General Chat

Ed, my cousin Frank was also born in St Pancras.

Hastings Houses in 1940, a war baby.

OK Pam, yes tell Frank they're all there - do you want the other two?

Yes please Ed, I'll let him know tomorrow.

Pam, you did mention you was watching some Tony Hancock on YouTube I think - but I don't think you mentioned what one.

Not seen much Hancock actually myself, but going back a couple of days I did enjoy the Carry On films, at least the earlier ones.

OK Pam, the last two John Wayne films in which he dies are:

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
The Wake of the Red Witch (very similar plot to Reap the WIld Wind)

Thanks Ed, I'll ring Frank in the morning as I usually do and let him know. He popped over to see us tonight as he lives fairly close to us and he's on his own now. He thought our film thread was great. He's sixty nine next month so he knows some really old films!

Pam, Hastings Houses - are they near Judd Street?

Mum and her dad were all born in St Silas Street, just off of Prince of Wales Road. Mum was born in a block of flats called Montague Tibbles House (I kid you not!). The block was hit by a landmine in 1941 and somewhere in the region of 15 people were killed. Mum remembers the incident, she had moved back from her evacuation by then (she was evacuated to St Albans of all places!!)

Not far I reckon Ed. I will check with him tomorrow. My mum and dad were living in Beaconsfield Buildings, when they had me, after I was born they moved to a prefab in Old Coulsdon Surrey.

I have to say Judd Street rings a bell, I expect it can't be far away as the area isn't that big is it.

Just googled the area Ed, Hastings Street is just off Judd Street. Couldn't find Hastings Houses but maybe there not shown, will speak to him tomorrow, he knows the area and London in general so well.

They used to give blocks of flats great names in those days, didn't they?

I never found out who Montague Tibbles was (I presume it was a person) - I've googled the name lots of times and only ever found reference to the bombing.

A lot of the area has been redeveloped over the past 20 years or so - I think Beaconsfield Buildings have gone now (weren't they up York Way somewhere?) - so it's possible that Hastings Houses are no longer there.

Peabody Buildings was another name that's just come to mind!

Thank goodness I can have a lay in tomorrow. Speak soon Ed.

Hello Ed, spoke to Frank and yes Hastings Houses were ( just off ) Judd Street apparantly in Hastings Street.

Beaconsfield Buildings where my mum and dad lived, were off Bingfield Street and connected through from Caledonian Road and then to York Way. I don't remember as I was just weeks old when we left there.

Small world isn't it? Strange we should both be in this same thread.

Speak later I expect.

nudge

Hello Pam,

Didn't make it to the PC yesterday evening - spent all day yesterday at work performing upgrades to our computer systems and fell asleep at 8! More of the same today - but got away an hour earlier - phew!

Yes, I remember Peabody Buildings all over the place - weren't they funded by an American philanthropist in the Victorian era?

Montague Tibbles is now called Penshurst and the only other Victorian block I know of that is still up is Una House at the other end of Prince of Wales Road, near the junction with Kentish Town Road.

Anyway, back to the films - I see The Cruel Sea is on during the day next week, and later this evening is a very dark film - The Hitcher with Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh and C Thomas Howell. Don't know whether you've seen it but its about a young lad who's delivering a car across the US and he picks up a hitchiker who turns out to be a raving psychopath.

Evening Ed,

I don't know much about Pea body Buildings or that area at all really, but no doubt you are right. I remember my dad mentioning these names and of course Frank knew the area better than me.

I may give that film a look later, yes that actor did the Guinness ads a few years back didn't he I think, Rutger Hauer. Think he's Dutch but could be wrong.

Yes The Cruel Sea is on the telly Tuesday afternoon, exellent film as we've said before. Another of Jack Hawkins' films which is truly heart breaking, is called " Mandy." Have you ever seen it Ed? It really is a tear jerker. It's about a little girl who is deaf, and I believe it's set in the fifties. Jack Hawkins plays a hearing specialist I think. Anyway if ever you get the chance to see it Ed please do. As a doting dad of two girls it will reduce you to a jibbering wreck. It did my hubby and me, and that was before we even had the kids.

How's the weather where you are, it's starting to snow a little bit here and we expect to see a good covering of snow in the morning. I hate the stuff, we're so out in the sticks here and no near shops, so we're well stocked up on food...typical English, a few snow flurries and it's panick buying!!! It was every man for himself at Tesco Saturday! ha ha.

Really think that Todd Carty should have gone tonight...it wasn't funny tonight, just embaressing! ☺

Have to agree with you about the snow Ed. When I was a kid we had snow drifts that came half way up the windows of the house. We still got to school ok, and by bus. I remember with terror the boys waiting by the main entrance, especially at High School, with great lumps of snow and trying to shove it up our skirts...Buggers!! All good fun though!

HI Pam,

Firstly, yes Todd Carty should have gone - like you said it's not funny anymore. The OH said if he was saved again she'd stop watching it - we'll see next week.

Yes Rutger Hauer was the man who done the Guinness adverts - he was also the Replicant in Blade Runner who Harrison Ford was trying to catch.

Yes, we're starting to get a bit of snow now; nothing too much yet. I'm like you, I can't stand the stuff either, mainly because of the reactions you get from some people about it. I can guarantee one of my colleagues won't be in tomorrow because he'll be snowed in (as Ricky Tomlinson says in the Royle Family, "My A***"!"). Oh well, I've got my wellies ready for the morning!! We're pretty urbanised here - so getting food isn't too much of a problem (we get it on-line and have it delivered anyway), and both the OH and me work locally, so getting to work is not a problem (I walk in rain or shine - or snow!)

I've never seen Mandy before, but if I do get the chance I will certainly give it a look.

Hello folks, hope that you've all managed in the snow today. We've not had too much this way, but looking at the news seems like London and the home counties have been hit hard. Was speaking to a lady in our local post office this morning, (she's never lived anywhere other than this area.) She was going on about the snow...I explained how we used to get it back in Surrey as a kid. Loved seeing them on 'the downs' on the news!

Hope that Ed and Nicky have been ok today. Sounds like you two have had the worst of it.

Actually I'm a bit fed up as I missed Rory Brenmer on telly tonight, it's on again tomorrow so must watch it, sounded a good one too.