Derinton Road

A Memory of Tooting.

I was born in Reading in May 1945, came to 'middle' Derinton Road in Tooting as a baby (mum had been evacuated) to live with her, my dad, nan, grandad and my aunty Joyce until we moved to Streatham in, I think in 1956. But my nan, Polly Harris, remained in Tooting until about 1963 when she came to live with us. We had many friends and neighbours in Derinton Road, and relations of my grandad (George) in Coteford or Cowick Street. Our house backed onto the vicarage of All Saints Church in Hillbrook Road, where my mum had been married and where I was christened. I went to school at Hillbrook Infants; Franciscan Juniors and Ensham Central. Many, many years later I worked for the Granada Tooting, when it was converted to bingo, but it hadn't changed much inside (Grade 1 listed) as the beautiful architecture was a reminder of the cinema days and going on a Friday night with my mum and dad. I remember the market, Mayfair cinema (Sat morning pictures!) the super Pie and Mash shop in Selkirk Road and the Co-op, where they had an old fashioned lift and where the money was sent across the ceilings of the store in containers to the cash desk! There used to be the best ice cream parlour opposite the store, but I can't remember their name, but they used to have a cart at weekends on The Avenue on Tooting Bec Common. I can still remember the lovely fruit cake you could buy at the tea house on the common, which was past the tennis courts, and the open air swimming pool where I spent most summer holidays! I would love to know if anyone remembers me and those things I have spoken about! There are so many places - I could go on and on..... I used to be Maureen Hooper.