Childhood memories

Author: Tina Wootton
Date: 01 Apr 2006

I was born in Palmers Green in 1952 and all through the 50´s & early 60´s I was a frequent visitor to Broomfield Park , first with my parents and as I became older with my best friend Jacquie Meredith. I remember being taken as a very young child to the clinic and, in the same way as so many other people, it was the beautiful sweeping staircase and painted walls and ceilings that I wondered at. Later, many happy hours were spent in the museum. I too remember the stuffed birds and animals but two things stick in my mind. One, the wonderful glass beehive, I was fascinated by watching the bees hurrying along their wooden tunnel with the glass roof, laden with pollen and the other, the mention of having found remains of mammoths in the rubbish tip at the bottom of Hedge Lane. My family lived in Osborne Road and the idea of hairy mammoths having lived so close to where I did, was quite astounding for a young child.
I remember watching the grey squirrels in the trees around the lakes and feeding the ducks with bread, eating icecream in the cafe round the back of the house and playing hide and seek underneath a weeping willow that was near the edge of the boating pond .I also have many memories of the Summer Fetes there were every year. There was a wonderful Flower Show and Fun Fair with stalls to spend one´s pocket money at. I always loved the horses that competed in the jumping. In those days , of course, the beautiful elm avenue was still intact. Another image comes to mind, of cold November afternoons, running, jumping and kicking through the piles of fallen leaves. Back to the Summer months, however, I remember the greenhouse, it´s wonderful display of exotic flowers and that particular smell that hothoused always have. The herbaceous border against the long red brick wall was a sight to see in the Summer months too. In those happy Summers, Jacq and I used to take our sandwiches and spend the whole day there, we were only about eleven but in those days there seemed to be no danger for two little girls playing happily. How sad it is that life is no longer like that.
I have been living in Spain for the last 33 years and it was quite by chance I discovered that Broomfield House had suffered so much damage. I really do hope that the old house can be restored to its former glory and that the Park and House can continue to give so much pleasure to further generations of families.
With kindest regards
Tina Wootton

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