Alan,
You won’t believe this,but I assure you its true.We moved to Stoke Mandeville Aylesbury border in 1977 and stayed there until 2000. We lived in Braddenham Walk, off Kynaston Avenue which is opposite the Ambulance station. My postcode was HP21 9BY ??.
Ah the quartered Football shirt in Yellow & Brown,I remember it well,but alas don’t remember getting picked,although was always on the fringes of the team, much better at cricket ,but thats another story. Although whilst I remember in about 1956 the London Evening Star newspaper (before its demise) used to award a cricket bat to the outstanding performance in a schools cricket match held in the London area.Bridge Road school had the privelige of being the only school to ever have two lads nominated and receive a bat from the same game. Jimmy Michelin and Dave Bassett (I think ) were both presented with a bat for scoring a century apiece in an opening double century partnership that saw both lads not out when Ron Singer (Teacher) declared the innings closed.He was a very proud man that day I can tell you.They were a year above me but I was the scorer that day.
I was a late developer at football, basically because of my size (Weight), although Rons 642 decibel voice penetrating into my right ear for half of a match never helped.He scared the C *** out of me at 11 years of age.I met him again in about 1971 at his home near Gladstone Park and he was a lovely man, my wife was in his class and adorded him.
He hosted a party after Twiggy had been on "This is Your Life" and many of her classmates from Bridge Road had appeared on the programme,including SWMBO. I gave Ron a good laugh telling him how much he scared me, he replied “I bet I don’t scare you now” and I said “No,but I still respect you”. Times were so different then.
Footy now, I really wanted to play in goal,but Tony Street was a good keeper and if he was missing John Parsons or Derek Fellowes were always available.Peter Sparey was a good player and one hell of a fighter as an 11 year old,but he was a super mate and never ever bullied anyone.In fact he would often get into scraps with older boys who picked on the Bridge Road lads.
As "Kudu" mentions the Hindu Temple in Brentfield Road is a true work of Art, well worth seeing if anyone is in North West London.However it cause severe traffic and parking congestion and is non too popular with local residents, for obvious reasons.
Now as the rest have probably nodded off
lets get back to 34E or 14D as it became on the 1st January 1958. The allocation of BR Eastern Region stock was moved away to be replaced by Stanier 4MT Tank engines and Black Fives..
The allocation on the 1st January 1959 included a 14xx 1473 for the Chesham Shuttle I presume.
Class 2. Ivatt 2-6-2 Tanks :-
41270, 41272, 41284 & 41329.
Class 4. Fairburn,Fowler & Stanier 2-6-4 Tanks :-
42157, 42222, 42225, 42230 42231, 42232, 42248, 42249, 42250, 42251, 42252, 42253, 42256, 42279, 42281, 42282, 42283, 42284, 42291, 42437, 42450, 42453, 42556, 42568, 42588, 42595, 42618 & 42629.
Class 5 Stanier 4-6-0’s :-
44691, 44819, 44830, 44847, 45006, 45215, 45260 & 45516.
These were capably assisted by B1 Class 4-6-0’s :-
61077, 61116, 61136, 61187 & 61206.
Class N5 0-6-2 Tanks. :-
69257, 69319, 69341.
And Twenty of the new BR Standards.
.
Class 4MT 2-6-4 Tanks. :-
Class 4MT 2-6-0’s :-
76035, 76036, 76037, 76038, 76039, 76040, 76041, 76042, 76043 & 76044,
80059, 80083, 80137,80138, 80139, 80140, 80141, 80142, 80143 & 80144.
I hope that this is of interest to some of the members,but if not I apologise for going on a bit
. However if anyone is interested I have details of stock at 34E in 1950. By the way Peterborough New England shed was designated 35A at this time until it became 34E on the 1st January 1958. At this time as well Grantham Shed became 34F instead of 35B. I have always wished that Grantham had received 34E as then both the sheds where my father worked and near to where I was born and then ultimately lived would have both been 34E.All be it that at the time of my birth Grantham was an LNER shed and 12 months were to pass before Nationalisation took place.
Kind Regards,Derek.
Edited to correct statement regarding Hitchin Shed, where I was in error. Thanks to "Kudu" for putting me right.