Child’s view of Green

Published: 18th March, 2011

• I CERTAINLY remember Ernie’s stall on Clerkenwell Green (Green café memories, March 4). There was also a drinking fountain near his stall.

As children, we all used to play on the Green as we lived nearby. I loved going into Barney’s fish and chip shop, also on the Green. I loved the shop’s crackling. No such thing as healthy eating in those days.

Then, the boys used to make scooters for four pence. These were made of two planks of wood, with ball bearings as wheels – they made for plenty of fun.

Also, during the week, there would always be four men dressed up in ladies’ clothes. They had a barrel organ, and used to sing and dance. People reckoned they were former soldiers. As children we used to sit on the pavement and watch them.

There was also a “Dr Mills”. He used to go round the streets and hand out pennies to the children.

There are a few of us still left, and we are all a right age now. I know that a Mrs J Baldwin still lives on the Green – she was one of us children.
Mrs V Ward
Seckforde Street, EC1