Harold Hill: A People's History
Guestbook

John Kemp 

Our Family moved from Southwark, south London to Harold Hill on Coronation Day June 2, 1953 When I was 12 years old. Neighbours that I remember in and around Primrose Crescent just off Clematis Road were Brian Gediking; Brian, Jim and Mary Blunden, the McDermid Family and Michael McQueen in Iris Close; Albert, Dance Dad often mimicked him saying “Crikey It’s My Bowls” with all of his veins showing from his neck; Brian Hamilton, Brian Buzzee, Terry Spurgeon and Pamela Venton - we were due to be engaged until she jilted me for a holiday romance. Pamela worked in Lovables the bra company in Farringdon Avenue.

All the kids in Primrose Crescent always got together and we always played cricket and football over Sextons field in Farringdon Avenue. I have a few photographs of those memories if anybody is interested. Plenty more to talk about too. There was no Secondary School on the Hill so we had to catch the coaches from Camborne Avenue to Pettits Lane. The only shops were Briar Road where we often used to go fishing for newts unforunately a Church was built on it criminal. Brian Mackie and Harry Clow also used to take the Coach to Romford. I used to enjoy cycling along Eastern Avenue to School although it was extemely dangerous. We all used to look forward to the Cricket at Gidea Park where we always saw a County Cricket Game. We saw Frank Tysons debut there for Northants. I was fortunate to gain the autographs of Doug Insole, Paul Gibbs, Trevor Baily, Brian Close and Willie Watson. We often used to play I Spy the Cars when they were caught up in the traffic Jams at the Plough Gallows Corner. From the age of eighteen I often joined my Dad down the Bow and Arrow for a sunday Morning drink with Alfie Evans. Hilldene Avenue and Neots Road and Harrowfields were not built until 1955. In 1964 I got married to a girl from Barnet and moved to Rainham, Essex.