Southall 830-
Richard J. Meads
Southall had by now a very improved bus service. After great efforts services had been provided for the Waxlow Estate, the 105 going through to Shepherds Bush via Greenford.
A block of shops were built on the bend of North Road leading round to Mount Pleasant and more allotment land was taken away and blocks of flats erected in Allenby Road. By this time Mount Pleasant had lost its individuality and the only thing keeping it rural was Snells Farm in Dormers Wells, the last one in Southall. In Beaconsfield Road the Southall Technical College which had been opened April 13th, 1928 with Headmaster Mr Holroyd, and already enlarged twice, was still having to use rooms at the Kings Hall for lectures. Many firms in the district were sending apprentices there on day release. Tickler Jam Works closed down and the Crown Cork Company took over the site to extend their works. Their employees had a very successful social club adjoining the factory. Another firm which had greatly expanded was the Cramic Engineering Company who now had a large works on part of the old Maypole site.
There was still a police box on the corner of King Street and Western Road, and the Council did a good job in turning the little piece of green there into a nicely laid out garden with seats.
The population of Southall in 1951 was 55,896 but, for some reason, this declined to 54,900 by 1955.
Mayors of Southall 1950-
1950 Alderman F. C. Gardener
1951 Councillor Lye
1952 Councillor F. G. Smith
1953 Alderman T. Lowe
1954 Councillor J. G. Dormer
1955 Councillor P. J. Love
In 1951 Woolf Rubber Limited opened a factory at Hayes Bridge. Finding it hard to
get local labour to do what was a very dirty type of job, a member of the firm went
to India and recruited labour from there which resulted in what has turned out to
be a disaster for Southall. An extract from an article published by Southall Environment
Project in 1980 states that 'since 1950 the make-
In August 1950 Mr J. B. Thomson, MICE, FRSH, retired after 42 years service. He joined the Southall Norwood Urban District Council as assistant surveyor. After war service he returned to Southall and, in 1919, was appointed Engineer and Surveyor. During his years of service he supervised numerous housing schemes and new municipal buildings which had cost ratepayers over £900,000. He was honoured by being made a Freeman of the Borough. He was a great worker for the Royal Society of Health, and Guide Dogs for the Blind. He was 75 when he died. His successor as Borough Surveyor was Mr S. F. Thorne.
Norwood Hall (Unwins Park) which had been purchased by the Middlesex County Council and was used as an Old Peoples' Rest Home, was in 1956 transformed into a Horticultural College. Under the supervision of Mrs Perry, VMH, it was gradually developed with large greenhouses and show plots. The hall itself was used as lecture rooms and Administrative Offices. When Mrs Perry retired Mr J. Warren became Principal. In 1975 Mr K. Spackman took his place and he retired at the end of August 1982 after 26 years at the college. It is open to visitors several times a year.
Entertainment in the town in the fifties was very plentiful with four cinemas doing
well and the Southall Community Centre now being made full use of -
At the end of June Mr Charlie Collins, who had been a Councillor for several years
and Chairman of the Council 1933-
Between 1950 and 55 more and more public services were being provided, Old Peoples'
Bungalows built and more Leisure Centres provided, but these had to be paid for and
the rates each year increased. In 1953 21/-