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Well fancy that Dave, I will just remember it as it was then I won’t be disappointed!Both my Grans lived in Tolworth so we used to go to Surbiton on the 65 and then get on the trolley opposite the Odeon and get off at the Red Lion..

Ros- 602 and 603 were indeed trolley buses.
Oakhill woods -google Oakhill Grove Surbiton Surrey.

whoops! I don’t know how that happened.

I don’t know Oakhill woods Dave where is it?Were the 602 and 603 trolley buses? Did you ever discover The Sanctuary it was opposite Shalston Villas in Ewell Road I think it is still signposted it is absolutely beautiful there we used to go when I was in the art group at number 35 Ewell road it was a great place to sketch and generally get away from it all,like an oasis of calm. By the way 35 is still there looking very smart now perhaps it should have a blue plaque as Eric Clapton went there!The fishponds is next to Hollyfield Road by the way.

I don’t know Oakhill woods Dave where is it?Were the 602 and 603 trolley buses? Did you ever discover The Sanctuary it was opposite Shalston Villas in Ewell Road I think it is still signposted it is absolutely beautiful there we used to go when I was in the art group at number 35 Ewell road it was a great place to sketch and generally get away from it all,like an oasis of calm. By the way 35 is still there looking very smart now perhaps it should have a blue plaque as Eric Clapton went there!The fishponds is next to Hollyfield Road by the way.

Yes Ros-bang on -Smith and Howard roads were parallel to Browns road. My friend Alan Kemp lived in 37 Berry lands – so I spent a lot of time round there. and school was close by. I remember going to Claremont paddling pol when i was very little -on the 602 or 603- which were the buses I later used to get to school. Never went to fish ponds- Oakhill woods yes!

According to my 1960 map of Kingston and District the three roads leading from Alpha to Ewell roads were Shalston Villas, Richmond Grove and South Place, and then there was Browns Road that went right through to King Charles Road. You must have lived close by to know the area so well,or were you slumming? Did you go to the Fishponds, my mum loved it there, and we also used to go to Claremont gardens and paddle in the pool. I was the youngest, after dad came home from the war, so mum had more time to do things with me while the others were at school.

According to my 1960 map of Kingston and District the three roads leading from Alpha to Ewell roads were Shalston Villas, Richmond Grove and South Place, and then there was Browns Road that went right through to King Charles Road. You must have lived close by to know the area so well,or were you slumming? Did you go to the Fishponds, my mum loved it there, and we also used to go to Claremont gardens and paddle in the pool. I was the youngest, after dad came home from the war, so mum had more time to do things with me while the others were at school.

Alpha road ran from Berrylands parallel to Ewell road. there thrre cul de sacs Smith Howard and Britannia roads coming of Alpha road to toward King Charles road. There were a number of narrow roads leading to Ewell road from Alpha road-the chip shop was in one of these. I remember the little sweet shop run by the midgets -they had runways about 2ft 6 inches above the floor to pu t them at our height. About 1959 one of the locals won £1200 on a quiz show -alot of money in those days and in that area which was a bit rough.

Sorry Dave I don’t remember the fish and chip shop although Keith might,I am sorry to tell you that Alpha road is no more although I do remember a shop down there that was run by a couple of, sorry this is not politically correct,midgets,they used to stand on a wooden box to serve you. I think they pulled it down because it had a bad reputation and it was a blot on the landscape!

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I have a feeling that the afore mentioned Colin Wilcox went to Gladys Dare.Hence his career as th Bisto Boy.Ros I grew up in Hook ah the memories.I have been watching tennis all week,from Wimbledon,I get horrbly home sick for our little corner of North East Surrey at this time of the year.When growing up the weather always seemed so good at the end of June,the evenings were long,you could here the siren song of Surbiton Lagoon,or the Upper Deck ,just by Hampton Court Lock.The only problem was –end of year exams,O levels,A levels.Who could care about studying?

Ros -you took the words out of my mouth- however and paricularly for Cliff -google the old school grounds with trepidation –I nearly wept!!
Ros remember that chip shop in a narrow sideroad between Ewell Road and Alpha Road-run I think by an Irish lady called Mrs Mulvighill?

If anyone is interested you can download Google earth street view free and take a virtual drive around all your old haunts in Surbiton etc, although it should come with a government health warning when you see what they have done to some places! Ewell Road hasn’t changed much though.

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Yes Cliff the Gladys Dare School of Dancing was in Ewell Road, it was a bit posh for us, we went to Kay Stevens in Kingston and later in Hook community centre when I was 16,we wore black leotards with little frilly skirts then(that one is for you Richard)! The path to Surbiton Station is called South Terrace,I can remember pushing my son down there in 1971 ish.

Thanks for the life-line Cliff. I’d hate to have been wrong. Your explanation makes sense – the names Farr and Jolly are inexpicably linked in my mind, with Hook.

It really makes us seem old, when we fondly remember long hot summers.

Peter. Don’t throw in the towel just yet, I think you were the year ahead of me. I started in 1954, and finally left in 1962 after an extra half year in the sixth form, just to get a few qualifications! I think Farr was groundsman at Hook until perhaps 1956 or perhaps a little later, he was pretty ancient by then, a short guy who I’m sure had a bad limp or some other peculiarity when walking. (Incidentally I hadn’t noticed his name mentioned in the earlier posting, so it did come fresh to my mind). Perhaps Jollie was the next one in line.

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well Richard I think you will have to ask Keith(Spud) the answer to that one!

Dave I was at SCGS 1954-1962.3 yrs in 6 th form,I was a late developer.Finally was awarded a a book onprize day 1962 (held in the grounds in the summer,unusually)I still have no ides why I acheived this honour,but Dave Ashwell told me that he overheard some masters sying that I had been at the school for so long that I deserved something.Ros when you mentioned Bonner Hill my 66 year old heart started racing,the girls at that school always seemed so good looking,and a little racy.