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Been in Australia some forty years, born in Lambeth 1930 but spent my childhood from the age of two at St.Helier Estate, Morden leaving that area in 1955. Lived in Kensington, Acton and finally in Chiswick before coming to Australia
Memories ! Both my wife and I think that we remember things a lot clearer than our friends and relatives who still live in the areas where they spent their childhood and teenage years.
We think that the reason for this is that they still live in the area and do not have to rely on their memories which are around them, whereas with us we have to delve deep into our memory cells, as we live in Australia.
Anyway, whatever, here is a short resume of both of us, both born in Lambeth, both moved to the St.Helier Estate at Morden in 1932 when I was 2 years and Jean 5 months old.
I went to No 3 Lillishall Road School from the age of five and left in 1944. Jean went to Canterbury Road Infants and Junior from the age of five till eleven and then to Willows Senior Girls in Central Road until she was fourteen.
I went to work for George Newnes, the publishers, in their publicity department until I went into the RAF in 1948, returning to there in 1950. I had met Jean at Canterbury Road Youth club in 1947 and we married in 1950.
Stayed around Carshalton and Morden until 1956 when we moved to Kensington, then to Acton and finally to Chiswick from where we emigrated in 1962 with our two girls 11 and 5.
Memories, yes plenty of them. The yearly children's Littlehampton excursion, I first went in 1937, again in 1938 and 9. My friend’s older sister was in charge of our little group and a right old bossy boots she was. I think my best memory was of a plaster black cat I got in my lucky dip there. I am sure that cat did bring me luck.
Other memories of scrumping, playing in the street with no worries about traffic, Hoare Belisha opening the traffic lights on the Avenue, opening of the Gaumont in 1937 (my family got free tickets. Something to do with my father’s sporting interests.) I still cannot remember the films though.
THE WAR, air-raid shelters, sirens, still get that rotten feeling that you got when they sounded if I hear one today; the next door neighbour putting out an incendiary bomb by putting sand on it, then hitting it with a shovel only to be told by the WARDEN that the Germans were now putting anti-personnel explosives in them.
Co-op tin money, we used it while playing cards in the Anderson shelter during the raids; my brother used to cheat; he would wait until there was a big bang then he would blow out the candle and snatch the money. I was older so I used to thump him one but he never stopped.
Dad went into the army at the outbreak of war and did not really return, apart from a few leave breaks, until 1946; so it was pretty hard for my mother with four boys.
I have very clear memories of getting coke from Sutton Gasworks: walked all the way there from Leominster Road and all the way back pushing an old pram. We had very little money which made me make sure that I was never ever going to leave my kids in the same position if I could help it.
Overall it was a tough but good childhood the neighbours were close and looked out for each other, there were exceptions but they were exceptions to the rule.
Schooling was tough but they made sure that we learned the three Rs. I think it was a good upbringing for what we were: children of parents mainly from the slums of London. I know that when I went into the East End to visit my relatives I felt that where I lived was definitely superior.
If there are any of my friends or acquaintances still around I would love to hear from them. The friendship connections are getting very scarce as the years go by.
Edward (Ted) Gulliver, Australia, 2002
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