Wood Green High Road Floods, 1960

Comment by Alan Kenneth carter on September 1, 2023 at 2:19

Ah,Memory Lane.The trolly buses were phased out in 1960 ,I was a conductor on the No.29 petrol buses out of first West Green Depot (Willow Walk) then Wood Green Depot.I left in 1962.

Comment by Geraldine on September 1, 2023 at 7:40

Number 629 rings a bell.  The trolley buses were great.

Comment by Lydia Walter on September 1, 2023 at 8:25

Interesting Alan Carter, my dad, Jack Walter, was also a conductor on the 29 petrol bus in the 60s. His driver was Stan Woodrow, they made a great team. The anecdotes were so very similar to Stan and Jack from On the Buses fame. 

Comment by Jeremyb on September 1, 2023 at 9:00

I can remember this flooding occurring quite often when I was a child. On one occasion,my mum said that we couldn't go to the shops in the High Road because there was too much mud left after the floods. This of course made me want to go there all the more to have a look at the mud...! The problem was eventually solved I believe by building a large retention tank under Woodside Park...How great to see Barton's, British Home Stores, Marks & Spencer and Woolworths all in a row- all sadly gone now...! By the way, the 629 trolleybus finished in April 1961, the 641 lasted a little longer until November 1961. The buses on route 29 in the 60s were actually diesel buses rather than petrol....

Comment by Richard Woods on September 2, 2023 at 16:46

I agree with Jeremy that this flooding was a regular event. I seem to recall the 621 and 521 buses as well? The 29 took me to Whitehall to meet dad at Scotland Yard some Saturdays and all of us to Victoria Station for the train to Lews and Eastbourne. 

The same buses also took me from outside the Queens Head to Winchmore Hill on Wednesdays for sports at the Stationers' ground next to Winchmore Hill nick. Or at the weekend to sail boats or fly planes at Broomfield Park. 

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