Photos from Townfield School, infants & juniors and seniors. Please register and add your photos! Click on the banner to visit the Hillingdon Ex-Pupils Register.

Home · Search · Register · Login

Home » Main » Schools » Townfield · Slide Show · Next image » > >> 1950s Townfield Click on image to view larger image Photo Details Poster: milko  (see this users gallery) One of three pictures from Maurice Burchell who writes: Just thought I'd send these pix thru to you for your collection of Townfield School. One is of Barbara Allen, (at least I think that was her name!) with one of the "Battle of Britain House" dogs. The other pic is of Harry Heyes, (yes, I have spelled that right! It's pronounced Hayes!) Now Harry Heyes came from, I think, Burnley, in Lancs, & was staying with an Aunt & Uncle in Lannock Road. I'm not sure but I think his mother was ill, or something similar. He was only with us for one or two terms, then he went back to Lancashire. I think Barbara Allen lived somewhere on the Railway Estate . . . possibly Birchway. The third pic, tho not very good, was taken at the back of "Battle of Britain House" & is of Ann Gatford & Barbara Flaven . . . I know Barbara Flaven is on Friends Reunited, tho I've never contacted her . . . We sat together for the first term in Mr. S.R. Rendell's Class 1 of Townfield Junior School, in 1952. Ann Gatford's brother Ian, is Dean of Derby Cathedral . . . I don't know where Ann is. Anyway, hope you enjoy the pix. BTW, we were at "Battle of Britain House" for 5 days - Mon. to Fri. in 1953. Warmest Regards, Maurice (Burchell) · Date: Wed November 16, 2005 · Views: 3837 · Additional Info Print View · Send as e-Card

Author Thread Post a Reply  mheawood Registered: September 2005 Posts: 497 Wed November 16, 2005 12:04 Knew Ann Gatford from Mellow Lane and choir days. Used to go to her birthday parties where Ian organised memorable party games! He sang in the choir at St Peter & St Paul's church in Harlington. Used to walk back with a group of us girls and boys to Bourne Ave./Fairey corner after church. We'd congregate there talking and joking, not in much of a hurry to go home for Sunday dinner. mheawood Registered: September 2005 Posts: 497 Wed November 16, 2005 17:05 Is there any information anywhere about 'Battle of Britain House' please. I have never heard of it and am intigued. Anonymous Thu December 8, 2005 12:17 Battle of Britain House sits on the hillside overlooking Ruislip Lido . . . If you go straight up the hill past the turning that leads to Ruislip Lido, Battle of Britain House is on the right, nestling in the trees next to Copse Wood & opp. Mad Bess Wood. (or it was in 1953!) There was a long tarmac driveway up to the house from Duck's Hill Road. Battle of Britain House was used during WWII for aircrew to recuperate. The dining room was woodpanelled & the squadrons who used it had their coats-of-arms on the walls. The last I heard from Arthur Mopppett(Teacher, & stll alive aged about 97!), who was the leader of the expediton to Battle of Britain House, was that it had been burned down, but I don't know when, coz I don't live in Hayes any more - I live in Eastbourne, so I'm a bit out of touch with the area. I hope that answers your query. Maurice Burchell. Anonymous Thu December 8, 2005 12:28 I've just read that Battle of Britain House was a private residence from about 1909 to 1939 then taken over by the War Office for use as a training centre for saboteurs & secret agents. Apparently there was some sort of scheme to make it a memorial but instead was pannelled with badges of RAF squadrons. After 1948 it was used for training courses . . . which is when I went there . . . & was also used as a field centre for the Ruslip & District Natural History Society. Maurice Burchell. MIDDX.NET Registered: March 2004 Posts: 5890 Thu December 8, 2005 15:02 Thanks Maurice.... GREAT to hear from you again! Any more piccies for us?? Anonymous Fri December 9, 2005 03:35 Would anyone know the whereabouts of Ann Gatford? I tried to contact her brother Ian (the former Arch Deacon of Derby before he retired) via e-mails but have had no repsonse (except for his secretary who said he would write)? Thanks, Chris Berry P.S. Marian, I too remember those birthday parties, especially passing the key [?} from one person to another -- in line -- through all one's clothing!

Powered by: PhotoPost PHP
Copyright 2005 All Enthusiast, Inc.

WE RECOMMEND DOWNLOADING THE FREE PROGRAM IRFANVIEW FOR RESIZING AND PRINTING PICTURES TO FIT A PAGE!

Thankyou for visiting. We hope you enjoyed our photos. Please visit

No portion of this page, text, images or code, may be copied, reproduced, published or distributed in any medium without the expressed written permission of the copyright holder.