Before I begin the second part of this post, can anyone guess which soap legend, who hailed from my neck of the woods, once lived in this house? And no, it wasn't anyone who starred in EastEnders! The answer will soon be revealed!
OK, so what did happen when I took a stroll down memory lane and paid a visit to my old street where I'd lived as a young child?
As soon as I saw the very unfamiliar-looking lady, I was almost a hundred per cent certain that my former neighbours had indeed moved on which to be honest wasn't really a surpirse. There are very few people, like my mum's family, who stay in the same house for such a long time. Or perhaps I've just got used to modern day life where people seem to move around every few years. So I was sorry that I'd wasted the lady's time and interrupted what was no doubt a very busy morning. I figured that at best she'd be annoyed with me. But at worst, if she was anything like me and had watched too many Crimewatch episodes, the sight of an unknown caller at her front-door was bound to alarm her! Thankfully she didn't appear at all phased by my unexpected appearance.
But then in a twist that I was soooooo not expecting, I got the shock of my life when the lady announced that the people I was looking for - my old neighbours still lived at that very house! I got an even bigger shock when I realized that the lady I didn't recognize was actually one of my old playmates! The little boy with her was her eight year old nephew - her brother's son - who was now a fair bit older than his dad was when I last saw him as a toddler! It wasn't long before her mum joined us at the door... And honestly, it really was like time had stood still. She hadn't changed a bit and she was just as I had remembered her.
I have nothing but good memories of this family. The parents were two of the nicest and most patient people you could ever wish to meet; always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. Us kids always loved hanging out at their house. The mum - Aunty to us kids - would sometimes take me and my sister to school when ever Mum wasn't able to. But for the most part I remember her and Mum walking to and from school with their gaggle of kids, talking about... well whatever mums talk about! Us kids would either be rushing off ahead shrieking about one thing or another... or lagging behind and dragging our feet because we were dead tired. It's hard being six and having to be at school all day!
We chattered away for a while exchanging news of our lives now; swapping stories, and reliving the good old days. I had to decline their lovely offer to come in and grab a cuppa as my aunt was expecting me, but I did leave with a promise to keep in touch and to pop by the next time I was in London... and this time bring Mum along too. I was very touched when both mum and daughter said that they had all thought about my family over the years and wondered how we were all doing. And it was lovely to meet my neighbours' grandchild... the new generation!
'We'll leave you to continue your stroll down memory lane," said my childhood friend as I was leaving. Haha - this is the first time we've met in adulthood and it looks as though she already knows me too well!
It was a very surreal experience as I walked away. I felt as though my present day-self had taken a trip back into time. I felt a whole plethora of emotions: delight at seeing my childhood home; joy at being reunited with friendly faces; contentment as the happy memories came flooding back... but there was also a pang of regret. What would my life have been like if we'd never moved away? True, there were a lot of things I'd missed out on by moving away - living closer to our extended family for a start. But then again, there were also experiences I'd never have had and people I would never have met if we hadn't had left. As we amble along on the journey that is life, it is always the good people that we meet; the ones who bring some magic into our lives; the ones we go on to form lasting friendships with, and the ones who go on to leave lasting memories long after they leave our lives that make every twist and turn worthwhile.
And the nostalgia-fest didn't end there...
When I got home I excitedly shared my news with the rest of the family. They were amazed that I went to go and have a look at the old place; stunned but delighted when I told them that I'd caught up with our old friends; sorry to hear that some of the neighbours had since passed or were in bad health, and they viewed pics of the street and our old house that I took with great curiosity. My family are often bogged down with the stresses and demands of a very busy work life. But hearing about my visit to our old street, their eyes lit up; they had ear-to-ear grins and they were brimming with the same level of excitement that I had been on earlier that day... and I knew that they too were taking their own little nostalgic stroll...
Modern day life can be very hectic. We're very busy; constantly striving for success, moving on to the next big thing. Many of us no longer live in the town we were born in, meaning that we don't get to see our families as often as we'd like to; friendships can sometimes fade away, and good neighbours become a memory. We unintentionally drift away from many of the people we once knew but still continue to hold dear. But as I walked down the street of the first place I'd ever called home, it represented everything that was important in life: family, close friends, happy memories... and good neighbours.
It was good to be back...
And my East London escapades didn't just end with a visit to my old street. You can't visit the East End without going to a chippy! Well some will say you can't go to the East End without visiting a pie and mash shop but that's never been my thing. In fact this recent visit to London, I was quite disheartened by the lack of fish and chip shops. What's happened to them all??? Thankfully The Seahorse in East Ham, a chippy I've been going to for years is still around and does amazing fish and chips.
I love that it was served on the kind of crockery that you'd have found at my nanna's house in the seventies, and those framed cigarette cards reminded me a lot of those collector's cards I used to get with a box of PG Tips (though I guess they were in cigarette packets first, hence the name!) A very retro experience indeed. And best of all (aside from the fish and chips of course) - were all those Cockney voices I could hear around me. Unfortunately I couldn't finish the massive fish portion while I was there but the lady who worked there noticed I managed to put all the chips away! Proper chip-shop chips... there are just some things you can't get in America...
A trip around East Ham and then later Ilford!
My mum was an avid Crossroads viewer. In fact It's because of her that I also grew up watching Crossroads - the proper Crossroads I mean not that awful reboot! So I grew up watching the escapades of Benny and Miss Diane, Jill and her husband Adam, the Hunters and of course listening to that familiar theme tune that signaled the start of one of our fave soaps. You're humming that tune to yourself right now, aren't you?
But I have to admit, one of the faces that wasn't familiar to me was that Meg Richardson, one of the the soap's original characters, played by the legendary Noele Gordon. By the time I started watching Crossroads, Meg had already been written out and I didn't know anything about her until I was much older. But for those who knew, Meg Richardson - and of course the actress who played her - had soap icon status, and I only become aware of this years later. It's a bit like how it is for the new generation of Neighbours and EastEnders viewers who were born long after Scott and Charlene got hitched, or never got to see Den serve Angie with divorce papers. They may not have got to see these historic soap moments when it was broadcast the first time, or known how legendary these characters were. But over the years, they would definitely have heard all about them.
So imagine my surprise when I learned that Noele Gordon actually lived in East Ham, just a skip, hop and not even a jump from the house I grew up in (though she'd long since moved by the time I came along!) I shared the news of my discovery with my totally amazed family who still live in the area, and we figured we should all go and have a look. They all watched Crossroads during the days when Meg Richardson reigned supreme and were surprised that they'd never heard that she once lived in the area. Although to be fair, by the time they'd moved into the area, wreaking havoc, Noele Gordon had long left East Ham!
So I set off with my aunt and uncle in search of Noele Gordon's former home - not realizing that they were going to have their own little stroll down memory lane as they bumped into a man they once knew who they hadn't seen in more than forty years. How they all recognized each other, I don't know! So after reminiscing and sharing stories, we once again set off in pursuit of Noele's house. We found it and I was disappointed to see that there was no blue plaque outside her home! For some reason I was led to believe that there was and I don't see why there wasn't- after all Noele was soap royalty!
After marveling at this little piece of local history, we set off before the current owners came outside to demand why there was a strange-looking people gawping at their house. But how lovely it is to find a little piece of local history right on your (old) doorstep.
Right now if anyone can tell me where I can find Jimmy Greaves old house in Manor Park, that'll be next on the list!
A very nostalgic day indeed that made this nostalgia-loving lady - and lots of other people - very happy!
Photos: Angel Noire, Wix and YouTube
Blog graphics: Angel Noire
Ah Noele! Now she really does bring back memories. And for those who don't know, she really was the queen of soap! 💖
I'm a West Mids girl so of course we grew up watching Crossroads. I also don't remember Noele Gordon as I was just a bubba when she left but my mum would definitely remember her. I know back then Noele was a huge star.
Any home you have shared with your family where you have had happy times will always be a joy to return to.
My mum never missed an episode of Crossroads as it was one of her favourite soaps. I was just a little 'un at the time but I remember how people took the news when we heard that Noele was leaving Crossroads. And no they didn't take it very well!
Ah the beautiful Noele Gordon. Now that's a real blast from the past. For years she was one of Britain's biggest stars. Even if you didn't watch Crossroads, you'd still know who she was. I bet Crossroads rued the day... and so they should of!