We moved to Fulham from Ireland in 1953. We lived on the corner of Townmead Road and Lindrop Street. Across the road from us was a oil tanker yard. At that time there were five of us children. By the time we left there were nine.

My mother worked at sunlight Laundry but my dad had an accident so she worked the night shift. My older sister Pat and I took care of our siblings. I do have some sad memories. My brother John died of Lukemia in 1962 when he was eleven years old,

We also used to talk to some children on the way home from Holy Cross School. They had a fire in their house one Friday night and some of the children died*. I was very upset.

I went to Holy Cross School near Hurlingham Park and then to St. Edmunds School in Hammersmith. I didn't have friends in Lindrop Street. I knew everyone to speak to but my friends were in Glenrosa Street, Byam, Kilkie and Hazelbury road as we all went to Holy Cross and the Catholic Church in Stephendale. I remember the O'Brien family, the Tully's, the Websters, the Beeches and the Wallnuts. Not sure of the spelling. I also remember a family that moved in from Trinidad. I thought that was great.

We had great bonfire nights in Lindrop Street. We used to have a massive fire. of course we wern't allowed near it.

During the summer holidays we spent our days at the Eelbrook Common. Pat and I were in charge of our siblings so it was hard work. I remember me and another girl (cant remember her name though she was quite posh) would sit on the horse and just sing. We loved singing. I still do. The days seemed to always be sunny and the paddling pool was great. To us it was a swimming pool.

As a teenager I spent my time in Hammersmith as most of my school friends lived there. I was a member of St. Augustines youth club and Monday nights were spent at Hammersmith Palais.

I went back to our old area a few months ago with my husband, son and daughter-in-law. I could not believe how much had changed. At the top of Townmed Road are the luxury flats of Chelsea Harbour.  Very different to our days when it was Chelsea Wharf!

*The children who died were members of the Knight family who lived in Broughton Road and the fire occured in 1961.

See Church of Our Lady for Ann's memories of her local Catholic Church in Stephendale Road.