Anyone reading my books will know I have a fondness for the past and particularly the area where I was born and grew up. However, for anyone visiting North-West Kent (known as South-East London these days) for the first time, they may just wonder what all the fuss is about. Like so many areas in the UK the places we know, and love have changed beyond recognition. What made me think of this today? A newspaper article about the rise in crime in Belvedere, a place where part of Celebrations for the Woolworths Girls is set. My childhood memories of that town are much different as my mother was born there in 1940 and I grew up listening to her stories of the war years and her family. What has happened to our country?

I’ve mentioned before how Erith, where the branch of Woolworths in Pier Road was the place where our girls worked has changed beyond recognition. Not only was the original beautiful town flattened by a wrecking ball back in the 1960s but ripped apart again around ten years ago. There is nothing recognisable in the town from the days of my childhood and my early married life – that is apart from Alexandra Road where Ruby lived at number thirteen, just as I and my husband did from 1972 to 1992. But is it? Recently the property came up for sale on a well-known property website, so I looked at the images -wouldn’t you? I know the latest owners did a good job with several extensions but gone was everything I recognised about the lovely house was missing. It broke my heart – I shouldn’t have looked! I have visited Erith several times since moving away and to be honest it is just like every other town in outer London, Erith has lost its identity. Fortunately, the Thames is still there meandering towards the coast, although not as busy as it used to be, where we can while away the time thinking of times past as we gaze across the water towards Essex.

Pier Road, Erith 1953

However, if you think this blog post is all doom and gloom I will end on a happy note – the true locals with their roots in Erith and Belvedere have not changed; scratch the surface and there they are with their memories and love for the area. They don’t see the urban decay they see in their mind’s eye a vibrant area that survived two wars and kept on smiling - and this is what I like to portray in my stories set in the area. Celebrations for the Woolworths Girls will be in libraries from the end of August as well as on sale with Amazon and Waterstones. If you prefer a paperback, eBook, or audiobook they will be available from 12th October.

What that song? Don’t look back in anger. Instead look back with fondness and as Betty Billington would say, pin a smile on your face.

Pre order your copy of Celebrations for the Woolworths Girls now>

 

 

 

Why not sign up for my newsletter to receive my blog posts via email?

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.

Email Address Sign Up

Thank you!