Pupils Stories
Philippa Blacker
Dear Syd,
Thanks for your message, glad to give you my memories of Eastcote Lane it's still in my dreams.
I was born in 1948 at 2.15, virtually opposite Roxeth Manor school, in the house that my father bought for £160 as the owners went abroad to avoid the war. I spent the first 10 years of my life looking through a spotted net curtain onto Eastcote Lane. The big hedge over the front wall precluded the nearside pavement but I had an excellent view of the opposite side of the road.
In front of me was the interesting movement up & down the pavement, a derelict field full of roaming packs of skinny dogs & the ominous bulk of a gasometer as a backdrop.
To my right was Roxeth Manor & to the left the bus stop, this was positioned in front of a dingy cafe inhabited by a rough crowd playing pin ball; worth braving entry though as they sold blue spearmint ice-lollies for a pennyha'penny
On my side of the road to my left was a short walk to the doctor’s surgery, the American base, & the gipsy encampment. One of the Americans lodged with our neighbour & cheerily threw chewing gum over the fence to us, he was noticeably more easygoing than the grown ups I knew, my sister spent many forbidden hours talking to the gypsies, one of whom later became a celebrity, so my sister was right when she found her so charismatic.
A good walk to my right took us to St Paul's church where we walked dressed in white, gloves & shoes too!
The Vicar went my way & we often walked together, he was a good listener. My sister took the Sunday school we spent ages making models for the story, & I remember the lovely big picture stamps we were given portraying that weeks story.
Further on was the park, with passage to South Harrow, containing the strange American Swing, given by the Base; this always occupied by large boys going too high who climbed the pylons when bored with terrorising the small kids.
In the 'Lane' I watched RED, Red was the milkman's horse, big, red , cross & magnificent & I loved him, his driver was as bad tempered as he was & only stopped muttering when Red was given his nosebag outside the Tithe Farm pub. An eerie and echoing cry was heard periodically starting far away, RagBone! & the ratty old pony & cart of the rag & bone man would shuffle to the bus stop I would be sent with a coat & told not to return without ten bob, since the intimidating tinker would never pay ten bob this was a daunting task. The French onion seller called door to door once a year & the knife grinder wish they still called today. All the kids ran out to the Tizer man who sold large bottles from his lorry, the fun sort with ball & wire tops & you got money back on the bottles.
Our back gardens were still full of fruit & vegetables since the war days & Sandra Goddard had chickens, so eggs fruit & veg were handed to neighbours, I remember my Mother still using coupons to buy food in the parade of shops opposite our house, we had a small Hovis loaf as a treat once a week & very occasionally if someone was coming to tea a trip to Pinner meant a lovely cake from Elizabeth's cake shop., & a peep into Peter's pet shop for me.
When I was 4years old I went to Roxeth Manor School, I had bussed previously into Harrow to St. Kevin's kindergarten, so I was inordinately happy to just cross the road to go to school. I made some good friends, some of whom I have been in contact with just this year, after all these years. It was really important at 4 to have a dolls house & wallpaper with fairies on, I didn't but the others were happy to share. I remember milk at playtime, cocoa when very cold and some good teachers, especially our last one (a lady with a Morris Minor car) A song about orange trees & Island breezes, odd snatches.
Curiously, just reading this I did get a Victorian dolls house and a Morris Minor many years later.
The teaching methods were chanting & by rote, stupidly dismissed nowadays, but I cannot thank Roxeth Manor enough for a good solid grounding in basics I use without thinking everyday & which I passed on to my children when their teachers refused to teach the old methods.
The only outing I recall was when I went to the Lord Mayor's tea party, Robert Leutchford & I were chosen to go, my Mother was ecstatic, Robert & I knew we were only chosen as we were the only pupils to wear school uniform.
It was a memorable day though, the bus ride with Robert, us against the other school's couples and the enchanting scene that met us when we arrived. Tables laid for tea in a beautiful garden with hedges & gate in the distance, quite Alice in Wonderland & one of the happiest memories of my childhood.
I left Roxeth Manor just before taking my 11plus as my Mother was killed in a road accident & I returned only once at the end of that year to say Goodbye to my school friends, after that I returned only once more to Eastcote Lane, just a few years ago to find a building on the field, very heavy traffic and NO Hedge at my old house- I bet the dust & rubbish blow into the front garden!!
All the Best to those of you who now live in Eastcote Lane, this is the place of my childhood memories and I love it still.
Philippa Blacker (nee Baylis.)
©Philippa Blacker2008
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My name is Edwina Kyle ( nee Stephens).
I was a pupil at Eastcote Lane School from 1949-51.*******************************************************************
Allan Harvey
Born and lived in Eastcote Lane next to the Day Nursery for the under five’s left Eastcote Lane School by now called Roxeth manor in 1956 after the 11plus exam.
Whilst at school I was always interested in electronics, so it was no surprise when I left school in 1960 at 15 years of age, to begin my career as early as possible in the electronics world.
My first employment was in Wembley wiring VHF communications equipment for the Police, Ambulance and the Military which I did not consider was going anywhere towards my career.
I decided to look for a company that would allow me to go to college whilst I was working, so that I could really start to make progress. It was as an Electronic Design Engineer for Marconi Space and Defence in Stanmore that I achieved this and stayed with them for eight years or so designing guided missile systems and underwater weapon systems.
I married in 1966 we had two sons, (1971 & 1972) both are now in senior positions in City Banks.
Also I have a wonderful Grandson from that marriage.
It was during this time that I purchased my first house in Ruislip, and then moving after three years to Eastcote.
As part of my design work was involved with ‘logic’ systems, it was a natural progression in the 70’s to move into Computers……so a career move into mainframe computer hardware maintenance was the result. Initially on-site at Freeman’s mail order looking after their computers, I then went to British Airways Computer Centre at Heathrow-scary stuff.
During this period I moved from Eastcote to Cranleigh in Surrey.
Swapped to the Management ladder, Site Manager at BA, then group Manager for BA and some City Banks.
Our company was taken over by Granada in 1989 and I went on to achieve a senior Management position running the entire South Eastern Region of the UK for Granada. Unfortunately, I was part of a large redundancy sweep in 1991, with a divorce happening at the same time.
I remarried in 1992 and acquired a grown up stepdaughter who had been born in 1972 I have stayed very much in the same industry since then, I’m an I.T. Manager having General Manager responsibilities, with a company in Guilford. My hobbies have no connection with computers, my main interest outside of work is building and flying radio controlled model aircraft. I also enjoy gardening, and golf but that leaves a bit to be desired My Wife Jan and I still live in Cranleigh, Surrey. With our cat Java
©Alan Harvey2008
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Brian Bernhardt
Here is my story as one of the graduates from Eastcote Lane School, as it was then and later known as Roxeth Manor in the last few years I was there.
Born in Hammersmith in 1939 a year before the war started, the forth Child in the Family, I had two Sisters and a Brother.
We were bought up by our Grandmother in Ivy Close, Eastcote Lane, South Harrow.
I started in the Infants in 1944 and left the Senior School in 1954.
My first employment was working for A.C.I. in Victoria Road, South Ruislip, as an Apprentice Tool Maker, which was to take five years, and my earnings were a grand sum of £3 per week for the whole of that time.
During this time I went to Southall Technical College for two years to earn my City and Guilds, from there I went on to Harrow School of Art.
Back in those days we had to buy our own books, so I rode many a mile on my bike round South Harrow and Southall areas.
My Friends and I formed a small Band playing our Guitars so that we could earn a little extra money playing gigs, as the £3 a week did not go very far.
The first car my Mate and I owned was a 1939 Austin Seven, held together with bits of string and coat hangers.
Both of us chipped in with five pounds each.
We had to park it in Ivy Close, as my friend’s Parents thought it was a bit below their standard to park in their driveway.
But I can tell you we had some really good times in that old banger……
My Sister married an American who was stationed in the Base in Victoria Road, South Ruislip, and went to live in the USA.
She had been out there for about a year, when I thought I would Emigrate, so in 1963 a couple of days before the shooting of the President in Dallas I went out to join her and her Husband.
The first job I had over here was for a chap who owned his own business, and he was very impressed with my work.
It was only a small workshop but it was a start, he had his own aeroplane and wanted me to fly with him.
This was very exciting for a young man like me, but the only thing was I found out he suffered from heart trouble, and the thought of being up there with him gave me the willies.
A couple of years later I formed my own company, and did very well working in the Up Town part of Dallas, not being married I could do as I pleased.
It was around this time I heard about the Air Craft trade in California, so I decided to move out there, and was lucky enough to get in on the ground floor building the F20 and the B2 as a Test Engineer, I got a Degree from Pacific Western whilst in California, and I became an American Citizen in Dallas, so I can really call myself a Texan.
I have travelled around the USA and think it is a great place.
My School years at Eastcote Lane gave me a good grounding and background, and helped me enjoy the good life in this country.
I retired in 1994 and moved back to Texas, forty years was enough for me.
Having had a couple of Strokes, help me to decide there was more to life than money.
Now I enjoy not doing much at all really, just some Fishing, drive a new Pick-up,
Read and watch TV, attend Church and I also enjoy sharing stories with other English Folk who came over here looking for a better chance than poor old England was able to offer us.
I am looking forward to the School Reunion in October, and think Syd and Joy have done wonders with putting it together for us, and I hope to meet up with some of my old mates from Eastcote lane School, and sharing our life stories, bearing in mind of course, we are all still going to look the same as when we last saw each other.
So please wear your name tags so I will know who you are……….
All my best regards and please e-mail me.
Brian.
©Brian Bernhardt2008
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Dawn Rice (Nee Bernhardt)
I am the age when no woman admits being much over fifty
After going to Roxeth Manor I went to Bourne School for Further Education for Shorthand and Typing.
Worked at Brown Brothers at Rayners Lane, working up from a
Messenger Girl, then through the Control Department, to become an assistant to the Company Bosses.
Left England in 1962 and went to America, married with four children we had two girls and two boys, of which we are very proud.
My Husband Marvin and I have seven Grandchildren they are lovely.
I worked for twenty years as a Buyer for the largest Drug Retail Company, in Texas where we live.
After which I did a course in Nursing, becoming a Nurse in a rest Home, which I left after a year, as I did not like the way the old folk were being treated.
Later had some tuition on fine jewellery and now work part time
Living close to the border it is essential to speak Spanish and I know enough to get by.
We have travelled widely in America and my Husband and I particularly like Hawaii.
I have visited the White House as a guest, which was very nice.
But unfortunately the President was otherwise engaged so I was unable to meet him.
I took and passed all my qualifications in America and became an American Citizen in 1974.
But still retain my British Nationality because of the Treaty between both Countries.
Nobody is given the correct answer to two questions, my weight and my hair colour. Those are secrets between Marvin (he’s Lovely) and myself
©Dawn Bernhardt2008
Jackie Bland
Jackie Wren. Nee Bland
I started at Roxeth Manor School in 1955 at the age of 4½ going through each year until leaving in 1966 at the ripe old age of 16½ and as a qualified secretary.
I had many great (and not so great) times at school, I particularly remember all the boys starting at age 7 years. Mark Dawkins, Terry Stevens, Trevor Tipping, Arthur Troke, Stephen Emsley, and the boys in secondary; Graham Coggins, Chris Rae, Robert Harold, Nigel Trotman, Hayden Manning, and many more for whom I got detentions.
I worked for the National Coal Board in Harrow between 1969 and 1972, when I left to get married. I worked for Abbey Nation for a total of twelve years from Rayners Lane, to Reigate, to Redhill, to Horsham. I now work as a legal secretary at a young firm of legal solicitors. We are all a social lot and enjoy going out etc.
I have been to Canada where my Relatives live, and once tried to emigrate but I was going through a divorce at the time, and they wouldn’t have me!
I now live in West Sussex, and I have been married three times, (I think I just like rings and dressing up!) I have two children aged 17 and 14, 2 cats, a rat, an aviary and oh yes, a husband.
I still keep in touch with about twelve of my school friends, meeting up around Christmas time each year.
Anyone remember, Alex Goodyear, Pam Green, Barbara Bangs, Coral Bishop Linda Ward etc?
I have got in contact with my second Husband, through Friends Reunited (he went to school in Reigate) and we have since met up, and are now the best of friends. Pity it couldn’t have been like that when we were married!
Am going to the Reunion (hope Syd hasn’t forgotten me!) and can’t wait to see if there will be anyone there I remember.
My friend Val (McDonald) who’s parents owned the Café next to the school, will be coming with me, and believe me we are going to enjoy every moment.
©Jackie Bland2008
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Jean Harvey
I left Eastcote Lane Seniors after going right through from the infants, and went to Hendon Technical College, leaving there in 1952.
After leaving I went to work for Evans Medical and then Bristol-Myers at South Ruislip, I moved on to a London Printers for two years and from they’re on to The Bank of Iran.
This employment I left to take up a position with The Sunday Times Group Where I became their youngest business Manager,
Working on the Daily Times, Sunday Times, Tattler Magazine,
And various other technical journals and their launches.
During this time I was living in Earls Court, London.
Later moved to Hampshire where I joined a firm just breaking into the home Freezer and Frozen Food Home Delivery business as the General Manager,
I coined the phrase,……………‘Make Us Your Frozen Asset’
1996 –1990 Ran my own publishing, entertainment, public relations business in the UK and California, where I had branches.
I ran major concerts in Los Angeles with very notable US and UK stars.
We won several awards including the Broadway Business Achievers Award, of which I was very proud.
Returned to the UK in 1990 taking up a post as Communications and Fundraising Director of a major charity, and moved to Derby.
In 1999 I decided to reopen my own consultancy in public relations, marketing Publishing, and Fundraising.
Now sixty-five, and still working………………….
©Jean Harvey2008
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John Paulling
In 1949, I left Eastcote Lane School to work at ‘Pritchards Bakery’ Rayners Lane.
February 1951 I attended the National Sea Training School on ‘Vindicatrix’ at Sharpness, for a six-week course in the Catering Class.
This was prior to joining the Merchant Navy as a ‘Galley Boy’
I spent the next four years sailing around the world, visiting many interesting Ports.
In September 1954, I’d had enough of the Tanker Ship that I was on as 2nd Cook and Baker, and like hundreds of other seamen, took unscheduled leave. (jumped Ship) in Sydney Australia.
I found work at one of the steel works in Newcastle, just north of Sydney, later I was able to get myself a job at Courtaulds, an English Company. I stayed there for eleven years.
1956 was year Mary and I were married, and we had three Daughters. Now we have three Granddaughters and five Grandsons.
In 1959 my Parents emigrated and they were followed in 1960 when my Sister Margaret joined us.
It was in 1967 that I joined the Australian Custom Service, as a ‘Preventive Officer’
I served twenty-eight years with them. And then accepted voluntary redundancy. During my service with them I became a Launch Driver, and obtained my Master Class V Certificate.
Mary and I had a trip back in 1986.
In 1995 Mary and I took another trip back, to England, to attend an Uncle and Aunts 60th Wedding Anniversary, and on both occasions we drove past the old school.
1996 was when I had my heart attack, and in 1997, I had by-pass surgery, around five blockages, but I am pleased to say I am now feeling fit and well and living life to the full.
I work one day a week, helping my Son-in-Law install built-in-wardrobes. I also teach Tai Chi exercises, once a week.
Now the computer takes up some time, and the Grandchildren also need our love and attention.
If you know me please get in touch - johnpaul4@hotkey.net.au
©John Paulling2008
Lilymay Smith (Now Lily Lee)
Born March 7th 1940, at 132 Malvern Avenue, South Harrow, Mum and Dad later purchased the house next-door 130, where we lived until 1948.
My Parents Jean and Joe Smith were from entirely different parts of Great Britain, Mum was from Scotland and my Father was a Cockney, born within the sound of Bow Bells.
They had met and married in Geelong, Victoria. My brother Ian was born there, and in 1938 they decided it would be a great idea and very nice to have a holiday in the UK and show off the new Grandson to both sets off Grand Parents.
This they did setting sail in 1938, and as it turned out just prior to World War 2. This of course meant that the Admiralty commandeered all the passenger ships, and took them into serving the country, as Troop ships and the like.
That meant of course that my Parents were unable to return home, hence the house in Malvern Avenue. Well in due course of time amidst all the bombing and anti aircraft gunfire and general chaos, who should arrive but me!! And I have to say the world has never been the same since…………….
I attended school at Eastcote Lane from late in 1944 until 1948. That was the year when I came to Australia, and up until now have never been back, but I hope to be spending a couple of days there after travelling round the globe, hopefully in June sometime, not quite sure exactly yet, before retuning home.
There were several children that became good friends in my young days, and it would be wonderful should any of them read this,
Please feel free to E-Mail me at rockgran@southwest.com.au
©Lily May Smith2008
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Margaret Hetherington
I went to Eastcote Lane Infants, juniors and seniors, leaving there in 1947 to attend Hendon Tech Commercial School after which I worked as a Secretary for a shipping company in the City of London.
I decided in 1955 to come to the United States. Some of the teachers I remember from the old days are, Mrs Page, Miss Lewis, Mrs Begley, Miss Simms, Miss Bannister, and to this day whenever I see “The Wizard of Oz” I can still see Miss Price riding her high handlebar bike (reminded by the wicked witch of the north).
I spent most of my teenage years skating at Wembley, and continuing to do so over here (for exercise!!)
I eventually married and my husband taught senior high mathematics and coached baseball and football in Minnesota. We had four children and now have eight grandchildren. My eldest daughter Julie lives in Maryland and has 3 girls. Vicki comes next and she is in Florida, has 2 boys, and a girl. Then Gary, who lives in town, has a son and daughter. David resides in New Mexico-he isn’t married.
Being that they live in different areas of the country affords me to see the cultural differences and beauty of this nation. I was married for 30 years, but sadly my marriage ended.
I have now lived by myself for several years, and my room- mate is my big longhaired ginger cat Tiger.
My youngest son gave him to me when he moved from Arizona to New Mexico.
It was quite a change meeting a cat at the airport!! I am still living in Minnesota, which is in the North Central part of the USA. Bordering on Canada, Winnipeg is north of us.
I live in Mankato which is the summer practice camp for the Minnesota Vikings (American Football team) Also in town we have the Minnesota State University, Bethany College. South Central Technical College and Rasmussen Business College, along with other senior high and middle elementary schools. Our town is very proud of our high ranking Minnesota has in education.
This is not really a big town, a population of 55,000, and there is always plenty to do, theatre, sport and nice shopping malls. etc;
Minneapolis and St Paul are about 80 miles to the north, with Bloomington one of the suburbs close to the International Airport, home to the Mall of America, (lots of people from the UK fly into here for shopping) the area here is primarily for farming, crops or dairy. It can get very warm in the summer and VERY COLD in winter, down to minus 25 degrees below zero.
Although we have a lot of snow, the city crews are very adept at keeping the roads open.
We have a nice skiing area Mount Kato, but I haven’t been for a long time, I worked for years at Mankato East High School as a secretary, and also coached Synchronized Swimming putting on several annual shows. I still work at the high school,
I enjoy my job and being with people, but I don’t work in the summers and have all the other holidays off. So it is right up my alley! I love the outdoors and have lots of flowers and trees in my yard
The Internet has given me the chance to find old friends, and I e-mail some and chat with others, either on ICQ or MSM. It really has been fun.
My e-mail address is cougar@mnic.net and I am listed in my married name of Marilyn Noreen. just changing the name Margaret for my middle name.
Hope to meet some new and old friends……………………….
©Marilyn Noreen2008
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Pamela Westbrooke
I went to Eastcote Lane School and most of my teachers virtually gave up on my education, mainly because I was naughty, not really interested and just waiting to leave and get out into the ‘real’ world. However I did have some great friends and I wish now that we had all stayed in contact.
I first worked in the Office of Brown Brothers in Rayners Lane, also joined the Harrow and Rickmansworth Cycling Club, and spent a few very happy years racing with them, made friends and they were some of the nicest people I have ever met.
But yet again lost all contact with each and every one.
I went to several other local offices and was working at Whitefriars Glass Works in Wealdstone, when I married a boy from Wealdstone named Ron Hills.
We moved to Bognor Regis, where I continued to do office work.
Unfortunately, our marriage fell apart nine years later. I then met a guy from Chichester and married him.
In 1969 we moved to Portugal for a few years, where we were managers of a large hotel, they had a coup d’état there, and after trying for over a year to get other work we decided to come back to England and Bognor Regis.
Whilst I was living in Portugal, I discovered quite by chance that I had been adopted as a baby, and it was after my birth my mother emigrated to America, where she started a new life without me.
My adoptive parents never told me that I had been adopted and it was not until I reached thirty-five that I found out.
On our arrival back in this country, I found the law had changed and now I was able through a social worker to discover my true identity.
I will never forget that day, so my real name was Nabarro, wow………
I then spent (on & off) the next twenty-five years trying to find my birth family.
It is quite an amazing story and would easily fill a book, however by the time I had found them, my birth mother had passed away.
I discovered her brother was Sir Gerald Nabarro, who was a prominent M.P. and I am sure many will remember him (if you are over 50).
I also found that now I had three sisters, a stepfather and numerous nieces and nephews, plus all of their children. They are all so very close to me now.
They knew all about me, but did not know how to go about finding me.
I now visit the States every year and quite a few have visited me here.
Later when I returned from Portugal I was in rather a bad road accident (the third in my life) and was then off work for a year.
During that time I studied accountancy, from books at home.
When I was well enough to work again, I started my own Accountancy business, which became unbelievably successful.) So you see teachers are not always right).
Sadly my husband died of cancer six years ago, so I decided to sell half of my business off. I still work quite hard and have a pretty large clientele.
But I also take quite a few holidays and have been all over the world this year.
My hobby these days goes back to the 1950’s. I am a Rock n Roll freak, I jive for hours on end, and am fortunate that I have several dance partners, and we travel all over the country jiving to live bands. I just love it, Guess I am lucky, physically still feel 21 and am told look younger than my 66 years.
Once again have a wonderful array of friends around me, but still wonder about my friends from years back though.
I was not blessed with any children, but adore animals and at present have two beautiful Golden Retrievers.
Guess that’s my life in a nutshell. Of course there are many amusing, sad, interesting stories to tell, but then who hasn’t..........................
©Pamela Westbrooke2008
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TONY NORRIS
Memories
Hi,
I was at Roxeth Manor Sec: School for Boys between 1959 and 1963. I will say that the education I received there was second to none amongst all the other local schools. I hated my school life, but after I started work, soon realised how much further ahead my education had been to others I met from other schools.
My brother was also at the school but he was 4 years older than me so left from a 5th year engineering extension at the end of my first year there.
The head Mr Watkins was the subject of a fair amount of sniggering by a lot of us. He had the habit during assembly, of standing on the edge of the stage whilst he was talking, with his hands in his jacket pockets, and swaying quite a lot backwards and forwards.
We all sat waiting for him to overbalance one day and topple off the stage.
A few teachers I remember were : Mr Maplethorpe - Geography and PE
Mr Watson - Music ( when annoyed, was very adept at what would nowadays could possibly be termed as physical abuse)
Mr Gareth Gibson Faithwaite Dowbiggin - Physics (went on to Harrow Tech College where I next met him)
Mr Barnes - Maths (same as Mr Dowbiggin, went onto Harrow Tech as I believe asst. Principal.
Both of them worked at the School Lane, Pinner annexe when I knew them)
We had a teacher of history who was known as 'Commie Kate'. I do not know if that was her actual politics or name, but she always carried a chair cushion around with her.
(Maybe she suffered with piles ?)
Mr Cole - I can't remember what he taught, but he worked primarily in the huts at the front of the school.
He, Mr Barnes and Mr Dowbiggin were amongst the best teachers in the school. They certainly knew their subjects and kept a very disciplined classroom.
I also remember a cadaverous caretaker wearing a blue boiler suit and a cap, who always seemed to me, to be disappearing into the bowels to stoke the boilers with coal.
I recall my lack of enthusiasm for anything physical and always tried to skive out of PE or games. When we left the back of the school and crossed over Malvern Avenue to enter the school games field, it was always a case of hatching a plan on the way.
Sometimes we just got a football and kicked it around eventually ending up at the far end of the field, disappearing behind the trees up there. 'Out of sight, out of mind'.
We used to love cross country running as we usually left from the field, run the designated course and return via the front entrance to the school.
We skivers, used to run off into the distance out of teachers range, round the corner and follow round the block to the cafe next to the school entrance.
There we enjoyed a coke or tea until we tagged onto the back of the runners as they returned to the school about an hour later. We always thought it was fair game as we considered the teachers were pulling a fast one anyway.
They rarely came with us. A little snippet which I believe is accurate is that I remember Mr Maplethorpe had a grey Rover (100?) car.
At some point during my time there, he traded it in for a brand new Wolesley (4/40 ?) with a walnut dashboard, which was then, a radical new design, and I was as jealous as hell.
Being too young to drive I always envied that car, and look back now with nostalgia, thinking I wouldn't mind owning a classic like that now. It was all his fault!!!!
I lived during that time in Warden Avenue in Rayners Lane. We moved into the area in 1957 from Southend. I went to Roxbourne (Primary or Junior ?) school, then was promoted to Roxeth Manor in '59. It cost 2d on the 114 bus to school each way, but we often walked to save the money for sweets.
Tony Norris
©Tony Norris2008
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Susan Schneider
I was born in 1953 while we were staying for a while with my Grandparents at number 50, Holyrood Avenue, South Harrow.
They had moved there after being bombed out living in the East End of London which suffered badly during World War Two.
Both were real Cockneys Granddad William (Bill) and Nana Alice Cassimer they were affectionately known to Friends as Cass.
Their family consisted of three Daughters Alice, Rose and Mary my Mother and two Boys William (Billy) and Alfred (Alfie) unfortunately they have all died now except for Uncle Billy now in his eighties. Uncle Billy was a great dancer, girls would want to be my mother's friend just so they could get to dance with her brother.
Mum went to Eastcote Lane School as probably did Alfie. (Mrs Heaton was the cookery teacher and was still there in later years when I attended)
My Dad was from New York and he and Mum met through a friend.
They were stationed in Pennsylvania when the base there closed and my father went off on a remote tour of Greenland, Iceland and Germany.
So my mother (8 months pregnant with me) packed my two brothers up and went to stay with my Nana on Holyrood, after I was born we moved to Park Lane.
For the first part of my Childhood we moved constantly between America and England and this carried on until 1965 when Mum and Dad got divorced, I then went back to Holyrood Avenue with Nana and Granddad. (then to Rayners Lane, Kent and Northolt)
This was when I attended Roxeth Manor School from 1965-1969 (previously known as Eastcote lane).
I really found a big difference between the Schools in the States to the ones in England.
I got to know most People who lived locally, a very good Friend of mine was Linda Wilding who lived in Walton Avenue
My Husband says he knew me when he was stationed at the USAF base in Victoria Road but my real recollection is meeting him at the West Ruislip Base known locally as the 4MU, where he was posted after the Base closed.
This was a very popular venue for Dances on a Saturday night with a live Band on stage.
When that also closed down he was then stationed at High Wycombe as Chief of Police, which is where we were married and lived on the Base, we stayed there from 1976 until 1981 before moving to America.
Looking back I remember the shops in Eastcote Lane at the bottom of Holyrood Avenue with the Co-op on the corner, Nana would often send me down to buy Ginger cake which was Granddads favourite it cost one shilling and four pence then.
When my Aunt and Uncle who had moved down to Sussex came to visit, he would send us down to the Co-op to buy some boxes of matches at a penny each and he would then give us a three-penny piece for each box, I suppose that made him my favourite at the time.
We live in Texas now and I am and have been in touch via email with a few other People who attended the same School,
One lives in Australia, my best friend lives in Canada, Dawn in Texas also and others over the years some of whom have now passed on.
I went back to England twice in the last twenty five years once in 1996 and again in 2003, and I noticed a lot of changes, I have often though I might go back to live but really have serious thoughts as to whether I would really enjoy it there since it has changed so much.
I am not so crazy about Texas sometimes – HECK it’s 100 degrees here now and I hate the heat!!!!!!!!
Yeah I know everyone in England always says “You are lucky all that hot weather”
I tell them “TAKE IT PLEASE”
Should anyone who remembers or knows me I would welcome an email.
Susan
Schneid957@aol.com
©Susan Schneider2008
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Diane Cullimore (now Meyer)
I was Diane Cullimore (now Meyer) from Ravenswood Crescent. School friends that went from Eastcote Lane in 1954 to Hendon Tec were Pat Guest, Jean Waller (subsequently moved to the States), Maureen Levenson, Elaine Wickham.
I only recall Miss Gleeson from Eastcote Lane school. She always put ink dots on her first finger to remind herself of things and I couldn't see how she could remember what the dots actually meant.
I remember we used the field behind my house as a school playing field. The high jump was placed over the site where a bomb had exploded and they used the pit it made for part of the jump.
I recall spending ten days in Harrow Hospital with severe concussion after being knocked over by a ball in the school yard.
Sadly I remember two students committing suicide in a car during my time at the school.
I worked at Philips Electrical Industries in London for two years and then I moved to Calgary Alberta Canada at 18.
I married twice and worked there for lawyers as a Legal Assistant all my life until I retired to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island 2002. Have 3 kids and 2 grandchildren and 2 stepchildren. I spend a lot of time on the Internet trying to find more of my old school friends!
Mail me
©Diane Meyer
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Susan Hoffman (Nee Smith)
my name is Susan (smith) Hoffmann I use to live in Stivens Crescent, and went to Roxeth Manor School all my years at school 54 to 67, stayed on one extra year to take up typing. Lived in Stiven cresent until I was 18. Is there anyone out there that remembers me or my family I would love to hear from you, names I remember from school are, Margaret White, Janet Illston, Jenny Mayes, Susan Dunford, Susan Pussey, Colin Church, June McGregor, Ray Webster. Names from Stivens Crescent just surnames are Wilcox, Bitchener, Benioun, Monk, Mahaffy. Thompson.
I now live in the USA married with 6 children and our 15th grandchild on the way.
I am very much into finding anyone or anything about the old school and people in the area, please feel free to email me, picture is attached as we are now. hope to hear from people. also I had 3 sisters all older Gill, Eileen and Margaret and one brother. sue
©Susan Hoffman mailto:england50@myclearwave.net