Anything and everything
Peter Batten continues his memories of a terrifying time…
By December 1941 the Blitz had come to an end. There were very few night raids. So our families decided to return to London and celebrate Christmas in our own homes. Continue reading What did you do in the war? Part 3
Peter Batten continues his memories of a terrifying time…
First I need to retrace my steps a little. As soon as war was declared in September 1940 children were evacuated from London. But not every child. Some parents, including mine, decided that their children would not be evacuated. Probably their thinking was, “If we are going to die we will all die together”. This may surprise you, but I am sure it is true.
In 1939 I had begun piano lessons. My teacher, who had an eye for opportunities, opened a small school in his house for children remaining in London. This was a happy little unit of about 8 boys, which I attended until the Blitz began and we departed for Essex. Continue reading What did you do in the war? Part 2
From The Whistler archives …
From Nov 1978, when it was called West Hill Community Association Newsletter.
Readers might be interested to learn how the newsletter is put together, printed and distributed. At the first meeting, those with typewriters (3 or 4 people) type up contributions that have been handed in, such as letters, news items, events, ads and everything else you read. Other people at the meeting read through the copy, offer advice, correct the proofs, and generally discuss what’s going into print. If there is time the copy is arranged on 4 large pieces of paper that make up the 4 pages. Continue reading West Hill Memories
There has been a community association in the West Hill since 1976 and the activities pursued by the members have been numerous, often depending on the enthusiasm of individual members. Continue reading Keeping in touch in West Hill
We continue to raid The Whistler archives for memories of West Hill…
In the 1960s where the Spar shop in Upper Gloucester Road is now, there used to be two shops. One was a greengrocer run by Jack and his mother, while next door there was a sweetshop where you could also borrow books for 3d (three old pence) a book. Jack had befriended an elderly lady who had nowhere to live, and rather than let her wander the streets at night, Jack would let her sleep in a room upstairs. She was a happy soul. She would walk around West Hill during the day, smiling at passers-by, saying, “Isn’t it a lovely day?” She never did any harm to anyone and she always had something kind to say. One morning Jack went upstairs and found she had died… Continue reading West Hill Memories
The Whistler 