Carshalton on the Hill and Pine Ridge in the 40s, 50s and 60s

Bernard Everett wrote.....

Bomb damage in Anglesey Gardens

I was born in Wallington at 41 St Mary Avenue (Butter Hill estate) on 19th July 1946 and lived there until the age of 23. My early memories include playing in the street, being interrupted by a vehicle about once an hour. There were no parked cars! Some of the vehicles were horse drawn, such as the coal merchant and rag & bone man.

My first school was Holy Trinity in Bute Road, which I walked to via Derek Avenue and Croydon Road. I started there in 1951 as an infant and progressed to the Junior section, leaving in 1956. I had the privilege of playing for the school football team (practice in the "Rec" in Bute Road) and was selected, in 1956, to represent Beddington, Wallington & Carshalton schools in a match at Carshalton West school in Wrythe Lane.

Beddington Park featured strongly in my childhood. Dental treatment at the Grange, as well as football, cricket, boating, swimming at the Orphanage and learning to ride a bike. When I changed to Senior school, I walked past or through the park every day to Elmwood Secondary Modern school, near Hackbridge. I had the good fortune to fail my 11 plus exams (narrowly, after two sittings and an interview) and, instead of going to Wallington Grammar and having to play rugby, I started at Elmwood in their highest 1st year class, playing football in the school team and emerging with 5 GCE’s after passing the 13 plus exam there.

Barry Luckie (now living in Plymouth)
Posted 5 March 2016