Once more Barry kindly continues his alphabetic memories and reaches the letter ‘P’
I must say, I doubt my following article can match the work submitted by your contributors in December and so far in 2012 but then again it may stimulate a few grey cells.
ERRATUM: In my last rambling I stated we played Wallingford Grammar School, this of course should have been Wallington. Am I right to say it always rained when we travelled there and the pitch was invariably a mud bath?
PARSONS, John
Once again thanks to this man I’m able to teach my ten year old grandson (I have 8 grandchildren) the basics of Euclidian plain and solid shape construction and how to divide a 7 inch line into 17 equal parts.
PENNY, Keith
I can’t think how I forgot to mention Keith, a stalwart of the Folkestone House athletics squad. I think Keith went on to be a fine club athlete at Cambridge Harriers. I believe he won The Dartford Half-Marathon on 8 occasions between 1978 and 1986, I think his winning streak in the event was halted by some outsider from Brighton named Steve Ovett. I don’t know if Keith represented Great Britain in middle distance running but I do recall seeing him on the BBC coverage of athletics, possibly AAA championships? So, many apologies to Keith and any friends for overlooking him the first time around.
PRIDEAUX
I know at least one of the Prideaux boys went to CVTHS but perhaps two brothers attended? I believe they lived in a bungalow on Cray Valley Road beyond the general store that stood by the Brook Way opposite The Broomwood. Please send your answers along with your Annual Subscription to Colin Cadle – NOW!!
PUBLIC HOUSES
As previously mentioned my first experience of these dens of iniquity was an after match visit to The Broomwood which is now closed and surrounded like an outpost of Berlin defiance (photo attached); ready I expect awaiting conversion to a MacDonald’s takeaway. This, together with The Bull in St.Paul’s Cray became one of my locals. I recall after a particular rugby match sitting in The Bull when my left leg went into a violent cramp causing my leg to shoot forward. My foot landed on the rim of a half full bucket of Whitbread Trophy placed conveniently for communal glass replenishment. I don’t recall the hero who saved my embarrassment by managing to prevent this vessel of elixir from toppling over. I must have been playing for the school against the masters or old boys or I was part of an old boys’ team playing against a school XV. I favour the fact I was an old boy because I was terribly unfit and had cash. Unlike many of the hostelries in and around The Crays The Bull is still open (photo attached).
The Red Lion
The Barley Mow at Foot’s Cray is long gone and The Red Lion is closed (photo attached). After leaving school in 1966 I often would visit The Red Lion, leave at closing time (10.30 pm) and cross the road to The Seven Stars (still open but lease for sale –photo attached) which because it fell in a different licencing district stayed open until 11.00 pm. I know ’The Stars’ was the preferred haunt for the 1965 Science Upper 6th to do their revision unless they were just saying they went there to make us jealous. Well our Science year always located to The Wanderer with its Charrington’s ales and massive golden labrador – a case of ‘out of sight and out of mind’. I am told this is closed. For those who have moved to pastures new and have a passing interest in supporting the British economy through the home grown brewing industry, I’m sorry to relate the demise of the following establishments: in St Mary Cray – The Blue Anchor, The Black Boy Hotel, The Anglesey Arms, The Red Lion, The Partridge and The Robin Hood. The Black Horse in Sidcup has been demolished to make way for a Travel Lodge due to open later this year. The good news is that The White Hart and The Maxwell in Orpington are still in good fettle.
The Broomwood
I would also like some assistance in unlocking a puzzle prompted by Paul Meddemmen’s article regarding the Mystery play. He mentioned a journey to a public house at Ruxley at the end of the production. I have scratched my head (fingers laden with slithers of wood now) to recall the name of this premises. I have even consulted the legendry “Mayatt” and we can’t remember a pub at Ruxley, the nearest alternative being The White Cross along North Cray Road – any suggestions please?
PLEA
Dear all, please make sure you do not forget to renew or better still upgrade your annual subscriptions. My psychiatrist says the existence of the Site is a crucial part of my on going therapy.
Well that’s all for now – SPORT only by the end of February.
Barry Jackson
