I invite you into my Time Machine!

Flicking through the papers this morning, as is my wont, I came across this photo of Guildford High Street.  Instantly, I did a sort of "Beam me up, Scottie", or rather a "Beam me back in time, Scottie" because that is where I (mis)spent much of my youth.

It is, perhaps, one of the most attractive High Streets in the land, not least because you can see the green fields from the centre of it.  The rather grand town clock is another feature.  The handsome pillars on the left are known as Tunsgate.  Immediately to the right of them, on the first and second floors, used to be the site of 'Boxers Coffee Bar', run by the late but redoubtable, Camilla Galloway, a 'Noo Yawk' lady perpetually dressed in black (for reasons I never dared ask!) with a face like wizened hawk!  Of course, back in the '50s and early '60s, coffee bars were the 'in thing' where all the youngsters would gather, er, particularly the European 'au pair' girls without which Guildford's wealthy matrons 'simply couldn't cope, darling!' Well, bless 'em, because they provided an endless supply of what, these days, 'SoD' calls "inky-blinky-darlinkis".

Opposite 'Boxers' was an excellent, old-fashioned pub called 'The Bull's Head' in which, as a randy young man, I could boost my courage before staggering across to 'Boxers' to chance my arm with as fine a selection of Ginas, Francescas, Helgas, Astrids and Claudettes as you could wish for! The only disappointing thing was my all too frequent failures to, er, connect!  Even so, just a few hundred yards down the hill on the same side of the road was a shopping arcade and above it was a 'members only!' (anyone could be a member!) drinking and dancing club called 'The Tunsgate Club'. I almost remember many a happy night spent there!

I should add, to set the seal on this rambling reminiscence, that virtually underneath the town clock was a branch of the National Westminster Bank in which worked a certain Miss Patricia Buller, later to become Mrs Patricia Duff - what a lucky girl!!!

Sorry to have rambled on and on but that photo really hit me in the memory banks!

 

 

 

Comments

[Timbo]

My advice is to not go back, Duffers. The place and everything about it is smaller than you remember. Memories are the best.

[Whitewall]

I assume that photo is a few days old. Maybe very early in the morning. If not very early, then where are the people?

[Backofanenvelope]

At home.

[Whitewall]

This is what Depression looks like.

[Bob]

If I remember right, it's better to find women who've dulled their inhibitions enough to be "looking for a relationship" than to be drinking much yourself.

[Whyaxye]

Happy memories for a different reason. In that town nearly five years ago, I switched off my computer, picked up my bag, and said goodbye to stressful paid employment for ever.

[Glesga]

David, I visited Guildford for a pub crawl with the guys during 1976 when on a course at Blackdown Barracks in Deepcut. Lovely place it was during that long hot summer. The Camp Commandant closed down all courses one afternoon and ordered us to attend the Army Aldershot Show. All drinks in the Tents were 10p. A few sour heids the next day!

[xoggoth]

Funny coincidence. Saw that a few days ago, in an identify towns in Surrey quiz. Managed a whole 5 out of 10.

This looks like a good blog. Thought they'd almost died out these days what with Twitter and all that cr*p.

[Andra]

It looks like a lovely place to have a misspent youth.

[David Duff]

'xoggoth', you obviously a man of taste and discernment, so welcome to D&N!

Jimmy, I once spent time in those barracks - happy memories, er, if only I could remember them!