Harold Hill: A People's History
Guestbook

Peter R Cheese

My parents rented three houses on the Hill from the period 1954 to 1966. Mum and dad plus my three brothers and sisters lived there constantly from that time.

I remember all the homes being built and have vivid memories of Paynes brook (or is that Paines?) the little stream that runs through the 'Hill.

I can remember when the crews were dynamiting areas of it. There are areas of the 'Hill towards the back side (up by the bear pub) that we commoners always thought of as the "upper crust homes" as they were more expensive then most.

We lived on Brosley Road and on St Neots Road.

I remember the "Adventure Playground" being built on St Neots and winning a prize for gardening in the late 50's at that park. I wonder if the tractor and the boat are still there at the park???? I attended Quarles school way up on the 'Hill - is it still there? - I often wondered if they ever started class reunions I would love to see some folks from my youth. I recall that there was a class for learning about farming for us city folks (mum and dad came from Dagenham). I was also a member of the 1st Harold Hill boy scouts with scout master "bunny" - he is now a biographer for that scout group and others and could be a good resource for info too.

I will add more memories as they come flooding back