Who's that in the garden?

This was taken in the back garden at 84 Basildon Road but it is not anyone I recognise.

From Bushey Avenue to Basildon Road

After WWII, Don and Eileen Mackie stayed temporarily with Don's brother Jack at Bushey Avenue. But in February or March 1948, they moved into what had been Don's family home in Basildon Road. (Or more precisely, the new house that had been built on the site, as the original had been destroyed by a bomb in WWII.) Here we see the estimate and receipted invoice for removal from Furlongs of Woolwich. Some of these are slightly larger than A4, so I have had to scan them in as overlapping sections. You will notice that the invoice is made out to Mrs A.M. Mackie. No doubt the young couple setting up home appreciated some help from the "Bank of Mum and Dad".

Bought of Frank Tyler & Co Ltd

This is an invoice for a substantial quantity of furniture and fittings. It is dated 21 August 1946, a month before Ada and Bert moved into 10 Red Hill, Chislehurst. Their house at Basildon Road was bombed during WWII so they would have lost most of their furniture then. During and shortly after the war, they were living in a variety of furnished accommodation. But now they are setting up home at Red Hill, they need their own furniture.

Gas masks in Basildon Road

These pictures show Ada Mackie and son Donald in the back garden at 84 Basildon Road, Abbey Wood. I presume they were taken early in WWII when dressing up in gas masks and tin hats must have been considered a bit of a laugh. Also, Don is still in civvies; he didn't enlist until November 1940. The house was destroyed by a bomb during the War (fortunately with no loss of life as Ada and Bert were then living at Walsingham Lodge, Chislehurst and Don was away on active service.) It was subsequently rebuilt. I don't think Ada and Bert ever moved back there, but Don and his wife Eileen moved in during 1948 and the house stayed in the family until your blogger sold up and moved out in November 2004.

Pushing my sister in a wheelbarrow

Another one taken by Uncle Jack in the back garden at Basildon Road

Your blogger, his sister and father

In the back garden at 84 Basildon Road, Abbey Wood. (Taken by Uncle Jack)