South Harrow As A Child

A Memory of South Harrow.

Growing up in South Harrow was much different than today;  I do go back from time to time.  Welldon Park was on the Wyenhoe site, although there was always talk of the infant school being built on the allotments.

I actually lived in that road, which then was devoid of cars until Sainsburys was built next to the library.  Until then going to Sainsburys was a wonderful experience.  They still patted the butter in front of you and the aroma of the different cheeses were mouth watering - delis in supermarkets today are not a patch on that.  On the corner of Eastcote Lane was 'Co-op' corner.  This comprised of the laundry, mini supermarket and butchers the funiture shop was further down Northolt Road near the library.  I always remember giving the share number for my mum to get her 'divi'. South Harrow market was unique in itself as do not know of another one in the area built under the tube viaduct shopping was always accompanied by the rumble of the trains.  The best shop in there was the toy shop of course! Many of the shops were run by loacal people, like the Newsagents Stratmans, Miss Pages the sweet shop Sallys the shop where you could get bread on a Sunday, the fish & chip shop Charlies, he moved to Southend in the late 60s, Parkers the chemist and optitions next door to the greengrocers Ancelleys - I spoke to someone recently who was a niece and that was miles away from South Harrow! There was the barbars 'Noels' in Wyvenhoe Road and also the cobblers who did a good shoe repair none of this heal bar service you get today.  One last thing on shopping Wednesday was half day and all the shops did close.  It was quite errie.


Another activity of mine was to go to the Baptist church the minister during most of my childhood was Mr Lorkin who died in January 2008 he was in his 90's.   At the church I attended 9th Roxeth Brownie Pack and when I was ten 'flew up' to the  Guide company there.  I was in the junior choir (we occasionally sang at Harrow Cottage hospial and 'Valleyfields' a home for blind elderly people) and also the Sunday School.  I have been invited back to church anniveries which are very enjoyable.

Lazy summer days were spent round Roxeth Rec.  As well as playing on the hanging roundabout swings etc there were games in the 'witches hut' so called as it was round with a pointed roof on such game was based on guessing the colour undergroud trains that ran along side the park. Away from that area I played rounders near the pavillion and some Sundays scoring for the local cricket club.  The other event that happened there was the annual school sports.  

The Odean cinama was a novel experience the circle was a raised area separated by a barrier.  My dad would never entertain paying to go in there we made do with the stalls,  Aged 7 I went to Saturday morning pictures @ one point they got local bands to play in the interval.  I thought it was great when my neighbour's son's band played!

South Harrow station was attractive with a nice booking office - I believe now gone.  To the side of the station was a waiting room for the buses that terminated at South Harrow.  I am not sure if it is still there,  if it is then I doubt whether it would be a pleasure. By the side of  the statiion  runs Southill Avenue, a third of the way up is an alleyway which has a footbridge that takes you over the railway.  Many a time I waved to the driver, it was open plan.  Such is the time now the footbridge is enclosed to stop people throwing things at the trains.  Down the other side would lead you back to the rec.  

These are just a snippett of my memoires.

---

---