computedshorty

Memories Crystal Palace 1936 One of my first memories was when I was five years old, I was in my back garden, playing with my ten year old brother Ken, and my older brother , Bill who was twelve years old. A neighbour shouted over the garden wall, that a big fire had started, have a look. ? We lived in Dulwich near a very large park. The neighbour said the fire was the other side of the park. As there were houses between us and the park, we couldn?t see, so we went up to the fourth floor of our house to see, but all we could see was smoke. My two brothers, with me in tow, ran through the streets to Dulwich Park. Across the fields, way up above the Dulwich Woods, on the hill, we could see the fire, smoke billowing high in the air, flames reflecting off the glass that covered the Crystal Palace. We could see the two glass towers at each end , with the middle alight with dense smoke. As it was about three miles from where we were, my brothers said that they had better not take me with them to the fire, so we all returned home. The fire burned through that night. The next day we asked our mother if we could go to see what the fire had done, and she agreed provided they kept me close to them. She gave us the money for our fare. We caught the tram from the tram stop a few doors from our home, to Lordship Lane Railway Station, then a train to Crystal Palace High Level Station. When we got off I thought that the station was the Crystal Palace as it was so large with at least ten platforms and a glass covered roof. We climbed up lots of stairs from the Station to the wide road above, across the road were the smouldering remains of the Crystal Palace! There was much confusion , fire engines, hoses, ladders, black water everywhere, people and cars, rows of buses and trams. There was a terrible smell of rubber and horsehair, iron girders sticking up , glued together with the glass that had melted in the heat, then set as it cooled down. Just two high towers stood, something like lighthouses, but the glass had all gone. Between the two all had been burnt. There had been an exhibition of all the goods that had been traded around the world all this and the wooden floor had been burnt, as was the new fire engine on show. This was the very latest, designed to give a great force of water, and was named, ?The Princess of Wales?. Unfortunately, the only water available was on a water tower in the grounds, but this was soon used up. As the Crystal Palace was built at the top of Sydenham Hill, water could not be taken from the fire hydrants in the road , as the pressure was low. Hoses were put into the lakes, in the grounds, where the models of prehistoric Animals, lay half submerged in the water, soon they were left high and dry, as the water pumps drained all the water, through the hoses to the fire, but this did not last long. We moved about the grounds , but could not get near the ruins, the heat was still very hot you could feel it as the wind blew over it in your direction, the smell was the worst, so we went home dirty, dusty, but happy to have seen it, we waited for the train, got the tram, wanting our tea, Mum said ?change your clothes and wash first!? This was my first memory of the Crystal Palace. My next was in 1939 when the Army blew up the two towers, as the second world war had started, it was thought the Towers would be a landmark for German Aircraft. By Shorty aged 5

Have a Peep

Nice ladies

You know you're getting old when... Your Pre Paid Funeral Director phones you daily, one day I did not answer the phone as I was in the shower, I later looked out of the front window to see him placing trafic cones at my curb. A little bit premature?

A recent Card sent. Both sides of #Postcard When traditionally-dressed Tony Appleton, 76, made his announcement on the steps of the Lindo Wing many onlookers thought he had been employed by the Royal Family

Oh I do like to be beside the sea side

You might like a Scots Card

Can you show a card you have been sent?

Is anyone looking at the cards?

This is Fibre Glass insolation not asbestos, but this is still not a good material to use without a mask, and it itches like hell.

Saucy cads

Send a card home

Go to your Advert at botton you will find Edit, click on this, place your cursor behind last letter of advert, tap Backspace to remove each letter,of the advert at this stage yoiu can type item now gone.

Cheek to Cheek

Hi John. My sister married an Italian Novice Priest, that had been in Monty Casino during its seige by the Allied Forces, they met at John Lewis Store in Sloan Square where she worked, he was a Valet that had been sponcered by a large Company to come to England, and lived in Upper Brook Street, when they married it was quite a lift to be living next to Park Lane. We have only called Norberto by his given name, it never crosssed our mind to call him anything else. They now live in Eastbourne, in their mid seventies and eighties.

There was during the Second World War a Cinema show in the Salvation Army Hall in Shawbury Road, it was silent and often broke down, we were seated on long forms and had arrived on our home made wooden scooters, with ball race wheels, and an array of metal bottle tops nailed to the front. We were charged the princely sum of one old Penny and loved the show and howled at the antics of the actors, we enjoyed this attraction to our otherwise fearful life. A Cinema could be an attraction to the area again in the Thomas Hall. BUT. If the show is in the hall as it is, the entry fee can only be compatible to the surroundings. Any money spent on having the hall refurbished, and plush seating provided will never be recovered from the patrons entry fee. The building belongs to the Parish only in the hands of Executors, to use for the benefit of those. Should a Cinema Company try to make it a profitable project, the entry fee will be very high and not attract many who could use it unchanged. I wish it well but do not foresee a future.

You are a Card

My old car used water power where you plugged into the water tap, oh and of course coal.

Don't understand what you are asking. Are you requesting making an appointment for a Surgery? If so we would have to know who are listed there. This would show who attends often and might be a bit invasive on your private life. If an appointment list was made how could it be linked or enforced.

Just looked out in the garden there is motor cyclists driving around my pond they look like they might be Wombels. Are they still about or are they imposters not wanting to be recognised, I am worried as the frogs are out in the grass and I dont want them squashed. The cycles are making a noise now and the nieghbours are looking over the fence. Is there anybody who have had dealings with these? They are clearing up now. The family have come round now.

Post cards of old

You might like to look at this one. http://www.peckham.webs.com/

By the sea side.

The Cheeky Girls?

Still a few left.