A Slough Boy! by Stephen Evans

I was born at the Burlington Road Nursing Home in 1945. It was behind the west end of the High Street. It became the Ante & Post natal clinic and I well remember the school dentist who was also based there. She was Austrian or German and would always tell you to open vider und vider! Horrible memories of sitting over an old sink rinsing and spitting from an old tin mug. I hate dentists to this day.

I went to Thomas Gray school as had all my brothers and sisters. The infants headmistress was Miss Gascoigne and Mr Maynard was in charge in the junior section. It was a really happy school. I remember getting our Coronation mugs in the playground in 1953 and every year there was the school fete. It started with a fancy dress parade from the school to Bowyers Playing field in St Pauls ave.

I was the middle of seven and we lived in a council house up in Manor park. We had some neighbours, the Matthews family, and I remember their son, Wyndham, very well. When I was 4 or 5 I saw him coming down the road in his uniform and thought it was my Dad, who was also serving. I ran up to him and he must have seen the look on my face and he hoisted me up on his shoulders. He became my hero!! A few days later he set off for Malaya, where my Dad was serving. He was killed in a terrorist ambush not long after and I remember crying for what seemed like days. I had wonderful memories of those few days and when I was lucky enough to be in Malaya I visited his last resting place.

When my Dad finished his service he worked first at High Duty Alloys as a security Guard and then after a couple of years went to work at Mars. He worked there until his retirement in the 1970s. The children had the most wondeerful Christmas parties every year usually at the Community Centre on Farnham Road. The presents that we got were fantastic. The best one I remember was a Parker 51 pen and pencil set. I had one very envious set of classmates at school that year.

After Thomas Gray I went to William Penn, having failed the 11 plus. Mr Marchant was the first head then he went off to The new school on the Britwell. I was picked to model the boys uniform along with a girl from Baylis court doing the girls. I apologise to anyone who went there in the early days and didnt like brown uniform - I picked the colour. Anyway I liked it!! The new Headmaster was Mr Nelson who was a real disciplinarian. Didn't do me any harm anyway. When I left school 3 weeks after my 15th birthday I went to work for Danvis timber on the Farnham road near the railway bridge. I stayed there for a while then joined the Army where I had a good 6 years.

I dont go back much anymore except perhaps passing through. The place has changed so much and all the good things seem to have dissappeared. The indoor and outdoor markets, the cinemas, especially the Century on the High Street. I think that became the Waitrose? The Palais, the coffee bar on Windsor Road, the Radio Cafe on Farnham Road and so it goes on. People ask me what I think of "The Office" - well I was asked directions by a certain Mr Gervais in Farnham, Surrey a couple of years back - hes probably still looking!!! Dont knock it if you aint tried it!!! Bye Slough . I will always hold a place in my heart for you.

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