Banstead Village

Some 35-40 years after this picture was taken, many's the time I've cycled past here. I have to confess that in the early days my contempories referred to the area as "bereaf" (Ber as in Bernard)!
When I started work at Sutton gas offices in 1948 however, I used to phone Banstead Gas Showrooms, whose number was Burgh Heath 2591. I'd dial BH4- there'd be a couple of clicks and burr, burrs, and an operator would say, in an affected,posh voice, "Numberris?" and I'd reply "2591" which she'd confirm as "Two fafe nane wonn!" and I'd get put through to the Gas Showroom at 19/21 High Street Banstead, where the posh, plummy-but-friendly Irish accent of Showroom Manager Bobby Knowles would answer. Our phone number at the Sutton offices was VIGilant 8282- not a lotta people know that!

St Marys Church. I went there. Minister Bird. We lived at the back, 9 Duncan Rd. We used to get into the vestry when the bombs were dropping and we were at the school, which is units now.

Nice to hear from another "oldie" who was around about the same time. From our house on the Sutton Bypass (Reigate Avenue)' I used to watch the German bombers coming over the horizon near Banstead towards us. Then nip to the air-raid shelter when they got too close ! Those were the days ! Thank you, Richard.

No history of the school anywhere?

Reply from LNW: Not to my knowledge. I will ask around.

My wife went to the school 1957 to 1963. Did anyone else go there ? St Mary’s Burgh Heath

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