NOSTALGIA: Angry parkie would tell us, in no uncertain terms, to clear off!

After heavy rains in sunny Southsea here we see a tram along Clarendon Road heading east for the Strand, in the above picture.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Feb 2018, 08:34 GMT
In the first third of the last century we see a packed tram travelling east along a flooded Clarendon Road, Southsea. (Barry Cox collection)In the first third of the last century we see a packed tram travelling east along a flooded Clarendon Road, Southsea. (Barry Cox collection)
In the first third of the last century we see a packed tram travelling east along a flooded Clarendon Road, Southsea. (Barry Cox collection)

To the right is Clarendon Park and to the left, out of camera, there was an ice skating park.

The site later became a garage and is now private housing.

Behind the tram on the corner of Malvern Road was a nursery belonging a family called Smee.

The same scene in Clarendon Road today. The houses to the left remain the same as does the park to the right.The same scene in Clarendon Road today. The houses to the left remain the same as does the park to the right.
The same scene in Clarendon Road today. The houses to the left remain the same as does the park to the right.

Can anyone direct me further on that business?

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Here’s the same scene today with modern cars parked alongside the park in drier weather.

I did take a photo of the same scene with the modern bus seen in the distance but the modern buses are so large it took over the photo.

To the right is Clarendon Park where, as a nipper, I played many games of cricket late into a summer’s evening.

Engineers on a test vehicle check the newly relaid track on the Hayling Island branch. To the rear is the A27 (Barry Cox collection)Engineers on a test vehicle check the newly relaid track on the Hayling Island branch. To the rear is the A27 (Barry Cox collection)
Engineers on a test vehicle check the newly relaid track on the Hayling Island branch. To the rear is the A27 (Barry Cox collection)

As mum used to say, ‘They’ll be home when they’re hungry.’

There was a parkie who used to patrol the area during the daytime who used to tell us in no uncertain terms to get off (his) grass.

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By the evening he had gone home of course and we could then practice getting to Lords in peace.

Trees are now planted within the park today so any up-and-coming Freddie Truemans are lost to the nation.

Smee’s Nursery was sold up and a large block of apartments was built on the site at some point in the 1970s.

Related topics:NostalgiaSouthseaTrees