ST. JOHN’S WOOD MEMORIES
Joan Dayman (Nee Peake)
Joan's first bike, 1946
Before “Greenlanes” swimming pool was built, we used to swim in the creek down the bottom of Grand Parade, where the crossover over the creek to the pool was eventually placed.
Some of the children used to walk across the joists of houses being built, one foot behind the other and balancing at the same time. Wire fences with board across the top were also great fun to walk along and not so far to fall. If my memory serves me well, you could go from the top end of Piddington Street, in this manner, along Johnstones (I think), Atkinsons, Horderns and Stewarts fences.
Meeting the Bayley’s and taking a picnic up the mountain, though you were not supposed to go past the rifle range fence.
Before I started school, I would walk over to the Peake’s (grandparents) house in Buckingham Street. They owned a dairy, called Peake’s Dairy, which went from their home up to Grand Parade and across to St. John’s Avenue. My grandparents had milking sheds behind their house. I hated hats and used to take mine off as soon as I left the house – hence the losing battle with freckles.
The army camping in the Woods during the war and us walking past the hall and seeing the army canteen. The soldiers sometimes gave us sweets and chocolates as they weren’t available in the shops.
When the bridge flooded, we sometimes waded across holding on to the cable that was the bridge railing. Other times, Mr. Atkinson would come down in his truck and we would go across sitting on the tray.
As we got into out teens, a number of us were in a youth group associated with the Methodist church - Comrades for girls and OK’s for boys. This was held at the Ashgrove Avenue church, where the minister’s residence was on the property. If it was really wet weather my parents would say that I could go if there was
“enough blue sky to make a pair of sailor’s pants”! We used to stand up on the hill at the Bayley’s or Hodge’s and look very hard!!!
Paddling home from school in the rain along the dirt gutters (not concrete yet) and sometimes hurting our feet.
Mrs. Bayley and Mrs. Hodges with prams and other mothers, including mine, picnicking on Royal Parade near the swings, just past the tennis courts and scout hut,
which were to the left when you crossed over the bridge.
The shop in an old house on St. John’s Avenue at the “T”where Laird Street joins.
Girl Guides being held at Granite House in Laird Street on Saturday afternoon.
In the school holidays, I remember playing tennis down on the courts.
Cricket in the backyard – over the fence was out. That was before the Swan family came to live there.
Mason’s jams being made under their house in Gresham Street.
Guy Fawkes night (or Bonfire night) in November, when we would build a huge bonfire on our spare allotment, where the Marnane’s are now.
Everyone was welcome to come and join in the fun.
Some of the children used to walk across the joists of houses being built, one foot behind the other and balancing at the same time. Wire fences with board across the top were also great fun to walk along and not so far to fall. If my memory serves me well, you could go from the top end of Piddington Street, in this manner, along Johnstones (I think), Atkinsons, Horderns and Stewarts fences.
Meeting the Bayley’s and taking a picnic up the mountain, though you were not supposed to go past the rifle range fence.
Before I started school, I would walk over to the Peake’s (grandparents) house in Buckingham Street. They owned a dairy, called Peake’s Dairy, which went from their home up to Grand Parade and across to St. John’s Avenue. My grandparents had milking sheds behind their house. I hated hats and used to take mine off as soon as I left the house – hence the losing battle with freckles.
The army camping in the Woods during the war and us walking past the hall and seeing the army canteen. The soldiers sometimes gave us sweets and chocolates as they weren’t available in the shops.
When the bridge flooded, we sometimes waded across holding on to the cable that was the bridge railing. Other times, Mr. Atkinson would come down in his truck and we would go across sitting on the tray.
As we got into out teens, a number of us were in a youth group associated with the Methodist church - Comrades for girls and OK’s for boys. This was held at the Ashgrove Avenue church, where the minister’s residence was on the property. If it was really wet weather my parents would say that I could go if there was
“enough blue sky to make a pair of sailor’s pants”! We used to stand up on the hill at the Bayley’s or Hodge’s and look very hard!!!
Paddling home from school in the rain along the dirt gutters (not concrete yet) and sometimes hurting our feet.
Mrs. Bayley and Mrs. Hodges with prams and other mothers, including mine, picnicking on Royal Parade near the swings, just past the tennis courts and scout hut,
which were to the left when you crossed over the bridge.
The shop in an old house on St. John’s Avenue at the “T”where Laird Street joins.
Girl Guides being held at Granite House in Laird Street on Saturday afternoon.
In the school holidays, I remember playing tennis down on the courts.
Cricket in the backyard – over the fence was out. That was before the Swan family came to live there.
Mason’s jams being made under their house in Gresham Street.
Guy Fawkes night (or Bonfire night) in November, when we would build a huge bonfire on our spare allotment, where the Marnane’s are now.
Everyone was welcome to come and join in the fun.
Joan as a Girl Guide, 1946
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