My Time In North Finchley

A Memory of North Finchley.

During the 2nd WW, my dad signed up with the Belgian section of the Royal Navy. On leave, he met up with my mum and married her in Christchurch in 1944. I came along in 1945. After the war my dad returned to Belgium, and my mum went with him. Being English she had a tough time learning the language. In 1953, my mum had to have a major operation (in Maida Vale), during which time I had to attend school. As my dad was minesweeping (in the Belgian Navy) he couldn't look after me, so I had to come with her to England. I stayed with my grandparents, at No 76 Woodhouse Road, North Finchley. I attended school at "Summerside Junior school".
I loved the English way of education! On Saturday mornings, I usually went to the "Gaumont" cinema, for the kids "Saturday Matinée" Oh what fun we had after the show, acting out what we had seen on the screen!  On Sundays, there was Sunday school which we could attend. I remember going to have a tooth pulled out at Dr Ames in Ballards Lane... with gas as a way of putting me to sleep!  Every week I'd trudge with my grandmother and her shopping basket, all the way to Church End, to do the weekly shopping at a big shop called "Williams Brothers" I also remember going to collect the ration coupons with her (my nan) in a big red brick building in Church End. Oh those were happy days for me, if only life today was as simple as it was then... During the summer holiday, we often went down to "Finchley Swimming Pool" - now that, was a real treat! I passed it on the way to the Crematorium a few years ago and was very sad to hear it had been converted into a Bingo Hall etc... Friern Barnet Park was another place I loved to go, especially if there was a fete on. I loved to watch the ladies and gentlemen (all dressed in white flannels) play bowls. All of them so concetrated on the game. You could have a nice cup of tea, or an ice cream in the cafeteria. The pond was well visited by children sailing their boats, and paddling, if the weather was really hot! So you can see I've nothing but good memories of North Finchley.... But best of all, I  learned to read and write English during my short time there, for which I am truly grateful, as I wouldn't be writing this today now would I?Thanks North Finchley, you're one of my fondest memories, I'll never forget you...

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