Longheath Gardens

A Memory of Croydon.

I attended Ashburton Primary for a short time before transferring to Monks Orchard, The Glade. My parents moved from Colleridge Road, which was on the housing estate behind the fire station, to Longheath Gardens in about 1959/60. I remember walking to Monks Orchard with my friend, her cat would follow us but always stop at the main road and when we crossed the cat would watch for a while, turn and go back home.
Mr Critchlow (not sure of the spelling) was the headmaster of Monks Orchard, I can remember being sent to his office on an errand and the smell of cigarette smoke was always evident. I remember him giving out sweets as a sort of "thankyou". I think he drove to work in a sports car, have no idea of the make.
In the juniors I'm pretty sure there was an open fire and often the free milk ended up very warm by the time you got to drink it! The class took it in turn to be "milk monitor". Our lollypop lady was called Mrs Storey and whenever my friends and I would cross the road we would sing out "tell us a story Mrs Storey". She must have been sick of hearing that!
I went to Shirley Secondary Modern at 11 and lived in Longheath Gardens until I was 17. Up to the age of about 8/9 I loved going to the Saturday morning cinema in Beckenham, it only cost a few pence. Then as we grew older my friends and I took up dancing at the Top Rank Suite in Croydon. I can remember being asked to dance by some lad, the song being played was "Dedicated To The One I Love"by the Mamas and Papas. What I remember most is the electric shocks that I recieved from the horrible bri-nylon shirt he was wearing!
I have very fond memories of Croydon and surrounding areas. In the holidays it was great to be able to buy a "Red Rover" ticket and jump on and off the buses. For a 13 year old I think I was fairly well travelled and wasn't afraid to go to London.
If there is anyone else that remembers some of the places mentioned, it would be great to hear.

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