PERSONAL STORIES

Here are photos, letters and documents from the personal archives of Clissold Court Residents dating back from the 1940's.

Stan Kiddle, Flat 27 - 1960's and 1970's

"My mother Sylvie, plus my brother Paul, moved to Clissold Court in 1964. We lived at no 27 and I was just 5 when we arrived. I finally moved out in 1984 when I married a girl from Manor House and my mum and brother moved out a few years later.

So, as you can imagine, with 20 years there, it was pretty much was central to my growing up and I have amazing memories of people, the park, parties, playing war games with the other children in and out of the blocks etc.

I have read thru your old newsletters and recognise many names, we lived underneath the Palmers.

I guess my legacy was in the late seventies once I could drive. I upset many neighbours with my car building, welding, spraying and even breaking! I was only 17-25 so couldn't understand why people might be upset".

Miss Page, Flat 44 - from about 1942 to 2015

Correspondence from the managing agents to Miss Page from 1942 when she moved in until her death in 2015.

Vera Stone, Flat 60 - from 1947 to 2017

Vera lived here from 1947 until her death at the age of 103 in December 2017. There's an interview with her from 2012 and some of the photos she left behind showing her and her husband Benny who died in 2008. There's also a very moving love poem sent by Benny to Vera in 1948 shortly after they met.

Joyce Palmer and her son Bix, Flat 29 - from 1955 to 2014

Joyce Palmer lived in Flat 29 from 1955 until her death in 2008. Her son, Bix, died there in 2014. These photos were about to be thrown away when the Flat 29 was being cleared after Bix's death and were retrieved by the then caretaker, Fiona Green.

Eric Solomon, Flat 3 - from 1967 to 2020

This is a short piece written by Eric Solomon who lived in Flat 3, and tells of various callers to the estate; some were to become well known.