Just being built and the coronation

1951 and 1953

By Cynthia Lumsden

Houses were only just being built when I moved to South Oxhey in 1951. There were no proper roads. A greengrocer used to come round with supplies as there were no shops and the Express Dairies used to come round the estate twice a week with your groceries.

My children had to go into Watford to go to school as there were no schools then. The buses used to come half way up Prestwick Road and the station was just a wooden platform. You used to have to walk everywhere. My youngest daughter was born in the house in Prestwick road where I lived. Houses were allocated by the size of your family .

I remember the Queen’s coronation in 1953 – there were street parties on Prestwick Road. Chairs, tables and decorations all outside. Everyone was very friendly and there was lots of children about.

This page was added on 05/03/2010.

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  • Cynthia, are you related to Paula? We moved to Oxhey in 1951, I was aged 7 and I I went to primary school with a Paula Lumsden

    By Valerie Freeman (née Spendley) (17/05/2020)
  • I believe I was a year old 1950 when moved to 6 Liphook Rd my sister Christine just 18mths older. Our brother John born in that house in 1956. My sister went to a school by bus that too picked her up by Littlr Oxhey Lane opposite the Dick Whittington pub. I also remember the street party in our street where Chris and I both wore, if my memory serves me correctly, a paper dress and hat. We had a coronation plate, cup and saucer. My brother still lives with his family in the same house he was born in but has done some great renovation work. Sorry to read that our neighbour ‘The Dick’ has closed. Hope it manages to re-open.

    By Julie Bird nee Deighton (20/10/2017)
  • I moved to South Oxhey in 1947, we first lived in 6 Benton Rd, 1949 where my mum died.  We moved back to london until 1950, we then moved back to Sth Oxhey 59 Muirfield Rd. I remember the coronation, our street party was in Liphook Rd. my dad helped to make the stage for us all to do our party piece, Liphook was a wash with red white and blue.

    By joy (05/08/2016)
  • We moved to Caldwell Road 1948 we came from shepherds bush. Our family name is Simms I have twin brothers who went Oxhey Woods School, I was one of the first pupils to attend Warren Dell school. Then going to Hampden school. My friend when I was living there was girl named Jean Gibbons and she lived at number 7. Muirfield Road.

    By Jean hendy (28/02/2014)
  • We moved to Oxhey in 1947/48 and lived in Woodhall Lane – yes I remember  walking everywhere and the old wooden station and I went to Watford Fields School by coach which picked children up on Little Oxhey Lane – I then went to Warren Dell School when it was built. I also remember the ‘Coronation Party’which was held in the garage block area at the bottom of Woodhall Lane – I was 11 at the time – where have all the years gone.

    By Josephine Parsons (Nee Searle) (10/11/2010)