the afore-mentioned Brooke Bayley who was the principal of the Avenue School of Dancing, together with my mother, Irene (known as Renee) Bayley, Nee Adams. It was at 11 Avenue Road, a few hundred yards up the hill from the Royston Ballroom. It catered for any aspiring Ballroom dancers, beginners, intermediates, and advanced, progressively moving up the medal categories from Bronze, to Silver, and ultimately Gold! The medal examinations were always conducted at the much larger Royston Ballroom, with which there was an excellent working relationship. The principals there, Frank and Peggy Spencer were friends of the family. A number of the Avenue School pupils later transferred their allegiance to the Royston Ballroom once they were sufficiently able to meet the challenge of participating in one of the Formation Teams for which the Royston was renowned. In addition to the Avenue School ballroom classes, Miss Pat Parris ran children's dance classes after school hours during the week, and on Saturday mornings. These encompassed Tap, Ballet, and Stage Craft, bringing the participants to a sufficiently high level of performance to be able to put on annual sell-out performances at the Anerley Town Hall. Latterly, the Avenue School closed, and my father became a part-time instructor at the Royston Ballroom for both classes and private lessons. His forte was strictly Ballroom, Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Tango. He was not attracted to the "new-fangled" Latin American dances. Too much emphasis on arm movements perhaps? Intriguing to note that the gentlemen and ladies were seated on opposite sides of the studio at dance classes. My parents felt that they probably had a far greater success rate in introducing couples to their future life partners than Cilla Black ever had on Blind Date! I will be pleased to try and answer any other questions on this topic. Thank you so much brokbay for all of that information. My brother Michael [RIP] was one of those who progressed to medal status (can't remember whether it was broze or higher). There may be some other questions I may think of asking of you, but in the meantime your parents were both wonderful people; especially so your Father.
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Post by paduard on Jul 15, 2014 19:42:35 GMT 1
Are there any male members here who did their National Service in the 50's ?
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Post by paduard on Jun 11, 2014 21:10:06 GMT 1
The one-armed dance teacher was Mr Brook K Bayley, principal of the Avenue School of Ballroom Dancing at 11 Avenue Road. The Beckenham Journal pf 22-Aug-1940, p1c, reported that whilst away from home during WW2 he was struck by a bomb fragment and his arm had to be amputated. The original houses along that part of Avenue Road were demolished around 1990. I am told that Snowdown Close was built on the site of No 11. Thank you very much for that information - it all rings a bell now. His dress was always immaculat - black and formal. The lady (don't know if it was his wife) usually taught the more tricky steps and generally did so with the men. She was very efficient. As for the Royston itself I wonly visited it on two or three occasions; remember it as a 'bit rough' and moved on to other places including Orchid Ballroom in Purley etc. Best wishes Paduard
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Post by paduard on Jun 9, 2014 19:28:13 GMT 1
My friend Eric used to work there part time [1951 if I remember] – and he invited me to go there where I was treated with a roll, loads of butter, and fresh ham. Have never forgotten that treat. If I recall any other detail will post further.
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Post by paduard on May 23, 2014 14:35:46 GMT 1
Elsie Shillings – Venner Road
Does anyone remember this sweet shop, just outside [over the footbridge] Penge East Stn?
Advertised itself to children with a sign called ‘spend your pennies at shillings’.
Single f*gs were sold there; or so I understand.
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Post by paduard on Apr 27, 2014 21:32:09 GMT 1
Quite by accident recently I came into contact with someone who remembered the Royston dancing lessons referred to above. She reminded me that it was indeed a separate location to the ballroom in the high street. Also the layout was distinctive i.e. you came into that large house, paid your fee, and entered into what was in effect a very long oblong room with chairs placed along each of the two long sides; and music ballroom dance record player at the far end. Girls were seated on one side and the boys opposite. The instructors taught the steps - after which they mixed the youngsters at random into couples and played the relevant ballroom dance theme - followed by more step-instruction; and so on. Hope this might jog some more memories.
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