Tony – Growing Up

Dad went off to Africa during the war and I was born in a Nursing Home in Rayners Lane (the next station on the Piccadilly line to Eastcote) on 16th April 1941.  Fortunately in my passport it is recorded I was born in Harrow which sounds much posher than Rayners Lane.

What better place to start than me growing up 

Well I was an early baby as Doctor said on 10th April I was to be born in a month. I arrived 6 days later

I only just made it into 16th April 1941 – 12.15 a.m.

 

So I soon got my National Identity Card – BASH – that’s not fair

Obviously an adorable baby

Then even cuter

and then words fail me

Here with my cousins, Ray and Pauline Tanner in Kingswear Road, Ruislip Manor

Early photos with Mum and Dad

Other early photos

I went camping with the scouts in August 1952, aged 11. It looks as if it rained a lot

 

Just as well I didn’t decide to start up a business later in life designing Christmas cards

 

Littlestone Holiday Camp

My mother and father actually met at Littlestone Holiday Camp and as a youngster, I spent a couple of weeks each summer there. My Grandma (Mum’s mother), her brother George, and my Uncle Charlie, Auntie Laura and their two children Ray and Pauline were also there as well. Naga, my Mum’s sister is also there in one photo before he emigrated to New Zealand  There are more photos of Littlestone in my Mum and Dad’s section but here are some of me there.

Schooling

I was lucky and enjoyed both my junior school Lady Bankes and my senior school Bishopshalt Grammar

and a Lady Bankes School photo with my best friend, Michael Butt. Amazingly I recognise many of the faces but of course struggle with the names.

I was considered pretty good at table tennis and was persuaded to enter the Daily Mirror Junior Table Tennis competition. I was knocked out by this chap who went on to win it. He had a shed in his garden for practising all through the year. I played for two weeks a year at Littlestone Holiday Camp!

When my Dad bought a new Morris Oxford I was given my first car   

I always remembered this number plate – but remember none of my other numerous cars since.

The family went for a hoilday in Spain, to Tossa de Mar on the Costa Blance

I’m embarrassed to put this video up – perhaps 15?

I remember vaguely a 21st birthday party with the family at Kent Gardens in Ealing. I certainly had a card from Mum and Dad

So now I was a grown-up! Sort of.