Born at Comerell Street in 1945. Swimming in front of the Royal Naval College from the beach of stones and a bit of sand. The river was her playground. Drying their clothes on a memorial. Bomb site at Comerell St/Connolly St(?) was a dump and playground. It's where St Joseph's Catholic school is now. Most of the children went to the Catholic school, but she went to Christchurch. She was CofE but went into the church to "confess"-it was always open.
Saturday morning pictures at the Granada, Vanburgh Hill. Also the Roxy at top of Westcombe Hill (Safeways now). Odeon-the Trafalgar-corner of Maze Hill. Apple scrumping, blackberrying, fishing for tadpoles all day on Blackheath-Pond Row.
Greenwich Town Social Club-behind the Ship and Billet (Frog and Radiator).
Close community in Comerell St. Hilton family-lots of related families. All poor, bombed out during the war.
Dad was an Iron Fighter-steel erector. Worked all over the country.
Housework-the children did sweeping, washing stairs etc, fetching the rations.
Shops-Winsborough's-first supermarket-1959-near Woolworths. Tins.
Mum worked in factories in the area.
Stables round the back for the Totters-sister loved the horses.
Coronation Day-party-fancy dress-sister was Lady Godiva on a horse-aged 10!
Playing in the street. Hopscotch-Only 1 car in the road.Bonfire Night
Jumping on the barges on the river-told off by the police.
Woodpiles-Wood factory by the river-played hide and seek.
Brother an apprentice-Redpath Brown.
Pelton Road, Lovells Wharf. Parents lived where Cutty Sark is-houses taken away in early 50s.Foot Tunnel
Christchurch School-teachers-Miss Upson(?), Mr Drew. Church every morning.
Sunday School-Annandale Road(?) Baptised age 8. Afterwards went to Creek Road, Deptford. 1954 Kidbrooke-first comp opened-sister went for 3 mths.
Teenage-The Albany hired for party. Boyfriend.
Work-friends went to factories or shops-Eileen worked (age 15)office-Harveys, Charlton-then Perks stores-opp William IV. Cheese, raisins. Dutch Boy Bagwash-Blackwall Lane. Kex-laundry for boiler suits dusters etc, machines for patching. Then moved to the Diploma-cleaning and pressing Then a factory at Lasell St making braid on machines-very noisy, no earmuffs, also cold, but she loved it.
She met her husband in the Fish and chip shop. Rode on the motorbike listening to Radio Luxembourg. He lived in Dagenham. She married at Christchurch in 1966. Everyone from the Ship and Billet came. Remembers people singing to the piano in the pub. Wedding reception in the Cecil Rooms-Moulton Street, near MazeHill W.Mens Club. On Mayday-May Queen, Maypole dancing at Cecil Rooms. Also netball there and a place for Downs Syndrome children.
Greenwich Town Social Club-behind Ship and Billet. Rock and Roll night when she was 13, big hall with a stage. Vicky Oliver was big in Greenwich. Downstairs for the older people-tables and chairs, snooker, bar. They changed it to 1 big table, but it wasn't much liked.
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Cecil Rooms
The Cecil rooms was opposite Maze Hill Working Mens Club. In fact there used to be Chilvers Street in between ( but during the War was destroyed ). I lived in Marlton Street which was between (Pre War - Chilvers Street ) and Fingal Street.