Wimbledon Chase Garage.
I took this picture of the 1930's Art-Deco style Wimbledon Chase Garage situated in the Kingston Road S.W.20 in the early 1980's. It was soon to be demolished and replaced by a hideous characterless building like so many today.
I bought my first gallon of petrol here for my Triumph Tiger Cub motorbike when I was 16 in 1964. I remember counting out the small change. Four shillings and tenpence halfpenny a GALLON. That is approximately 5p per litre, and you were served by an attendant who was usually as miserable as sin...It also had a welcoming softly lit glass globe on top of each pump. [Mobil and National Benzole]
Child labour was still in force when in the 1950's I was sent to to this very garage to buy paraffin with a five gallon drum...It was so heavy [old ladies used to take pity on me and they still do] that I used to rest the full drum on front garden walls in a sort of relay till I got home. I can smell those paraffin heaters now! Yes, still happy days.
Wimbledon Chase Garage.
I took this picture of the 1930's Art-Deco style Wimbledon Chase Garage situated in the Kingston Road S.W.20 in the early 1980's. It was soon to be demolished and replaced by a hideous characterless building like so many today.
I bought my first gallon of petrol here for my Triumph Tiger Cub motorbike when I was 16 in 1964. I remember counting out the small change. Four shillings and tenpence halfpenny a GALLON. That is approximately 5p per litre, and you were served by an attendant who was usually as miserable as sin...It also had a welcoming softly lit glass globe on top of each pump. [Mobil and National Benzole]
Child labour was still in force when in the 1950's I was sent to to this very garage to buy paraffin with a five gallon drum...It was so heavy [old ladies used to take pity on me and they still do] that I used to rest the full drum on front garden walls in a sort of relay till I got home. I can smell those paraffin heaters now! Yes, still happy days.