The main drag at Notting Hill Gate is probably not one of the most architecturally distinguished parts of London. The north side of the road, west of Pembridge Road is a plain row of shops with the incongruously tall Campden Hill Towers at the centre. But the pavements are pleasantly wide and uncrowded most of the time and I like the convenience of having three small versions of well known supermarkets close to each other. In the past there were other useful branches of chains such as WH Smiths and Timothy Whites (remember them? My wife and I bought several kitchen items there which lasted us for years.). The south side of the street between the Gate Cinema and Kensington Church Street is possibly even less distinguished and hasn’t aged well. But that wide sunny road takes you to the West End and Pembridge Road takes you to Portobello Road. When I came to London in the 1970s it was one of the first places I added to my mental map of the city and I retain a certain affection for it. I’ve never known any other version.
Of course now I know what it used to look like in the late 19th century and the early 20th, a classic Victorian/Edwardian high street.
This was it in 1956 looking west. The Midland Bank visible in the centre was on the corner with Pembridge Road where Jamie Oliver’s establishment now sits.
The Central line station was still above ground then and was little changed since this view from the early years of the last century.
This picture, from 1958 shows the south side of the road where the District and Circle line entrance was.
The street frontage has already been stripped away to show the street behind the high street. There had been a plan to amalgamate the two stations, modernise the area,and widen the street since 1937 but this had been postponed by the war. The London Transport Executive took up the plan again in the 1950s and began buying up property from 1955.
The view below from 1957 is looking north up Kensington Church Street and shows the whole corner under demolition.
This is a view from closer up. The two buildings on the north side of Notting Hill Gate are visible in both pictures.
This view is looking west. You can see the water tower in the distance and the top of the Coronet cinema.
By contrast this is the view with the road partially closed. The interesting feature is the unobstructed view of the block of flats on the right.
The same is true of this picture showing the part of the street still in use. The block in question is Broadwalk Court, an art deco style building designed by Robert Atkinson and built in 1934. It’s fascinating to see it suddenly revealed when you’re used to the view being obscured by its surroundings.
In the picture below you can see a sign saying District and Circle Line Entrance, but I can’t see an actual entrance. Behind the hoarding?
The building site also attracted an artist,
This architect’s model shows the whole development. One of the interesting features are the buildings and narrow streets behind the shops and the tower, which are hidden at street level. The 18-storey residential tower block was intended to replace some of the local housing that had been lost by the demolition work.
We have a couple of pictures which are my favourites from this set. This one shows the construction work well advanced, with a small truck ploughing through a nearly flooded street.
This one is looking from the west by Ladbroke Terrace, beyond the parade of shops.
It all looks very quiet as London sometimes does.
Postscript
It’s now week six of the great scanning famine. I’ve been using our book scanner which uses a slightly lower resolution than I normally use but you don’t see too much difference. Once again crucial information about the development came from that Bible of local history, the Survey of London
June 30th, 2016 at 8:58 am
Absolutely brilliant !! Thanks !! I live in this immediate area and have always wantes to see photographs like this. Thanks again. David M On 30 Jun 2016 08:35, “The Library Time Machine” wrote:
> Dave Walker posted: “The main drag at Notting Hill Gate is probably not > one of the most architecturally distinguished parts of London. The north > side of the road, west of Pembridge Road is a plain row of shops with the > incongruously tall Campden Hill Towers at the centre. Bu” >
September 14th, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Hi I was wondering since you live in the area whether you could possibly fill out my quick 5 min survey. I’m currently investigating what it’s been like to live in NH over time for my A level geography coursework. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LWPQHSD
Many thanks 🙂
June 30th, 2016 at 9:06 am
Thanks for the post – it really was redevelopment on a major scale. We’d hoped your post would solve a long-standing puzzle but none of your pictures include the corner with Pembridge Gardens: https://goo.gl/maps/yeuQNSssUSF2
There’s a very nice, large, crest on the flank wall at that corner. It looks familiar but we just cannot identify it. Can you help? Do you know which shop was on that corner?
July 15th, 2016 at 5:04 pm
The crested building is the Bank Of Scotland.
July 18th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Sorry I haven’t replied before now. I was reminded by another comment about the crest being on the Bank of Scotland. We were asked this once before in the Library and never found a satisfactory answer. We thought it might be something to do with whatever bank was there before the current one but we couldn’t find a matching crest. The building isn’t that old so it remains a bit of a mystery.
Dave
March 17th, 2017 at 11:53 am
It was originally the National Bank, manager Mr Basil Young, that moved there from Pembridge Road in the early 1960s. I had a savings account there and my mother and grandmother had accounts. The National Bank was, I think, originally Irish. It was later (1970s?) absorbed by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
March 18th, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Thanks for this. It’s a great help.
Dave
March 20th, 2017 at 11:07 am
Thanks Dave and AJP Crown for identifying the crest as National Bank Ltd. Even though it’s not really a memorial, its such a nice piece of work we’ve now published it at https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/crest-national-bank-ltd
June 30th, 2016 at 4:06 pm
It’s fascinating to see old Notting Hill as it used to be in the late 50s before the re-developers destroyed it. Your last photo looking west must have been taken right outside my old primary school called St Vincents, at 6 Holland Park Avenue and I can remember this view all to well! This school only lasted from about 1950 to 1965 but I have never managed to find any reference to it since then. I wonder if any of your readers remember it, or whether there are any records about the school in the RBKC archives? It was run by Mrs Bromley & Miss Reid, and teachers included Miss Kent and Mrs Monger. I can recall around 1955 being taken in a crocodile just up the road to the ABC cafe for lunch which featured lumpy mash potato served in unappetizing round dollops using an ice cream scoop! Many thanks for all your great posts, despite the scanner problems.
February 2nd, 2017 at 7:22 pm
I was at St.Vincents from about1948 until 1954. I remember well Mrs Bromley who was Mrs Drummond originally. The school in it’s earlier days was further down Holland Park Avenue. I also remember Mrs Reid and Mrs Monger. Our dinners were taken at a wartime British Restaurant further up Notting Hill Gate. I had happy days walking home from school with a couple of school mates and exploring bombed out house on Ladbroke Grove up by St. John’s Church. Get in touch if you want further info on old school.
Best wishes, John
February 4th, 2017 at 6:07 pm
Many thanks for your reply John, I did not think I would ever come across someone else who had even heard of St. Vincents, let alone a former pupil! I guess you would have been a “senior” when in 1954 I started in the rather surprisingly named “kindergarten”, so you certainly would not have noticed me! I would be very interested in anything else you can remember about the old school back in your days. I recently did some research and at 6 Holland Park Ave. found Merville G. V. Drummond who inexplicably became Bromley circa 1950. Prior to 1947 his address was 6 Ladbroke Sq, so I wonder if this was the location you referred to? I wonder if you remember the formidable Mrs Bromley’s favourite phrase…. “Don’t be Vague”. I recall that it was not wise to upset her, she could be rather volatile! Exploring bomb sites was great wasn’t it!
Best wishes, Nigel
April 6th, 2017 at 11:37 pm
I was at St Vincents from 1948 to 1953. I don’t remember “Don’t be vague” but I do remember Mrs Bromley well. I remember her complaining to my father about the way I looked at her. (Clearly my attempt at the “evil eye” worked!) I got away with it because I was considered “clever”….. but I can remember her humiliating so many pupils. She could be a very unpleasant lady when she tried. On the other hand, I have fond memories of Mrs Reid (her mother)
I too remember the bomb sites particularly a large house on Ladbroke Grove. It looked fairly solid from the outside but upon entry it was all rubble except for an unsupported central staircase . I and other pupils from St Vincents took turns running up and down that staircase. How we didn’t manage to kill ourselves, i don’t know.
April 12th, 2017 at 9:38 am
Hello Maya, I posted two items on the Notting Hill Gate site under the name John Robert and John Howell. However, you will remember me as John Moon as I was then.
I remember you well, and as you say, you were clever winning a place at the Greycoat school along with Jacqueline Grant. I went to Westminster City School. We did meet very briefly at my school at a sixth form school dance.
Mrs. Bromley could be very strict but she gave us a very good education. Sometime her aspirations for us were beyond our years. I remember her treat for us after our 11 plus was a trip to the cinema (the Coronet?) to see the Tales of Hoffman. Not really a film to excite 11 year olds.
Your memories of that bombed house are exactly as I remember it. I wonder if it got rebuilt or demolished. Also Simone’s description of Mrs. Denny is exactly as she is in the school photo.
Looking at the programme of the school concert on19th. July 1952, I see you were cast as second daughter in The Golden Goose. Maureen Brander was first daughter and Susan Frucht was third daughter. All the names from the past!
I am hoping to scan the photos and any other literature that I have so keep an eye on the site.
Best wishes, John
March 29th, 2017 at 10:58 am
Hi Nigel,
Further to my previous memories of St. Vincent’s School. I have looked through old papers left by my parents and have found much relating to the school. I have all my old reports from 1947 to 1954, and from them I have found that the school was originally at No.14 Holland Park Avenue and moved to No.6 in mid 1948. Mrs. Drummond was the principal and she became Mrs. Bromley in 1951.
I have a school photo of all pupils taken in the garden of No.14, with me in the front row sitting on the ground, circa 1947/8. There are 83 children, with Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Drummond(as she was then) on one side of the children, and Mrs.Denny on the other. I also have a copy of the programme of the school concert, dated 19th. July at the Twenieth Century Theatre in Westbourne Grove.One member of the Kindergarten singers was Rima Horton who became Alan Rickman’s partner /wife. When I googled her I found references to the school (inaccurate) and her time at the school. Also got local paper cutting and photos of this school production.Hope this is of interest.
Best wishes, John
April 4th, 2017 at 6:03 pm
Well swipe me…..I was a pupil at this lovely little school in a big beautiful house from about 1945 or 6 to 1951 when we did the dreaded 11 plus. Mrs Drummond’s brother Mr Reid, taught us art, and was a very inspiring man, I learned to love art and history through this wonderful man. Mrs Denny was such a picture in her brown mac, plaited hair (curled over the ears) and she used to ride home on a bicycle with a basket on the front. The other pupils were from smart homes – architects, surveyors, engineers, and were well heeled, we were not so fortunate. I can remember every word of the French lessons to this day, it was a great foundation for education. We lived down the road in Shepherds Bush, and used to walk home via the sweet shops. Does anyone remember John Harris? His parents owned the Sun in Splendour pub in Notting Hill Gate. Thank you so much for these memories as I live in Africa now. We were blessed to go to that school. Simone
October 28th, 2017 at 11:43 am
My husband Mike Hamand just found some school reports from his time at St Vincent’s in 1947. Would love a copy of the photo please.
September 14th, 2018 at 7:34 pm
Hi I was wondering since you live in the area whether you could possibly fill out my quick 5 min survey. I’m currently investigating what it’s been like to live in NH over time for my A level geography coursework. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LWPQHSD
Many thanks 🙂
December 7th, 2020 at 9:24 pm
hey Lauren, I’m doing an A-level gentrification study on Notting Hill and was wondering if you had any resources on the area that might prove useful.
Thank you!
October 16th, 2019 at 4:46 pm
I went to St. Vincent’s….had to be late 1960’s. I lived in Hillcrest flats, 51-57 Ladbroke Grove….have fond memories of that school.
October 25th, 2016 at 6:34 pm
I lived just off Ladbroke Grove in the 60s. In the early 70 I was living in Minford Gardens in Shepherds Bush and would sometime go and visit a friend who worked in the co-op at Notting Hill Gate. It was just along from W H Smith on the corner. On the same parade of shops there was a shop that sold second hand LPs as well as some new ones. This was the first Virgin Record shop. At the back there was a display of stereo hi-fi kit. I took the plunge and bought my first stereo amplifier. 10 watts per channel, £10 and sold under the Amstrad brand. I wonder what happened to the blokes who set up the record shop and sold hi fi equipment?
February 7th, 2017 at 2:39 pm
St Vincents had to be still around in say the last 60’s, I know, I went there! I lived at 4 Hillcrest 51-57 Ladbroke Grove, and that was my first “real” school, I have very fond memories of our daily spelling drills
August 7th, 2017 at 4:28 pm
Hi Andy, that’s helpful to know….. what year did you start at St Vincents, and when did you leave? Can you recall the names of the teachers while you were there? Apologies for the slow response to your post. Nigel
February 9th, 2017 at 3:40 am
Fascinating photographs and history….Some good,some bad.
June 3rd, 2017 at 3:02 pm
Hi John Moon/Howell, you mention a school photo with Mrs Denny in it, where did you find it, as I would like to look at it, if it is on a website please could you link me in there. Maya was my sister Suzanne Williams’ best friend (she was at St Vincent’s too, and my cousin Helen Smith) and they are friends still today on Facebook. Thanks
June 3rd, 2017 at 4:02 pm
Hello Simone,
I have a scan of the photo with Mrs. Denny which I will be please to email to you. It is a group school photo taken 1947/48 and it also includes Mrs. Bromley and Mrs. Reid. Please contact Dave Walker and ask him to give you my email address. I have already asked him to invite you to contact me so there should be no problem. Failing that, I have been swapping memories with Maya so maybe she will give you my email address.
I would be pleased to hear your comments on the photo as I believe you may be on it. Unfortunately I can only recognise myself and Richard Greene.
Hopefully you will be in touch soon and I can email all the school memorabilia that I have.
Best wishes, John
June 14th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Richard Greene is our cousin…………I will ask Maya for your email. Thanks for the memories of childhood beginnings. I suppose I will recognise you when I see the pix.
September 13th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Simone
This is your cousin Richard Greene. Still alive.
I don’t know how I stumbled on this site but its good to make contact.
Hope you are keeping well.
I have the photo of the pupils in the garden at no 6 Holland Park if you gave not already received.
My email is mail@richard-greene.co.uk
January 31st, 2018 at 10:15 am
Hi Richard, I did write an email to this address but no reply, so you are still around. It was to thank you for being so wonderful to our Aunts Mavis and Thelma. Will try the email address again…………happy days S
January 31st, 2018 at 7:09 pm
Hi Richard, I just read Simone’s post so thought i would pop in to say hello. I remember you well. Maya
June 26th, 2017 at 4:42 pm
Hi John, not getting replies from Maya or Dave Walker re scan…..sadly as would love to see it.
July 5th, 2017 at 8:50 am
Simone, Maya said that she has passed my email address to you. However, if it has failed to reach you I will ask Maya to give me your email address so I can contact you direct, and I will contact Dave and ask him to pass my email address to you.
I would love to be in contact with you to pass on old photos and memorabilia of St. Vincent’s, and to read about your memories. I would be especially pleased if you could put me in contact with my friend of 65years ago, Richard Green who you said is your cousin.
Hoping to be in touch soon, John.
September 13th, 2017 at 2:41 pm
John
This is your old friend Richard Greene.
I have come across this site and could not believe anyone remembers St Vincents. There seems to no record of the school.
Hope you are in good health.
Let me have your email
July 7th, 2017 at 5:38 pm
Don’t think Maya has my email address but she can easily acquire it from my sister. I am not sure where Richard Green is…….I know he was in contact with my aunt Thelma who died last year. But my sister may also know about him. I am on facebook by the way under my name…are you on FB?
July 7th, 2017 at 6:40 pm
Couldn’t you open the message I sent you?
July 14th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
OK will hunt for it……….perhaps it would be better by email if you can remember. Hope you well.
July 18th, 2017 at 6:23 pm
Maya I am not on messenger or any smart phone connections just email facebook etc. Sue said she gave you my email please use that….you are looking good, thanks Si
July 18th, 2017 at 10:57 pm
Will do.
August 5th, 2017 at 9:19 am
John I have emailed you at the address Maya gave me, hope you received the email. Look forward to seeing the photo
November 3rd, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Would love the photo for my husband who was at St Vincent’s in about 1947.
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Hi Christine,
I was at St Vincents from 1954, and I am trying to collect any material I can find about this forgotten school. I am hoping to collect enough for Dave Walker to do a future post in this excellent RBKC archive. I would be happy to copy John’s photo on to you, and have asked Dave if he could send you my email address.
Nigel
July 27th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Hi Nigel
June Small here! I do so remember my time at St Vincent’s and you. I was there from 1955 until 1960. I was great mates with Carol Pinnock and Ian Brown and fondly remember the Polish boys, Teddy Heyda & Julek Kedereski, lovely names.
I remember having my legs smacked by Mrs Monger, I wasn’t quick enough at maths and Mrs Bromleys words often come back to me when writing.
It’s good to hear about the old place.
June Halford, née Small
July 28th, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Hi June,
I’m so pleased that you have found my posts about St Vincents, and I certainly remember you!
I started this thread back in 2016 in the hope that some fellow pupils from the 50’s might find Dave Walker’s Notting Hill Gate post. As you can see, it has attracted the attention of people from earlier years, but so far no-one from our era (1954-1960) had materialised…. so it’s great that you have found the post.
I had previously searched the internet for references to St Vincents, but found very little. So I thought it would be good to try and collect together any material, e.g. names, papers, memories and especially photos, which could perhaps be put onto the internet courtesy of Dave Walker ‘s excellent RBKC Archive.
My memories of the school are very hazy, but I remember you and others such as Carol Pinnock, Ian Brown, Diane Striker, Valerie Smith, Rosemary ?, Sybil ? The teachers I remember were Mrs Monger (maths as you painfully recall), the fearsome Mrs Bromley (who terrified me, and it seems everyone else), Mrs Reid (her mother), and not forgetting dear Miss Kent whose lessons (English was it?) I seem to remember enjoying. Oddly I do not recall the two Polish boys you mentioned, were they in our class? Can you remember any other names of pupils or teachers?
John Howell has shared a school photograph from earlier years, but I don’t recall ever having a school group photo taken while I was there. Do you recall this happening in your time at St Vincents?
I have some fuzzy photos of all of us in the 1960 school play, where you were a rather enchanting fairy! If you would like to see these, or indeed have any photos you could share, please ask Dave Walker for my email address so I can send you what I have collected so far.
Nigel
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Many thanks! Christine
January 14th, 2018 at 10:59 pm
I was at St Vincents from 1949 to about 1953. I agree with Maya’s comments. Maya, was your maiden name something like Mukerjee?
January 15th, 2018 at 11:35 pm
Yes, it was. Was yours Brace? If so, I have an image etched into my brain of Mrs B doing a number on you. I can remember sitting in the front of the class cringing with sympathy!
January 16th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Yes indeed Maya. You have a good memory and I’m pleased to note that I wasn’t over sensitive. I still remember her stinging words.
January 17th, 2018 at 10:18 am
On a more positive note, I have very fond memories of Mrs Reid and I loved my earlier years at St Vincent’s. Another teacher who hasn’t been mentioned was a Miss Hare, but she may have been there only a short time.
I have a photgraph taken in the garden around 1952, showing the cast of a production where we were dressed as flowers or grasses. My mother has written the names of all on the back and it would appear that the principal characters were Yvonne Kingsley and Heather de Tarranto, though I don’t remember either of these pupils.
January 20th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Hi Helen, like you I was a pupil at St. Vincent’s 1947 to 1954 so we were there at the same time. My name at the time was John Moon (now Howell) and I was a classmate of Maya, in fact at some time we sat next to each other. I have been in contact with Maya, and also Richard Greene, Nigel Vivian and Simone Williams, all ex St. Vincent’s pupils. The photograph you have is from the school concert of 1952 called “A Summer Entertainment” presented at the Twentieth Century Theatre in Westbourne Grove on Saturday 19th. July 1952. I still have the programme for the show. Your act in the show was titled “May Time, A Tableau In Words” and you are listed as one of the
“Grasses”. Maya was in an act titled “The Golden Goose” and was Second Daughter, I was in an act titled “The Ring, A Nordic Saga” I, along with Richard Greene, was a Viking.
I have got various Photos and other documents from those years, and so have the others that I have mentioned. We have sent each other many photos, and exchanged many memories.
If you contact Dave Walker who runs this blog, ask him to either give you my email address or to pass your email address to me. If I can contact you direct I can send you all photos and memorabilia direct, and put you in touch with the others.
Hope to hear from you, John
January 28th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
There was another performance I remember when I was younger. We represented London churches from the rhyme Oranges and Lemons. My grandfather fashioned the hat I was to wear depicting the church, and I still remember my lines: Bulls Eyes and targets say the bells of St Margaret’s.
I hope that Dave Walker will pass on my email address.
January 27th, 2018 at 5:14 am
Hi, Helen The name Yvonne Kingsley rings a very vague bell but I have no recollection of a Heather or a Miss Hare. Equally, other than that one incident, I have no memory of you. I only remember John because I sat next to him when we were in the Senior class. For some reason or another, I have a vivid memory of sitting next to him taking a spelling test. (The good old Readers Digest and “It pays to increase your word power’)
January 28th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Yes, I quite enjoyed the spelling tests! It’s funny the things you remember.
There’s no doubt that we received a very good grounding at St Vincent’s, however I was not happy in my later years there and that humiliation by Mrs B was the last straw. My parents moved me to St Mary Abbots in Kensington where I spent my last four terms or so of primary school. That was a totally different experience and I blossomed.
January 21st, 2018 at 9:59 am
I remember your name, John. I think you might be slightly older than me, as I was five when I started in 1949. I seem to remember that more than one age group was taught in the same room.
Dave, please feel free to pass to John my email address (turquoise icon…there was a typo when I first posted, purple icon)
August 13th, 2018 at 9:31 am
Nigel
You have jolted my memory bank, a bit, you must remember Julek, always top of the class! Marion Ginsbury,Michael Pendrell, Sybil Lambert was her surname, Antony Battle, we had an Irish girl Patricia.
I have no photos of school, not like nowadays. When I receive your email address we can talk more.
June
DAVE would you give me Nigel’s email please, he has asked me to ask you.
Many thanks
January 6th, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Hi June, I’m Marion Panayi nee
Ginsbury and I remember you well along with Susan Kyle and Moira Christofoira. I hated the years I spent at St V’s from 1954 to 1960. I am friends on Facebook with Peter Jones. Also still friends with Julian (Ahmed) Asgaralli. Mrs Bromley and her Mother put the fear of God into me. My physical scars have long gone but emotionally still remain with me. It would be lovely to hear from you via email if you want. All the best to anyone who remembers me (skinny child with pigtails) 😀
December 30th, 2018 at 11:33 pm
Have just stumbled on this site and could not believe the references to St. Vincents and so many old pupils, many whose names I well remember,posting their comments.
I was at St. Vincents from 1955 – 1961 under my then nickname Ahmed, I was in the year with Ingrid Kunicki, Andrew Scribor, Raymond Casimir, Alan Gravener, Carole Striker, Katrina Sherlaw, Mary Cristoforou, Simon Evans, Martin Osman, Christopher Ojesso and others sorry if I left anyone else out, memory not what it was but not too bad for 68.
Still friendly with Marion nee Ginsbury and was with Ingrid who sadly passed away two years ago.
We had a great education at that school but my goodness it came with emotional baggage, Mrs Bromley was frightening and I used to tremble as she approched Juniors on the first floor, Mrs Monger with the smelly breath was equally obnoxious, no wonder I hated Maths my entire scholastic life Mrs Reid was ok if you learnt to read properly standing by her desk in kindergarten but Miss Kent was a treasure always quoting sentences from Alice in Wonderland, weird school days, I look back with very mixed emotions but appreciate the high standard and varied education we received, I was over a year ahead when I got to St. Marylebone Grammar thanks to my grounding at St. Vincents.
Really great reading all your comments and memories of 6 Holland Park Road.
Best wishes Julian Asgaralli AKA Ahmed
January 1st, 2019 at 2:55 am
Although I had left St Vincents before you arrived, your name is ringing a bell. Did you live on Holland road? If so,
I think you knew my sister, Preethi and our mothers knew each other.
January 1st, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Hi Maya,
Yes of course I remember you all well, your Brother Junior he lived in the Kunicki house in Shepherds Bush Road, I also remember coming to your house in Elsham Road a few times , our mums were friends because both our dads were Indian. I remember your dad very well, did he not make money in vinegar?
I also remember my mum and Ii were on a cruise in the early sixties and we bumpted into your mum on the Acroplis in Athens.
We did not live in Holland Road at the time but in Arthur Court in Queensway.
Hope you are well and fantastic hearing from you.
Happy new year.
Julian AKA Ahmed.
January 7th, 2019 at 10:15 pm
Happy New Year to you too!
March 23rd, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Hi,
I posted here that I had attended St Vincent in the early 1950s but
my post has not made it to this thread. Why? I’m sure it was not offensive.
I am equally certain it was on topic. Why is not up?
March 25th, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Hi I don’t think anyone checks on this site as a lot of the posts are quite old. This is a shame because it would be so good to hear from people you may know. Unfortunately I don’t know you as I attended in the middle fifties.
Regards
Marion (Ginsbury)
March 25th, 2019 at 8:23 pm
I was at St Vincent’s from 1949 to 1953, but I’m sorry, I don’t know Michael or Marion. Helen
April 7th, 2019 at 9:54 pm
I attended St Vincent’s. I began my schooling there in 1952 and attended until April 1955. On April 22nd, my 7th birthday I embarked with my
very pregnant mother, on HMS Scythia for Quebec City. From there we went by train to Ottawa.
I remember Mrs Reid’s kindergarten. It had rows of plain painted wooden desks. The first day of school I was given an Atlas, Meiklejohn’s Intermediate School Atlas. It has a blue cloth cover. I say “has” because
remarkably, as I write this I have it in front of me. Written on the inside, in my hand writing, is my then address 79A Oxford Gardens.
Centred in the wall on the right hand side of the class room was a fireplace. And at the front of the room to the right was a piano. Mrs Reid played and the children sang. We sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We sang our times tables, we sang the alphabet. …A says ah, B says buh, C says cuh… I remember other songs but cannot remember the names of them.
I seem to remember the grade up from kindergarten was called transition,
maybe I have that wrong. Up stairs the desk were more desk like, I think
made of oak. Someone wrote above that the teachers were formidable.
Maybe so, but I was advanced well beyond my peers in school in Ottawa.
Some may think this an advantage. Now I see that it was. Early stimulation is an enormous benefit. But then, it was not. School in Ottawa was boring, tedious, repetitious and parochial.
By the time I was six I was taking the bus to school, and home again by myself. My dad used to take to a public library on Ladbrooke Road and in Ottawa continued taking me to the Carnegie Library every Saturday.
While I was bored at school I was never bored at home. I discovered this blog because I was curious to find a reference to its provenance. Who founded St Vincent’s, or whom? What was the motivation?
I discovered that my grandfather had recommended St Vincent’s for me. According to my mother my grandfather was interested in “unusual pursuits.” He went to meetings at the 38 Warwick Gardens. But I discovered that P.D. Ouspensky held meetings there in the 1920s until October 1938.
Since then other indicators have caused me to wonder if Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Bromley could have been influenced by Ouspensky. St Vincent’s provided an unusually challenging environment for its time. By the time my
education there came to an end, I knew my times tables up to thirteen times. I do not remember not being able to read. I was taught and learned to read phonetically. And learned to spell phonetically. Meiklejohn’s atlas gave me an overview of the physical world and the political world as it was then at the time it was published. I recall memory exercises. And I recall doing calisthenics in a small courtyard there. We were taught to think!
I wonder if anyone knows of any influence or connection, the founders, or the teachers may have had to Theosophical influences. …Or to P.D. Ouspensky’s influence.
April 10th, 2019 at 6:01 am
Hello Michael,
I attended St Vincent’s from 1948 through 1954. My memories of Kindergarten are identical to yours. I have vivid memories of singing “Silent night “and “Early one morning”. In regard to times tables, I only remember learning up to 12 at school. At home, my father offered me half a crown (a lot of money then!) for each additional table I memorized . (My 16 times table came in very handy later on.)
As for PD Ouspensky, I’m afraid, I’d never heard of him until, as a result of your post, I googled him. Maybe someone else has…..Maya
April 16th, 2019 at 5:06 am
Hi Maya,
I suppose attributing our education exclusively to schooling is a modern conceit, as though parents, products of such schooling, are suddenly struck dumb upon leaving.
I suppose upon reflection my Grandparents and parents interest in educating me was the reason I was sent to St Vincent. But they had me reciting my times tables. Playing “I spy with my little eye” helped me learn to spell. And supplying me with lots of books of course opens ones eyes to the wider world.
Memories of St Vincent are indelibly fixed. The walk way was bordered by a low stone wall. It must have had an iron railing fixed on top of it at one time. And the railings must have been cut off and sequestered for the war. I remember evenly spaced black circular
marks along the wall. And flowers too, planted beside the wall. I remember watching ladybugs flit among them.
I remember too walking up a hill to a cafeteria for lunch. There were houses on the way there that had doors in the walls. I got a good dressing down for pushing the doors inwards and bashing them against dust bins making a truly satisfying crash.
Looking at the photos taken more recently I realize I wouldn’t recognize much.
Anyway I have good memories of St Vincent. The three years I went there could have been ten years to me. I am 71 almost. I have a four year old grandson. He’s the same age now as I was when I began school.
As for Ouspensky. He had hundreds of people attending his talks. Yet few know his influence! He was the prime exponent of G.I. Gurdjieff in London.
Maya you must be in your mid seventies. What a time to be alive.
Not long ago I would likely never have had a chance to chat with
you. Amazing!
Best wishes,
Michael
January 10th, 2020 at 4:10 pm
I live next door at number 8 Holland Park Avenue.
January 3rd, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Fascinating to hear memories of St Vincent’s. We were the next generation of pupils; I attended there with my 2 older brothers and sister : Pani, Maria, Photios and John Demetriou. – between approx. 1965- 1972.
Our father had the Galleon restaurant on Pembridge Road and we went there daily for lunch with other pupils. I am indebted to the school for my good spelling and mental arithmetic. PE was rounders in Holland Park and we went on regular trips to the Commonwealth Institute. We performed Alice in Wonderland in the school garden. Ms Kent sadly died in my younger years, we all attended the funeral. That left Mrs Bromley and Miss ( it was Miss not Mrs) Reid as the only teachers. Discipline was rather cruel and Victorian but the teaching was excellent. When I left Mrs Bromley gave me a small ivory lion and a Victorian apron.
Some contemporaries: Anne Gilmartin ( my best friend), Peter ? Bertorelli, Michael Sanchez, Garth ?, Akim and I remember helping Jason Connery (son of Sean) with his reading in kindergarten. It would be great to hear from any contemporaries.
March 12th, 2021 at 4:55 pm
Hello Pani. I remember you and your sister !!! I was only at St Vincent’s for about 3 years but remember the names you mention – I think it was Michael Bertorelli (?) and another name that springs to mind is Jeremy D’Souza. Also, Giovanna Connery attended the school for a while. On a few occasions I went with you for lunch at your father’s restaurant. I think we ate in a room upstairs ? I have fond memories of the school and from time to time, take a walk down “Memory Lane” !! So lovely to read a shared memory …..
December 16th, 2021 at 11:10 am
I remember the Bertorellis had a restaurant in Queensway. I think that was the same family. We went there several times. Delicious food. And yes, as you’ll see below, I remember Giovanna and Jason too.
December 16th, 2021 at 5:52 pm
There were two Bertorelli restaurants, one in Queensway and one in Shepherds Bush. I beieve they were cousins. I am talking about the 50s and early 60s.
June 10th, 2021 at 11:09 am
I have very fond memories of your fathers restaurant, used to eat there a lot when I attended The Rambert School of Ballet round the corner.
July 2nd, 2021 at 6:19 pm
I and my brother also attended St Vincent’s until it closed down. Mrs Bromley and Miss Reid moved to Kent I believe after the school closed.
Strange teaching (by modern standards) but my goodness highly effective! I’ve been a stickler for good spelling since my days at Holland Park!!!!
The Victorian style classrooms with creaky wooden floors throughout the lovely building….
I remember us being taken to Holland Park fairly regularly and lettuce and salad cream sandwiches!!!!!
We had PE lessons in the ‘yard’ area downstairs.
December 16th, 2021 at 11:08 am
I attended St Vincent’s for two years before going off to boarding school in September 1967 but my younger sister Liz Brearley was there for three I think. So some of you might remember her. I remember Giovanna Connery because she lived around the corner from us in Moscow Road, opposite St Matthew’s church for a while and we used to walk to school with her. I remember Jason too. My best friend was Josephine Tye (as she was then). I’m trying to remember who else was in my class (Simon Posner I do remember) and I remember Miss Kent very well. We all loved her. And Mrs Bromley too. I know Liz remembered Miss Denny very well but I don’t. Mrs Bromley took us to see The Greatest Story Ever Told at the Notting Hill cinema when it came out. A great trip. My father’s dental surgery was in Pembridge Road so all local stuff for me. It’s great to read all these posts.
December 16th, 2021 at 11:11 am
The Galleon was directly opposite my Dad’s surgery at 36. He used to go there sometimes for lunch. Was there a basement? I remember going downstairs in a restaurant sometimes for lunch while at St Vincent’s but not sure where that actually was now.
December 25th, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Jane – is your father Dr Dempsey? We remember him well and he was friendly with our uncle John who also worked at the Galleon.
We used to sit upstairs in the little room.
The kitchen was in the basement.
You were probably a contemporary of my older brother John.
Keep the memories coming .
December 25th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
No my dad owned the dental surgery at 36 – he was a dental surgeon. He died young in 1988 at 69 years old. My mother worked with him occasionally – she was an orthodontist but she mainly worked in the NHS.
I asked about a basement at the Galleon because I remember eating in one for about a term while I was at St Vincent’s. Perhaps it wasn’t the Galleon then…