I lived in Broughton Road from birth in 1945 till I married in 1967. When my brother Ron came out of the army in 1957 we had to share a bedroom so my dad rigged up a curtain that ran across the room to give us some privacy. Thank goodness he didn't snore!!

My family lived down stairs at 32 Broughton Road. We had 2 bedrooms, a kitchen (a scullery as we called it). The scullery was where we cooked, ate and washed/bathed. What a palaver that was! A tin bath with water heating up on the stove. I went first being the youngest so had the clean water. But you know it gave us a happy upbringing for all its basics.

My mum Alice Rose Stock, brother Ron and me in our garden. Most people knew my mum as Lal. The photo was taken when I was possibly 9/10. I really can't remember so would have been around the years 1954/55. My dad and a work colleague Chris Moulton who also lived in Broughton Road and next door to the Hills family                                                

We used the hole in the wall greengrocers by the alley in Broughton Road where you went into what looked like a barn type place with great big doors on the front. I also remember Rose's newsagents on the corner of Gilstead Road and Langford Road. I know that Mr and Mrs Rose retired to somewhere in the country long before I left the area. After that it never seemed the same for me so I stopped using it.

I used to play with Lindsay Douglas, Edwina Harrington and Gwen Golding who all lived near me on the other side of the road. 

                    

From left to right: My street friends Edwina Harrington and Lindsay Douglas and me;

Next door to me were the Keebles in no 30 and the Buttiners in no 34. Jack and Rose White lived at number 19 - think they had a daughter. that married an airman.  John Marlow was one of the grandchildren we always called Johnny White. I know he was one of about 12 children, His mum was Brenda or Marian I think. I remember going to the church in Studridge Street to see them get married. There must have been 6/7 boys one after the other and they desperately wanted a girl so kept trying till they got one!! Eventually, they ended up with a couple I believe. I'm going back a good 50 years so forgive me if I'm wrong.

My brother sent me the photo of the VE Day party in Broughton Road in 1945. He is the little lad on the right hand side at the front. He is now 70. The lady wearing the dark hair and funny hat (behind the little girl 2nd from the top on the left) used to live in the flat above the 'Hole in the Wall' by Bryan's Alley. I think her name was Shirley. (Right) A photo of me outside our house in Broughton Road dressed as Britannia on Coronation Day in 1953.