Wilsons Coffee Shops

Yes I remember Wilson’s as well, I was bought up in Croydon between about 1953 ( I was 7) till 1964 ( 18) I went to Kingsley primary school and then to Lanfranc Sec Mod. Loved going to the rec in Mitchum rd would take a bottle of lemonade and some penny sweets from Gilliam’s corner shop. My best friend was Bonny Hughes and my first boyfriend was David Tomblinson, ha! .my sister Jackie and I lived in Croydon Grove on the corner, our mum worked in Kennards Arcade on the handbag repairs, we were always hanging around there, lunch times mum would sometimes go to the Dog and Bull in Surrey St, my first sat job was on the perfume counter in the arcade phew! Did it smell.... I then got a lovely job working in Rothwells the jewellery shop opposite British Home Stores, I was given the job of cleaning the jewellery with Salvalatery.strong smelling stuff, I’d go to Saturday morning pics in Broad green ABC ..loved it, used to show off by walking along the front just to get seen ha! . I also used to play truant from school and go to the club in town where I met my most famous boy friend Jeff Beck ) he played with a group called the del tones , he used to play Shakin all over for me on his electric guitar....he lived in Wallington and I can still remember going round and bleaching his hair...ha! Lost touch then he got famous. Maybe someone else can remember some of my things I remember too. Hopefully, il see if I get a response , then maybe write some more.

I used to love the smell of the coffee roasting,my first job when I left school at 15 was working at Wilsons bakery on Drumand road in-between Kennard's and Lyons coffee shop. I remember days were long , 7 am till 5 pm and 1 hour for lunch, and half day Saturday, then when I turned 18 I went to work at Sainsburys at the South Croydon working as a butcher, used to live up the hill in Sanderstead where I lived behind the fire ststion

Aaaah! Wisons coffee. We lived at Kenley but my Dad worked at the Croydon Tomes until his death in 1951. I was always totally inebriated with that gorgeous smell of ground coffee, even, I think during the war, but certainly just after in the forties. I remember so vividly the displays in Croyon when peace came. The town hall all three department stores, Kennsrds, Grants and Allders had wonderful displays. Allders especially had an enormous Angel outside named "Peace", well what else. My wife Piedad born in Madrid but woring at St. Laurences Hospital in Caterham, also remebers Croydon on her regular visits with friends. She used to go regularly to have hair at the Vidal Sasson hair salon and have her hair done by the students.
In 1956 I started work for the South Eastern Electricity Board as an apprentice cable jointer. Their head office was in Welesly Road but their depot was down off Mitchamm Road.
Anybody remember the Chalet Suisse in south Croydon? Italian coffee machine, spaghetti bolognese and Danish blue cheese for afters. Wow, how we the jet set lived in those days just after the war. I could go on ad nauseum but I'll shut up now. David

Sorry me again. Must check my spelling before sending. Do it continuously. Mea culpa. David