My Wembley map

NOTES ABOUT THE MAP:

Not all the bus routes remained the same during the period 1949–1959. I have included them because I travelled on them all at some point. Some most weeks, some occasionally, and there may be a few viewing this map who will be thinking 'He's missed the 92 off'. The reason I have not included the 92 because it wasn't until I left school that I began using the 92. Thinking about, perhaps I should include it because I very occasionally caught it to Sudbury if it came before an 18 or a 662.

The 72A, for example, stopped in the early-1950s at some point, but it used to go to Chessington Zoo on Sundays in the summer, just like the 83A went to Kew Gardens (and, later, to London Airport, as Heathrow was called then). I intend to write about using the buses and trains in future postings.

The 79A started in the mid-fifties and went to Edgware via Kingsbury, as did the 79 before going onto Roe Green and Colindale, so I caught whatever one came first. For a few years my mother and step-father lived in Kingsbury, where my mother was housekeeper to a Dr. Sheldon. The 8 became the 8B as some point as well, but was the same route with a different number.

The places numbered or lettered are to indicate the places I visited, including the shops I went to. I don't always remember the names and this where Derek Addison and Tony Rock's book will prove invaluable. I am grateful for the shops perambulation. For now I will say that my No.7 marks two shops they did not name: Sharvel's the fishmonger and Leffley's* shoe shop, both which I went to, the former two or three times a week for fish, as Pop, my grandfather (Ernie Howard) was a great mate of Reg Sharvel and his son Peter. They all played snooker together at the Fairview Club (No.1) most nights of the week. The herrings were in a 'mock' barrel about 12" deep, packed in the bottom with ice and the fish laid on top. The white marble fish slabs were in the open air. Herrings, Hake, Skate and Sole were eaten in 36 Swinderby Road every other day and I have been a big fish eater all my life as a result.

*I'm not sure about the spelling at the moment. No.7 also refers to The Station Hotel which featured in my growing up days as a place to take empty bottles to so that I could collect the deposits (½d for half-pints; 1d for pints and 2d for quarts). I used to lie as to who gave them to me because they wouldn't just take bottles from you. There was no beer on display in the off-licence, just a counter and the person serving the adult would go out back for the beer or lemonade. They will feature in one of my stories soon, as there was a time when they refused to take beer bottles off me because I was taking too many too often.