Discussion everything Bermondsey

Hi Barrowboy,

OMG you are a long way from home, how do you get your Pie & Mash, do they deliver to your door?.
Most of the people on this site have moved away from Bermondsey now, although not so far, except maybe Patrick Long who lives in America.
Not many would want to move back there, it's changed so much and the people are different? not the same as when we were kids, then it was the best place on earth (well almost).

I have visited your blog and found it an interesting read, and would like to thank you very much for advertising this site there.

Cheers

Bermondseyboy

I think this site is great and I hope many people find it.

I shall be in Manze's in March, though my parents live in Orpington and, unbelievably, it has a pie and mash shop!

Best regards,

Peter

I forgot add that my family names related to Bermondsey are Bladon and Clements, on my mum's side. My dad was brought up in Kennington and Camberwell.

It certainly is a small world.
I also live in Orpington would you believe?
And yes there are two Pie & Mash shops in the area.
One is in the shopping centre, Orpington high street, the other is in Cotmandene cresent.
I have used both, not quite Manzes standard but OK!

That's quite a coincidence. I have never lived there but visited often. Mum and dad moved there after I left home for university. We lived in Long Lane till I was about 17, then moved to a new maisonette in the Old Kent Rd (Bowness House, near the Den). A couple of years later they bought their first house, in Eltham. They must have moved to Orpington around 1972. It seems to be full of refugees from Inner London.

I've been to the p&m shop in the precinct lots of times but have no idea where Cotmandene Crescent is. Is is better than the other one?

I just looked at the sideshow and you have some great photos. Could you send me the ones of the baths and the library (Spa Rd) and Tanner Street? I told mum about the site and will enjoy showing her all the photos next time I'm over there, in March. She'll particularly enjoy all the pubs. There was such a sense of community back then. Our local was the York, in Bermondsey St. Mum used to play the piano sometimes.

Hi Guinnessboy

I have just read your post (My life in Bermondsey).
I found it facinating and just what we need, it brings members closer together and throws up some unexpected surprises.
When I lived in Harold Estate I had two friends Peter and Kevin Collins.
They both attended English Martyrs School, just as you did.
Kevin had a paper round delivering to Harold Estate and Guinness Buildings, just as you did.?
I sometimes helped him out so we could finish quick if we had to go somewhere.
I'm not sure about the year but a guess would be around 1960-1962.
The bombing in the first class swimming baths has brought back lots of memories.
We always tried to get the cubicles away from the diving boards for that very reason, you would always end up with soaking wet cloths if the door was not closed properly.
Also some of the boys you knew, i also knew:
Tony Treadwell
Tony Hawkins
Michael East - I think he is living in Swanley?

There should be plenty of photo's of Old Kent Road, Pages Walk etc. on site.
I am always looking out for more, especially Clyde Buildings and the Railway Buildings, also Swan Mead and the little park in Leroy street.

Thanks for your Memory Jogging Story

Bermondseyboy
 
 
(Read Guinnessboy story)

Hello again BermondseyBoy & anyone else who relates to these experiences,
You may remember me, although I think you may be a little younger than me, and in those days a year or two made a lot of difference to one's street cred! I am now 61 and I recall that Peter Collins took over my Harold Estate paper from me, when I was promoted to the Guinness Buildings round as it paid 10 shillings a week! the paper round started from a little news stand in the allyway between the Post Office and Stones Electrical shop in the Old Kent road.
Was it Peter Collins who lost an eye when he was playing darts with his brother, the dart dropped into his eye as he reached up to get the dart out of the board! but he seemed to adapt to his misfortune very quickly, he would take it out to give us all a shock! I did get in touch with Michael East (Eastie) through B-G Forums sponsored by Parish Chest Ltd. Have a look at Vossy's posts.
Going back to Bermondsey baths in 1st class ther was always a group of 2/3 lads who hid at the back of the top diving board, to make that grand entrance into an empty pool, after 'All Out' had been called! then it was down stairs to the canteen for a cup of hot bovril and a giant digestive biscuit for a penny.
Another little earner was to follow the 'money off coupon' distributors as the left a chalk trail of where the had been, as they were always too lazy to push them all the way through the letter boxes, so we would follow them and pinch the 'money off' coupons' and take them to Micky Sullivans who had a sweet shop in the road opposite the Pagoda, and he would give us half face value to buy sweets with, and you could buy a lot of sweets for 5 bob in those days
As there was no TV's, dvd's, playstations, computers, swapping comic's or toy soldiers was the reconised passtime or getting up to mischief on the bomb sites or Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot, climbing the barrels.
Are there any old Oxford & Bermondsey Boys Club boys out there, 1962-1966?
Great site! Well done!! keep the stories and memories flowing in.

Hi Guinnessboy

Just a little younger 60, and yes Peter did loose his eye the way you said.
He even lost his false one in the swimming baths and we had to dive down to try and find it, scarey at the time but funny.
Just a reminder of what they looked like, picture below.
Not sure where it was taken.

L-R  Peter,  Kevin, and Me

I was a member of the Oxford and Bermondsey Club for a while although I cannot remember to much about it.
I joint the Marine Cadets in Decima Street, I was about 13 or 14 then.

Bermondseyboy

Whatever happened to Arrowroot biscuits?

HI GUINESSBOY I see you were a member of the Oxford and Bermondsey Boys Club in 1962, could you tell me if it was the old club on the corner of Tower Bridge Rd and the street where they brewed the vineger? Because I saw a photo of the club on site and it wasnt the one I went to in the late 30s early 40s, did you ever know Charlie Blazdell, I think that was his name, he was one of the blokes who helped run the place.. I am quite a bit older than you at 81yrs and have been here in Australia for 50yrs but I still love hearing about Bermondey, you can the boy out of Bermondsey but you cant take the Bermondsey out of the boy!!

Hi bb i used to work in the claremont about that time meet aruthers step son about 6 months ago i belive arthur lives in the home on the corner of dunton rd and grange rd i moved out about 1981 would only go back if all the pubs reopened the havelock, the alscot, rose and crown, apples, wellington, thomas abecket, the lil,and so many more, never ever finished a pub crawl down the old kent road too many pubs happy days
                                                          lightandbitter

Hi Lightandbitter

I never knew that Arther had a step son, and looking back i may have worked there in about
1967 ish not to sure, my poor old memory lets me down sometimes.
I do remember having a few after hours drinks.
And yes it's a shame that nearly all those great pubs have now gone.
I guess you must have lived local to the claremont as i did.
I lived in Ash House on the Longfield Estate.

Bermondseyboy

Hi bermondseyboy,
                            Yes i was local Longfield Estate Fairby House we must know each other as we both proberly served each other at differant times. Istill see people off the estate about once a month at The Royal Oak in Tabard St. Went in the Claremont about 6 months ago good news is the toilet now inside. The name on my e-mail gives me away, your not one of the Bird Family? Knew a few others in Ash house the familes in 20 14 10 also Fawkham, Hartley,Dartford, ect I even worked on the estate as a porter in the mid 70's. After Arthurs brother and sister moved on Arthur had a partner her name was May it was her son i saw at the TBH (or Pommerlers Rest I think its called now) about 6 months ago. Any road if I didnt serve you in the Claremont i might have done in th Fort I worked there for a while as well. Take care, mines a lightandbitter.

Hi Lightandbitter

I'm sure your right, we proberly know each other, but i'm having trouble placing your name?
No I'm not one of the Bird Family, I think they lived at number 10? (you can correct me if i'm wrong). and that was a tragic story.
I lived next door number 8, we moved in when the Burfords moved out.
We had a darts team in the Claremont and I'm trying to remember some of the names, also some of the regulars that went in there. As soon as I do i will let you know, and if you can remember any please let me know, very interested.

Bermondseyboy

Hi bermonseyboy,

                          Was never a member of the darts team, we never took it up until Arthur swapped the bars around making the old saloon bar into the public bar and doing away with the pin ball machine and bar billiards table leaving us with the dart board shove appeney  and cribbage board. I ( Dave Wallis) was in there most week day evenings with Johnny Bird, No 6 the Davis Brothers Danny Dave and Keith Tom Keldon David Piper and a few othersall off Longfield Estate I think Danny still drinks there
                                  For those with an interest in Rephidim St the bit where Ian McShane goes home to see his wife in the film The Battle of Britain was film in Rephidim St I was watching from the window of no 13 where an old school chum lived one half of the street was being kocked down I think theres also a shot of the Hop Pole pub. My great aunt lil lived in number 5 and my uncle Fred lived in Weston st just on the corner not quite in shot I dont know the number but i do know they shared the house with two other families.
                                                           I think you said some of your Family lived in Alscot Rd maybe you can remember if there was one or two shops right next door to the Alscot  pub?
                                                                Also have a photo of Thorburn Sq differant angle same morris countryman in shot will send if i ever work out how to.
                                                                                           lightandbitter

Hi Lightandbitter

Some of the people I can remember are, Laurie Dickinson who was always in there usually with his dog. (He was my Father in Law) Tommy Hopkins, tall chap blond, Sid form the prefabs opposite,
two brothers who I think one was Tony, short dark haired.
This is where it starts to get spooky, The Battle of Britain filmed in Rephidum Street, I also watched it from a window in Rephidum Street, my Wife's sister lived there, can't remember the numbers, Maureen and Jeff Wilson and also my Nan lived there Sophie Rogers.
I am trying to find a picture of the Hop Pole, maybe I will have to watch the film again.
There was one shop next to the Alscot that I can remember check out picture below

The Alscot

I feel that our pathes have crossed somewhere along the way, this getting older lark does nothing for my memory.

Thanks for the info.

Bermondseyboy

My  mind wanders back to around1954ish ,i seem to remember one of the girls who was a part of our group was a PaulineJones ,who i believed lived at this shop ,sweets and ciggs i think ,we all use to hang out at the park by Spa road,where Sid Rueben had his newsagents shop

Hi bb
        Back on line computer went pear shape for a few days rememer guy with dog in claremont never new the name.Yeh Tommy Hopkins new him well worked with my dad on docks came from dartford house is he still with us?  just seen seen message from millwallharry sounds like my cousin hi harry bet thats you? Well 3 sheets to the wind thanks for the photo of the alscot the prefab in the photo was the home of timmy riely boxing corrospondent of the south london press he's son was a friend of a friend. Happy Days
                                                                        Lightandbitter

Just come across your site BermondseyBoy,
I've found it very interesting..love the' we were all one' film, and great to see the footage of "Enry at the Thomas A Becket, I watched Henry train there once in the mid  '60's, when i was 6 years of age. He autographed a photo for me which I still have.