Alexandra Park was a great recreation area, pre-war there were trade exhibitions at the Palace with music, food displays ,magicians and toy stands
The lake had a separate kiddies area for their paddle boats . The current Cafe was the rowing boat keepers place. There was a motor launch named Hobart which could take about a dozen passengers on trips round the lake
Fishing was very popular for 1 shilling- a- day permits for Gudgeon, Roach and Perch. At that time Roller Skating was also very popular at the old Rink.
Probably around the Dunkirk period some trams brought up to the Palace some soldiers for billeting one of these, was French who gave me a Cross of Lorraine emblem.
Probable the loudest explosion we heard was the V2 Rocket which demolished houses in Gladstone Road opposite the Wood Geen Gaumont.
Hope these anectdotes are of some interest of the period
A s war started the Auxiliary Fire Service assembled EWS, Emergency Water Supply tanks at strategic locations.One was located in Palace Gates Road, opposite the railway station. It was covered in wire meshing to prevent children climbing in. alyhough the meta lsides were about one metre high.
On the slopes at Ally Palli, below the aerial tower, the BBC would take a camera cable to a fenced area on the slope. This area was known as Mr Middletons' Garden for gardening programmes. 'W ell before Percy Thrower'
I believe these gardening programmes were pre-war.
Ernest Payne
Alexandra Park was a great recreation area, pre-war there were trade exhibitions at the Palace with music, food displays ,magicians and toy stands
The lake had a separate kiddies area for their paddle boats . The current Cafe was the rowing boat keepers place. There was a motor launch named Hobart which could take about a dozen passengers on trips round the lake
Fishing was very popular for 1 shilling- a- day permits for Gudgeon, Roach and Perch. At that time Roller Skating was also very popular at the old Rink.
Probably around the Dunkirk period some trams brought up to the Palace some soldiers for billeting one of these, was French who gave me a Cross of Lorraine emblem.
Probable the loudest explosion we heard was the V2 Rocket which demolished houses in Gladstone Road opposite the Wood Geen Gaumont.
Hope these anectdotes are of some interest of the period
Jun 11, 2020
Ernest Payne
A s war started the Auxiliary Fire Service assembled EWS, Emergency Water Supply tanks at strategic locations.One was located in Palace Gates Road, opposite the railway station. It was covered in wire meshing to prevent children climbing in. alyhough the meta lsides were about one metre high.
On the slopes at Ally Palli, below the aerial tower, the BBC would take a camera cable to a fenced area on the slope. This area was known as Mr Middletons' Garden for gardening programmes. 'W ell before Percy Thrower'
I believe these gardening programmes were pre-war.
Jun 15, 2020