Dycorts And Harrowfields

I was at school with Alan Drake and Graham Furnival the mead
1952/1958 also remember the name Lovering but it was a boy but sadly cannot remember his first name I think it could have been Lenny
He may have lived in Colne Drive
I lived in Paines Brook Way and remember the Fryer boys Brian Colin and Keith. Christine and emilt stannard Joyce Wilden and Pat carr whose dad was a referee at the wrestling on a Saturday afternoon he was on the tv as well. John Bonner and The walshes from colne drive as well as the brannigan girls
Also Billy KIte from Colne Drive I remember him having a Mohican late 50's early 60's
And Charlie Yules from colne drive who wouldn't let us pass his house until my sister who was bigger than me lifted him up and chucked him over the privets he sure let us pass after thet
Happy days and loads of memories

Hi Barbara, thanks for the note. Alan Drake was one of our group in our late teenage and twenties. Used to go to the Harold Hill Football Club on a Monday I think with groups like Scrooge and the Misers, The Washington DCs. Also the Ilford Palais.
Last saw him about 8 years ago as we were both working in the City. If you knew Alan you might have know Brian Broderick who lived around the corner from Alan?

Hi Bob
I do remember Brian broderick and the football club at the end of our road seen the Washington dc's also the wickham hall in Romford good on a Saturday
And the ilford palais not sure it's still standing
I left in 1962 and have only been back once but memories stay with you forever sad that I never saw any school friends but that life we moved to the north west just outside Liverpool just in time for the Mersey beat a wonderful time to be alive and visits to the cavern so it did have its compensation still live there in fact
Do you remember John lamb he lives in new Zealand
If I remember any more I'll be back

Hi Barbara,
Brian and I have remained good mates since we met at Harrowfields back in about 1959. He lives about 10 minutes walk from me here in Wickford although with families etc., we meet far less than we used too!
The Palais closed in 2007 to make way for a block of flats although it had changed name a few times since we used to go. Remember the Wykeham Hall too at the church in Romford Market. Saw Amen Corner there I remember.
Living lin Merseyside at that time must have been great. The Searchers were always my group, still have all their LPs/CDs and still play them. They appear in local theartes occasionally but I always make plans to go but then chicken out at the thought of seeing blokes in their 70s (I am 69) who used to be great when I saw them back when.
Definitely remember John Lamb, another class mate from Harrowfields. I am always impressed how people have moved away to make their lives when I am only 30 minutes away from Harold Hill, perhaps too cautious.
Did you ever know Alan Drake's sisters at all, cannot think of the older but the younger was Sue. There was also a girl who lived near him with a Polish sounding surname called Brenda or Linda, terrible to forget as we went out once or twice!!
Really good to here from you, do stay in touch

Hi bob
Doyou remember the fryer boys brian colin and keith mum and dad george and lillian they had a grey alsation called tessie she used to jump over their back gate at no82 run to our house at no74 eat anything including cake jump up with her paws on the sink (those ones so popular today that cost a fortune) and drink from the running tap she would not drink from a bowl.the dad had a chimney sweep and window cleaning business they were the first people I knew to go to spain on holiday they moved to hornchurch I think beore I moved in 62
Think I have also sent you a message think I got onto to wrong part maybe bit too technical
Cheers Barbara

From: Barbara Findlow

To: bobnobes
Are you talking about maureen brozouski lived I think in one of the first few houses in retford road I have seen her name on face book not that I use it but looked on my daughters just for a nose Didnt know alans sisters Talking about maureen I went with a s hool friend and maureen to a dance school ballroom dancing cant remember where somewhere off cambourne/farringdon avenue I think A woman played the piano think it was friday nights I still dance today but do sequence There were 4 boys there and I think they were all called john popular name eh Groom archer but cant remembet the other two John groom lived like me in paines brook way had a sister called joyce I had a schoolgirl crush on him but was totally out of his circle I think he was in a crowd of us who went to see butterfield eight with elizabeth taylor of course he never even saw me sad eh but hes probably got no hair or teeth now or maybe not but thats just another memory I remember going to brentwood cimema queued up to see blue hawaii elvis of course but couldnt get in how disappointing was that Was it brentwood that had the open aur swimmimg pool Its lively to hear from you as its the first time I have shared any memories in over 50 years great stuff keep it u Cheers barbara
Reply
this is the message I sent you a while ago couldn't understand where it had gone anyway here it is
hope you are well

Are you the Bob nobes that had a sister called Linda and lived in Leamington road. And your dad was a milk man. I lived in sedge field crescent. My name was Lesley was Lesley Thomas. When I worked in the city you worked there to. I remember ad you had gone to uni and not many people had in those days..may be the wrong person?? Also I remember someone with the surname tremaine it was I think.Sandra and she was a twin not sure of it was Lawrence. Also Margaret brewer lived in.Leamington road who was friends with the blaber twins.

My name is, Lesley Thomas now but if was Lesley Cohen then.

Hi Lesley,
You nearly got all it right! My Dad, also Bob, was a milkman and my sister was Lynda.
We lived opposite the Brewers and I remember Christopher and John. john joined the royal navy when he was about 19 as I remember.
I used to go to school with Raymond Blaber but cannot remember twin.
I worked in the City from the age of 21 firstly with an insurance firm Provident Life and then with various stockbrokers including Vivian, Gray and Williams de Broe. did not go to Uni but did a lot of study on day release at college and night school.
If you were a mate of my sisters are you the one that worked Provident Life?
The guy I was at school with was Alan Tremain but you might also have known another good friend John Palmer.
Keep in touch
bob

Hi Barbara,
Found your message and hope all well with you.
Maureen Brozouski was the name I could not remember. I thonk the scool you might have gone to ballroom dancing near farringdon was Broadfords just opposite Camborne Avenue.
I think I knew John Groom, had fair hair?
The open air pool at Brentwood was a great place compared to the tiny pool at Romford in Mawney Road. I think it was pulled down when Aln sugar built his Amstrad factory there.
We also used to go to saturday morning pictures in Brentwood and used to walk home so we could use the bus fare to buy bangers at the newsagent in Harold Park!!

keep in touch
bob

Hi Dave,
not interfering, the more the merrier!

Right family wrong Bob.

The Bob you knew who was the caretaker at Pyrgo and then ultimately The Neave was my Dad who sadly is no longer with us having died in 2013 at the age of 89. Thanks you for your comments, a number of others have said similar and I remember there were always kids hanging onto him when he strolled about his 'domain'.
We lived at No7 which was in a terrace of 4 between Redruth Walk and Wickford Drive. If you were at No 56 you were in one of the houses directly facing Wickford Drive. When I lived there (I am approaching 70 and left at 25 back in 1972, I think your house was still owned by the Woodstocks , 54 was the Hansons from memory.

The lollipop lady is not known to me. when I was a kid it was Mrs Reardon who lived on the corner house as you turned left in Dagnam Park Drive. I went to scholl with her son Ray.

Thanks for the memory, are you still on the Hill, it has changed an awful lot.

regards
bob

Thanks for all he comments Dave, bringing back a lot of memories.

As we were in a block of four houses, nobody had a garage as at one end the gardens of Wickford Drive backed onto them and at the other end the gardens of Redruth Walk backed onto them.

We did have a lawn and roses in the front garden but long after I left, Dad had this changed to a hard standing and parked a Hyundi Coupe which was silver so may be what you are thinking of.
Afraid I cannot much more to who had your house prior to you. When I lived there the houses were council houses and most of the tenants had been there a long long time. Dad lived at No 7 for over 50 years and this was common. Then people start to buy their homes in the eighties and therewas a lot more movement as those who had been there a while got a discount and were able to move on.
I moved to Leamington Road in 1950/51 and can remember watching your house and others on that side being built.
I can tell you that at No. 58 was Frank and Doll Tripp, Frank had died but Dad mentioned Doll until the late 90's.
At 52 lived the Blackburns, 50 was the Johnsons, 48 the Brewers and at 46 the Prices. Now Roger Price, the youngest son was still there in late 90s . He was a builder and built all the walls and extensions. Lovely bloke, he and his brother David were playmates.
I know of Pauline and Jeff Bailey because Dad used to talk of them and I think he mentioned Ann but I did not know she was the lollipop.
You mentioned the Albermarle. When I was about 11 this was the site of a big old farmhouse where there was a youth club (do they still exist?) and you could not go in certain rooms because the floors were rotten. This was pulled down and became the 5 Star youth club which had a decent amateur boxing team.
I will get back to you on the Manor shortly.

Hi Bob no I wasn't at school with your sister. I think she was maybe a year older. I am 64. I did in fact work at Vivian Gray and couldn't remember the name where we both worked until you mentioned it. I do remember John.Palmer and his family as they lived a few doors away from us in sedge field crescent. Michael Street lived next door maybe you remember that name. Still think about the happy days on Harold hill and hate it when people talk badly about it. But things change I suppose. Regards

Hi bob
Good to hear from you
Read somewhere that harrowfield schools have been pulled down what a shame
Has there been anything put in its place so many changes
Had a look on an app similar to google earth found paines brook way on harold hill felt really sad that I probably will never see it but thats life I suppose all the pensioners bungalows have gone and the brook across from wherevi lived seems to have a path running right along the grassy bank much improvement
I think you are right about the ballroom dancing around cambourne avenue/farringdon avenue it was,a,good place not that I was,proably any good too busy watching john groom and yes he did have fair hair
Harold par shops I used to walk there from.school to get shopping for my mum think it was called dutch something what a walk especially back with sugar and potatoes.
I always remind my children about coming home from school in winter to find a note on the table with half a crown ( they dont know what one of them is) the note said get a gallon of paraffin from the oil shop in petersfield avenue it was my worst nightmare. It was for the paraffin heater in our kichen my worst nightmare
But enough of misery hope you are looking foward to christmas and new year I certainly am love it when all the family get together
Take care and keep in touch
Barbara

Linda Nobes was in my class at Harrowfields.

I have contact with Linda Tremain on Facebook her sister's name is Pauline. I also know them from Harrowfields.

I lived in Wickford Close from 1955 - 1969

Hi, I am/was Linda Tremain. Can you let me know who you are pls as I don't recognise mazcb.

?

Hi bob
You may not of herd of me my name is Charlie Heath and I know two names David watts & alan drake I think David was the son of my mums friend and Alan lived at Retford close where I lived. And the other lad who you think lived at colne drive is I think is Lenny lovelock.
Regards chas

Hi Chas,

You are not a familiar name but wonder if you are related to Robert Heath who was good mate and fellow rugby team-mate. He was also Harrowfields School Captain.

Remember David watts for Dycorts, he was a District Sports champion in the Long Jump from memory, tall lanky lad like a few of us who had shot up in the fourth year at Juniors. I think he and I both had a crush on the same girl Brenda Sellwood!!!

Lennie Lovelock is a guy I also remember from Dycorts but not Harrowfileds for some reason., good footballer. Thanks for the update.

I have just noted that it is 2 years since I last posted anything and I am now 71 which means some of the names are from some 60 years ago. Good grief - where did that time go!!!

regards
bob

I know this was two years ago, but I knew you and Pauline, Jean Ditzel, Pearl Newton, I was Janet Pizzie, now Norris.

Janet!! Lovely to hear from you! I often think of you, was only speaking a lady called Christine about you, apparently she used to baby sit for you.
I drive past your house when I'm on one of my reminiscing tours! We were playing in Your garden and your mum pulled a plaster of my leg, can still feel the pain!
Pauline and I both live in Colchester, my brothers are still ok, and I still have relatives "on the Hill" and often visit the Manor. Thanks for the blast from the past, lovely to hear that you remember me too!
Regards,
Linda Tremain (now Meredith)

Hi Bob long time no speak hope you are well just found a group on face book which may be of interest to youn
It’s mead and harrowfield school Harold hill 1957/1965
Give a go pictures on it as well
Stay safe
My email is. Jivehbc-pc@yahoo.co.uk
Barbara Findlow

Hi Barbara, good to hear from you, and hope that you have stayed safe over the past year or more. Thanks for the note on the new Facebook page, will definitely have a look at this.
Not sure if the name Tom Brien means anything to you but he was part of my band of reprobates with Alan Drake. Well just before the first lockdown, he contacted me via this site and we had lunch in Brentwood. First time I had seen him in about 50 years and it was like carrying on a conversation from the previous day.
Anyway take care, and stay in touch.

Hi Bob nice to know all is well with you
We are all well here in a raining miserable north west day
Sorry don’t remember Tom Brien but not sure if you remember Peter Crowhurst I was at school with him at mead he’d be 74ish now and on the Facebook site I told you about someone had written that he is very poorly with altzimers or similar
I think he worked at felixstowe docks apparently his daughter is on the site I told you about but sadly I don’t know her name . Such a shame for Peter or probably more for his family
Stay safe till this dreadful virus has run its course or we will just have to learn to live with it

Just a though around Christmas time I got a short video shot in Liverpool on the dock road it was at a pub and James Corbin was serving beer and working the jukebox all of a sudden Paul McCartney and his band appeared from behind a curtain and played it was so good and nostalgic if you haven’t seen it send me you email or WhatsApp I’ll pass it on