Memories Of West Hendon

A Memory of West Hendon.

I was born in 1946. I lived in Stuart Avenue opposite the large floral clock of Edmunds Walker co. The clock was adorned with flowers all through the year. There was a field at the end of our road adjacent to the Edgeware Road. Us kids were always playing in the street or in that field. Very few cars in those days. I remember Mum sending me to the bakers for a 'Gold Medal' bloomer loaf. I believe it was 'Stones' the bakers on the corner of Station Road. A.G.Ball was the greengrocer. Hametts were the butchers. Home and Colonial and Pikes were the grocers although Mum always shopped at the Co-Op (for the Divi). I remember the ladies patting the butter. Don't forget to give the Divi no. 753062.
My brother and I were given 2/6 each sunday to go to the post office on the corner of Park Road to buy a Matchbox toy each. 1/3 they were. Elgees was the menswear shop on the corner of Stanley Road. My brother Tel worked there on saturdays. Joe Flowers was the barbers next to Scholls where I used to buy my Beatles records. There used to be A1 Dairies on the corner of Milton Road. I believe during the war there was a 'British Eating House' between Milton and Pollard Road. A cafeteria where one could buy a cheap meat and two veg type meal. There was a bank on the corner of Pollard Road (National Provincial?). Across the road was Another bank . It was Nat West I think. In the evening after closing an older lady sold newspapers on the bank's doorstep.
There was a haberdashers shop along the broadway just before A.G.Ball the greengrocer shop. This shop I believe was called Hawkers and it had a cable device where the sales lady put your invoice and sent it along to the lady on the till at the end where you would pay. Facinating for a child to watch. Matthews was a butcher between 'Balls' and the chemist. The chemist had two large vessels in the window with coloured liquid in them. Further along past the Co-Op was an old fashioned Ironmongers with lots of drawers. A real touch of old England. That was on the corner of York Road I believe. The cycle shop was on the other corner next to the clinic. The lady dentist would check our teeth and Mum could receive orange juice for us kids. The public baths were further down next to the working mens club.
Billets was opposite selling overalls etc and there was the newsagents where I was a paperboy. Dot was the manager. She would have a laugh with us lads when 'Parade' appeared on wednesdays. Us youngsters would have sneak previews before it went on display. Woolworths were just along and next door was a chemist. My schoolfriends father had a small clock and watch repair shop next door. The bus stop was just there where I caught the 183 or an 83 to school in old Hendon. It used to turn left up Station Road which was two way in those days. The Deerfield club was just up on the left where there was a youth club. There was Gliksons the tailor on the corner of Brent View Terrace and I think Weldonss was a furniture shop on the other corner. Further along was the Fishmongers. Mum would send me across for vinegar. I had to take an old Johnnie Walker bottle and Cliff would fill it from a cask. Engers the bakers appeared about 1960. Next door was a hardware shop and a launderette appeared about the same time. Next to the Post Office was a coal merchant office and Reeves the Newsagent sold me my frozen Jubbly on the way home from school. Geary's were a small shop selling car parts and there was a chiropodist , the last shop opposite Cool Oak Lane.
I passed through West Hendon a few weeks back . It has changed dramatically from when I got married and moved away in 1972. Brent Cross ruined our broadway I suppose. On a saturday one had to step into the road with so many shoppers buying for the weekend. Things change I suppose but not always for the better. We were a community with all the shops needed to sustain us. Us baby boomers had the best time although money was tight. Derek Holder