When I
booked an April visit to Croydon using the first of the free first class travel
tickets provided by Virgin Trains, compensation because of the failure to
respond to a complaint outstanding for over a yea, I had no plans for what I
would do on the visit. There was nothing in theatre which immediately appealed
and in the event, there was nothing showing locally at a cinema which appealed
and a performance which was of interest was on late in East London where the
late travelling was a barrier.
The
tracking of an important file to the London Metropolitan Archives provided my
focus when discovering the centre was opened on the Saturday of my visit, the
monthly Saturday opening of the centre from 9.30. I had intended to obtain a
full copy of the file but decided against this in part unsure it would contain
information of significance and if it did not there was good reason for the
contents not to be commented on in a way which could affect the lives and
interests of other parties. Since the summer of 1962 I have remained an official
keeper of other people’s secrets, unless the interests of the required
disclosure, or I obtained hard evidence it was in the interests of a party and
their families to make appropriate disclosure on their behalf. There can be no
other justification to make disclosure and I have always been sceptical of the
concept of Public Interest and the clamour for unqualified openness.
My
preparations for the visit to Croydon the day before had gone well with
everything I considered necessary checked and assembled in the front room using
the shelving units and packing boxes awaiting transfer to self-store. In the
event, I did bring everything required with the notable exception of the
extension lead for breathing machine which I had left in the second case used
when I travel by car. This necessitated a long walk around central Croydon
before an assistant at Debenhams suggested Argos, a store which in fact I had
passed when looking for a branch of Peacocks and the temporary relocation of
the stalls of Surrey Street. In the event, I purchased an extension with four sockets
from a store across the road for Argos at a quarter of the price. It uses is
ideal for these days phone, tablet and lap top charging and fits into the front
of the breathing machine carrier.
I set
the alarm for 7 woke and was up by 6.30 and all packed before 8am leaving
before 8.20 after checking some information on the Internet and arriving at
central station just before 9 with a good run and brief hold up between
Gateshead and the Tyne Bridge.
After
purchasing a weekend parking ticket for £23 and later a single concession rail
ticket at St Pancras to East Croydon £4.10, my only travel expenses as the 1st
Class ticket to the capital was one of my four Virgin freebees, I was
disappointed that the lift was no working which involved a pull of the luggage
up the steep incline to the over track bridge and on reaching the first class
lounge there was no coffee or biscuits but I made do with a free copy of the
Times and a lukewarm cup of tea as the machine was out of order and management
had decided against providing coffee. Shame on them.
There
was also a potential problem on the 10am Quiet coach which was only a part
coach with food preparation areas but I was soon a content traveller with two
servings of toast (three slices) two cups of coffee and a cooked breakfast.
After the coach arrived at York I could enjoy a banana before a whisky and
ginger with a chocolate cake and coffee. I passed up the opportunity of a
second whisky on the return of the trolley expecting a further visit not
appreciating that it was no stopping and gaining speed to arrive into Kings
Cross in well under 3 hours. I was on
the platform waiting for the train to East Croydon just before one pm.
I had
recognised the lead steward as he waited with the change team at Newcastle and
he volunteered to help me off the train when we reach Kings Cross. I have booked
seats for the same train on my next trip to London in May but will change the
travel time in case there is no space for my luggage the experience of a couple
who joined the train a York and fortunate were able to use vacant seats in the
table for four as what would have been their companions had moved to other
seats with the help of a steward as they found the train momentum difficult
close to a set of wheels. A woman in the next single table seat was
disappointed there was no free copy of the Times on board so she made use of
mine for the rest of her journey.
I was preoccupied with continuing to read
Stephen Grey’s important book the New Spymasters, using the hand scanned to
copy several key passages which will become the focus of a blog and a
circulation to several interested parties in the work of what is now the
statutory Jay Committee on child abuse.
There
was an eight-coach half-filled train from Bedford-Luton St Albans to Brighton arriving
within minutes of the Platform for Thameslink at St Pancras and I enjoyed a
chat with a similar age couple.
It was
very warm and bright once out of the station at East Croydon which revealed
that the adjacent car park closed for the greater part of a year was now open
24/7 and an assistant at the hotel confirmed there was a half price concession,
although I forgot to ask the price compared to that of the Whitgift centre
which I had used over New Year which was £6 for each 24 hour stay. On Saturday
afternoon during the interval of the game between Sheffield Wednesday and
Newcastle I visited the car park entrance and noted that the price for a 24
stay is £16, half price £8
After
a leisurely unpack, quick check on emails and playing of the Daily Challenge I
set off around 2.45 in search of the extension lead, some early cherries if
available from the Surrey Street market and a branch of Peacocks. I should have checked the Internet as the
nearest store is Wallington with another in Sutton.
The
first surprise on the walkabout is that the famous Surrey Street market which I
visited as a child when Croydon boasted three of London’s famous department
stores, Kennard’s, Grants and Alder’s has been temporarily relocated towards
the Marks and Spencer end of the High Street. I settled for a bowl of juicy
seedless black grapes as it proved too early in year for the cherries.
On the
way, back I called in at Sainsbury’s local where I bought a £3 seafood sandwich
deal with a bottle of Pepsi max and some sea salted popcorn. I also bought two ciabattas
rolls to use with a Justin Bridou Salami for lunch. The plan was to rise around
seven and get to the Wetherspoons George for an early breakfast before catching
a direct train to Farringdon where London Metropolitan archive is located within
a short walk.
On
returning to the hotel room I used half the stored £100 winnings for my £10 bet
that Teresa May would become the next Tory PM on five horses in the Grand National
on Saturday evening: £10 for a straight win on the then favourite and £5 each
way on Vicente, Vieux Lion Rouge, Cause of Causes and Pleasant Company. I doubt my chances of picking the winner two
years in succession.
I watched
the latest round in the 2017 Master chef followed by the second episode of
Decline and Fall and finished reading Metro, The Times and the Evening Standard
plus the news headlines at ten before a film on Sky Go.
I
found sleeping difficult as I went over the possibilities and outcomes of my
visit to the Metropolitan Archives. I woke before the alarm, lingered and was
woken by it. I completed preparations for the journey having read the visit
instructions which matched those of the National Archives. The plan had been to
breakfast at the George but although I walked towards pub I was not hungry and
therefore made my way to East Croydon station noting traffic diversions as work
being undertaken on tram line system which appeared emergency than planned.
This was wrong.
On buying
the Travel card I noted the Thameslink train was delayed and after waiting several
minutes decided on a train to Victoria and enjoyed a sausage and egg muffin and
coffee from McDonalds in the food court, being joined by someone who spoke
little English and had with him a large fake gold gilt frame wall mirror. He
appeared full of life and had persuaded an assistant to bring his order to our
table! I failed to get an email link
The
circle line route to Farringdon is a long one reminding of my experiences as a
British Olivetti Salesman and where the station stop was also Farringdon. It
was only as the journey progressed that I remembered that to get to and from
the office I had taken the train to London Bridge and the Underground from
there. I had used the circle line going around sometimes twice each circuit
just under one hour when there were no visits to make and weather prevented
sitting out in a square or park.
The
station now has two entrances one the for the Circle and the other Underground
system lines, and the new larger and brighter station for the Thameslink system
and significantly in this instance of the visit to the Archive centre, the line
via Hackbridge to Sutton, and where there is now major work as the station will
also be part of the Elizabeth cross rail link.
On
reaching the main road I noted the Sir John Oldcast Wetherspoons free house
restaurant opposite. Oldcast was part of the Lollard movement seeking reform of
Western Christianity and became the character Falstaff, serious figure in the
histories and a clown in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
I
crossed the road and walked in the wrong direction and returned passing the
station entrance passage way on what was evidently going to be a very warm day
having made the right decision not to bring my coat. I requested location help
from a Traffic warden who took me part of the way when I then met another
visitor uncertain if the centre would be open which I was able to confirm.
The
centre has a small nondescript entrance because the main closed off part is for
storage. I signed in and took one of the see through plastic bags to the next
floor where there are about 150 lockers, a coat rack, a few tables and a few comfy
seats where later some visitors were using for packed lunches.
Again,
the area is small as the closed part of the floor is used for archive
storage. The toilet is on the
first-floor part of the reception exhibition area which one passes before entering
the large open area where there is the main reception desk, a London Library,
the indexes, a good area for only line information and microfilm readers and a
relax zone. The archive material centre
is separate with its own entry system.
I had
preregistered and after presenting proof of identity and address and computer
photographed, a credit card size library card was issued which enabled access
to the archive material. I had to wait until 10.40 for the file material to be
available so there was opportunity to return to the lockers and take the statin
tablet and then have a look around the library.
I had
come prepared to be disappointed and to find that for 50 years I had
misunderstood the position so was in the right frame of mind and body to digest
the 20 or so pages of information available.
There
file contained authoritative information provided to a court and sufficient
information to back my assumptions beforehand. I was not able to use the hand
scanner so made key notes on the permitted lap top. I made no attempt to photo
on the mobile phone. I needed to think over the information and consult.
However,
the sense of vindication and potential life changing significance was a factor
in going off for a celebratory meal at the Wetherspoons. The meal was pricey
for what it was, a small Perri half chicken with chips and coleslaw and a pint
of Fosters £11.25. The place was quiet
and I could check the Internet that I had won £4.40 for the £2.50 stake on the
Euro lottery.
I had
to wait only five minutes for a Brighton Train and I was back in my room around
2pm noting the great traffic chaos outside.
I worked on a proposed consultation document for two hours, but the
mental energy was such that it was early evening when I enjoyed to two
ciabattas with a cup of tea and broke off to watch Newcastle at Sheffield
Wednesday on Sky Go. It was not good so I turned off at one point to read an
article about Gibraltar in the Times which the person ahead of me in the train
had been reading.
Before
going to the adjacent Coop store at half time in the football game I went to
the entrance of the refurbished garaging where the 24-hour charge is a £18
compared to the £12 of the Whitgift centre which confirmed the wisdom of book
the South Croydon Travel Lodge for visit in August when I will stay for six
nights. I must book up for the stop overs before and after and the train seats
in July and October train for Joyce’s birthday.
I was
emotionally tired after enjoying a can of Pepsi and two chocolate Eclairs. The
celebrating had to end and was too physically tired to get another Pepsi which
I needed, even to pay the premium price from the vending machine in the
reception area. I did enjoy watching Lucky Man on Sky Go player, had a little
sleep from which I never recovered sufficiently to work well.
I had
also watched the grand national where I had used half the £100 balance on the
Bet Victor account on five £10 bet with each way £5 on four and an all or
nothing to win on the early favourite which fell about mid-way. One of the 5,
Vicente, was brought down at the first, not a good omen and a third horse
Pleasant company showed promise but faded. This left Cause of Cause to finish
second an also a place for Vieux Lion Roye.
This resulted in a return of £45 on the £50 so there is still £100
credit in the account. I will use a third on the coming cricket season.
I went
to bed and immediate sleep around 11.30 woke around 1 am and again about 6. I
did some writing before deciding to face the day and walk to the George for a
traditional English breakfast and three cups of coffee. I then walked to
Croydon Town Hall where I believed I would find a stop for the 507 former
Greenline double decker bus now a single level red which is one of three direct
routes between Croydon and Sutton. This bus goes to Waddon station before
turning towards the cemetery and Beddington Lane, Beddington Park, the Grammar
school, Carshalton and Sutton via B and Q and the Police station before getting
off at the Supermarket across from the road to the station where lots of
building is taking place along the approach road to the side and the now fully
pedestrianised road through the town centre.
It was
a very pleasant early summer morning with lots of people taking the opportunity
to sit out for a cup of coffee. The thoroughfare is wide and there are lots of
places to eat and drink as well as shop making the street a much more inviting
town centre than Croydon. How times have changed! After so much coffee I needed
the loo but first there was Peacocks where amazingly I obtained two pairs of
braces at half price for a total of £6. I had to go to the top and fifth floor
of Debenhams for the loo and this provided the opportunity to discover the roof
top part of the restaurant with good views over Sutton including the Grapes
public House where the 645-trolley bus would be caught homeward to Wallington.
This has been replaced by the 154 which goes to Modern in the opposite
direction and finishes back in Croydon at the rebuilt bus station where there
is a new ticket office and entrance being created across the way for West
Croydon Station.
I
assumed the road back was close to supermarket at this end of the High Street
was where the 507 and 154 would strop for the return and indeed it was the Sutton
Town centre turn around stop for the 507 although when one arrived the driver
got and went off without saying a word giving no indication of when he or a
colleague would be back, As the 154 arrived with West Croydon the destination I
the elected for this journey knowing it went to Carshalton Beeches and the
Roundshaw estate. I was joined by another elder who had waited with me for the
507 and we both went the full journey getting off at the Whitgift centre.
The
round trip brought many memories of times past flooding back including on the
way in the former violin music store owned by the father of David Pullen who
had been to St Elphege prep school at the time. It is now clock makers
reminding of Francis Bechet, the cigs given by the parish priest and his being
lectured by Miss Moran. Nearly forgot the Grapes is now a Wetherspoons.
Carshalton beeches is a very attractive residential area. The bus had passed by the home where my birth
mother had been admitted following the death of my care mother at St Helier and
the years of investigation to ensure the professionals appreciated what had
happened.
The
154 from Sutton goes to through the very pleasant residential area around
Carshalton Beeches station, the station between Wallington and Sutton on the line
to Victoria. The route goes along Stanley Park Road which comes out at the
Sainsbury junction traffic lights with the road north to Wallington station and
south to the John Fisher School Woodmanstan and Purley and across to Stafford
Road West and East Croydon. Along Stanley Park is the new purpose designed
school for children on the autism spectrum in the London Borough of Sutton.
This at present is for those from reception to year three and progress as they
age to year six. It is jointly managed with the general primary school renamed
Bandon Hill Meadow land at the top corner by the former airport end site where
my birth mother taught from WW2 as a supply teacher with Surrey County Council
through to her retirement aged 60 in 1969. There was media fuss when it was
found the present headteacher was the highest paid primary head in London but
having seen the new school I can well understand why even if this more than the
Prime Minister.
On the route through Roundshaw one stop is
Newlands and another Spitfire Road where there is Amy close with the Amy
Johnson Foundation, play group and play centre school. Before WW2 Croydon was
London’s main civilian airport from which Amy became the first woman to fly
alone to Australia. She was born in Kingston upon Hull. Passed the home in
Benhill where Mable was placed when Harriet first went into hospital. Noted the
Chase, Five Ways, Milton Road Ringsted Road, Sandy Lane South, Plough Lane-not
in order,
On
return a feast with smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, firry crisps,
Pepsi max, chicken thighs, cream doughnuts (2) tea a sleep, some writing up,
game play daily challenges, email checks and more writing before evening TV
Vera and preparations for travel home.
I woke
early on Monday and was ready for the off long before the time for the reduced
fare use with Travel card at 9.30. I had been warned of the change of weather
and there was a sharp cold wind so the decision to wear the coast was a good
one. I was early at the ticket machine but was able get the reduced fare a few
minutes before 9.30 with the next train due around 9.35, eight coaches, one of
the new with good luggage space and an available seat. The omens were unwisely
good. On arrival at Kings Cross although I headed for the First class lounge I
considered taking an earlier train than the scheduled 12. 30 for which I had
tickets. There were a lot people waiting on the platform and I sensed from the
departure board in the lounge something was amiss. I enjoyed a cup of coffee. I
had a previous cup and porridge at the Travel Lodge. I also had a banana but
avoided the biscuits and crisps, I would have liked a pain au chocolate but
these were not available. There was a
copy of the Times which I did on read until later.
After
visiting the toilet, I went to platform level and discovered the cause of the
crush was overhead failures at Doncaster. Trains to Leeds were the most
affected and cancelled. The response was to put passengers on the 11 am where
fortunately I could get a free seat at a table for four vacant until those for
Leeds were put on taken up two seat
with reservations and who were required to leave when a party of three arrived.
This comprised an Australian and woman from Japan and her daughter. They were
together but then not on their way to stay at an Inn in Edinburgh. Their
relationship was unclear but the daughter used his phone to play games and
there is one call which he answered. His mother has sleep Apnoea. He appears to
know about Sleeves re Lloyds and the China responsibility back in 1984 but not
the Henley course aspect. I did not pursue this coincidence but a Small world.
Before
the aisles became full we were served crisps, apples cake and a round of drink.
I have whisky ginger and ice. There is nothing hot. Later when we reached York Ham mustard sandwiches and another round of
drinks which I do not take up although I enjoyed a diet Pepsi. Arrived
Newcastle after four but it could have
worse. However, no lift and only instant coffee noted after using the
toilet. Called in at Morrison’s for a few things before home and unpacking.
Some
email check, some writing some TV catch up Homeland and Broadchurch. The latest special hotel features Kenya and
the Giraffes, also the outreach project hotel. Draft letters to FOI to Birmingham
University and West Midlands Police. Birmingham University send email by
requiring fee and proof of identity and doubtful if the specific information
requested remains available.
I need
to fill in the steps of how I got to this point and to be certain that
proceeding forward the scales are firmly weighted to the good
