Page 133 - Through a glass brightly

comparison. But I suppose every rich tapestry has a few tiny bland spots (sky, or something), so I'll press on...
During the 50s we lived on a new council estate on the southern edge of Barnet - the primary school I went to was opened in about 1950, Whitings Hill. So for the first couple of years at QE I used to catch the bus from Chesterfield Road to the High Street. I think it might have been the 34, but going in the opposite direction from others of you. The fare was 2d each way (I think you had to live at least 3 miles away to get a bus pass). Mary Clark and Val Searle were the only others who came from down there. Mum would normally give me 6d, but often expected me to keep the change for the next day. That wasn't failsafe of course. If I'd managed to keep something back during the week (and not spent it on sweets) I would give it to our weekly collections for Christopher. Do others of you remember our charity project supporting a child in care?
In 1959 we moved to Fitzjohn Avenue. just a few doors down from the Red Lion - on more than one occasion my father penned a letter to the Barnet Press, complaining of the practice drinkers had of 'relieving themselves', in our front garden. Anyway... from there it was a mere 5 minutes walk to school, if you took your life in your hands and crossed the main road without, wisely, walking further up or down to a zebra crossing. Janet Hallam lived opposite, so we often joined forces. In the wake of the brinkmanship of our UIVR after-school adventures, I must have had to rein back my irresponsibility, because all I remember of later years is that I had to hurry home most days, pick up a shopping list from the kitchen table and go back out to the High Street. Mum would be out in the park with however many younger ones, and she never left enough money out, so I was forced to prioritise the purchases, sometimes embarrassingly.
Just a brief word on the other theme that Ruth & Val set running about our family roots in Barnet. My great-grandfather was the first Jervis to come to Barnet. He came from Lowestoft, married in Enfield in 1890 and then lived in Salisbury Road while he was Assistant Headteacher at Christ Church School, and, I believe, a chorister of some renown at the church. The line has been unbroken since, with 2 of my brothers still in New/East Barnet. Mum's family moved from Muswell Hill in the late 30s, and lived in Lyonsdown Road till 1956. As many of you know, she was at QE during the war, and was Games Captain in 1944. I was evidently Miss Balaam's first 'grandchild', not altogether surprising since Mum was only 20 when I was born, and I started at QE at 10.
Lovely to read Jenny's great account of her successful bubbling, and of Mag's Norfolk trip. May we all soon be stretching our wings, but carefully.
From Val T. at 13.02
I travelled from Borehamwood too but on “ordinary” buses either a red 107 or a green 306. Neither of which went down Furzehill as they had to do a big detour through the LCC estate. As I had to get to Shenley Road at Elstree Studios where I lived it was ok on those buses. They did of course pass the end of Furzehill on their way on to Elstree.
From Janet at 17.22
Sorry it is so hot down here for those with rain. Like Jenny I am flagging now!
Val - no this wasn't my Petch grandfather - he lived in Leeds with a Liverpool/Scotland background. We did not see him very often
when I was young. This grandfather didn't come from Barnet either but lived as a boy in Islington so it was quite a way for him to cycle to Barnet. He would have been about 14 to 15
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