The message
from Aries contains these words:

Looking at the map I can see my primary school - gosh brought back vivid
memories. There was a branch of Abbey National on the corner of North
Street, and opposite a very small branch of Smiths. I wonder if they're
still there?

Well, in my time the 'Smiths' was a stationer called Wolage. On the
corner of North Street and High Street on the other side was Montague
Burton, and above that, the Lucania Billiards Hall.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

The message
from Aries contains these words:
On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:34:38 GMT, Rusty_Hinge wrote:
The message
from Aries contains these words:

I don't remember that Sacha, was that once the cinema ?

The old one might have been, but I don't think so.

The new one was purpose-built.

I used to be a Fiend of Queen's Theatre...

But I remember St
Andrews Church where I was confirmed.

Ah. Rev. Hayden Dymoke?

Nope - further back than that - Bishop somebody or other. I was given a
white New Testament and prayer book at the time which was inscribed by him -
now I must go and have a look see exactly what his name was.

Before? He was there just after the war and until mid-1950s or maybe a
bit longer than that.

I used to sing in the choir at times in those days too.

Ah, in my time it was a *PROPER* church choir - men and boys...

Oh! and one year I
was crowned Queen of the May and had to recite Tennysons Poem about Queen of
the May to crowds of onlookers I have photos somewhere of me, plus
courtiers, and with a flower girl sprinkling rose petals before me, walking
in procession across the road and into that church!

My sister was married there - because the groom's college fire-engine
had put a con-rod through the crankcase, they had to make do with a
veteran car, both side-by-side on this pic.

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/portal/pl...1/19067697.JPG

Now you've got me started lol lol and nothing at all to do with gardening !

Oh, I don't know, there are some nice gardens behind the old library
(can't unforget the name of the house now) the other side of Billet
Lane.

And a pond, so we can link to frogs and toads and stuff.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

The message
from Aries contains these words:
On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:28:33 GMT, Rusty_Hinge wrote:

Saw lots of things there in the old one by the White Hart, and later,
when it moved, on the onetime playing-field between North Street and
Billet Lane.

Gosh the White Hart - there was a chemists opposite ?

Can't remember one. There was Philip Russell Read's chemist just between
Burton's and The Bull - opposite Woolies...

And a toyshop by the bus-stop for Upminster, and beyond the parade of
shops, the cottage George Hurrell and supporters tried so desperately to
save from 'development'.

Wooden be allowed now innit.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

The message
from Aries contains these words:
On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:24:03 GMT, Rusty_Hinge wrote:

Hornchurch?? I grew up in Hornchurch when it was still a village!

Moi aussi.

And Italian was spoken in Billet Lane...

I remember Billet Lane, now why was Italian spoken there?

Fella Bros ice-cream parlour, factory, and fleet of
'stop-me-and-buy-ones' where I worked for a while and rose to the dizzy
heights of 'manager'.

This was a ploy to give me a rise, 'cos it was during the Great Wage Freeze.

Three Directors, a Manager and a Saturday Boy was the staff...

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

On 26/2/09 17:34, in article
, "Rusty_Hinge"
wrote:

The message
from Aries contains these words:

I don't remember that Sacha, was that once the cinema ?

The old one might have been, but I don't think so.

Yes, it was. The old one - the one I worked in - was a cinema at one time.
It was obliquely across the road from a pub which IIRC stood in a sort of
triangle, almost on its own. Left of that was a row of shops where I was
sent every fortnight to borrow props and the shop would get a credit in he
programme - "China by XYZ". The archives said it had no fly tower but I
remember us flying things, so now I'm wondering if a fly tower was built
later than the early archives depict, or whether we just flew roll cloths.
However, I'm not really sure it was the latter because I remember stage
weights being used to fly things in and out. I think! One was dropped and
nearly hit me.
I remember having to gouge the theatre carpenter out of the pub nearby on
several occasions - one memorable occasion being when we couldn't raise the
iron (the safety curtain) and I recall Stephanie Cole playing in one of the
pieces there. Diana Rigg did a Sunday night, too.
I remember the electrician being so drunk-as-a-skunk during the technical
fit up that he just didn't write down every lighting cue and Jane Howell,
who was the director then, went justifiably mad when he missed every one of
them in the technical rehearsal. Just occasionally, I still see some of
those long-ago faces on tv. It's quite a jolt when that happens but fun,
too. I found an old programme in the archives showing my name as a 'walk
on' in a panto and suddenly, all those names came rushing back to me. How
peculiar!

snip
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

On 26/2/09 20:51, in article ,
"Aries" wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:24:03 GMT, Rusty_Hinge wrote:

Hornchurch?? I grew up in Hornchurch when it was still a village!

Moi aussi.

And Italian was spoken in Billet Lane...

I remember Billet Lane, now why was Italian spoken there?

I recall a little restaurant where you could get a superb lunch for 5
shillings. We all went there as often as we could afford to do so. IIRC, it
was on a road that, if you turned right, led up, out of the town to a wooded
area. Does that ring bells?
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

Yes, it was. The old one - the one I worked in - was a cinema at one
time.
It was obliquely across the road from a pub which IIRC stood in a sort of
triangle, almost on its own. Left of that was a row of shops where I was
sent every fortnight to borrow props and the shop would get a credit in
he
programme - "China by XYZ". The archives said it had no fly tower but I
remember us flying things, so now I'm wondering if a fly tower was built
later than the early archives depict, or whether we just flew roll cloths.
However, I'm not really sure it was the latter because I remember stage
weights being used to fly things in and out. I think! One was dropped
and
nearly hit me.
I remember having to gouge the theatre carpenter out of the pub nearby on
several occasions - one memorable occasion being when we couldn't raise
the
iron (the safety curtain) and I recall Stephanie Cole playing in one of
the
pieces there. Diana Rigg did a Sunday night, too.
I remember the electrician being so drunk-as-a-skunk during the technical
fit up that he just didn't write down every lighting cue and Jane Howell,
who was the director then, went justifiably mad when he missed every one
of
them in the technical rehearsal. Just occasionally, I still see some of
those long-ago faces on tv. It's quite a jolt when that happens but fun,
too. I found an old programme in the archives showing my name as a 'walk
on' in a panto and suddenly, all those names came rushing back to me. How
peculiar!

snip
--
Sacha

How interesting we should swing over to the theatre. I was called a couple
of weeks ago by a producer, 'Would I play the part of Thomas Zachary again
in 'Anthony Minghella's 'Two Planks and a Passion'. I played the part in
1993 when Anthony came to see it and I have some wonderful pictures of
Anthony and me back stage. I know his mother and father ever so well and
they are coming to see the production in March.

Small world, or should I say small stage?

Kindest regards

Mike

Ah The smell of the Grease Paint

How interesting we should swing over to the theatre. I was called a couple
of weeks ago by a producer, 'Would I play the part of Thomas Zachary again
in 'Anthony Minghella's 'Two Planks and a Passion'. I played the part in
1993 when Anthony came to see it and I have some wonderful pictures of
Anthony and me back stage. I know his mother and father ever so well and
they are coming to see the production in March.


Sorry, April ;-)

The message
from Sacha contains these words:

I recall a little restaurant where you could get a superb lunch for 5
shillings. We all went there as often as we could afford to do so. IIRC, it
was on a road that, if you turned right, led up, out of the town to a wooded
area. Does that ring bells?

Not really. Can you give slightly more of an idea of the locality, and
how far the wooded area was? After all, Hornchurch stretched N-S from
the Southend Arterial Road practically down to the River Thames, and
from E-W, Dagenham to Ockendon.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

The message
from Sacha contains these words:
On 26/2/09 17:34, in article
, "Rusty_Hinge"
wrote:

The message
from Aries contains these words:

I don't remember that Sacha, was that once the cinema ?

The old one might have been, but I don't think so.

Yes, it was. The old one - the one I worked in - was a cinema at one time.
It was obliquely across the road from a pub which IIRC stood in a sort of
triangle, almost on its own.

Entirely on its own, if you discount the cars parked there.

Left of that was a row of shops where I was
sent every fortnight to borrow props and the shop would get a credit in he
programme - "China by XYZ". The archives said it had no fly tower but I
remember us flying things, so now I'm wondering if a fly tower was built
later than the early archives depict, or whether we just flew roll cloths.
However, I'm not really sure it was the latter because I remember stage
weights being used to fly things in and out. I think! One was dropped and
nearly hit me.

Do you remember (was it) David Donymede?

I remember having to gouge the theatre carpenter out of the pub nearby on
several occasions - one memorable occasion being when we couldn't raise the
iron (the safety curtain) and I recall Stephanie Cole playing in one of the
pieces there. Diana Rigg did a Sunday night, too.

Well thought-of theatre, was yer Queen's.

I remember the electrician being so drunk-as-a-skunk during the technical
fit up that he just didn't write down every lighting cue and Jane Howell,
who was the director then, went justifiably mad when he missed every one of
them in the technical rehearsal. Just occasionally, I still see some of
those long-ago faces on tv. It's quite a jolt when that happens but fun,
too. I found an old programme in the archives showing my name as a 'walk
on' in a panto and suddenly, all those names came rushing back to me. How
peculiar!

Poke a memory with a sharp stick and you never know what else will float up.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

On 27/2/09 09:02, in article ,
"Aries" wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:18:12 +0000, Sacha wrote:

I recall a little restaurant where you could get a superb lunch for 5
shillings. We all went there as often as we could afford to do so. IIRC, it
was on a road that, if you turned right, led up, out of the town to a wooded
area. Does that ring bells?

Oh yes! There was a footpath somewhere thereabouts but being so long ago
now my memory of that area is rather blurred.

Yes - I walked a friend's dog up there sometimes. In answer to Rusty's
question, all I can remember is right out of the theatre and right again.
I'll Google Earth it and see if I can recognise anything now.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

On 27/2/09 09:02, in article ,
"Aries" wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:18:12 +0000, Sacha wrote:

I recall a little restaurant where you could get a superb lunch for 5
shillings. We all went there as often as we could afford to do so. IIRC, it
was on a road that, if you turned right, led up, out of the town to a wooded
area. Does that ring bells?

Oh yes! There was a footpath somewhere thereabouts but being so long ago
now my memory of that area is rather blurred.

Well, I've looked for it on Google Earth and I think it must have been up
Station Lane - looks as if it's all built over now.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

The message
from Aries contains these words:
On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:18:12 +0000, Sacha wrote:

I recall a little restaurant where you could get a superb lunch for 5
shillings. We all went there as often as we could afford to do so.
IIRC, it
was on a road that, if you turned right, led up, out of the town to
a wooded
area. Does that ring bells?

Oh yes! There was a footpath somewhere thereabouts but being so long ago
now my memory of that area is rather blurred.

There was the Queens Café, and another one just down a sideroad by the
church hall, both in or close to Billet lane, but I used to get a meal
there for half a crown...

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

On 26/2/09 23:45, in article
, "Rusty_Hinge"
wrote:

The message
from Sacha contains these words:
On 26/2/09 17:34, in article
, "Rusty_Hinge"
wrote:

The message
from Aries contains these words:

I don't remember that Sacha, was that once the cinema ?

The old one might have been, but I don't think so.

Yes, it was. The old one - the one I worked in - was a cinema at one time.
It was obliquely across the road from a pub which IIRC stood in a sort of
triangle, almost on its own.

Entirely on its own, if you discount the cars parked there.

Yes, I've seen it now on Google Earth!

Left of that was a row of shops where I was
sent every fortnight to borrow props and the shop would get a credit in he
programme - "China by XYZ". The archives said it had no fly tower but I
remember us flying things, so now I'm wondering if a fly tower was built
later than the early archives depict, or whether we just flew roll cloths.
However, I'm not really sure it was the latter because I remember stage
weights being used to fly things in and out. I think! One was dropped and
nearly hit me.

Do you remember (was it) David Donymede?

Don't remember the name but it was across the road from the theatre and in
the High St, opposite the other façade of the pub.

I remember having to gouge the theatre carpenter out of the pub nearby on
several occasions - one memorable occasion being when we couldn't raise the
iron (the safety curtain) and I recall Stephanie Cole playing in one of the
pieces there. Diana Rigg did a Sunday night, too.

Well thought-of theatre, was yer Queen's.

Yes, it had a very good reputation. I think when Jane Howell left there she
went on to work at the Royal Court Theatre.

I remember the electrician being so drunk-as-a-skunk during the technical
fit up that he just didn't write down every lighting cue and Jane Howell,
who was the director then, went justifiably mad when he missed every one of
them in the technical rehearsal. Just occasionally, I still see some of
those long-ago faces on tv. It's quite a jolt when that happens but fun,
too. I found an old programme in the archives showing my name as a 'walk
on' in a panto and suddenly, all those names came rushing back to me. How
peculiar!

Poke a memory with a sharp stick and you never know what else will float up.

It's going back an awfully long way - about 45 years which seems horrifying!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

On 27/2/09 09:51, in article
, "Rusty_Hinge"
wrote:

The message
from Aries contains these words:
On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:18:12 +0000, Sacha wrote:

I recall a little restaurant where you could get a superb lunch for 5
shillings. We all went there as often as we could afford to do so.
IIRC, it
was on a road that, if you turned right, led up, out of the town to
a wooded
area. Does that ring bells?

Oh yes! There was a footpath somewhere thereabouts but being so long ago
now my memory of that area is rather blurred.

There was the Queens Café, and another one just down a sideroad by the
church hall, both in or close to Billet lane, but I used to get a meal
there for half a crown...

There was a Chinese restaurant in Station Lane (I think) - first place I
ever ate Chinese!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online