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As a young boy of 7 years of age in 1945 I was living in Union Street, Stratford, East London. recalled Bob Margetson. It was a small street that consisted of old 2 up 2 down terrace houses.
It was also contained a very close-knit community. Everybody knew everybody and everybody knew everybody's business. Each and every neighbour would help each other out in these hard times just after the 2nd world war finished.
There was no problem if you wanted to borrow a cup of sugar, a few slices of bread or a cup of milk etc., as there would always be a neighbour who was willing to help you out.
We had no televisions, videos, computers or Game Boys, but the important thing was that the kids in the street had sweet innocence and appreciated what little they got, whether it was a halfpenny for doing an errand or a few sweets, or a comic etc.
Most of my time was spent playing games in the street with the rest of the kids. Some of the neighbours, (including my mum and dad) would sit on their doorsteps and watch us at play. Very often they would sit there armed with a glass of beer and have a good old gossip.
The games we played mainly were 'Hop Scotch' , '5 stones' , 'Flickers' , 'Kiss chase' , 'Knock down Ginger' , 'Skipping' , 'Cowboys and Indians' , 'Cops and robbers', 'Blind man's bluff' , 'Hide and seek' , 'I spy' plus many more.
There was another game I particularly enjoyed but it would cost me money, the game was this... The girls would offer to show you her knickers for a halfpenny. The boys would queue up, pay their halfpenny to the girl and in return she would lift up her dress so as you got a glimpse of her knickers.
For a whole penny, she would let you peep inside of her knickers! Unfortunately at the time I was always penniless so I lost out. I hasten to add that this game was only played out of eyesight of the neighbours, so we would go into the churchyard at the top of the street, where we could not be seen by them.
I also hasten to add that this particular game was very innocent and never got out of hand. To us it was fun!
We were allowed to run the street until very late at night, providing we did not stray elsewhere. It was considered to be safe to play in the street then.
My brother George, my friend Kenny Smith and myself looked forward to the evening when it got dark, as this was when we played 'Knock Down Ginger'.
Directly opposite Kenny's house lived two old ladies, who I believed were sisters. They were always dressed in black as if in mourning. We were not very keen on the old ladies and so because of this they would be our main prey.
We'd tie an extra strong length of cotton onto their doorknocker, cross the road and tie the other end to Kenny's neighbour's doorknocker. We would then knock the neighbour's door and run into Kenny's passageway, and sit there with the street door partly ajar so as we could see the result and the look on the faces of the old ladies.
When the neighbour answered the knock on his door the attached length of cotton would consequently pull the knocker of the old ladies door. It was very funny to see the faces of the old ladies and the neighbour when they confronted each other.
I have many stories to tell regarding the games we played and will submit them to you at a later date. Bye for now.
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