Southwark news
Toni
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51 comments
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Steve g
commented
Mr Mills was the Principal and he introduced country dancing and we all loved that and we put on a show for our parents and all feeling very proud to do so. Just before I left the school we had a surprise visitor who was a movie actress Paulette Goddard, who was once married to Charlie Chaplin who also came from the East End, she looked so beautiful in her white rabbit hooded long coat with gold sandals.It was the only school in London that each child received a large 20 pound weight box of goodies of tinned butter, a huge bar of chocolate which was so good as we had rationing for almost everything and confectionery was almost non-existent and other food stuffs that our mothers were grateful for.
I had the honour of accepting a parcel from Paulette on behalf of my class and a child from each class also represented their classmates.After passing my 11 plus exam I went to George Green’s Grammar School which was in East India Dock Rd at that time and the playing fields were in Millwall where we bussed weekly to play netball and hockey.
I used to walk through Chrisp St market on the way to Grammar school and the barrow people were friendly and would say hello and I used to buy a 1d – penny speck apple or pear and eat it on the way home, often I got a nice red apple with no specks.
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Nelly
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I was born in Guys Hospital in 1942 & we lived in Guinness’s Buildings, Pages Walk, flat 366, from 1942 till about 1962 in Q Block near Swan Mead. In our Block, there was four flats to a landing, two flats to one toilet & washroom. Our bath was in front of the fire in a tin bath, which you shared with the family using the same water just topped up with pots of hot water when needed. We still had Gas lighting until about 1960? & no heating in the bedrooms. My Mums name was Annie Hamilton (Oliver). After my brother, Bob got married he lived in T Block next to Pages Walk with is family. living in Q Block with their families was Peter Emmerson (I think that’s how you spell it), the Bonds (no not 007), I can only remember two names John & Barbara. The Lawsons Jean & Maureen lived on the top floor as did Johnny Porridge. The Kent family lived next door to us at one time & mum Peggy Kent was a lovely lady who help my mum out when times were hard, wish I could meet her again to say thank you. The Grimwoods lived in S Block the same square & Brian now lives in Blackfen/Sidcup, we are still in touch. Rosie Comber & her brother lived in T Block & I think they were related to Johnny Porridge. Two other names I remember from the Square are Ronnie Oliver & Geraldine Jolly.
Guinness’s Building Showing Arrow to Right where Kiwi lived, Arrow left where Bobby lived -
Carl
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I was born and lived in Bermondsey till 1969, I had an uncle that worked for a roofing material suppliers called Macguires in Raymouth Road for a number of years.wonder if it may be connected with your family
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Alison Webster
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I thought I would post this, as I was looking for pictures of Paragon School which led me to this great website - full of history.
My Grandad, Joe Bent, was the live-in school caretaker at the Paragon from the late 1920s to sometime after the war (not sure when). He later worked at Guinness, throughout the 60s (and maybe the 50s too) as a commissionaire/door-man (in a United Services Corps uniform) until the year he died at the age of 85 in 1976.
He was as hard as nails. He had a very tough a rural upbringing in Stowmarket, brought up by an uncle because his parents couldn't keep him. He left home at 14 (1905) when the East Lancs Regiment was passing through and joined up as a drummer boy. He went off to war and was awarded the VC at Ypres.
http://www.lancashireinfantrymuseum.org ... ent-vc-mm/He retired from the army in 1926 as a Company Sergeant Major, came to London and did a few jobs, such as hotel porter, before settling down in Bermondsey. He and his wife Alice had three children, Spencer (aka Joe), Beryl and my mum Pauline. If you look at the photo on the Paragon thread, it is possible that the girl in the front row in the middle is my auntie Beryl, but I am not sure.
My Mum was born and brought up at Paragon School. She went to secondary school at St Olaves. She and her sister Beryl were evacuated to Chertsey with the school. Beryl was homesick and came home for the rest of the war. My Mum was sent to relatives in Scotland - which was pretty harsh.
Mum got married to my Dad (from Enfield) in 1956 and moved away. I'm not sure if she had left home by then or whether they had left the Paragon, but I do know my grandparents were at the school throughout the war years.
It would be interesting if anyone remembers them. My grandad bred standard Poodles and had an apricot one called Suzie (people sometimes remember dogs better than humans!). During the war people would keep rabbits and chickens, which they would take to my grandad (being a countryman) and he'd wring their necks, as the owners had got too attached to them.
He had a few mates, including someone called Patrick and someone called Paul from the pub he drank in - he named my mum after them because he had promised - she became Pauline Patricia as a result.
He was very keen on the horses and was down the bookies every day making a small flutter. He watched the Arsenal and Rugby League.
After the Paragon, they moved to a new flat off the Coldharbour Road - now a Riverside Housing Association property on the Lambeth Estate - apparently it is due for redevelopment. They stayed there for the rest of their lives.
You might also be interested to know about my uncle Joe Bent. He stood for election as Southwark's Communist Party candidate between 1950 and 1964 although unsurprisingly never got too close to being elected. But I guess someone may have known him as he always lived in or around Bermondsey or Camberwell.
Anyway, keep up the good work with this super website.
All the best
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Julian
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I’ve been trying to remember the name of the café on Amos Estate for ages, and then up it pops. We used to stop there most afternoons on our way back from East London to Bricklayers Arms Depot; I was working as a van boy on the railway then, round about 1958/59. I see your Grandmothers name was May, was the café named after her and would she be the lady who served us. Can still remember the beans on toast I used to have, also though I could be wrong as It’s such a long time ago but did your Nan make bread pudding and sell It in the café, it just rings a bell. Strangely enough I would not be surprised if your dad had not pulled a pint for me when he was in The Queens Head in Paradise Street
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John
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Born in Bermondsey in 1950, the eldest of four children born to Rose & John, all my family lived there. My Grandfather and Grandmother (May & John) lived at 120 Amos estate ( Mays Cafe ) which was opposite an oil transport company ( Younghusband & Barns ), my Father was a Stevedore in Surrey docks as were most of my relations.
He left the docks in the early fifties to become a lorry driver and then went on to become a Publican and licensee of The Queens Head 33 Paradise Street from around 1962 up to 1968. and then on to The New Portland Arms in Wandsworth up to 1972. Both my Father and Grandfather are in the documentary Walk Down Any Street calling time in the usual manner for Publicans. Every night was party night for me imagine having your front room being a bar every night and you get the picture, sadly both my Father and Grandfather have passed on but great to see them in the documentary again after all these years.
Many happy memories of Bermondsey and still a big chunk forever locked in my memory -
Chrissy
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I started my driving career at Hatchers in Bermondsey street in the time the horses were being retired. I remember being amazed at the power and size of them, the blacksmith who used to shoe them was in the street opposite behind Nicky Nastress sweet shop. I moved on to work for Halpin’s in cherry garden street, up at 3am pick up my lorry (TK Bedford with a 40-foot trailer) and off up the A40 to Wales. Pick up carpet underlay from Dunlop’s factory in Brynmawr and back down to London again. Drivers I remember Ray Cornish, Brian Myers, who in later years had his own Transport business (BJ Myers ltd) would be nice to know what happened to him. Moved on to Richardson’s of Hull, opposite the Lilliput Hall pub by the drill hall, my lorry there was an 8-wheel AEC Mammoth with a dangler (30mph flat out) too hot in summer freezing cold in winter.
Richardson’s of Hull, vehicle’s in Transport Topic, could one of these be like the one you drove -
Mark ford
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I grew up in the 60s on the Old Kent rd..My folks owned the corner shop. Ossory rd/ Old Kent Road..I went to Coburg rd School...Have fond memorys of playing on the bomb sites ( and there was a lot of them ). My best friends at the time were,, Tony Sparks from coopers rd..Colin Warwick from the prefabs down Glengal rd. Pat and Danny Gillingham..Still see Tony from time to time..Although i now live in California i still follow Millwall and bump into Tony in Budapset,,Anyone remember the Avondale youth club and the ruff tuff and tumble club..Remember our yearly camping holiday,,we thought we were in another country,,we actualy went to Sidcup..Lol Sidcup for two weeks camping...Bermondsey in my heart..
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Carol Hale
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Researching football fans behaviour in the 1980s/90s at Millwall football club this paper would help immensely with research. regards
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Delboy
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I lived, mainly in Portland St, from the early thirties until Merchant Seatime 1944. Schooled at All Saint's (Gone). Would like to know of my first girl I kissed Joan Collins' her parents had a shop in East Lane(We were three or four at the time) Also "Bubbles" Kilsby the one I never got around to kissing(regretfully).anybody else out there from the old School. Old fool is now reminiscing in a hidden valley of Southern Queensland's high country
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James Smith
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Researching my Family History I have found some of my Family were from Southwark, Names are COLE, COOT, LAWRENCE, COURSE,GRAY. Christchurch is one area I have found a connection, Blackfriars Road and Stamford Street, but they moved around quite a bit in the area.
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Judy
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There seems very little information about clapton buildings apart from the fact they were demolished.
I would be particularly interested in any information somebody can provide.
My late fathers parents were registered as living there in 1926, in number 14d.
Regards -
Rody
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I am attempting to get information about william p cleary, who was living at 14d clapton buildings in the 1920's into the 1930's.
He was one of the sponsors at my fathers baptism in 1926.
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Hilary
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Raymond Cross He would be 48yrs old now mothers name Lilian Barbra Cross Farthers name Michael Vincent Cross can you help please last address 5 Kellet road Herne Hill, believed to be living the area of Southwark
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Desmond
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Daniel and Jane Driscoll nee Delaney and their children John,James,Elizabeth,Daniel and Jane, lived in Faustin Place Southwark in 1901, Daniel later emigrated to Australia. Ps my Great Aunt Ruth Lett passed away on the 7th of May 2012 aged 90 her requiem mass was held at St Bernadettes Church,West Kingsdown,Kent on Friday 25th of May 2012 at 11.AM Joan Driscoll living in Australia married Robert( Bob) Driscoll Ruths Cousin
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CLive
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i am looking for information on a driscoll family that lived at faustin place southwark in 1901. Their names were Daniel and Jane Driscoll and their children where John, James, Elizabeth, Daniel and Jane. All i have is information on 2 of the children. Elizabeth married a John Lett and had a daughter in the 1920's by the name Ruth. Daniel had come to Australia and im trying to help his daughter-in-law find some famiy history. Does anyone know any one from this family who may be able to help?
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Harry s
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I am trying to find out about an Alice Maidlow, later Alice Peters, who lived at Quinn's Buildings in Waterloo Road in the 1970s, and may (or may not)have been married to Mr Brady(possibly John). I am fairly certain Brady was my grandfather but can find no information on him at all.
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Freya
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I lived in Pages Walk circa 1965-68 in Guiness Trust.Went to Bacon and Townsend School anyone out there my email is blueyonder2011@live.com
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Mark Duarte
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I have just aquired an old cigarette lighter which is inscribed; Matchless Tailors. A. LEVY & Co. Walworth Rd S.E. I know that the lighter dates back to the mid to late 1920's but general searches yeild little. It would be interesting to find out if anyone knows anything about the family or the neighbourhood of that period, even pointers to local historical resources covering that area at the time. Any ans all information will be most welcome.
I am also seeking any information about my late father Mr. Charles Frederick Collinson from the Tottenham area, he was known as Kit (short for his stage name KITAO) active throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Again any informatiom would be greatly appreciated -
Greg
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Hi I attended St. Veronica's from 1972 - 1976, I'm looking for a school transcript to confirm my attendance. Unfortunately, the school has closed down & school records have been moved to various boroughs which have also been dissolved over the years. Could anyone advise where I could get a transcript of my attendance at St. Veronica's School Walworth London.
Regards