These are earlier posts regarding Alma School & area. Memories which should be remembered, for future generations, hope you agree?
paperboy 2011.
The area between Alexis Street & SPR and Macks Road & Linsey Street, was a block of derelict land in the late 1950s. Apart from the two shops on the corner of Linsey Street and SPRd (one of which had Matchbox toys in the window and the other had a sewer stench pipe outside) the whole area stood empty with weeds all over it. It had been cleared in anticipation of building the blocks of flats which are there now (Peter Hills House Robert MacKenzie House, I think). After clearing the houses and the rubble, nothing happened on the site for some months.
Spud Murphy had decided that the school could use this land as a cricket ground until the flats were erected. He got permission so to do and set up work parties under the supervision of Barry Thurnell (then about 11 and head of Red House in the school) to clear the site enough for a wicket to be levelled and an outfield to be created. The exercise was sufficiently newsworthy to make national TV and was on "Tonight" with Cliff Michelmore (the forerunners to Nationwide and the One Show). I know we used it for one season, possibly more.
I wonder what Barry is doing now? He lived on St James' Road.
Bas 2012.
Hi
I am the Barry Thurnell who helped build the Cricket pitch at the Alma School with spud Murphy after the Alma I went to St OlIves. I have lived in Dartford Tunbridge Wells Nottingham and Now Gloucestershire I retired last year My mum Joyce Still-lives in Bermondsey My Dad Don died a few years ago he will be remembered for entertaing thousands of Children over the Years in the many Parks in Bermonsey over the years and being one of the Stars of the Thorburn Players but most of all for his years dedecated to the Cubs and Scouts of Bermonset particlarly The 14th Bermondsey.
fogbrain 2012.
Hi Bas, and welcome - you fame precedes you as you have seen, although the blocks of flats on your pitch didn't even seem particularly new when I started at Alma in 63.
I've not heard of the Thorburn Players before; I infer from the name that they were based at St Anne's. Did your dad entertain children in parks under his real name?
Bas 2012
Hi again We built the cricket the cricket pitch in 1960 on the bombsite and ! think used it in 60-61
I went to St Olaves in 61. The Thorburn Players were based in St [url=mailto:Ann@s]Ann@s[/url] Thorburn Square. My Dad Was called Uncle Don for his Childrens Work he also went to Schools in Bermonsey doing Road safety with "Rita the Talking Dog and Lobby Lud the Talking traffic light. Dad was also a cub leader at the 27th and then the 14th Bermonsey he was in the scout gang show both for London and Bermondsey he was later District Commisioner for many years.
fogbrain 2012.
Hi Bas,
It's weird that I don't remember the flats on the site being built; I lived in Thorburn Square and started at Alma in 1963, but I only remember the flats in their completed state. Our neighbours from Thorburn Square, Phil and Bern, moved into one.
rene 2012
Hi Bas
A number of kids including my friend and myself were chosen to make a safety-first film with Rita the dog around 1954… not sure of exact year. Could this be the same Rita you mentioned in your post? She was a German Shepherd/Alsatian.
The scenes filmed that I recall were crossing the road by the traffic lights at the junction near the Rialto Cinema (the usual look right, look left and look right again stuff) and on the roof of a building in a mock classroom setting in which Rita counted numbers by barking the correct amount of times.
Regards
Rene
Bas 2012
Hi Rene
Yes it was the same Dog I think after all this time I can reveal Ritas secret,as you rightly say she barked the answer to sums or questions ! bark yes 2 barks no 5barks for 5etc but Ritas secret was to only bark when her owner looked at her, as soon as the owner turned his eyes away she stopped barking.
I was at the alma between 19555 -1961 Mr Cresswell was a much-feared Teacher and I also had the lovely Mrs Legerton.
Bas
Rene
Hi Bas .....you mean Rita couldn't really count? Well .... smack my head and call me dumb - so that was how it was done!!
Rene
(smiles)
freddie 2012 (slightly adjusted)
Hi Bas,
I was one of your dad's 27th Bermondsey cubs. Also going to Alma (Alexis Street) from 1957-63, we used the patch of waste ground across the road for "nature trips" before the flats were built.
Regards
Freddie
Thank you to everyone for your memories and posts Kiwi (Ray).