Southall 830-1982

Richard J. Meads

 

1981

 

By this time Southall's population is over 82,000, with nearly 65% multi-racial - mostly of Asian origin. The whole of Southall has become badly run down. Litter is everywhere and, what makes things a lot worse, so much today is packed in disposable containers which are just thrown anywhere. Gone are most front gardens, these have made way for cars to park. South Road, which used to be one of the best, is now deplorable. Our new citizens seem to love bright colours which shows when they decorate their houses - some very good, but not all - and add to this, the rubbish left in the front gardens has a very bad effect on our terrace type streets. Although one agrees that our Shop Act requires amending, these days it is possible to purchase almost anything in the town on a Sunday; this, despite the fact that prosecutions have been brought against offenders.

 

Petty crime has increased by 50% and muggings and break-ins reports fill a great deal of space in the local Gazette.

 

In January a £500,000 collection of Martinware Pottery, Manuscripts, Drawings and Furniture was presented to Ealing Borough by Professor J. H. Grundy. He had started his collection when he was a lad in Villiers Road.

 

Mr David Osen appointed Headmaster to Dormers Wells High School. The Wolf Field School was officially opened by the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Anita Fookes. Miss P. J. Skegg Headmistress (Nursery, First and Middle Schools).

 

45th AGM Southall Horticultural Association, now with a membership of 653, held 29th January.

 

One of the oldest public houses the Red Lion is up for sale by tender.

 

The Dominion Cinema has been possessed on behalf of the Inland Revenue to claim £11,000 unpaid tax bills from the Indian Workers'

Association.

 

500 tenants of Council Houses have made application to buy their houses, rents of which have been increased by 15% and another 20% will be added in 1982.

 

Hambrough New School (South Road) came into service on 27th April.

 

On the 29th April a start was made on the new road connecting King Street and Western Road via Pluckington Place. This came into official use on Wednesday, 4th November, 1981, and was named Montague Way.

 

On 17th May Mr S. G. Cutland died, aged 92. He had a large Drapery business in King Street for 30 years and was President of the Chamber of Commerce 1944-45.

 

Lady Henniker-Heaton elected Mayor 19th May.

 

500 unemployed from the Liverpool area marched into Southall on Friday, 19th May. They were fed and accommodated at the Community Centre and Havelock Road Temple.

 

The Revd Phillip Wall retired from Norwood Church, after twelve years, at the end of May.

 

What must be the most tragic piece of history of our town happened on the night of Friday, July 3rd. There had been a feeling that tension was growing amongst the teenage Asians. This was partly caused by the incident which had occurred previously. On the evening of the 3rd July a Disco was taking place at the Hambrough Tavern and a coach load of hooligans (skinheads) from outside the town started to cause trouble by insulting the coloureds, and smashing windows. This started what was to become known as the Southall Riots. A running fight broke out between hooligans and the police, who had to be reinforced by outside police who carried riot shields. The Hambrough Tavern was burned down, 57 policemen needed hospital treatment, 26 others were taken to hospital. Dozens of shop windows smashed and £20,000 worth of damage done to Council property.

 

The trouble carried on for over a week. It was a pitiful sight to see nearly all the shop windows in King Street boarded up. 80 arrests were made but, whatever the reason, very few were convicted. To make sure that those arrested were given an unbiased hearing, most of the cases were heard at Hendon Court. What a disgrace to the town.