I've decided not to lower the tone of the forum by quoting the song about winkles. However, I've remembered another couple of 'Round' songs. 'Ten green bottles' was one, 'When I was young I went to school to learn ....' was another and' The man who put the powder on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the King of Caractucus is just passing by .......' That was a very long one and I recall that as a member of the Bromley Cycling Club we sang it as we pedalled along - when we had the breath. Up to twenty of us would sally forth on a Sunday to Boulter's Lock, Westerham or - sometimes an evening there and back to Brighton! If a car - few and far between in those days - came up behind us the rear cyclist would shout 'Oil' and we would change formation into single file. We were all members of the Cyclist Touring Club and the Youth Hostel Association. Winnie May who lived in Tristram Road was the secretary of the BCC.
Splinter, you said that your local fraternity used to sometimes go to the footbridge. I remember that just after the war speedway racing, New Cross and Wimbledon, was all the rage with Ron Johnson as the main star. We built a cycle speedway track down at the footbridge just above where the stream came under the path. Many hours were spent there locked in combat with teams from all over Downham. When I visited Downham last I saw that the whole area is now incorporated in the cemetery. Also, the footbridge where I spent many hours watching the trains is now orientated on the other hand. That is you go up the steps facing Hither Green now. in my day you went up facing Grove Park. The more daring amongst our gang would balance along the top of the girder over the lines. Whilst doing all these things, I don't ever remember telling my parents where I was going - that includes days out at Elmstead Woods. Ah! What days of freedom they were. I'm sure that I, and my contemporaries, enjoyed our childhood much more than today's generation despite all their electronic gadgets!
Here's to the next time,
Vic.
