Reference the acid accumulator, I remember that Johnny Hill, who lived in the flat below us in Merlin Gardens, was running home with a recharged accumulator when he fell over somewhere along Northover - he was lucky as the acid spilt missed him and ran down the pavement into the gutter. The Hill family was : Connie, Johnny and Ronnie in descending order of age. Mrs Hill was the first person I ever heard call the lavatory the 'dyke'. For some reason, which now escapes me, the family left Downham during the war and returned to Camberwell where they had come from in the first place. My brother and I used to visit them and I remember that it was the tram stop before the Oval where we got off - IE after Camberwell Green. (No 54 from up the top, fare 2d) Reading this back I realise that it is totally irrelevant, but never mind.
I believe I started this post with the intention of saying that I had a snack on my two recent visits to Downham at the cafe where Clarks the greengrocers used to be on the same side of the road as the Tavern, next to what was the United Dairies shop. It was cheap and cheerful and the grub was good. When I come over later this year Splinter, we must have fish and chips in 'Something Fishy'!
I hope that all the ex-Downhamites in Oz are safe and well and unaffected by the flooding.
Regards to all,
Vic