Martin Way Morden

Hi Roger,
Don't remember you but your comments brought back many memories. I lived in Ashridge Way (52) and I joined the Endeavour Club on the first night. One error is it was Frankie Vaughan the singer (remember " Give me the moonlight") who opened it as he was very involved with the boys clubs at that time. The Club leader was known as GC his initials, and I stayed at the club until about 18 when our crowd moved to the other end of Ashridge Way to the Central Ward Residents club.
The cafe we knew as Fred's café. Fred lived over the café and had a son who was also at the Endeavor Club. In early years I joined the cubs/scouts, the 13th Morden who met over the road in the church, Methodist I think. I well knew Mrs Truslove who had a son called John who was a driving instructor. When I came out of the RAF in 1959 I had a couple of lessons from him as I had learnt to drive in Germany. I well remember the first lesson where he just gave me instructions, turn left or right and before I knew it I was driving round Picadilly Circus. He said if I could do that then I would have no trouble with the test. He was right!!
There was a news agents at 186 martin Way along from the club owned by Brian Ashford. Remember Levers and the fish shop, ( in there for a pennyworth of crackling - very oily!) The newsagents was Whitakers. Dr. Elliots was previously run by Dr. Kramer who worked his socks off during the war and unfortunately committed suicide. He had a drink problem and I still remember the smell of whiskey if he came to see me when I was ill. Those were good old days and I am glad I grew up then.
When I was 11, I went to Surbiton County Grammar school which entailed a walk down ashridge way, 157 bus to Raynes Park, train to Surbiton and the a mile walk up St Marks Hill. I despair of the youngsters of today who have to have Mum to drive them a short distance to school. No wonder they are getting fat!!
I have moved away and now live in Bedfordshire in my 79th year, well retired.
Hope this has raised memories for you and if you have Skype on your computer maybe we could reminisce more one evening when I could give you more of my memories of my time in Morden.
Cheers,
Gordon Afflick

Hello, fancy you mentioning the Endeavour Club - my brothers and I (Dennis, Peter and Graham Carver) lived next door to the club at 186 Martin Way and joined at the beginning. Each day we walked past the Methodist church and up the hill, past South Merton station, past Mostyn Gardens to Poplar Road school. I remember the doodle bugs passing above Martin Way. We played on the bomb sites which are now a block of flats. I also remember dear old Dr Elliott, who like many doctors relieved their stress with the odd snifter. We took the 157 bus to Raynes Park or Morden to the Saturday morning pictures, the Northern line to London, Cannon Hill Common. My father owned a newsagents and I did a paper round along Springfield, Westcroft, and further afield. I remember the horse and milk float rattling down the hill playing 'Knock down Ginger' and Raynes Park Grammar school which i attended - so many distant memories....

Hello I'm a bit younger being born in Nelson Hospital in 1975. We moved from South Wimbledon to Greenwood Close at the top of Cannon Hill in early 1980s. I did a paper round at Goldings Newsagent which then was the last shop on parade next to the Fina Petrol Station. Les was man in charge of shop assisted by Chris who my brothers and I called Fat Freddy after the Freak Brothers character. My large but easy round was up Cannon Hill Lane and for a bit included the flat above the Pavilion on the Common but Les put a stop to it saying it was too dodgy for me to deliver early in the morning on the common. I had to go over top on Cannon Hill around common along Park Way down Grand Drive to Lower Morden and back. Often wondered why people didn't use other closer Newsagents but got me fit and started my love of cycling. When I was bit older I even had to go and collect money from customers, mainly the elderly who couldn't get to the shop to pay their bill. Got some nice tips at Christmas. Always remember the person who got The Mirror was the stingiest he gave me 20p one year!

Other shops on Martin Way I remember where the Chinese Fish and Chip shop and a hardware shop run by Sikhs right opposite St Andrews church. I remember Unwins off license and opposite was a corner shop you could always but fireworks from the Indian shopkeeper even though you were a kid.

Most shops are still there but under new names. The petrol station is now a Shell. The nice old buildings next door on CHL are still there.

Here's some photos of mine on Flickr you may like
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarflondondunc/540302115/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarflondondunc/4077990368/in/photolist-7dmLsL-9BFvQ6-5ToM9W-dgYb3r-8wHAEc-gXXQzG-9t5TRJ-fvgufT-piSLtc-piUU6b-mjYVE9-iU5uzW-jCdjCR-cPa4U1-81JzpW-dgNTZi-nLyXK2-oqzWJR-9t5TZU-nfRyBD-aDoiLq-ba1Ben-9sNTTw-kFYE4c-9LPBnH-pkvnVg-piSAaB-khFaei-5oBX81-kEVj2R-9sdkkm-brYH2Z-h1CoA4-8mPZA9-6KipDW-odD92E-dxw9je-b312Ue-kEx6qa-9JiTWE-8mrQuP-4axBgh-9Vxtfr-wAMTsr-wxZtV5-xkRCNY-uUGo8A-vDreTF-vR7qod-vXQAQh