Trivia
There is a commonly held myth (perpetuated by Rudyard Kipling) that the name Teddington derives from the phrase “Tides End Town” but this is incorrect.
It actually got its name from an Old English tribal chief. The Saxon in question was almost certainly called Tedd, the ‘ton’ part means settlement. Since these times it has also been called Todyngton and Tutington.
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If you’ve ever wondered why there seem to be a lot of helicopters flying low over Teddington then the answer is more mundane than you might think.
To keep Helicopters out of the way of major airports and generally over open spaces or the Thames wherever possible (in case of engine troubles), helicopter ‘corridors’ have been designated that you can view here.
Teddington happens to be right under the path of the H3 route – a popular one that transports passengers from central London out to Heathrow and further afield.
Twin-engine helicopters such as Chinooks are allowed to stray off these pre-designated routes because they can land even with just one engine. What is the destination for the Chinooks that are seen flying over Teddington? Now that would be telling.
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If you run in the park and have ever been passed effortlessly by a group of very professional-looking runners, don’t despair – it’s probably the group of world-class athletes that live and train in Teddington.
The group known locally as the “Teddington Kenyans” share a house for the northern hemisphere’s warmer half of the year. They use this base to train locally in Bushy Park and fly to compete in professional long distance races in the US and Europe.
Their choice of location is a combination of ease of airport access, proximity to London for occasional sight-seeing (when their strict routine allows) and the excellent training ground that Bushy Park provides. The park also provides the closest match to some of their training grounds back home with open and flat grassy plains.
The fastest man in the world Usain Bolt has also used Teddington as a base to train and complete for the last two summers.
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The WWII ‘Dambusters’ bouncing bomb was tested at the NPL.
A 670ft long water tank that was used to test the devices has only recently been demolished as part of the re-development of the NPL campus. During the war, workers in the top secret project used to plunge into the water at the end of a hard days work to cool off.
Barnes Wallis, the inventor of the modern bouncing bomb, gained permission to run tests at the NPL grounds and despite the superintendent of the ship tank telling him to “stop playing the fool and go do something useful for the war“, his successful scale-model tests were shown to the Air Staff to show the how the ingenious bomb design skipped over torpedo nets and then ‘clung’ to the dam wall as it sank, allowing it to explode at the weakest point underwater.
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When the first train-lines were being built out of London, rich Kingston residents thought that the town was too high-class to have a railway through it so instead it was routed through Surbiton.
Later when they realised that they were missing out on the commerce and convenience of the railway boom, the ‘loop’ was added to the network that now links Kingston, Teddington, Twickenham & Richmond etc all the way back to Waterloo.
If it wasn’t for this decision, Teddington might have a much faster train route into Waterloo and out to the countryside.
The particular stretch of track that includes Teddington was completed in 1863. Soon after followed the house-building boom that shaped the suburb that we recognise today.
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Hit comedy series The Office was filmed in a real office next to Teddington Studios.
This was later occupied by Haymarket Publishing (publishers of Autosport, Stuff, MediaWeek, What Car/Hi-Fi? etc). Visitors to the office often experience a double-take when they enter the 4th floor and get an eerie feeling they have been there before.
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Monty Pythons Flying Circus’ Fish Slapping Dance was filmed at Teddington lock. Cleese’s particularly vicious slap from the large halibut throws Palin into the largest lock.
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Fans of Simon Peggs cult-hit comedy series Spaced might recognise the cafe in episode 1, “Getting to know you” scene where Tim and Daisy’s friendship blossoms and they decide to rent a flat together.
This was filmed in Diners Delight on Church Road. The interior shots for the series were filmed at nearby Twickenham Studios.
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Down’s syndrome as it is known today was named in honour of the doctor that first fully recognised the condition: John Haydon Langdon-Down
His medical career brought him to London where he acquired Normansfield House on Kingston Road which he turned into a private home and school for people with learning disabilities. Residents were cared for and learned life skills like dressing, feeding and cooking. The considerable site was self-sufficient – with vegetables grown to feed residents but this gave way to various new buildings and caring methods over the years, especially since the hospital joined the NHS in 1951.
Much of the original hospital building is now derelict and has fallen into disrepair with some notable exceptions especially the theatre wing which still contains original painted scenery and extravagant Victorian fixtures and fittings.
The Langdon Down Centre Trust now own and maintain the theatre after being refurbished and handed over by Laing Homes in 2003. The house-building company developed a considerable part of the rest of the site into high-spec dwellings now known as Langdon Park. The theatre venue and other rooms are available for filming and general hire through the trust. There is also a small Dr Langdon museum situated in basement containing medical papers and photographs which is viewable by appointment.
Langdons heritage continues with the national headquarters of the Down Syndrome Association being situated on the top floor of one of the old buildings.
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Benny Hill lived in a small flat on Twickenham Road – walking distance from where his popular TV show was filmed at Teddington Studios.
Teddington born Noel Coward (1899-1973) left a sizeable contribution to the arts and could name amongst his talents: actor, dramatist, filmmaker, director, author and composer.
Alan Turing who is considered to be the “father of modern computer science”, worked at the NPL from 1945-47 where he worked on the first designs for the worlds first stored-program computer.
His work during the war at Bletchley Park was instrumental in breaking German ciphers and helping the Allied war effort. Most will recognise his name from the Turing Test which is a series of questions designed to test a machines ability to display intelligence (or fool humans into thinking they are talking to another human).
Both Keira Knightley and Julian Clary were also born in Teddington.
Andi Peters can often be seen keeping trim at Fitness First and former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry is often spotted enjoying a local cafe or running in the park.
Have you spotted Johnny Depp in the area? Probably not, it’s far more likely that you have seen a resident of Hampton who is a professional Johnny Depp look-a-like, frequently spotted in the area and causing much confusion.
Hello,
I keep seeing a famous actress walking along High Street. I don’t know her name, or what she’s been in, but she’s probably in her 70s/80s and is very glamerous! Does anyone know who she is?
Me too! every time I see her I recognise the face – but can’t put a name to her. Seems like she often appears in Agatha Christie -type programmes as an elegant and refined lady.
The actress could be Marcia Ashton who appeared in many rogrammes including Brookside and Doctors
Yes, it is Marcia Ashton- I’ve just Googled her. Thank you- mystery solved!
A ha! Marcia, friend of TCS [link].
As I said before the Actress could be Marcia Ashton who appeared in many programmes including Brookside abd Doctors
Other famous residents include actress Amanda Root, Oscar winning screen writer Colin Welland (‘The British are coming!’) and in Strawberry Hill Keely Hawes and Matthew MacFadyen.
Lefty,
Have you ever bumped into them or have you just heard of them living there?
Thanks for your reply.
Natan
Bumped into them….several times
Hello,
I keep seeing a famous man walk down the highstreet. And I can’t think who he is, but Im assuming its from tv. He must be in his 70’s and grey hair combed back. Any ideas!?
Hi Fiona, it’s not Sean Gilder is it? He has greyish hair and is seen in the area a lot. No where near his 70s yet though!
Does anyone have wartime or postwar photos of the Rotunda torpedo testing facility inside Bushy Park? Please email: rsg64@hotmail.co.uk
The late Norman Newell(Mother in ‘The Avengers),the Late Roger Delgado(the original Master in Dr Who),Late actor Norman Bird and Tommy Steele all once lived in Teddington
Norman Newell’s neighbour in Anlaby Road was Russell Waters, a big star in 30s/40s films. His daughter was a floor manager at Thames, and his son John Waters is a big star in Australian film and TV. Lucy Alexander, presenter of Homes under the Hammer is also a resident. Bending the rules slightly, Rob Brydon lives between Tedders and Strawberry Hill.
Roger Delgado used to live in either a white cottage, or a cottage called ‘The White Cottage’ does anyone know if ‘The White Cottage’ exists?
yes it does exist its just before the junction of north lane in park lane on the right if you walk towards npl
The actor Dave Stern used to live in Stanley Gardens Road
York Road,Victor Road and Stanley Gardens Road are not straight.When they were built they were alongside farm field.The reason for the crooked roads is that the ploughs were pulled by horses and furrows were S shaped as the horses could not turn as sharply a modern tractors.
Hi
Can across this wonderful website. Can you tell me the old name of York Rd and when it changed it’s name? I understand it was something like Victoria, May or Florence Rd (girl’s name), before it became York Rd
Hi Lee,
I can’t find any old online maps that give enough detail to know officially when, but someone else has looked into this and it sounds as though it was called Florence Road before it was renamed.
It was still called Florence Road in 1894 but not sure when it actually changed.
http://www.martinhwatson.co.uk/1894_maps.html
R.D.Blackmore was asked to be the Godfather of Noel Coward but he declined.He died soon after the Christening.Perhaps he knew he could not fulfill the tasks of a Godfather.Who knows?
The Bushey Park boat swings were originally run by my great-great grandfather.He was given permission to have these swings as a business in a Royal park.My great uncle Wilfred was the last to run the swings.They were dismantled when he passed away
Don’t you mean William Bishop, known as Uncle Will to his family?
Probably,He was a very quiet gentle person
Which Bishops lived in Park rd Teddington
Robert
Gill,as I mentioned,I am a member of that Bishop family.
Clive, pleased to hear of you. Did you ever see the swings or were you too young when the contract stopped? Did you know the Wills siblings? Should I ask who your grandparents were. George and Christina were my great grand parents and so I gather you are the next generation.
Best wishes for the New Year. Gill
My grandfather was Fred Bishop.I cannot remember his wife’s name.Their children were Fred( married Florrie Stanley),Maud(married Bob Pettit)Florence(married Sonny Duffel)May (married Fred Johnson) Gladys(married Harry Sharman) and my father Harry who married Florrie Potts.
My great-great grand parents had five boys and all served in the First World War and all came back(this fact was very rare)Great-great grandmother Bishop(Scottish born) lived to 104 years.The right to operate the swings on Crown Land was given in Victorian Times.The amount of work required to bring the swings up to more modern standards would have been very expensive and vandalism would have been a problem.
What is the weather like today there in Teddington? It is snowing here in Pennsylvania where I live. Is this the town where the Benny Hill show was taped? Did you know Benny Hill? I hear people say he died a very lonely man. Is that true? I would like to read a good biography of his life. Could anyone please recommend one? Thank you.
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I live in Nova Scotia Canada and we about to get a big snow storm from USA.I lived in Teddington from 1945 to 1986.Benny hill show was taped in Teddington under the old Thames TV franchise.Only those who knew him could say if he was a lonely man.
Toomy Steele use to live there in the 60`s
What school did you go to? I was born in 1945 22 st Winifred’s road teddington , my brother went to st marks ( Gary Weaver ) and i Stephen Weaver went to stanley road , also in hampton wick ,my grand farther had building contractors E WEAVER AND SONS , do you remember the family name???????
My mother used to take my brother and to the swings in Bushey Park most Sunday afternoons in the fifties.We used to have a picnic with my great uncle and his wife.We stopped going when it was about 1958.There was a nearby building(since burned down)where food and drinks were on sale.
It’s important to mention the bouncing bomb being tested at Teddington [although some still maintain that it actually happened at the tanks in Feltham], however just yards from the NPL is the site where most of D-day was planned. Is there a section on the US occupation?
Hi Tony, there’s a mention of Barnes Wallis’s NPL work above but nothing specific about Eisenhower’s base just yet. Shame that the testing tanks were demolished only a few years ago with the NPL redevelopment around Bushy House.
More detailed history pages might be in the making this year (also need to do a history of R. D. Blackmore’s association with Teddington too!).
There is a pretty good audio tour you can download of the American base (along with a few others) if you haven’t already.
Bushy Park Heritage Trails – The Yanks are Here! by The Royal Parks
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/bushy-park-heritage-trails/id284674368?mt=2
Hi I know its a long time since you left this post but would like to tell you that my Grandfather worked at Teddington labs when the bouncing bomb was being tested, he actually met Mr Barnes.
A large crowd visited Bushey Park during the war to witness exhibition bouts by the champion boxer Joe Louis who was on active service and used Eisenhower’s base.
The American base,after the war,had an annual open day.There were many famous people who visited the camp.In the late 50s I saw Jane Mansfield,who was the guest of honour
Hello Clive
Hope you are well.
Remember me, Ada’s boy Trevor, Victor Road.
I have been in touch with the Headmaster at the Broom Road School Teddington who is hoping to have a reunion on the 15th September 2012 also to mark the 50th anniversary of the school there having vacated Stanley Road School in July 1962. It is quite possible that Mr Tickle (Music Teacher ) might be there. It would be great to see you and as many other school chums and old teachers that be still be alive and kicking or giving the ‘slipper’!
Trevor
Trevor I was talking to one of my old teachers from broom road 3 days ago, do you remember John Andrews? Mr Tickle passed away in January but Mr Sibley is still alive and is in his nineties now.
I do not remember John Andrews but remember Mr Jim Tickle and Mr Ron Sibley.They were both good teachers.Mr Sibley’s mother-in-law,Mrs Wiseman lived across the road from us in Stanley Gardens Road.
You probably saw Jim Tickles slipper called “Cyril” which used to reside on Mr Tickles Piano, you knew you were in trouble when Mr Tickle played the death march on the piano! Lol
Mr M c Donough,Sir
I remember Mr Tickle very well,I was at Stanley Road School,from 1957 to 1961,my form teacher was Mr Darlison,Mr Miles taught english Miss Rutter dance, Mr Cronk Science, and Mr Kelly,woodwork I have tried to get a photo of the boys from my old form 4 d,but I have not found one yet,if you have any information on the subject I would like to hear from you,and any other old boys from the school.
Edward A Reeves
Hi
I was at Teddington Boys 1974 to 1979. Remember Jim Tickle Ron Sibley and John Andrews. John Andrews was an English teacher but didn’t actually teach me. I played cricket for the school and John Andrews ran the Worcester Park CC Colts whom we played every year. Jim Tickle of course was the Music teacher and I preformed in a number of school pantomimes that he produced.
Other names I can remember are
Mr Davies History
Mr Vasali Geography
Mr Neale Gerography
Mr McSorley, Humphrys and Hammond all PE/Sport
Mrs Biondi Art
Miss York French
Mr Van der Syl English
Miss Ramsey Maths
Can probably think of more!!!
Graham
Hi I saw Mr Andrews when I went to view the newly built school and I saw him again when I was rewiring my friends Butchers shop in Bookham in surrey, the urge was still there to ca him “sir ” even though I am now 55 lol, he has a fantastic memory and remembered me from school, I thought he was bluffing until he reeled off a load of facts.
Me Tickle died about 2 years ago and my derrière will never forget Cyril his slipper which he kept on his piano, you knew you were in for it when mr tickle played the death march?
Batty Biondi was my art teacher
Mr Vasalli was my form tutor
Ron Sibley is still alive
Sandal- Clarke was my French teacher, I didn’t think much of him to be honest, do you remember “Bomber” Bowyer? A lovely teacher and it was revealed at his funeral that he was a true war hero.
Graham I remember your name. My brother Philip was at school with you!
Hello Trevor,it was good to hear from you.I never went to the Broom Road school and left school a year before the move.I doubt if get to come over to England(I live in Canada)I remember Jim Tickle but I wonder how many of the old teacher are still with us. Clive
Hello Clive
Do you remember when Honor Blackman was at Stanley Road School when she was in the Avengers with Ian Hendry in 1961 ? I got Ian Hendry’s autograph on a photo (which I still have) but too embarrassed at the time to ask Honor Blackman for her autograph.
Cheers
Trevor
Hello Trevor, I did not get to see Honor Blackman nor Ian Hendry. There are many fans of Benny Hill over here.Before the supermarkets were open on Sunday,Benny used to go to Tesco’s at 4.30 on a Saturday to buy the meat which was 1/2 price after 4.30 as the shop was closed the following day.I have told many over here about his frugal ways even though he was a millionaire.He either walked or caught public transport as he never took a driving test.He lived in digs until about the last 5 years of his life when he then bought a flat near the river. All the best Clive
When I was about 12,we had a school visit to the NPL. We were able to play Noughts and Crosses with a computer.The computer always went first and always won.We thought that it was absolutely incredible that a machine could do this. By today’s standards of computing,this event is trivial but in the 1950s this was quite remarkable.
My mother worked on the telephone exchange at Bushy Park during the war years and once told me (I think) that they landed small planes on a strip along the length of the road that runs through it. Does anyone know if this is true?
Hi Bob, Royal Parks have dug out some information and photos for you – pic1, pic2
The airstrip was set away from the camp buildings, along where the children’s playground can now be found:
Thanks. Really interesting and helpful. I was pretty certain she said there was an air strip. I just couldn’t think where 😉
I live in Pennsylvania in the USA and I love watching Benny Hill. I often wonder where he filmed his outdoor skits. Were they filmed in Teddington? thanks!
Some of Benny Hill skits were filmed in Thorpe Park,an amusement park just west of London. On the highway,the M3,this park is in view to the north of the highway about 20 miles from Teddington.
For years the traditional place where we filmed hours of Benny locations was the grounds of Normansfield, which was a location manager’s dream. Not only did it have a beautiful period theatre, but the grounds had a new, completely different place round every corner. In production, your aim is many shots from the same area, particularly if it’s a short distance from the studios! If you look through location footage from Thames shows from the 70s/80s, all areas around Teddington/Twickenham/Richmond, etc. are frequently featured. We did move Benny filming to Thorpe Park later on, but I never really found out why- perhaps they offered us a good deal, or Benny wanted a change. His show was beginning to sell all over the world, so maybe we indulged him.
Thank you for this information. I am a very big fan of Benny Hill and I have been very curious about where he shot many of his outdoor skits. This has been helpful. Do you know of any websites that might have pictures of the sites or even backstage shots? Did Benny live in Teddington? You say “we” in your response. I take it you worked on the show?
Anyway, thank you again and please let me know where I can find pictures of anything to do with the show.
Yes Benny lived in Teddington, a short walk down the road from the studios where the show was filmed. This is sadly where he died as well.
In his single “Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)”, Ernie had a rival “Two-tonne Ted from Teddington” who drove the bakers van!
The actress Christine Norden and her husband lived in Teddington. She died in Isleworth, aged 63, from pneumonia following heart bypass surgery. Her widower was George Heselden, a retired mathematician who used to work for the Ministry of Defence. Actress June Mitchell (1933–2009) was Norden’s sister. Following her death, part of the planet Venus was named after her in 1988, as a tribute to her reputation of Britain’s first postwar sex symbol.
Many of the outside shots for Benny Hill Shows, all the chases and jokes were filmed in the early eighties at the Grange and Eastley end house, near Thorpe. Not Thorpe Park. I was Head Gardener there.
Then one year the TV crew built an entire western town on the edge of Thorpe Park. Benny Hill stayed in an old Bedford CF camper van at the edge of the roadside. ( no costs or security then; note) and he came out only when he was ready to shoot the scenes.
This annual visit always happened for three weeks in September each year, needless to say all the mens noses were pushed very hard against any adjacent windows as the owners watched the scantily clad ” Angels” run round the grounds chasing Mr Hill !
Me being very young, it all seemed so innocent and so natural.
The famous BBC comedian Frank Muir lived in Thorpe Village as well, but never came to see Benny; as far as I knew.
I used to go to Teddington secondary school and had to walk past Nomansfield hospital on the way home to where I lived in Glamorgan road, many a time we saw the filming of the show whilst looking over the fence at normansfield hospital, we saw a western set built into the grounds and on another occasion there was an icecream van on one of the sets being filmed, Benny hill saw us looking over the fence and immediately sent ice creams over to us.
Benny Hill also lived in a flat in Queens Gate, South Kensington, which is a nice residence if one can afford it. It has a blue plaque… I passed it by with curiosity.
My grandmother knew Benny Hill very well (he used to lodge in her boarding house when he was young and doing theatre work), and over the years we visited him on a couple of occasions at his flat in Kensington. I can confirm that it was very nice place indeed!
Strange fate that I ended up working in Teddington (having been brought up on the Kent coast), used to chat on and off to Benny when we met in the street.
I understand Annette Crosby used to live in Anlaby Road in Teddington.
Two or three years ago I regularly used to see Thomas Lockyer (played Tom, Siobhan’s lover in Mistresses, Series 1) in Tesco in Teddington. Don’t know if he lives/lived here?
Anyone know any history about the land which Teddington youth club was built? Scamps has been there 21 years and would like a reunion and a display of the land and buildings history.
What happened to the boat swings in Bushey Park?
The right to operate the swings on Crown Land was given in Victorian Times.The amount of work required to bring the swings up to more modern standards would have been very expensive and vandalism would have been a problem.
The history of the boat swings is in the Kew Records Office and my cousin and I have copies of the documents relating to the annual contract given to George Bishop and subsiquently to his wife Christina and their sons who maintained them until at least 1950. The swings were stored in the Pheasantry at the end of each season. Bushey Park is locked after dusk so vandalism would have been an unlikely event. The sons became too old to manage the business and the reasons for the swings which was to offer holiday entertainment and fun to London’s poor children, possibly became overtaken by more awareness of the problems after the early 1950’s and other holidays were arranged. Not quite sure about the latter comment.
When my great grandfather Bishop started the swings his wife was the financial brains(she was the lady to live to over 100)I do not know about now, but pedestrians could get through the small gates even though the large gates were closed at night for traffic.The number 27 bus used to run from Highgate,through the park and terminate at the railway station across the Thames from Hampton Court.When the park was closed the bus stopped at Teddington station.
Hello Gill,I do not know if you know but Dennis Bishop(part of the family) designed the double egg cup,
Hello Clive, We all got to know about the egg cup and still spot them around in ‘antique’ outlets. Great! It has been said that Dennis has the family bible which records the family births and deaths. Not sure where that idea originated. My aunt used to see him in Teddington from time to time. I live in Suffolk now but visit family who all still live Hampton Hill and there abouts. Your grandmother’s name was Mabel. They had a daughter named after her which was possible shortened to May but also Florence had a middle name May.
Our family lived in Park Road not far from Teddington Station. It was all very countryfied in their early days. Fields all the way to the Park gates. I remember the American forces still being in the Park after the war.
Great grandma (Bishop) was a week short of 104 when she died. Many newspaper cuttings about her still in the family collections.
Businesses in the Royal Park were managed by the Ministry of Works in the old days. That is why the records are still kept at Kew.
There was an actor, by the way, who was a lodger at my grandmother’s house in Park Road. Will try and find out who he was.
Gill
Hello Gill,my brother has the family Bible and he now lives in Hampshire.
If you are looking up the family tree I do have to tell you that the Bishop family who lived in Vicarage Road near the swimming pool are only distantly related.My grand parents moved to Stanley Gardens Road around 1910 when my father was a baby and I was the last Bishop to live there and left in 1986.The great uncle who ran the swings lived in Waldergrave Road near what used to be the Horse and Groom Pub.It was a pizza bar the last time I was in Teddington in 2004. Great grandmother’s maiden name was Cox and she was Scottish and great grandfather Bishop came from the Chilton Hills.
Happy New year to the Bishop family and everyone else.Clive Bishop
Christina Bishop’s maiden name was McCallum and her father was Henry. Of that there is no doubt as it is on her marriage certificate. She regularly visited Scotland even when 90 years old. She lived and died in the Waldergrave Road house. Her son Will and his wife looked after her. Not sure where the name Cox has come from. George Bishop came from Worcestshire where most of his family remained. One male Bishop came to London and married his cousin Jane. They lived in Muswell Hill.
Will’s brother Walter and his family lived in Park Road Teddington from about Would love to see the Family Bible some time. Not sure how that could happen.
Not sure who the Bishop’s were who lived in Vicarage Road. That is news to me.
Did you know about the shop called the Triangle which belonged to Will? It was on Teddington Bridge. The brothers were all quite enterprising and worked for themselves or free lanced. I only met Will and Harry. Even my grandfather Walter died before I was born.
I have quite a lot of info in the family tree I am working on. Never enough though! Thanks for all your info.
Gill
Hope not to be taking too much of your time with all my ‘chatter’. My mother is still alive at 98 and she knew all the family, uncles and cousins from the early 1900s onwards.
Gill
Hello Gill,my grandfather,Fred,was a bricklayer/mason as was his elder son my uncle Fred. Uncle Fred spent most of his working life at Hampton Court Palace.He did not have children so the family Bible was handed to my Father Henry(Harry) and when dad passed away it was handed to my brother.I remember now that Great grandfather came from the Cotswolds and not the Chilton hills.Bishop is a common surname along the Welsh border and in South Wales. I do not remember the Triangle. I will ask my brother the name of the five sons.I cannot remember them all.I went to school with a Paul Bishop from Vicarage Rd.Uncle Will wife’s name was Mick but I am not sure what her given name was.
Happy New Year.
I have asked my brother to look at the family Bible and to send me the family tree.Do you want to send me your email as we must be boring all the non Bishops in the World.My address is 98,Highfield Park Drive,Apt 314,Dartmouth,Nova Scotia,Canada. B3A4W8
Hello Clive
I though I’d make contact having seen this thread. I’m Rachel, daughter of Denis Bishop, William’s son. Dad is still alive and living with my mum, Dawn, in Hounslow. I have happy memories of grandad’s boat swings in the mid 1960s in Bushy Park. I also fondly remember Auntie Floss’s house around the corner from Waldegrave Road which is where my gran (Margaret – known as Mick) and grandad (William) lived.
Our side of the family has branched out a little more. I have a son (George Callum) and daughter (Agnes) in their 20s. My older brother Simon is married, no children.
Nice to see other Bishops about (though I’m a Holland now!)
Kind regards
Rachel Holland (nee Bishop)
Clive, please see my reply to Gill re your relative Denis Bishop
Hi Clive,
Mick was Margerite but I never heard of anyone using that name.
I guess it is not too much of a risk to give you my email address? Thank you very much for your address.
try gccook007@btinternet.com I should be able to pick up emails at this address.
Hope we can exchange some interesting family ‘news’. I am in contact with the grand daughter of George Bishop, another of Fred’s brothers. She lives in England and we hope to meet up sometime.
Wishing you all the best for the New Year.
Gill
Hi Gill, please forgive me for cutting in on your conversation. I came upon this link to Teddington while researching an item for your relative Denis (one “N”) Bishop, he of the double eggcup fame. Denis also known as William lives in Hounslow Gardens, Hounslow with his wife Dawn. They are both in their 80s and unfortunately they both are suffering from poor eyesight. They have two children, Simon and Rachel.
I am a neighbour and friend of Denis and Dawn. This morning I took my iPad round to their home and read out the relevant contents of this thread. To say that they were enthralled would be an understatement. Denis was blown away by all the names and memories from the past. Unfortunately they do not have a computer or indeed broadband so they have asked me to drop in on this conversation on their behalf. They would welcome any contact from you or from Clive Bishop.
Apologies to the other contributors for hijacking to this thread.
Regards,
John
Who lived in Claremont or Teddington Park Road.
Any one heard of an minor actor called Judd Green. Lived at 65 Park Road Teddington in the 1920s. He acted in “Chu Chin Chou” . (not sure of the spelling but the phonetics are correct!).
Gill
Judd Green (1866–1932) was a British film actor of the silent era. He was sometimes credited as R. Judd Green. He was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire in 1866 and made his first screen appearance in 1914.
Gill I have his scrapbook complete with old photos taken when filming in various roles. Bob
How wonderful. Keep it all safe. And thanks for the reply Bob.
Gill
The 1952 film,Crimson Pirate,was made in Teddington.While the film is set in the Caribbean, it was filmed at Teddington Studios in England and on the island of Ischia in Italy.
New to the site – Can anyone inform me if there are any other branches of the shop ‘Boho’ which has closed this week on the High Street?
Hi Marie, I have asked but I’m 99% certain that there was only this one Boho Boutique.
At Teddington lock I remember seeing a seal,a dolphin and even a midget submarine. Can anyone tell me what years these events occurred.
Robert, Have received message with blocked images. Did you post some photos?
Gill
Nope’
Hi I live at Queens house Little queens road and the parking here – gosh dont know where to start – everybody who works at tesco and want to shop at tesco park here, anyone who wants to use the the gypm park here, people who want to catch a train park here, a green car with a woman and child will park there everyday in the morning, the people on the main road (queens road) will park here too… want to visit Teddington hospital park here … why dont we invite the whole of teddington to park here too !!!!! there is room for everybody on this road – especially when it clearly says parking for residents at Queens House only. I live here and at times there is no parking where I live – but there is certainly parking for people who dont – i would love to take my car and park it their driveway.
Sorry to hear that renu, the CPZ definitely just pushed the commuter parking issue further away from the station (ironically into Park Lane and beyond). Morrisons moving opposite Tesco without any parking provision possibly will add insult to injury.
Is the car park at the back of Memorial free? Maybe they need to publicise this more?
Have you tried asking LBRUT about this and maybe enforcing the residents-only spaces somehow?
I lived in Park Road right through the war period and worked in Eng.workshops at the Npl
I attended Stanley road secondary modern school from 1950 to 1954. the headmaster was Mr T W Royal, MA a highly respected and kind man. Does anybody know anything about him. Upon reflection it seems to me that he was overqualified to be headmaster of a sec mod school
I attended Stanley Road Secondary Modern school from 1956-1961 and Mr.Royal was still there and taught us English when required .I attended the Stanley Road Infants and Stanley Road junior so spent from 1950-1961.The teachers were very very good.
I cannot believe anyone would consider children who did not pass the eleven plus for what ever reason, would be less worthy of excellent teachers and headmasters!
I’m sure everybody knows that the eleven plus was not an intelligence test but a social division. If one lived on the council estate one was automatically exclude from the grammar school ( unless of exceptional ability) It was government policy of the day that SM pupils should leave school with no qualifications. So what was the point in having good teachers? We were only potential factory fodder!
Obviously everybody, happily, does not know of all these ideas of Council Estates and Secondary Moderns being the lowest of the low. I found that at our bus stop we had all three groups of children: Tech, SM and Grammar and that applied when we moved to Kent. Not sorry to not have had your awful experiences and attitudes. The local SM had a lower sixth form and children did have the opportunity to leave with qualifications. Try looking up the history of some of these schools before suggesting that all those generations of children had nothing on leaving. My experiences were in Essex and Kent. My SM friends have all been professional people with the exception of the lasses who married and raised families. I consider them all to be anything but “Fodder”.
There will always be non academics and practical minded children and those who do not enjoy being all taught the same thing and the same time as if they were all at the same level at that time, but our teachers wanted the children to grow up knowing they were of value and would be worthy members of society and many of them left and later began their own businesses. Next time you need any sort of emergency assistance remember those folk might only be “Fodder”
No need to be rude. the facts of the matter were as I stated.. It was government policy at the time I was at school that SM pupils left school without any qualifications. In fact banks, building societies etc only employed ex grammar pupils
As I mentioned earlier(30th Dec 2013) I attended Stanley Road Secondary School and left in 1961.However,Mr Scott,I worked for the Midland Bank so your ideas are wrong.
It is not rude to find your ‘facts’ not to belong to known experience. It is rude to suggest that children who happened not to pass an exam on a certain day, to be worthless! My cousin had recently lost his father and was in no frame of mind for exams. He did very well and received a good education which he deserved like the other children. I wonder if you were aware of these policies at the time? Sorry if you feel you lost out. I hope all became better for you.
Happy New Year and goodbye.
Hello Clive
Incase my comment from further back gets lost.. my name is Rachel, daughter of Denis and Dawn Bishop, Dad being the only son of William and Mick (Margaret). Mum and dad are still alive (it’s dad’s 86th birthday today in fact) and living in Hounslow. I have fond memories of granddad’s boat swings in Bushy Park in the mid 1960s and of their house in Waldegrave Road. Also remember Aunt Floss’s house near the station – I loved her garden as I recall but it is a long time ago.
I have extended the Bishop clan a little with my son (George Callum) and daughter (Agnes) both in their 20s.
Dad remembers with affection his aunts and his days at Twickenham Art School.
With best wishes
Rachel Holland (nee Bishop)
Hello Rachel,I have not read the Teddington news for quite some time and am sorry I did not reply earlier. I hope both Denis and Dawn are doing OK. I spent many happy hours in Bushey Park on the boat swings.I remember both William and Mick.They were lovely people.I live in Canada and have 2 girls.Colin,my brother,has Lisa and Adam and Lisa has 4 children and 1 grandchild.Adam has 2 children. Everyone ,apart from me ,still live in England although I was the last to live in Teddington, I hope you and yous are well Clive Bishop
Hello Clive, I don’t think my reply was online for some time – I imagine it has to be moderated first! Sadly since I last wrote, Dad had a fall at home and died as a result. He was a complete character right up to the end. If you google: Independent Obituaries Denis Bishop you will find an obituary about Dad as he was the Independent newspaper’s first illustrator. If you look on the other pages of this website you will find an article on ‘Little Voice’ The leading actress, Aggie Holland, is my daughter, therefore Denis’s dear granddaughter. Creativity lives on in the family! It was lovely to hear about the expanding side of your family, hoping you are all well and thriving. Rachel
Hello Rachel,I am very sorry to hear of the sad news about Denis.I have given the news to my brother Colin. He will be upset.Our thoughts are with you.
I read the Independent Obituary for Denis.and he lived a very productive life. He really looked like his Father William. I hope you are bearing up well. Clive
Hello Clive,
Why these messages suddenly appeared in August 2014 is a mystery! Reading through old messages, I was particularly interested in John Tatten’s message re Denis (and Dawn) Bishop. I would like to be able to contact them but not sure how much their vision is impaired when it comes to reading. I could telephone. I sometimes visit the family in Hampton Hill and my cousin and I visit our aunt in Hampton. Any chance of making contact with John. My email address is attached to one of these replies.
Best wishes.
Gill
Hello Gill,
please see my reply about my late dad, Denis. Mum is still living in Hounslow Avenue, Hounslow and slowly adjusting to life without dad. I would be pleased to pass messages to mum via this website. Best wishes, Rachel
Does anyone know where Alan Turing lived when he worked at the NPL?
I understood that he lived in Hampton when he was at the laboratory.
Yes there is a Blue Plaque on Ivy House in Hampton. Not sure if he lived anywhere else in the area during his time at NPL but he was here 1945-47.
Replying to Rachel.
I have recently had contact with Denis, originally via John Tatten (his good friend), and hope to visit Hounslow with my cousin. We are descendants of one of William’s brothers, Walter Bishop. I have already mailed some of the information on my family tree to Denis and Dawn and hope we will all be able to exchange more information soon.
Best wishes.
Gill
Hello. I lived in Princes Road off of Stanley Road. I attended Stanley Road Junior School in the early 70’s and onwards to Teddington Boys School (I remember Mr. Andrews, Mr. Tickle (with Cyril) and Mr. Sibley . Sorry to hear about Mr. Tickle..he was a unique character.
Don’t know if anyone knows this but Kate Beckinsale lived as a child in Teddington. After her Dad died in the 70’s she went to the now demolished Wilcox Road Nursery School (Also home to 8th Teddington Scouts.) where my Mum worked. I’m not sure how long she was there.
Today I live in Denver, Colorado. Sometimes I still walk down the streets of my childhood by using Google Earth’s Streetview and I won’t deny feeling a little homesick when I’m done.
Cheers!
Hi Andrew, Your name sounds really familiar! I was also at Stanley Road in the 70’s. I lived in Railway road and remember seeing Richard Beckinsale at St Mary’s and St Peter’s School in Church Road in maybe ’77 with Paula Wilcox. Richard lived in Teddington Park Road. Do you remember Mrs Vaz, Mr Renouf, Mrs Price and Miss Harrington? Four of the best teachers I ever had. Alison Shaw (Black)
The teacher Mr Sibley mentioned in some of these posts is my cousin who is alive and well and living in retirement in Dorset. My brothers has Mr Tickle as a teacher as well as Mr Sibley…a bit awkward since he was teaching his VERY much younger cousins.
I attended Stanley Road Infants School 1960 to 1962 where my aunt was the “playground lady ” who looked after us at playtime and gave out skipping ropes , balls and bean bags with which we played. Peter Cox of GO WEST was one of my playground friends.
We lived in Connaught Road towards the Hampton end. I worked at the Admiralty Research laboratory next to NPL in Princes Road from 1973 to 1975.
I have happy memories of Teddington. It was a sleepy little place but now I understand its quite a mecca for the wealthy? My dad was born in a cottage in Gomer Road in 1910. The prices for those simple 2 up/2 down little working men’s cottages are now upward of 800 thousand! Total madness!
Laura,
Thank you! I am in Danville, Pennsylvania USA. I originally got hooked up with these emails because of my interest in Benny Hill. Could you please tell me what the connection is between Benny Hill and this Teddington, Middlesex, UK site? Thank you! Ron Tosic
Benny Hill not only lived in Teddington for a while but some of his TV shoes were filmed at the Thames Television studios in Teddington.
Thank you! I love watching his shows. Do you know anything about him?
I was brought up in Teddington in the house where my parents still live, in Cambridge Road. My Dad was born above the butchers at 32, High Street (T.Jerome). Although my grandfather passed away before I was born, I can still remember my grandmother working in the cash “booth” there – a different world.
My Dad had a greengrocer’s opposite (T.D.Jerome) in the early sixties. On one side was Guy Salmon (now a 7-11), on the other was Tony Jarvis, a fishmonger. The family has pictures of those days.
Teddington has totally changed since then. It used to be a self-sufficient small town, with a village atmosphere; everybody knew each other, so, as a child, people looked out for you. Now, it’s obviously well-off, but everyone drives huge 4×4’s, for no particular reason, and it’s difficult to park. There’s so much traffic! We used to have a kickabout in the street, but you couldn’t now – you’d either get run over or get into trouble because the ball bounced off someone’s car.
I went to Bridgeman Infants’ School (in Cromwell Road), and then to the old Collis School, in Cedar Road / Christchurch Avenue. I loved Teddington, and thought everywhere would be the same, with a High Street, Broad Street and a bridge in between. Couldn’t have been more wrong!!
I remember with great fondness”Teddington Model Supplies” at the top of the bridge. Whenever I’m “home” (for that’s how it feels) I still marvel at the bowed window at the front with its huge expanse of curved glass – how on Earth did they ever make that? There used to be a small train set in the right-hand window, and you put a penny in the slot and the train ran round the track a couple of times. The slot has now been covered with a small metal plate, but it’s still there in the window frame. Every time I go over the bridge, I rub the escutheon and feel the old Teddington vibe in my veins. Weird, possibly, but I remember the old town, and I miss a less complicated time.
I’d be glad if anyone responds or wants to know more. Regards DJ
Hello David, it was a treat to have a penny to put in the slot in the window and watch it roll down the right hand wall and make the model train start up! If I asked Dad he would sometimes indulge me with 1p when we came to visit gran in Waldegrave Road. How lovely to share such an innocent pleasure with you! Kind regards, Rachel
How good to hear of some one who feels for Teddington. I was pleased to learn that the original windows in shops now have to remain – preservation order it seems. I used to live in Park Road and still pass the house when visiting my cousin. Bushy Park was just down the road and the US military was still there for some years after the war. My aunts went to Collis school and we have photos of children on Empire Day, in the play ground. My great grand mother and her sons owned the red swings in Bushy Park. I now belong to the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks where an article about the swings was recently printed in the newsletter.
One of my great uncles had a shop called the Triangle on the bridge. Another had punts on the river. There is a man researching Teddington families. He may see this site too. Your memories are really interesting.
Gill
Although I never lived in Teddington (Twickenham actually) I attended Stanley Road SM School and worked for many years at the NPL. I certainly
remember the model shop, and bought many aeroplane kits there. I left school
in 1954. so I’ve known Teddington for a long time. I also remember the bicycle
shop in Waldegrave Road which had a clock in the window made from bicycle parts. Please could somebody remind me of the name of the bicycle shop which was located in the High Street near to Cambridge Road. This shop was special in that you could have a bicycle frame made to your own specification.
Vic
Hello Gill and Victor, a pleasure to meet you!
I picked up a book in Waterstone’s one or two visits ago, “Teddington and Hampton in Photographs” or some such, one of those “then and now” things.
You know you’re getting old when a) all the old photos are in colour, and b) you keep looking out for you dad’s old Cortina Estate! I wasn’t born until 1957 and have no recollection of a bike shop in Waldegrave Road. There was one in Church Road called “Grenville Myers, the Fairest Dealer in Town” and, to my memory one next-door to Stapleton’s Butcher’s (now Shambles), called “A.Geere”, who was a gentleman. This is the one I think you remember as being near to Cambridge Road. Geere’s used to have an old Penny-Farthing propped up outside.
There was another one opposite that in what became (I think) the launderette. It had a big John Bull sign above it, and was also next to Tarry’s, a sweet shop.
I don’t seem to be getting through with what I post, because I want to extend on the above. I’ll try again tomorrow. DJ
Hello David, You are correct, the bike shop was where you suggested. Do you by any chance remember the trade name on the frames which were made there?
Victor
Hi Victor et al.
I don’t remember the tradename of Mr.Geere’s bikes – we probably couldn’t have afforded one anyway! I’m trying to remember what I put down on my last abortive attempt to post something on May 18th, but I’ll have a bash anyway.
There was a shop next to the old Royal Oak (set back, with the cannons outside) opposite St. Mary’s Church, that I thought was called Triangle; it sold angling equipment. I could be rather confused about the name though.
In my memory, which will all be jumbled up, these were among the shops that were along the High Street, starting from Cambridge Road:
On the right-hand side, going from the river end towards the bridge:
The King’s Head pub; Mary Coe (lady’s clothes?); Violet’s, a greengrocer who delivered by bicycle; Daytronics, a Hi-Fi shop with a miserable bloke behind the counter; Maude’s removals – we used to hire a lorry to take the the Scouts to camp (3rd Teddington, Station Road); Holwill’s, a newsagent; Miss Stroud, delicatessen; Burtenshaw’s, fishmonger – Father & Son; Brooker’s – Hardware and everything – really Old School and magnificent!; Bernard Miles, optician; Clemence, a greengrocer; Nicholls, sweetshop (now the Post Office); A.Geere, bicycles; Stapleton’s, a butcher – still know one of the son’s; a Chemist, who had the old apothecary’s bottles in the window; Ken Abbott, known in the family as “The Demon Barber of Teddington Town”; Langrish’s, cobbler; set back, a café, did breakfasts and the like, used to have two cinema billboards outside, below the window; Keith Luxford, saddler, Kirby’s chemist; The Charcoal Grill, restaurant; the Delicatessan, roasted it’s own cofee, my Mum worked there for a bit and Roger Delgado was an occasional visitor (Became Barrett’s Liquormart (one of Freddie Barrett’s first); Blackmore’s electrical shop (son’s Chris and Ted were in the Scouts at 3rd Tedd); Milestone Collis (Estate Agents); across Vicarage Road (down which the swimming baths (outdoor); Job’s Dairy; Manzi, barber; Guy Salmon, garage; T.D.Jerome (my Dad), greengrocer; Jarvis (fishmonger); Lloyd’s Bank; the Post Office.
There are gaps, but it’s all about 50 years ago, so some of the shops may not even have been there at the same time as the others. I’ll attempt the other side of the street another time, but it’s devilishly difficult.
A bit about the open-air swimming pool. We used to go there for about 2d entry, looking at the water temperature on a little card in the booth window – the lowest I can remember was 52 degrees Fahrenheit (of course). That was crucifying until you numbed to it. You changed your ticket for a rubber band with a locker number on it in the attendant’s room, and he came and unlocked your locker. When you’d changed into your trunks, you washed your feet under a tap activated by the foot-pedal below it. Then, into the pool, usually freezing! Everything on the ground around the pool was paved with pink slabs that retained the Sun’s heat (if it was out), but was remarkably uncomfortable. Originally there were 4 boards: a little static one, height about 2 feet; a springboard, about the same height, but a more exciting; another springboard, up a ladder, about 10 feet, dangerous enough for a boy about 3 feet tall! The Top Board – had a look once – I was never going off that!! They removed the top one, reputedly because of various injuries, but I don’t know.
During WWII, my Dad says the swimming pool was closed and became the local mortuary for a while, such was the fear of what the German bombers might inflict. His family lived above his father’s butcher’s at 32 High Street, and one day their dog went missing. The pool was all locked up, but eventually the deceased dog was found in the water. The theory is that the dog had scrambled in there, fell in the water and couldn’t get out – we’ll never know for sure.
Anyway, I think I’ve rambled on long enough, so I’ll stop, I’ll post some more in a while. If you have any questions that I might answer – more importantly I can pass from Mum and Dad, then please post them; I’ll do my best to answer them. Cheers. DJ
Hi Victor et al.
I don’t remember the tradename of Mr.Geere’s bikes – we probably couldn’t have afforded one anyway! I’m trying to remember what I put down on my last abortive attempt to post something on May 18th, but I’ll have a bash anyway.
There was a shop next to the old Royal Oak (set back, with the cannons outside) opposite St. Mary’s Church, that I thought was called Triangle; it sold angling equipment. I could be rather confused about the name though.
In my memory, which will all be jumbled up, these were among the shops that were along the High Street, starting from Cambridge Road:
On the right-hand side, going from the river end towards the bridge:
The King’s Head pub; Mary Coe (lady’s clothes?); Violet’s, a greengrocer who delivered by bicycle; Daytronics, a Hi-Fi shop with a miserable bloke behind the counter; Maude’s removals – we used to hire a lorry to take the the Scouts to camp (3rd Teddington, Station Road); Holwill’s, a newsagent; Miss Stroud, delicatessen; Burtenshaw’s, fishmonger – Father & Son; Brooker’s – Hardware and everything – really Old School and magnificent!; Bernard Miles, optician; Clemence, a greengrocer; Nicholls, sweetshop (now the Post Office); A.Geere, bicycles; Stapleton’s, a butcher – still know one of the son’s; a Chemist, who had the old apothecary’s bottles in the window; Ken Abbott, known in the family as “The Demon Barber of Teddington Town”; Langrish’s, cobbler; set back, a café, did breakfasts and the like, used to have two cinema billboards outside, below the window; Keith Luxford, saddler, Kirby’s chemist; The Charcoal Grill, restaurant; the Delicatessan, roasted it’s own cofee, my Mum worked there for a bit and Roger Delgado was an occasional visitor (Became Barrett’s Liquormart (one of Freddie Barrett’s first); Blackmore’s electrical shop (son’s Chris and Ted were in the Scouts at 3rd Tedd); Milestone Collis (Estate Agents); across Vicarage Road (down which the swimming baths (outdoor); Job’s Dairy; Manzi, barber; Guy Salmon, garage; T.D.Jerome (my Dad), greengrocer; Jarvis (fishmonger); Lloyd’s Bank; the Post Office.
There are gaps, but it’s all about 50 years ago, so some of the shops may not even have been there at the same time as the others. I’ll attempt the other side of the street another time, but it’s devilishly difficult.
A bit about the open-air swimming pool. We used to go there for about 2d entry, looking at the water temperature on a little card in the booth window – the lowest I can remember was 52 degrees Fahrenheit (of course). That was crucifying until you numbed to it. You changed your ticket for a rubber band with a locker number on it in the attendant’s room, and he came and unlocked your locker. When you’d changed into your trunks, you washed your feet under a tap activated by the foot-pedal below it. Then, into the pool, usually freezing! Everything on the ground around the pool was paved with pink slabs that retained the Sun’s heat (if it was out), but was remarkably uncomfortable. Originally there were 4 boards: a little static one, height about 2 feet; a springboard, about the same height, but a more exciting; another springboard, up a ladder, about 10 feet, dangerous enough for a boy about 3 feet tall! The Top Board – had a look once – I was never going off that!! They removed the top one, reputedly because of various injuries, but I don’t know.
During WWII, my Dad says the swimming pool was closed and became the local mortuary for a while, such was the fear of what the German bombers might inflict. His family lived above his father’s butcher’s at 32 High Street, and one day their dog went missing. The pool was all locked up, but eventually the deceased dog was found in the water. The theory is that the dog had scrambled in there, fell in the water and couldn’t get out – we’ll never know for sure.
Anyway, I think I’ve rambled on long enough, so I’ll stop, I’ll post some more in a while. If you have any questions that I might answer – more importantly I can pass from Mum and Dad, then please post them; I’ll do my best to answer them. Cheers. DJ
Does anyone remember where Benny Hill lived?
From: “Teddington, Middlesex, UK” To: rontosic@yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2015 4:29 PM Subject: [New comment] Trivia #yiv1174810674 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv1174810674 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv1174810674 a.yiv1174810674primaryactionlink:link, #yiv1174810674 a.yiv1174810674primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv1174810674 a.yiv1174810674primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv1174810674 a.yiv1174810674primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv1174810674 WordPress.com David Jerome commented: “Hi Victor et al.I don’t remember the tradename of Mr.Geere’s bikes – we probably couldn’t have afforded one anyway! I’m trying to remember what I put down on my last abortive attempt to post something on May 18th, but I’ll have a bash anyway” | |
I believe the anglers shop was Ted Charmens. He also sold stink bombs.
Having been born and brought up in waldegrave road teddington. I was wondering if anyone has any old photos of the parade of shops in waldegrave road teddington. My family ran the fish and chip shop on the parade of shops that was then known as pauls plaice. So if anyone has any photos before 1984 it would be great to see them. Thanks. Johnpaul.
I used to to a paper round about 1980 and delivered papers to both John Sullivan (writer of Only Fools and Horses) and Peter Powell (Radio 1 DJ) in Manor Road, Teddington
Hello Rachel. My side of the family sent flowers to Dawn, just for herself. John Tatten has always kept me informed of Denis and Dawn’s situation. We planned to visit but hospital visits prevented Denis being able to see us. We felt very sorry for your loss.
I am now dealing with the death of Denis’ cousin, Lily Bishop, my aunt. So travelling down to London from Suffolk every week means that my replies to you will be delayed at times. Lily was 99years old (plus 2 days). Still hope to visit Dawn sometime. Perhaps you might be there too? Could you get my email address from John?
Best wishes. Gill
I was born in Cambridge Crescent, Teddington in 1934. I now live in the West Country with my husband of nearly sixty years. My Mum always bought her meat at Jeromes and my favourite was offal day on a Tuesday during the war as if you were lucky you would get a share and no coupons required. If I remember rightly Mrs. Jerome moved to the corner of Cambridge Cres and Cambridge Road and our house was the first one in the Crescent. My husband and I had a nostalgia trip to Teddington in 2006 for our Golden Wedding. We stayed at what was called “The Clarence Hotel”, which is now the Bushey Park Hotel I used to go to dancing classes there taken by Miss Holdaway. How disappointed I was, No Royal Oak pub, the Kings Head some sort of bistro or something and the Anglers was like a spit and sawdust pub. We did a lot of our courting there. My last job before marriage was at Braemar House in Manor Road where an Advertising Agency occupied the big house. That is now gone and flats there I think. My sister and her husband squatted in the park in the Americans Officers Club as there was nowhere for them to live when they came out of the Navy and Waafs. All in all it got any nostalgia out of my system. I can honestly say the only thing I miss is the Thames. I went to Christchurch Primary, St.Marks Sec.Mod and finished at Chiswick Polytechnic Commercial College who had been bombed out at Chiswick and had a branch built onto Twickenham Technical College. We have no relatives left in the area now but if we are up that way we do go to the cemetery near Waldegrave Road. Also read post about fish and chip shop in Waldegrave Road, oh boy, what a gorgeous smell and three pennorth of chips was a real treat. Hope this is of interest to someone. Remember the boat swings too and used to walk through the Park to the fair in Hampton Court on Bank Holidays. Yours Jackie Hawkins (nee Yeo).
Hello Jackie, My Mum and Dad (Mr.and Mrs.Jerome) lived (and still do) on the corner of Cambridge Road and Cambridge Crescent. My old bedroom at the back looked onto the flank wall of your old place. I was very young but I remember your Mum (Mrs.Yeo, to me) when she still lived at No.1 in the Crescent. You must have been in a class at Christchurch School that was a year or two below my Dad’s, he being born in 1933. My Dad’s mum lived with her sister and husband at 110 Cambridge Road when I was young.
I agree that Teddington has changed beyond all recognition now, but it’s not all to its detriment. I suppose it’s what they call “progress”. I do miss the lack of traffic and the old shops. Everybody uses supermarkets to shop and cars to do the shortest of journeys now, so that old thing of saying “hello” to people in the street has gone. I suppose we mustn’t dwell on it too much, but I’m sure it was a better world.
I’ll keep sending in what I can remember from time to time. Regards to all. DJ
I’m new to all of this and found website by accident. I was born in Hampton Court but lived in Teddington until I married. I went to St Mary’s and St Peters school in Teddington from 1952-58. I failed my 11 plus but had the opportunity to take my 13 plus which I passed and went on to Hampton Commercial College until I was 16. My father was born and lived in Teddington all his life and went to St Mary’s and St Peters. He used to do a milk round, and then clean the brass plates underneath the windows of Madam Louise dress shop in the Broad Street, before going to school probably between 1918/1920. Served in the Home Guard during the 2nd world war and worked at Hawker Sidley in Ham making aircraft parts during the war. My mother also worked at Hawker Sidley and then at the NPL. Later on she became the head cook at Stanley Road School. We used to live in Walpole Crescent. I worked at the studios in Teddington when it was ABC Television and then became Thames Television where all of the Benny Hill programmes were made. We couldn’t afford to live in Teddington when we first married but moved back later and we lived in Park Lane then Somerset Road, next to the rebuilt St Mary’s and St Peters school. My parent were Alf and Mina Chandler and I’m Wendy. There’s a whole lot more I can remember but that would take for ever. Nice to get this down in writing. Anyone out there remember me?
What a wonderful blog! So many memories. We lived in Elmfield Avenue from 1966-71 and Stanley Road in the 70’s and 80’s.. At the top of Elmfield was the old AA building and the GPO + Telephone Exchange. My brother and I went to the old Collis School and Bridgeman before that. We walked to and from school stopping at Dowsett’s on the way home for sweets. I remember spending my decimal coin collection in there! Along from Dowsett’s I remember Gaywear Fashions where my mum used to buy ‘costume’ jewellery and a hairdresser where she had her Saturday morning ‘shampoo and set’. Other shops I remember in the High St were Keith Luxford and another sweet shop wecalled the Sunday Shop, next to an electrical store, the only shop open on a Sunday.. I still have a china cup and saucer from Luxford’s and an old leather Jaguar keyring from Guy Salmon. The biggest change for me when I revisited the High St in the 90’s, was the disappearance of the old Collis canteen and playing fields that used to fill the land between Cedar Road and Field Lane. Netball courts and a huge grass area full of conker trees. I still have the scars! The open air swimming pool was fab and one of the lifeguards, called Ruth, taught me to swim there one summer as neither of my parents were swimmers.
Hi there, any help is appreciated! I was getting a train from Teddington and the actor has been in many TV series and adverts from memory. I actually also recognised him as he was a magician for my friends birthday party 25 years ago – we had a conversation, very nice chap in his 50’s-60’s and name is Simon. For the life of me, I cannot find anything on him anywhere. Could anyone help? Many thanks!