Comments on: The Honky Tonk Woman – Winifred Atwell and the Railton Road in Brixton.

By: adam

adam — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 07:13:40 +0000

Reply to William: my grandad owned the glass bucket club in railroad road. my family has very little information about him or the club as he left London I believe after the club closed. My dad did have a flyer for a club night but it was lost. Any information or memorabilia would be appreciated. thanks

By: Keith Towers

Keith Towers — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 19:11:02 +0000

My Nan loved Winnie Atwell. I grew up in the Brixton area during the mid 1940′s until 1969 when I got married and moved away. I had a fantastic childhood roaming the streets during the school holidays, collecting old newspapers and selling them for a few coppers. Enjoying carefree days at Brockwell Park. The market was a good place to get some free oranges or apples that had been thrown out by the stall holders. I went to Effra Parade infant and Junior school. Mr. Nicholson was the headmaster. I think I let him down on several occasions. Then on to Santley Street and finally Tulse Hill School. I’m 74 this year and still have a fond memories of those days. We were poor but happy.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 21:45:38 +0000

I was born in Barnwell Road in 1947 and lived there for 20 years. Dr Howlett (I had quite forgotten the name until William mentioned t) was our family doctor, his waiting room was a converted shop with the plate glass window painted brown. No appointments in those days! I used to cut through the Effra School playgrounds to fetch our fish and chips from the shop in Effra Parade. And Winifred Attwell’s was most certainly on the corner of Chaucer Road and not Effra Parade.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 14:51:21 +0000

Reply to William. I didn’t know the Drs surgery but I did know the fish shop. As you say they were Italian and their name was something like Amatrudo. There was an older son Tony. I also remember the the newsagents with the penny bangers and the 1d in the slot chewing gum machine outside – Richardsons. Yes I rember the off licence at the other end of Effra Parade – Halls – and the cycle shop Boxalls. Also the grocers Ellis’s – the dairy Morris’s and the shoe repairers.

By: William

William — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 11:23:18 +0000

i can also share your memories of effra parade! I grew up in effra parade, went to effra primary school, worked at Roy kingstons (aka Roy turner). Yes, Winifred Atwells was definitely on the corner of Chaucer road. There was a club called “the glass bucket” just opposite, a ‘drinking club’ !
Next to it was a doctors surgery, dr howlett, who drove an old black saloon car which he kept for years. The fish and chip shop on effra parade was run by Ernie , an Italian gentleman. Along with his wife and daughter anna. Next door was a barbers where I used to have a short back and sides for 1/3d. His name was Alan. Then there was a newsagents where we were able to buy fireworks (including penny bangers) for guy Fawkes night. Does anyone remember the off license at the other end of the road and the bike shop?

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 11:48:12 +0000

Reply to Malcolm – 13 April.

Very impressed that you can remember that St Judes Primary School was at 213 Railton Road! I lived at 215 – literally on the other side of the school wall. I can remember that just after I left St Judes in 1965, the school attained a certain notoriety as the most overcrowded school in London, and I can still recall the footage on the BBC evening news of pupils having to climb over other children’s desks to get to their own!

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 10:07:07 +0000

I too lived in flats in Effra Parade from 1952 to 1964 and used to walk to and from Sunday school and cubs and scouts from the Effra Parade junction up to St Jude’s Church Hall at Roy 213 Railton Road nearer to Herne Hill Station. I too remember that Kingstons Greengrocers was on the corner of Effra Parade opposite the George and that Winifred Attwells Hairdressing salon was further up on the corner of Chaucer Road. Before that it was a car showroom

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 11:51:48 +0000

I posted information a week ago confirming that David’s observations (above)are correct and Winifred’s Salon was on the corner of Chaucer Road, not Effra Parade. Why haven’t you published it?

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 22:37:12 +0000

David, I’ve had to rack my brains over this (we lived in Mayall Road from when I was three (1956) and then moved to the St. Jude’s School end of Railton Road when I was 12. I left the area in 1973. I never knew about the Winifred Atwell connection, so I’ve learnt something there, but I think you’re right about her salon being on the corner of Chaucer Road, not Effra Parade. If so, wasn’t it a minicab hire office before the riots? The one thing I do remember with absolute clarity was Mr Snook’s sweetshop in Leeson Road, just along from the Windsor Castle.

By: David

David — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:33:34 +0000

In response to Ian Cameron, in the late 40`s through to the early seventies that large garage door used to be the storage area of Roy Kingston’s fruit and veg stall ( he used to house his great Dane dog in there as well)