SUBURBIA
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I grew up in suburbia…
Much of my poetry and many of my stories concern themselves with this suburban/rural environment.
Some like ‘Parafin’ hint at a darker side to this bucolic childhood.
Suburbia.
We lived in a detached house 200 yards from the station.
Suburbia.
The woods where we played were just across the road from the station. Strangely I don’t have any images of the woods so this historic one will have to suffice. I remember the smell of the autumn leaves once they had fallen, the muddy bicycle tracks we raced round and the secluded camps we could make where nobody could see us. There was also one tree with enough height and branches to be climbable and we could hang out in there in secret for hours.
Suburbia.
Munns was a village institution. He would deliver a box of groceries with his van once a week or we would go to the shop where he had a ham slicing machine and a big black Alsatian dog that I used to lie on while my mum sorted the shopping out.
Suburbia.
Iris was a rather glamorous hairdresser. Her salon was also her home. She was unusual because she had no children. I remember the venetian blinds in particular.
Suburbia.
I cant be sure but I believe I had a friend (yet another Steven) living above this shop with his parents for a while. It was not a shop we frequented. There was something quite nothingy about it.
Suburbia.
This shop carried a stock of wool and sewing materials that my mum would purchase. I don’t remember what else the sold but I do remember Mr Gee who ran it. Many of the historic photos and postcards are credited to a Gee and maybe related to this Gee.
Suburbia.
I remember buying my mum some Yardley’s powder for her birthday. It was very near to the doctors so convenient for prescriptions.
Suburbia.
The butchers had a seperate area for payments behind which a suitably jolly and broad lady sat with a wooden draw for a till. (She may be the lady in the doctors waiting room – photo below). The floor was covered in sawdust to absorb the blood and outside there would be rabbits hanging. I had a friend called Martin who lived with his mum and sister in the flat above.
Suburbia.
The Sweet shop. Mrs Hewlett would send two of us to buy sweets for the class from the penny tray. it was a great honor and a source of considerable pride to be selected.
Suburbia.
The Doctors. His name was Doctor Boyce and he was much admired by my family for his calm pragmatism. He diagnosed my whooping cough which was quite dangerous and I remember sleeping between my mum and dad and having hallucinations. I still have hallucinations if I get a temperature.
Suburbia.
The surgery was an ancient wooden building next to the village hall. It was all pretty makeshift and scruffy but very convenient. The operation was moved to a modern building in Swanley which necessitated a train trip or car journey. There may have been a bus but if there was we never took it.
Suburbia.
It was all quite scruffy and not very professional but I don’t recall any disatisfaction.
Suburbia.
The Doctors waiting room. I think I remember this lady with the legs. (See butchers above)