Forum Topic

why do so few people want to receive this newsletter ?

I live in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire and have been receiving this newsletter for months and I read every word of.. and I'm very surprised that only just over 700 people who live in Hammersmith and Fulham bother with the newsletter.I love reading about the car parking in Hammersmith and Fulham...when I was a kid in the 40's and 50's you was lucky to see a car down the Fulham Place Road..Now at the grand old age of 65 with three children and six grand children under my belt I'm wanting to come home to Fulham again.. 50 years is to long to be away from Lurgan Avenue and my playground (which is under the Hospital in the Fulham Palace Road now)...Thank you for reading this .Mr Bruce Cooper (A lover of Fulham)

Bruce Cooper ● 6859d84 Comments

Thanks Carol,Me and my Great Grandson Eli are going on holiday to Greece in August and we are letting his Mum and Dad and his Grandmother and Grandfather and his great Grandmother tag along lol lol lol....four generations of my family, should be a good holiday.Thanks Again Carol.Bruce xxx

Bruce Cooper ● 4359d

Hi Bruce......very pleased to hear all is going well for you.......mind you with such a positive and strong attitude to life I don't think anything dare stand in your way!  And many many congrats on becoming a great grandfather......with the emphasis on the great by the sound of it.  Glad to see you are sticking two fingers up to the Big C!All the very best....xCx

Carol Burge ● 4359d

Just a quick one, If anyone has a account on Facebook there is a page called "Back Track Fulham" where there are dozens of Old Photos of Fulham. Bruce

Bruce Cooper ● 4361d

Hi Everybody,Well I'm still here, It's been a year since the operation to remove my bladder and prostate and so far that cancer has not reappeared, I was given a scan at Christmas time and all the tests came back clear, now I Just need everything to be okay for the next 2 1/2 years before they give me the all clear which they will.My Great Grandson Eli was born last August and is now nine months old and a real little cracker (There was no way I was going to pop my clogs until I had met him)PS..The Macmillan Nurse told me It would take six months to get back on my feet after the operation..I was on that plane to Greece in less than seven weeks after the operation...I booked the holiday one week before going into hospital so I had a reason for getting better double quick ..Love to you allBruce

Bruce Cooper ● 4361d

Hi Bruce, Poetic licence is one thing but a memory lapse is another. I lived in Yeldham Buildings c50, Playfair Road c38 and  Aspenlea Rd c43 ditto Wilsons Rd, Great Church Lane and I would never have dared to cross Fulham Palce Rd with my eyes closed :-) Glad to hear that you get to keep both feet on the ground. cheers

Stephen Hill ● 4748d

Hi Paul,Just one more to go,  that's my wife Maria..none of the rest of my family smoke.By the way there is a post in this thread 6th one down from the top from Stephen Hill dated 25/04/12..how it's got placed there is beyond me..anyway I thought I'd let people know because it's interesting..Bruce

Bruce Cooper ● 4748d

I roamed Hammersmith riverside and parks c1938 without problems. When i was evacuated I missed Hammersmith and always wanted to get back to it: Rummaging around in the rubbish tip behind the Lyric, jumping the barges under the bridge, going down the dog walk to get to the 'beach' by the Doves, doing the circular walk over the river in Barnes. I did get back to Hammersmith c1947 and started work at Chambons. Then 18 arrived, so I decided to join the RAF for a five stint. Finished the fiver and started college and lived in Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove, East Finchley, finally living in Blackheath. Then Left for North wales to teach. When I finally visited Hammersmith it had had its heart torn out by a motorway. Great Church lane had lost its community and I was saddened by the vandalism of the roadmakers. I miss Hammarsmith but it is the Hammersmith of the 30's, 40' and 50's that I remember so fondly. I would still visit Hammersmith if it still had its Eel and Pie shop opposite the Gaumont but I see no reason to visit it without its heart.

Stephen Hill ● 4749d

Every best wish Bruce and hopefully people will heed your warning.

Paul Corcoran ● 4749d

Thanks Carol My gandchildren do run me ragged sometimes but I wouldn't want it any other way they keep me on my toes :-))Anyway wish me luck and when I'm a bit better I'll be back on here to start digging up more of our history about living in Hammersmith and Fulham when we were kids.Thanks again love.Bruce  xxx

Bruce Cooper ● 4749d

Wishing you all the best for your op.....amazing what the medical profession can do these days.  And many congrats on all the grandkids/great grandchild........bet they keep you amused and young........xCx

Carol Burge ● 4749d

Well it's been about seven years since I started this thread and a lot of water has passed under the (Hammersmith) bridge since then..I now have seven grandchildren with a great grandchild on it's way...The one thing that has changed is after my advise about not smoking with I still don't do, I was diagnosed 19 months ago with bladder cancer which after months of treatment  is still there, so within the next few weeks I will be having my bladder removed.I've always had a positive attitude and I know I'm going to beat this cancer.Anyway you loverly folks of Hammersmith & Fulham keep safe and well and remember DON'T SMOKE, just wish as a child I had taken that advice..but you know what Kids are like..your going to live for ever :-))

Bruce Cooper ● 4749d

I've singed up, having read this thread, and love the quiz.  Missed the earlier one to busy workwise.  Has the editor had a heart attack with the high number of postings?  Brook Green should have a "DAY" a table top sale for all the houses and then they could sell places on the Green to outsiders, farmers market people and the french market people and others and give that money to a local charity, get in the local Irish centre to do irish dancing, and polish dancing and there must be local morris men, a dull Sunday in May or June would be good, (not a Saturday all the schools have their fetes then)and we posters could all meet up too? good idea or a senior moment?

Jo Smith ● 6308d

What I forgot in 'I think' was the - I think it was Dawes min wtr,  but I had 2nd thoughts -  was I mixing it up with Dawes Road?The only barbers I temember was next to The Duke of Clarence (?) opposite St Augustins in Fulham palace Road where as an innocent 16 yr old "Anything for Saturday night sir?" went over my head for some time till the penny dropped. :-)Steve

Stephen Hill ● 6310d

Hi Steve...All it's got on this map is "Mineral Water Works"http://www.maps.lbhf.gov.uk/easymaps/welcome_to_easymaps.aspIn the address bar put "Lurgan Avenue" when the map comes up scroll left to fulham palace roadBruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6311d

Steve, I don't know what the soft drinks factory was called .but I do know that they made those small bottles of Brit-vic...I'll have a search for it..as for the the other place I have no idea, only remember what they sold, do you remember the Barbers on the other corner of you street.The reason I remember what the drinks factory made was because we always got in there at night and had a few..I was chased by the night watchman once..I was running alone the top of reinfored glass roof and he was running underneath..I could see him running and looking up..but I made it over the wall into the grounds of Fulham Hospital first.not bad for a seven year old.. Bruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6311d

Goodness, I am out of computer land for a few days and the Hammersmith Historians take the Forum to Great Heights.  Absolutely fascinating.  Keep it up, chaps and chapesses.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6311d

This thread is absolutely fascinating.........I love looking back on what places used to look like.

Carol Burge ● 6311d

There were two chocolate factorys down Great Church Lane - one was Fullers (white stucco) what was the other (brown brick)?Bruce, what was the name of the soft drinks factory at the top of your street - I think? And the kitchen equipment shop on the corner of Aspenlea?steve

Stephen Hill ● 6311d

And Aspenlea had a more affluent crowd :-). The Aspenlea houses are big inside. The upstairs had 3 bedrooms of which the back one was very long. The front bedroom was a lovely room with lots of light. There was also an upstairs toilet. However from what I could make out the Wilsons Road (14) houses (off Great Church Lane) seemed to have the same affluence level as Aspenlea but there was no comparison. But I should say that the odd side of Wilsons had very long gardens so they woud be very lighrt at both back and front.  I looked up Lakeside road (off the Shepherds Bush Road) which is quiet interesting.  Lakeside Road is given as Wharpton Road (spelling) but I was told that Railly Road was changed to Lakeside road because it had a very bad reputation - seems it must have had a history of name changes for the same reason. With ref to streams in London quiz would BolinBrooke Rd be an extension of Brooke Green?

Stephen Hill ● 6311d

Hi Guys ,While we're on a roll, try this link it's a late 1800's map, click on the big loop of the Thames on the left and it will come up our area of Fulham and Hammersmith, it also show a colour coded chart of the type of people who lived in those streets.It looks like my road "Lurgan Avenue" was one of the poorest LOL LOL http://booth.lse.ac.uk/static/a/4.htmlBruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6311d

Yes the row of cottages were on your left.There was a shop at the beginning of the row and the pavement had a bollard set in its centre after the shop - so I suppose milky had to either walk the walk or shout. I don't know when bottles were used in London but I do know that when I was evacuated to Lutterworth in 39 the milky was using a dipper and filling your jug. But, something has just come to me - I remember talk before the war of the first milky's to replace the iron tyres with rubber but when did they use bottles? Do you remember the Walls ice cream pedal carts?If I remember right when you turned into the row the road in front of the shop was double width so that the Cottages' pavement was offset to the left.I remember that bit of road being in shadow whilst the row was in brilliant sunshine. I suppose the shadow was caste by the Lord Napier.Funny how bits pop up unasked. But, is it correct?CheersSteve

Stephen Hill ● 6311d

The "Editor" must have had a shock...and there have been lots of viewers all day. Goodo.Keep stirring the porridge!

Jim Lawes ● 6311d

The "Editor" must have had a shock...and there have been lots of viewers all day. Goodo.Keep stirring the porridge!

Jim Lawes ● 6311d

Hi Steve...It was Ken Loach who directed Poor Cow..just thought I'd clear that up for you..Bruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6311d

Hi Steve,I'm glad you have it settled in you head now...but it has got me thinking now, when I was a nipper I remember my Dad taking to me to great church lane and showing me the house where he was born in 1905...It was a row of cottages on the left hand side of the turning as you came in from Great church lane..I'm now wondering if it could have been "Butterwick Cottages"...In fact today I have applied for his birth certificate on line to see if it could have been.

Bruce Cooper ● 6311d

Addenda to a previous post: 13 01 08 16:14 Re Carol WhiteI should stop and think a bit more, but I get a bit excited and run off at the keyboard. Carol was called Cazzie and her sister was called Jane. And I’m not so sure that Ken Russel was the director of Poor Cow.Steve

Stephen Hill ● 6311d

Hi Bruce and JimWhat a fantastic find. It gives all the info I wanted plus it clears up something that has bugged me for years - I could always see out of the back garden/yard of Butterwick Cottages a green space with trees. But I always thought that I must be wrong because Colet Gardens ran behind Butterwick, but the map clearly shows a patch of ground called NURSERY - a nursery gaden.  Thanks Bruce and Jim.Steve

Stephen Hill ● 6311d

Well sorted!Your answer found  on the Hammersmith Council website:http://www.maps.lbhf.gov.uk/easymaps/welcome_to_easymaps.aspI remember now that those maps were used during the last quiz when we found that the Borough of H&F has 10 different postcodes within its boundaries..and, in particular, we were looking at the border with Chiswick W4 along Chiswick Mall..at the site of the old bakery.Well browsed! Getting there is half the fun!!

Jim Lawes ● 6311d

Hi Steve.I think I may have found what your looking for, go to the link below, tick the box "Historical Maps 1950-1955" and add the address "Great Church Lane" which will bring up a list of address's, then click on the first address on the list, you may have a wait for the map to appear, but it will eventuallyThere is a "Butterwick Cottages" between Colet Gardens and Wilson's Road...http://www.maps.lbhf.gov.uk/easymaps/welcome_to_easymaps.aspBruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6312d

Hi Steve.I think I may have found what your looking for, go to the link below, tick the box "Historical Maps 1950-1955" and add the address "Great Church Lane" which will bring up a list of address's, then click on the first address on the list, you may have a wait for the map to appear, but it will eventuallyThere is a "Butterwick Cottages" between Colet Gardens and Wilson's Road... http://www.maps.lbhf.gov.uk/easymaps/welcome_to_easymaps.aspBruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6312d

Thanks Richard for those additional pieces of information and that "Old maps" link.In Barbara Denny's book (ISBN 0-948667-32-x on page 31, there is a further map of the Wilson's Road area...showing the historical happenings from c1770 to about 1960. You can see the carve up of that area.Regarding 19th Century OS maps Richard..I just have Nos 69 / 70/ 71/ 83/84/85/96/ and Osterley Park 20.03. There is 1873 OS map of Hammersmith and Fulham No.86.I'll post Barbara Denny's map next page.

Jim Lawes ● 6312d

Jim Lawes ● 6312d

This map shows clearly how Wilsons Rd is cut-up and it looks like 14 Wilsons Rd survives but there doesn't seem to be anything left of the end 'street'. I can see from this map that the Lord Napier is buriedsteve

Stephen Hill ● 6312d

This map shows clearly how Wilsons Rd is cut-up and it looks like 14 Wilsons Rd survives but there doesn't seem to be anything left of the end 'street'. I can see from this map that the Lord Napier is buriedsteve

Stephen Hill ● 6312d

Hi Bruce I'd forgotten about that posting. I hope you enjoyed the other postingsCheersSteve

Stephen Hill ● 6312d

Riverside Studios seems to have been built on the site where my aunt Lila's block of low rise flats used to be. She moved from Wilsons Road to this spot before moving out to Richmond.If memory serves me right there used to be a road that ran down the other side of Hammersmith Bridge Road. There was a rather smelly toilet there just under the bridge. On the west side of that road there was a block of what must have been swish flats pre-war. You turned right to walk along the river front and came to  a small ochre painted pub where the ETU held meetings.I joined the ETU there but I didn't attend many meetings it had two opposing factions - Trots and Lens(?) - they didn't 'alf bend yur ear'ole. I soon gave them a miss.Which reminds me of  when I was in the RAF Yatesbury. There was a deep thinking guy in our billet whose locker was full of books: Mein Kamf, Trotsky, Lenin tomes among others which the the Military Police didn't like - but he knew his way around his rights and saw them off.Steve

Stephen Hill ● 6312d

I’m sure someone will come up with the name of that ‘street’. It wasn’t a street really it was a wide pavement the houses on the left and the back garden wall of the Wilsons Road houses on the right.It was a lovely warm place in the summer because it got full sun all afternoon - except for the houses at the bottom near the underground rail whose sunlight was blocked by the electric sub-station. 14 Wilsons was also like that only our sun block was a warehouse. Have verified that the Lord Napier is a dead parrot,  but which reminds me... On the opposite corner to the Napier was pre-war a sweet shop run by an old gent who wore a brown coat  and brown mittens. After the war this shop turned into Joe Whites scrap metal yard. Joe was also a London cabbie who was also a frustrated entertainer - he liked to sing/croon and shuffle, twirl his stick and tip his hat with a big beaming smile -He left the Lane to open up another yard off the Goldhawk road whilst his brother (Todger) opened one in Beadon Hill - I think just under or past the bridge (everybody seemed to have funny names back then - Schnozzle, George the Glasses, Sunny Kelly, Tiger, Jibber etc). Joe and Carol had three children; Barrie, Cazzie and Carol - Cazzie may have been Carol in which case I’ve forgotten sister twos name - sorry my love -. However, the fiction was that I was their cousin, and when I came out of the RAF and started college I stayed at the House off Goldahawk Road until I could find a place to stay. During this time Carol’s birthday came around and I kidded Carol along about her shoe size because I wanted to get her a pair of ballet shoes for her birthday. I got her shoe size out of her without her suspecting anything and went up to Soho and bought her a pair from the ballet shoe shop - Gambons I think it was -.Come the birthday and present opening time Carol was over the moon/sick as a parrot. Her mum, Carol, told me later that the shoe size she gave was smaller than her actual size and she had to get mum to go and change them for the correct size.Carol was the star of Poor Cow Directed by Ken Russell.Sadly, as some of you may know she died quiet young over in the States.Carols mum and Cazzie(?) ran a dress shop up the Fulham Palace Road and Barrie went out to the sticks to open another bigger and better scrap metal yard.  Steve

Stephen Hill ● 6312d

Hi Steve.Found this link.http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/22/a2840122.shtmlBruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6313d

"The reason I ask is because next to Wilson's Road, toward Colet Road, was a row of cottages that my gran lived in before she went up market to Wilson's Road and I can't remember the name of the 'street'."There's a 1940 Bartholomew street map athttp://www.maps-of-london.com/map-hammersmith.htmThe relevant part of it looks like this:Underneath the letters ITH of Hammersmith, there are 3 unnamed streets that run south from Great Church Lane to the railway, between Elric(?) Street and Colet Gardens. On my 1956 version of this map, they are named as (from west to east) Montgomery Street, Wilson Street, and ....  The last one, which I think may be the one you're thinking of (between Wilson Street and Colet Gardens), isn't named!The area was partly obliterated when Talgarth Road was extended and the Hammersmith Flyover built around 1960.It should be on one of the Alan Godfrey maps, sheet 86 I think, unfortunately not in my collection. Anyone got that sheet?

Richard Jennings ● 6313d

Yes, that A-Z map was actually 1962. I'd given it to a friend at Xmas 1962..and he and his wife were recently about to recycle it ..47 years later..but asked me first if I'd like it back!! I have no older map available at present..but I'm sure the Local History library could help you.For interest, here's a "map" from the Riverside Studios website:

Jim Lawes ● 6313d

I’m assuming that the Hammersmith and Fulham District Association was pulled down and caused the gap between pub and Exchange? But visually the Six Bells it doesn't strike a bell (no pun intended) Maybe it had a facelift laterSteve

Stephen Hill ● 6313d

I’m assuming that the Hammersmith and Fulham District Association was pulled down and caused the gap between pub and Exchange? But visually the Six Bells it doesn't strike a bell (no pun intended) Maybe it had a facelift laterSteve

Stephen Hill ● 6313d

Hi Jimhave you an AZ older than 65?The reason I ask is because next to Wilson's Road, toward Colet Road, was a row of cottages that my gran lived in before she went up market to Wilson's Road and I can't remember the name of the 'street'. I have this vague idea that it was called something like Butterrwick but I think I'm mixing it up with the Butterwick in the Broadway.I haven’t looked at the Closed Pub site but I will - I’ll see if the Napier is still there. I’ve no doubt that the Greyhound at top of Greyhound Road is still around.I would'nt be at all surprised that you and I Bruce used to play together in Aspenlea. Did you know the Johnson girls; Gloria, Sheila, Barbara, George and Pat Adams, The Laidlaws; Mavis, and Pam? They lived at 44 in different combinations. I can't remember any of the other kids we used to play with, though we all went around together 'helping' the bombed out people to push their coster carts of belongings to wherever. I bet we were a crowd they could well do without.cheersSteve

Stephen Hill ● 6313d

ISBN 0-948667-32-x  called "Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush past"

Jim Lawes ● 6313d

ISBN 0-948667-32-x  called "Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush past"

Jim Lawes ● 6313d

Bruce and Stev will enjoy this!  A 1965 A-Z London map that I have here.Showing some streets you have been mentioning!

Jim Lawes ● 6313d

Hi Sorry for being a pain but this link show all the pubs that have closed in the Hammersmith area..http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/london/hammersmith.htmlBruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6313d

Hi Steve again,Just did a Google search for the name of that pub..It was the six bellSix Bells c. 1960 33 Queen Caroline Street. Demolished to make way for the A4 flyover.Bruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6313d

Hi Steve, We must have been neighbours as we lived in the next turning at 29 Lurgan Avenue, our back yards must have backed on to each other..Love the bit about that lad's mum putting a shilling in the gas meter..my old mum always carried some coppers in her purse just in case the Nazis ever invaded..she said that she would have gassed us all sooner than us falling in to their hands.Remember one night the Germans dropping one a bit close to us..the blast throw five of us kids clean across the room into the opposite wall..probably why I never take much notice of the bombs that have been going off these last 30 odd years around this country. Bruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6313d

Hi BruceSorry I can’t recall the name of the pub. What I do remember is that my first job on coming home to Hammersmith in ‘48 was obtained from the Labour Exchange which was either next door to the pub or was in the next block - St Paul's end - - Pub block - gap - Labour Exchange block - Fulham palace Road end. In those days it was customary for mum to go with you to the Exchange and talk over the job options!!!. I was lucky and got an interview at Chambons up the Kings Road.The interesting thing about that was the ‘dove’ tailing symmetry of a number of unrelated things.We lived in the Mall and just around the corner was the site of the Doves press - famous in the 1920 as printers of beautifully designed and printed ephemera. - Hence the Doves Pub, the sign board of which was repainted by Tony Messenger c1956  Chambons is/was a Letterpress and Rotary Printing and Photogravure press engineers and where I was employed as an electricians mate  - Pakcels being one of Chambons offshoots where actual printing was carried out. I trained as a Graphic Designer at the London School of printing and Graphic Arts. Print and printing seemed to touch my every turnDuring the war two of my aunts lived at 44 Aspenlea Road, where my Mum also stayed, whilst I lived at my grandads in Wilsons road. After school, at Brooke Green Catholic boys school I stayed for tea and often supper at 44. However it was decided, we sometimes caught the underground from Hammersmith to Gloucester Road tube where we, with many others, laid our weary heads down for a fetid nights sleep. Other times we stayed at 44 with aunt Molly, who’s husband was bedridden with advanced TB, and sat out the air-raids with all the family -three sisters, one husband and six children listening to what often sounded like the house next door had ‘caught it’.But it hadn’t, the damage always seemed to be over the other side of Lurgan Road in the big houses their.Some 3 or 4 years after the war their was some occasion for a plumber/electrician to go up into the loft where he found an unexploded incendiary bomb.At some point it was very lucky that I stayed overnight at 44 for going back to my bed at 14 Wilsons Road my aunt Lila took me up to my bedroom to show my a 2 foot long length of coping stone on my pillow - they made strong beds with strong springs in those days.The lad just a few doors down from 44 was not so lucky his mother put a shilling in the gas and forgot that she hadn’t turned off his night light.Steve

Stephen Hill ● 6313d

Wonderful stories. Any more out there?

Emily Hall ● 6314d

Hi Steve, What was the name of the pub outside the Gaumont Cinema? was it the eight bells or the six bells..where the flyover stands now.Your story certainly brought back happy memories I remember when they pulled the ice factory down, there were these enormous deep ice pits in the ground..By the way I lived in Lurgan Avenue.Bruce Cooper

Bruce Cooper ● 6314d

It's us that make it a good read. That's me us who hasn't posted on this thread before :-)I noticed that a lot of the mailers seem to be from Fulham so where are the Hammesmith crowd.I'm from Hammersmith, that is, in my 75 years, I've lived in Hammersmith for 10 of them. Your birth place has the most amazing pull. While I was evacuated I couldn't wait to get back to jump the barges under the bridge. To paw over the bric-a-brac dumped outside the Lyric. To use the dog-walk down to the Thames by the Doves/Aruthusa (spelling). To hitch a ride on the Manbre and Garten steam lorries on thier way from the lights on Fulham Palace Road to the work's gates. Cadging ice from the ice factory on Hammersmith Bridge Road. Helping mum to pick up coal from the coal yard at the top of the Mall. 'Fnding' friut among the stalls in Hammersmith market. My sister and I hand in hand chasing after my Aunt Lila from the Sacred Heart to Butterwick Cottages to get home to toasty bread on a long toasting fork.After a short interlude in Lutterworth with Leo Rochester, John Monteith and The Clinton brothers, among others, it was back to Hammersmith, but then on again to Gloucestershire, then Newcastle uopon Tyne then back to Hammersmith where it was drinks on a Saturday night at the Lord Napier, in Great Church Lane then back to Len and Lilas for a knees up. Saturday lunch was always at the eel and pie shop on the corner opposite the Odeon,. Then it was a quick look into the amusement arcade next to the Black and White Milk Bar and a stroll to Shepherds Bush market. Saturday night was dancing lessons over the pub on the north corner of Shepheds Bush Road and Goldhawk Road right next door the the music hall. On Sunday as I walked to the dance lessons given at the Hammersmith Palais I was always amazed at the overflow crowd at St Augustin's church next to Guinness' Buildings backed up from the church door right out onto the street gates where, when mass was over, with a smart about turn it was straight over to the pub opposite, or maybe a rolling walk throughthe Broadway past the Palais to the Garryowen (spelling) The thing I miss most is the eel pie and mash. I tried to get some eels the other day to to try make eel and pie but the eels are £10 a pound up here.I think I crammed more into my Hammersmith days then anywhere elseSteve Hill

Stephen Hill ● 6314d

It's us that make it a good read. That's me us who hasn't posted on this thread before :-)I noticed that a lot of the mailers seem to be from Fulham so where are the Hammesmith crowd.I'm from Hammersmith, that is, in my 75 years, I've lived in Hammersmith for 10 of them. Your birth place has the most amazing pull. While I was evacuated I couldn't wait to get back to jump the barges under the bridge. To paw over the bric-a-brac dumped outside the Lyric. To use the dog-walk down to the Thames by the Doves/Aruthusa (spelling). To hitch a ride on the Manbre and Garten steam lorries on thier way from the lights on Fulham Palace Road to the work's gates. Cadging ice from the ice factory on Hammersmith Bridge Road. Helping mum to pick up coal from the coal yard at the top of the Mall. 'Fnding' friut among the stalls in Hammersmith market. My sister and I hand in hand chasing after my Aunt Lila from the Sacred Heart to Butterwick Cottages to get home to toasty bread on a long toasting fork.After a short interlude in Lutterworth with Leo Rochester, John Monteith and The Clinton brothers, among others, it was back to Hammersmith, but then on again to Gloucestershire, then Newcastle uopon Tyne then back to Hammersmith where it was drinks on a Saturday night at the Lord Napier, in Great Church Lane then back to Len and Lilas for a knees up. Saturday lunch was always at the eel and pie shop on the corner opposite the Odeon,. Then it was a quick look into the amusement arcade next to the Black and White Milk Bar and a stroll to Shepherds Bush market. Saturday night was dancing lessons over the pub on the north corner of Shepheds Bush Road and Goldhawk Road right next door the the music hall. On Sunday as I walked to the dance lessons given at the Hammersmith Palais I was always amazed at the overflow crowd at St Augustin's church next to Guinness' Buildings backed up from the church door right out onto the street gates where, when mass was over, with a smart about turn it was straight over to the pub opposite, or maybe a rolling walk throughthe Broadway past the Palais to the Garryowen (spelling) The thing I miss most is the eel pie and mash. I tried to get some eels the other day to to try make eel and pie but the eels are £10 a pound up here.I think I crammed more into my Hammersmith days then anywhere elseSteve Hill

Stephen Hill ● 6314d

The newsletter is usually a very good read although it doesn't seem to have the breadth of stories that the Acton and Chiswick versions do. 800 people getting it is only really a small number when put next to the amount of people who get the Chiswick one - ten times the amount.There was an ad in this week's newsletter for a new editor - don't know whether this means the existing one is leaving and standards may be due to fall but hopefully they get someone who can deliver a similar standard service to the newsletters elsewhere.

Ellen Kearney ● 6620d

Welcome back Bruce!

Audrey Walton ● 6622d

Hi Guys,I thought I'd pop in to say hello after all these months, nice to see you are all well and still posting.Sorry I haven't been around but I have been ill, but I have finally got the all clear by the doctors, If you smoke give it up and if you don't then don't start, I packed it in after 51 years after they told me if I didn't then they would amputate my right leg, still got the leg and it's getting better every day now.I was down in Fulham two weeks ago, My god where did all that traffic come from, what happened to the days when you could cross Fulham Palace Road with your eyes closed.Anyway you good people of Hammersmith and Fulham keep well and safe..and remember the cigarettes !!!!Bruce Cooper 

Bruce Cooper ● 6622d

Hugh,Those are two MIGHTY photographs.

Ann S. Allridge ● 6823d

Audrey,Thanks - yet again - for the tip.

Ann S. Allridge ● 6823d

Tribute...................

Hugh Telford ● 6823d

Audrey,Ann,Good to see you Surfing,from the States....               

Hugh Telford ● 6823d

Lets try and set a date for drinks between mid and late September.

John Kennedy ● 6823d

Hi Ann! When you are logged on your name appears at the bottom of the page, click on it and edit your profile. Last box needs to be checked if you want the newsletter. Cheers,

Audrey Walton ● 6823d

How do I register for the Newsletter - I omitted to request it when I signed on?

Ann S. Allridge ● 6823d

Hugh as well as Audrey!We are all doing a bit of forum-hopping.Nice to see so many Silver Surfers on board too.Anyone out there remember the Dalling Road Jazz Club (my pals and I went on Dixieland night);  it was a great place for listening to jazz back in the 1950s.  Question asked on Chiswick, Brentford, and Ealing forums without success.

Ann S. Allridge ● 6823d

I have to admit cannot remember the music hall, but the coal yards were still there, just.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6825d

I must be getting old Caroline I have a tear in my eye..I can just picture the coal wharf opposite the Star...and further down the road on the same side the music hall..hope I'm not going back to far for you ....Bruce

Bruce Cooper ● 6825d

Yup, bit short notice I'm afraid.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6825d

I'm game for the drink, but it seems you can't make it?

William Hosking ● 6826d

Think I prefer John Kennedy's idea of a drink.  Less energetic and you haven't seen my darts playing.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6826d

I thought it might be amusing to challenge Chiswick to a darts match, of if there were any more energetic types among us, to a softball match.  They can be fun.

William Hosking ● 6826d

And me!  But I do keep an eye on Hammersmith.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6826d

Bruce.  Ah, the Star.  Had a glass or two there in my time.  The other favourite was the Colton, near Queens Club Gardens.  Even worked behind the bar at one time to earn some extra pennies.  Bassein Park Road is round the corner from me.  Small world.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6826d

Me too!

William Hosking ● 6826d

I must admit even though I live in Hammersmith I have tended to post things on the Chiswick site simply because this one seemed to be so underused.

Carol Burge ● 6826d

It was a great place to grow up I learnt how to live life in Fulham..The road you lived in was it just along from the Star pub ..Mum when she was alive told me I was born in a road called Bassin park road off the Askew Road ( I think thats how you spell it)..sorry for going on but It's great speaking to someone who remembers my area. thank you once againWith regards Bruce Cooper

Bruce Cooper ● 6827d

Used to live in Chesson Road, just off North End Road.  Loved the market on a saturday morning, the noise and smells and reasonably priced fruit and veg.  Now the far end of Hammersmith.  Both places wonderful neighbours, both those who were born in the area and the newer comers.  I miss the market.  Askew Road just not quite the same.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6827d

Hi Caroline,You may be right about people being to tied after work to log on..Would it be to rude to ask where abouts in Fulham you used to live..I lived in a place called Lurgan Avenue off the Fulham Palace Road it's now covered over with the Charring Cross hospital I moved out when I was 18 years old...Bruce Cooper (retied)

Bruce Cooper ● 6827d

Maybe everyone in Fulham and Hammersmith is at work during the day and too tired in the evening to log on.Great area.  Lived first in Fulham, now furthest Hammersmith for oh dear, dare not say how many years.  Love it.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6827d

I think 700 is quite a big number - the strange thing is the Acton equivalent of this site doesn't have that many more but seems to have a much more active forum. See Andrew's comments about a merger in another thread.

Paul Corcoran ● 6829d

Those were the days, Bruce.  I lived in Richmond as a boy and remember visiting the old car lots when I weas old enough to think of buying a car.  You wouldn't believe it now but, Delages, Bugattis and classic carts worth a fortune now.  Finally bought (in 1955) an Aston Martin 1933 in BRG for £100.  By chance saw it a few years ago in a vintage car garage totally restored - £35,000.  Chiswick has a Forum drinks every few months - if we could get some regulars together who knows?  Keep in touch - cheers - Bill

William Hosking ● 6858d

Hi You two young guys.No matter where I've been in this world and people have ask me were I come from..I have always told them Fulham London the greatest place in the greatest City in the world.I used to cycle through Chiswick on my way to Staines to go Fishing as a kid before the motorways and flyover at Hammersmith. When there were hardly any cars on the roadThat was a great time for me it brings tears to my eyes thinking about all the good times in Hammersmith and Fulham....There so much I can remember about the place...the Parks, Commons,  the Riverside, Hammersmith Broadway when it was two way traffic..Must stop or they will stop sending me this news letter keep well you guys you never know we may meet up one day.Bruce Cooper

Bruce Cooper ● 6858d

Bruce,Bill,Its nice to see some Silver Surfers on the Site.As Bill knows i am 70.I live in Chiswick,but i am always going into Hammersmith,and Fulham and Enjoy it.

Hugh Telford ● 6858d

Hi Bruce,Yes, I agree that this forum is under-used.  Some time ago I posted that too few people seemed to be interested in what was going on, and if you check the Chiwick forum, which I know has been going a lot longer, there are anything up to twenty or thirty posts a day - and great fun to read. I think it is because Chiswick has more young enterprising characters around with laptops, and they do enjoy themselves  a lot out of hours.  Following my post there was a sudden increase of traffic, but it soon died down.  How nice to live in Hemel Hempstead - perhaps Hammersmith and Fulham has changed a bit since you left, and though I curse London from time to time it is still the greatest city to live in.I am 78, by the way - young man!Cheers - Bill

William Hosking ● 6858d