One Of The Most Significant Places In My Life
After leaving Enfield, I took a nostalgic ride on a 121 bus to Southgate to get the Piccadilly line back to Central London. I pased this anonymous block of modern flats at the top of Windmill Hill.
One Of The Most Significant Places In My Life
So why is it significant. On the site there used to be a nursing home, which is where I was delivered by my parent’s GP; Dr. Egerton White.
Marks And Spencer, Enfield
For many years Enfield didn’t have a Marks and Spencer.
Marks And Spencer, Enfield
They do now! It was always said in the 1950s and 1960s, that the other shops wouldn’t allow them into the town centre. So we always went to the one in Wood Green, which in those days was one of its better and bigger stores. Although last time I went past it, it appeared to have seen better days.
Pearsons Is Still There
When C and I were children, if our parents wanted anything for the home or perhaps some school uniform, we would take the 107 bus from Oakwood and East Barnet respectively and go to Enfield to shop at Pearsons, which was the local department store.
Pearsons Is Still There
It still is, as the picture shows. Although, it is now part of a larger group.
All those days ago, Pearsons was a shop with a central Accounts Department. So if you bought anything, the bill and your money was sent by a system of overhead wires and little trolleys by the assistant and then the change was returned. Later it was replaced by a pneumatic system, which was similar to the one, that Libertys were using into the 1970s.
There’s more in Wikipedia under cash carriers.
The Wheatsheaf, Enfield Chase
The Wheatsheaf, by Enfield Chase station, is another pub, where I used to drink with my mate, Pete, like the Warwick in New Barnet.
The Wheatsheaf, Enfield Chase
Both these pubs were on the 107 bus route from where we lived at Oakwood.
If I’d walked back up the hill in the 1960s, I would have seen the local printing firm of Bennett and Starling, who were one of my father’s competitors. The site is now a littleWaitrose and some housing.
Grange Park Station
Sometimes, you can be on your own territory, and miss the obvious.
Yesterday, I went to Enfield and decided to go using the train from Highbury and Islington station to Enfield Chase station, just by the town centre.
In all the years, that I lived just a few miles from that station at Cockfosters, yesterday was the first time, I’d ever used it.
I didn’t know the station order, and I thought that Enfield Chase was the station after Winchmore Hill.
So I was ready to get out, when the train stopped in Grange Park station. I hadn’t realised it existed.
Looking it up on the map, I must have gone fairly close to the station as I cycled around the area, to visit various school friends.
A Take On The Name Benedict
With Pope Benedict due to retire, there is this piece on the name Benedict on the BBC’s web site.
It gives a fascinating insight into the psychology of having an unusual name.
I don’t think C and myself, would have used the name for any of our children and even any of future ones we didn’t have.
To return to the author of the article, Benedict Milne. I bet having the name Benedict has got him through the door at either a good university or in a good job. One of my sons has a famous combination of names and he is immensely proud of them and they got him one of the best jobs in London.
I’ve just checked and benedictmilne.com is available. So he can even be his own dot com. Having that as I do, is a great advantage, as you only have to give your name once to also give the e-mail address.
The Anonymous Widower 