Guest Book

I remember Pete Jonews very well - a real smoothie with the opposite sex. I also remember him getting married before a draft to Terror. Wonder what happened to him....anybody know?

How strange that we all seemed to gravitate to the south of London, Pete Jones and I had flat in Clapham Common West Side for a few months before we moved to a huge one room flat on the corner of Gloucester Road and Nevern Road in Earl's Court. That room saw a few "goings on" I can tell you! Earl's Court was the centre of the universe in the very early sixties.
When I got married in '62 Connie and I had a lovely flat in a large house in Forest Hill.

Sorry that was Clapham South Tube Station.

My first ever married quarters with Tricia was above South Balham Tube station we use to go to a pub on a Sunday who had a string Quartet playing it use to be packed, I use to do my Sun Bathing on the common. when I had a body to show off. opposite was Nurses quarters.
Of course Balham was the gateway to the South as Hancock would say.

Whilst I was at Admiralty, I shared a big flat in Balham with Tony Newrick and Roger Edwards and Spud Murphy for a while, and we used to frequent a local pub in the evenings. Forget what it was called, but Roger, who had a fantastic singing voice, used to entertain the clientele with Rolling Stones and The Animals songs - like 'It's All Over Now' and 'House Of The Rising Sun' He was really good!

I visited it a few years back and did go down stairs and it wasnt that pleasant, needed a few drinks to forget the surrounds, the staff were not pleasant. after over 45 years in the trade I insisted that all customers were greeted with respect, not " what u want mate " followed by "like init " even after I had thrown them out I still called them Sir.

Johnny I think you have found the name of the bar for me, I think it was indeed called the Silver Cross. Down the stairs and very dark, I am sure that was the Silver Cross.

I remember a few Pubs there was the Ship and Shovel I think there was a kiosk that did great rolls. there was also the Pub with numerous Cap Ribbons above the Bar, I think it was the Silver Cross. There was another where one walked down a wide stairway it was quite plush but cannot think of its name. Memory not as sharp as it use to be.

Just have a look at page 37. It is exactly 4 years ago that the guestbook got up and running again. Guess who is on there with contributions? Brooker and Ashton! Plus sa change et plus la meme chose

As I remember it there was also a bar right on the corner of the Strand and Northumberland Avenue. You had to go downstairs to it but I can't remember the name of it. Bit of a "shady" gaff, a good few cauliflower ears and sharp suits.
The least busy pub and one of the most comfortable was the Sherlock Holmes on Northumberland Avenue, always good for a quiet but excellent pint!