A Pictorial Meander Through the Street Parties of Horton Hill, 1945 & 1953.
Post war Britain was an austere place often described as “Black and White” and what brought “Colour” into people’s lives were the street parties. Horton Hill in Epsom was no exception.
V. E. Day Tuesday 8th May 1945. Note the the absence of men and not a lot of food on the tables.
The men had climbed over the fence from Horton War Hospital.
The party was joined by patients from the war hospitals, who wore overalls in Convalescent Blue and were called bluey. These jackets were a wartime issue and were very cheap. Though the hospitals were not prisons, the hospital environment was very strict, with segregation by gender and restrictions on contact with the locals. The men had wanted some female company! (Horton Hill backed onto and was parallel with Horton Hospital).
Coronation Street Party 30th May 1953
Television was black and white, assuming you had a TV which most people in Horton Hill did not, even most photography was black and white. But suddenly everyone was celebrating the Queen’s Coronation on 2nd June. Children were given a wonderful day of treats, and for many it was the most colourful day of their lives.
Early morning preparations for the great street party to follow.
General Post Office (GPO) Engineers were helping with the overhead decorations.
A fancy-dress competition for the children was held.
The winner of the fancy-dress competition.
Guess who the little lad is blowing the fuzz pop.
Yes, that is right the author! (Born 2nd June 1945).
Mrs Holland providing the music.
To celebrate the Coronation each child was presented with a certificate endorsed with their name.
We children were also presented with a medal with colours or a Crown (5 shillings) in a box.
The day was also recorded on film Video. This unique footage is of its time, a simpler time with few possessions and low expectations. Most things were homemade! Youngsters had a wonderful childhood, played out in the street and were very inventive, with games like High Jimmy Knacker, Hop Scotch and Hide and Seek, Street Football with a tin can, French Arrows, an endless variety of marble games and wheel or tyre racers, Guy Fawkes Night and giant snowball raids with trolley carts made from old pram wheels and orange boxes, Saturday morning cinema with Laurel and Hardy and Flash Gordon, and homemade Davy Crocket hats, lots of birthday parties and swapping and exchanging of toys and American comics. No money worries, we did not have any! Scrumping and conkers and very few disagreements or fights. Streets empty of vehicles and lamp posts used as goal posts or cricket stumps. Ah! a lost era, I fear, gone for ever!
All photos supplied by the Friday family and friends.
Terry Friday 2024