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Langford Road Shops. Remembered by Francis Czucha We regularly shopped in Langford Road but not a single shop remains. Our groceries came from H.Greenman & Sons, which was situated right on the corner of Broughton Road. It was more expensive than the co-op in Wandsworth Bridge Road but was closer and we were able to buy our food on tick. The shop was owned by a Jewish couple. Harry Greenman worked by night baking bread in his bakery at the rear of the shop, which he distributed to local shops. He would emerge from his bakery in the mornings unshaven and wearing a vest. He was a short, tubby man with a double chin and a gingery moustache, discoloured by nicotine. Mrs Greenman. who he called Ray, wore spectacles and had permed hair. There was what seemed a huge silver cash register in her counter which gave out a loud ring when she registered a sale. She recorded our daily purchases in a large ledger, rapidly adding up the cost of our purchases on pay day. She issued no receipts yet we trusted her. Mrs Greenman enjoyed chatting with my mother each Friday and hearing all our family news. She in turn would provide us with some local gossip. The Greenmans had a son called Stephen, who was a very amiable young man and who worked as a hairdresser. They also had an attractive daughter called Susan, who was engaged to be married. They moved to Golders Green when the shop was closed during the late seventies but Harry was not able to enjoy a long retirement.  
(Left)1980 photo ( Hammersmith & Fulham Archives) my 2007 photo right Next door to the Greenmans in Langford Road was a Charrington’s Off licence run by the stern Edith Holman. My father would send me there for his ten Woodbines (cigarettes) and bottle of beer or cider. Edith always lectured me on the laws against the selling of alcohol to minors before instructing me to cover up my purchase in the bottom of my shopping bag. I was only too glad to return empty beer, Tizer and Corona bottles in return for three penny and six penny pieces. As I grew older I used the Glen off Licence at the opposite end of Broughton Road because I developed a taste for Watneys ales and grew tired of Edie's dour manner. We bought our vegetables from Tom and Ada Mullins. Ada was a small cheerful woman but Tom always looked miserable. When the shop closed dad used to cycle to North End Road market for his fruit and veg. Clark’s the cobbler was at No 61 Langford Road. owned by the short stocky and moustached father of my schoolmate Paul Clark. Shoes were not the disposible products of today. We couldn't afford to regularly buy new pairs so we took our existing ones to Mr Clark who fitted new soles and heels. At No 59 was Sherry’s, a rival grocery store to the Greenmans. Mrs Greenman had hardly a good word for her competitor. We didn’t use Sherry’s but I remember her as a freckled woman with spectacles and short red curly hair. A parrot in a cage on a window sill above her shop would mimmick our school whistle, causing us to race towards the playground, only to find our peers still at play. Mariners were the next owners of the shop. The last shop along that stretch was Rose's newsagent's where we children bought our sweets- gobstoppers, black jacks, fruit salads, shrimps etc- before going to school. Mr Rose was a kind and popular shopkeeper.
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Where We Lived 
