Southall 830-1982

Richard J. Meads

 

1957

 

It had been a fairly mild winter and most local organisations were flourishing. On January 18th a new Court of the Independent Order of Foresters was inaugurated with a ceremony at the Community Centre; Mr V. Baker was installed as Chief Ranger. Southall Chamber of Commerce raised over £1,000 for hospitals. The Southall Norwood Angling Society released over 6,000 coarse fish in the canal and another 3,000 followed later in the year. Southall Photographic and Cine Club were very active and were holding very interesting monthly meetings. Both Junior and Senior Football Clubs were doing very well and the Football Association presented Mr W. G. Smith with a gold medal for fifty years service to the Middlesex County Association. Southall Conservative Club celebrated its 44th birthday. Revd G. S. Gilbert retired from St Georges Church after 28 years, he being the first vicar of the new church.

 

Schools

 

With the opening of the new Senior Roman Catholic School in Springfield Road, Hayes, it made way for Senior Scholars from St Anselm's to attend there. In June Tudor Road School held it’s Golden Jubilee. Mr Ebbutt retired as head of Dormers Wells School after 25 years as a teacher. Proposal plans were put forward for a new Grammar School to be built at Norwood Hall but, despite a lot of meetings for and against, it has never been built. The first meeting was held to find ways of educating the increasing number Indian children.

 

Council News

 

New Town Hall site in South Road to be a temporary car park. This lasted 25 years. Although the housing committee reported £6,000 rent surplus, fears were expressed that, due to the ever increasing cost of building council houses, rent would eventually be raised 2½ times, what an understatement that turned out to be! £151,000 was allocated for houses to be built in Havelock Road.

 

The result of Council elections — Dormers Wells, J. N. Ward (Con.), Northcote, F. R. Day (Lab.); Glebe, P. G. Southey (Lab.), Hamborough, Mrs . W. Jones (Lab.), Waxlow, J. Barrett (Lab.); Norwood Green, W. J. Lamb (Lab.). This was the first time Norwood Green had returned a Labour member. Mrs I. Cavell, JP, elected Mayor for 1957-58. The County rate up 1/6d and the general rate up by 1/8d to 16/6d in the £. This year was the 21st anniversary of Southall becoming a borough and several events took place to mark the occasion. A proposal was put forward that the Charter Mayor, Mr W. Garrod, be made a Freeman of the town - regrettably it did not find support. Another suggestion which was never carried out was for a commemorative clock to be placed on the Manor House and, although a Mr F. W. Dean who had bought the old original Manor House clock for scrap and had restored it, offered it to the council, it was refused.

 

The town was in a very festive mood and held a glorious August show with a 3/4 mile long procession which included American bands. The Scouts  held a weekend Jamborette in the park and raised over £100 for charities. For  the first time the schools sports were held at the Municipal Sports Ground, Spikes Bridge.

 

Battle of Britain week brought forth its usual social activities. Pointing the way to the growth of the coloured population 500 celebrated Indian  Independence Day in the park and the setting up of the Indian Workers' Association on Sunday, 18th August.

 

A clearance order was made for 21 houses in Featherstone Terrace, and a very old block of flats 9 - 15 The Crescent which had been built in 1880. The old Gem (The Century) closed down on Saturday, 17th August but not for long. It was reopened with Indian films being shown within a few months. At the end of September Cutlands Limited, drapers, in the King Street closed after 72 years.

 

Mount Pleasant Hospital was changed from Isolation to Care for the aged sick. The first mention of efforts to start Southall's Eventide Homes - a registered company was formed: Chairman Councilor Lye, Secretary Mr H. Armstrong, but in 1958 Councilor Lye was replaced by Dr Shephard as Chairman and Lady Daphne Straight became President. This later resulted in the home being established in Telford Road. Prince Philip visited the AEC works on the 26th November. The Southall Community Centre was becoming very popular, Mr Carslake was Chairman, Mr J. Mashford resigned as warden at the end of November and Mr Harold Hallett appointed to take over February, 1958.

 

Other items during the year: Miss V. Wilks, Headmistress of Western Road Girls' School retired after 40 years as a teacher. The Lamb again won the Battle for the Bat. The first quads ever born to Southall parents (all girls) came in June at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London to Mr and Mrs Phillips of Norwood Green. Revd Stanley Harrison (son of Mr Lew Harrison) who had already won the George Cross during the Second World War, was awarded the OBE, again for saving life.

 

A record sum of £26,000 was paid out by 'Slate and Loan' Clubs at Christmas-time. These were mostly organised at various pubs and clubs. Money was paid in throughout the year, most having their own set of rules. This was a very popular way of saving for Christmas. Alas, sometimes the custodians of the money did not live up to the trust placed in them and defaulted, only to be brought to Court on embezelment charges.