Rolls Road Coaches

Hi Baconboy
Yes I remember the coaches going off in the summer from Rolls Road. They were Banfield coaches.
We called them charabangs (however, not the correct spelling just our bermondsey pronounciation!).
We went to Ramsgate for about seven years running. Stayed with a Mrs Higgingbottom! I remember it took ages to get there. There was always a hold up at the bridge in Maidstone (still is to this day a traffic jam there). We used to have  a stop off on the way and had our crisps and lemonade. What used to annoy me was we always had to stop off first at Margate and then on to Ramsgate. Starting out at 9 and not getting their until after midday. I loved going to Margate and Ramsgate. This summer I went to see a film in Margate and it was all about when we used to go there for our holidays. Hundreds of people on the beaches. Men with their trousers turned up and overcoats over their arms! Have pictures taken there of my dad walking along with tea on a tray. Bermondsey people loved their tea. Mum used to buy me a new bucket and spade each year and each year I was made to give them to a child on the beach who my mother thought less advantaged on the last day. As you say Rolls Road now dreary.
I used to love that brick wall down there. We could play ball up against it. Happy days. Now Tesco rules.

They can take away our arms and legs, but they can't take away our memories.
I remember boarding a coach in Rolls Road on a hot summer's morning in June, 1958, on my way to see the Epsom Derby with my mum and dad. I was eleven years old at the time. The Derby in those days was run on a Wednesday, so on the Monday of that week I had to take a note from my mum in to school asking for the day off. I will never forget that day. Even at that age I was interested in horse racing, having for years been my granddad's 'runner,' taking his bets down to the street corner bookie. Until then of course I'd only seen horse racing in black and white, on our old tv set, but seeing it live on Epsom Downs in all its colourful glory was an amazing experience..... And my dad backed the winner! A horse appropriately called, 'Hard Ridden,' owned by Sir Victor Sassoon and ridden by Charlie Smirk. The generous odds of 18-1 not only paid for the day out, but a fish and chip supper at the end of it as well.

Some good old times there by sounds of it.
How about posting some of your pictures of dad with the teas?

I can still hear the kids laughing with excitement whenever I pass that way. Lovely times, where has it all gone? Who sold us all out?

Love to all.
Baconboys

Unfortunately, photos are something I have precoius little of. But I do have the racecard from that wonderful day at Epsom in June, 1958..... Priceless.

Hi Bacon Boys
Yes I could post a photo of my dad with the tea. Harrisons in Ramsgate was the restaurant where everyone went to get the tea and have their dinner. This summer Margate showed some wonderful old films about Dreamland etc which I went to see. Very nostalgic. I loved the bingo caller who more or less sang out the numbers very fast. Also here in Tunbridge Wells they have been showing some Margate films. As you say what has happened. Well my son came round this morning to show me where he is going to on holiday in the Maldives. Times really have changed and we didnt have the money to go to the Maldives. However, when he was a child I used to take him to Palm Bay near Margate and then in the evening went on to Dreamland after having our fish and chips. Only thing missing was that magical coach ride from Rolls Road. I nearly typed Rolls Royce then! If you can explain to me how to get the photo onto the site in user friendly details I will only be too happy to sort out the picture.

Hi Bermondsey Girl,

If you click on upload files in the left hand corner, then make sure to add the file where the picture is = say in picture file. Double click the photo and click upload file it should be ok.

I love the old pictures.

Any problem let me know and I will try to help.

Hi Bermondsey girl(kathlean Lunney) it was great waiting for the coach and when you arrived at the coast(seaside) you couldnt get back on till 5 o clock no matter what the weather. We always took sandwiches with us but they always tasted of sand. I used to like Margate best because bof Dreamland. Went to Maragte a couple of years ago its changed so much to how I remebered it all looked so shabby.I also remember all the teachers you mentioned at Mina Rd although I dint stay  on and left at 15

Hi Doreen
You were right to leave Walworth at 15 as I hated my last year at school. Whose class were you in.
Yes I liked Dreamland. When my boys were young I used to drive them to Palm Bay which is just outside Margate as there was a grass verge at the top where you could eat your sandwiches without the sand getting in them. Then after being on the beach I used to take them to Dreamland.
I too was in Margate recently. Best thing there is Primark now.  Broadstairs is still nice. We always stayed in Ramsgate when I was a child but you could get the bus to Margate, Ramsgate, Dover and Folkestone. I always to remember the coaches in Ramsgate taking you to different places. They had what the called a mystery tour but it was always to the lavender fields so not a mystery at all.

Hi Bermondsey girl when I left Mina Rd I was in Mrs Rosentile class are you the same girl I used to play with in Earl Rd along with about 5 other girls

I remember the mystery tour at Ramsgate - we stayed with the bus driver for B&B It rained every day so we ended up on his bus doing the mystery tour.

Was the mystery tour to the lavender fields. Where they sold the perfume and the lavender. I always bought some lavender and made little bags of fragrance with it. Those were the days.

Regarding the coaches from Rolls Road I can remember going on them with my mum and dad then when I was 16 going with my friend Pam on holiday to Ramsgate.  On Coronation Day Pam and I took ourselves off for the day to Ramsgate as in my house my dad had bought a television just in time for the coronation, my mum worked at Alma School as a cleaner and so was able to borrow some benches and we had 30 relatives descend on our house to watch the event  I made my self scarce. I did go to see it (in colour) at the cinema later.
Milly

I think we did go into some flowery place, some sort of garden I think.

I think we went to an old Viking Ship as well but not sure.

I remember the bus was a double decker green and cream I think.

We also used to visit Herne Bay sometimes on the Rolls Road coaches. There was the best cockel stall ever there. The man would clean out all the welks. I do the same myself today, you want to see how much of the pint gets thrown away!

Then there was the Dymchurch to Dungeness miniture railway. People used to use it to commute to work.

Cor Milly you must go back a bit I was only 5 on coronation day and I'm 62 now! God Bless You.

Sorry to stray a bit off-topic here.
I was six years old at the time of the Coronation and I remember it like it was yesterday. The build up to it had everybody in a patriotic frenzy. It was the country's first real opportunity to let its hair down after the war and forget about the austerity of the time following WW2. Virtually every house down our road had photos of the queen and Prince Phillip in their windows, as did most of the local shops . My nan made herself a nice few bob by making red, white and blue carnations from crepe paper. They were in great demand locally. She couldn't make them quick enough. Shame that on the day itself it rained. So typical of early June. Our planned street party was quickly re-routed to the top rooms of the local pub. I can remember spilling a cup of tea down my new white shirt and being taken home to change.

Hi Baconboys
That Viking ship you spoke of is still in Thanet today. It used to be at Pegwell Bay I think when we were young. I too visited Herne Bay on an excursion from Ramsgate but it wasnt on a Banfield Coach it was one in Ramsgate itself. On the prom in Ramsgate were lots of coaches all with boards saying where they were going and prices. We went to Folkestone races once. This summer I visited my friend who lives in Deal and she took me to a hotel in Margate where they were showing cine films of Margate and Ramsgate in the old days. You can probably find on the internet videos of Dreamland Margate etc. if you want a bit of nostalgia. I loved the bingo and the fast pace when they shouted the numbers - added to the excitement. It was all on the old videos that were shown. My friend couldnt believe how popular Ramsgate and Margate was with Londoners as it isnt like that now. Cant find that photo of my dad with the tea walking along the prom at Ramsgate. This winter I am determined to sort out my photos and put them in some sort of order. I can remember Merry England in Ramsgate where there were penny machines. Can remember getting on the coach back to Rolls Road and a lady said to my mum why are you so tanned and your daughter still white. Mum said shes been in Merry England most of the time. Can remember the song Diana by Paul Anka being played aloud along the seafront in Ramsgate.

Hi Bermondsey Girl,

Did you play the film stars on the penny slots machines by the pier?
Diana Dors 2d up to Ava Gardner 12d - even to this day I rank film stars with the penny slot ratings! 

Southend and the Motor Boats where for about 2/6 you could jet about for 15 mins. I loved the petrol smell.

Smells of Bermondsey: Sarson's Vinigar - Crosse and Blackwell pickels - Hartley's Jam and Peak Freans custard Creams.

All you smell today is curry, big macs and pizzas.

Come back smells all is forgiven!!

Hi Baconboys
You have brought back memories. Yes I can remember the film star slot machines. My dads favourite machine was the laughing sailor. He used to really laugh at it.I can also remember buying bubble gum called Dollar (it was pink and we said it was American)which had pictures inside of various filmstars. I think there were about 52 different cards to collect. I never got the complete set! You could blow big bubbles with it. Can also remember the smell of beer on Sundays and Sunday Roast! Can remember buying cidar from the off licence by the pub in Rolls Road and taking off my socks to purchase it (cant remember the pubs name) Then we went into the telephone box to drink it. Obviously thinking nobody could see us.Its ok I havent turned into an alcoholic.

Yes, remember the bubble gums alright. Gregery Peck's picture smelt of strawbery peppermint, every time I see a film of him the smell comes back! 

Do you recall the beer  lollies? They were a bit like shandy or cider. I went in a sweet shop by satchell road and ask for a beer lolly - I was told me to go next door - I did and it was a pub!

YZ chewing gum machines were every where too.

I also remember the Dollor chewing gum i am sure they didnt print all the photos as i never managed to get the full set dont matter how much i swapped. Did uou mean the Beech Nut chewing gum machines when if you were lucky every so often   you got two packets, Do you remember going to the sweet shop and getting the crumbs of the coconut ice and the chippie where you got the crackling i used to go to the one at the bottom of Dunton Bridge and Grange Rd.