Article 3 - Orpington in 1958 In the style of Sir John Betjeman - if he had come to Orpington in 1958, might he have written a poem like this? A little bit of nostalgia and fun. "Gigi" at The Commodore: Kodakchrome in 'fifty-eight; The Civic Hall on Station Hill, with portico ornate; Petts Wood: shrine of Bakelite; kitchens scrubbed with Zal; Locksbottom: bathed in sodium lamps, beside The Hospital. Shod at Aylings; Omo-white: a hundred workers wait For bus to Morphy-Richards; or home: Davis Estate. Jennifer, in Toni-perm, is brushing with S.R., Applying Miners make-up, for the Carlton Cinema. Peter reads The Eagle: thinks his Dinky Toys are 'triff; Father reads The Herald: likes Patricia Hornby-Smith; Mother shops at Nicholsons: asks if she can afford The latest Ercol G-plan; wall-to-wall by Cyril Lord. Stapley's: ironmongers: sawdust-floor and paraffin; Kleen-e-ze or Cedars Laundry take the washing in; Jellied veal from David Greig, delivered by Ford van; Castrol, Esso Extra: Burton or Dunstonian. St Peter Paul: de Say and Mammot: Dame of Cudham Hill With Alys Waleys brass, and lepers' window still: The cycling club at Green Street Green: lucozade at Mrs Moon's; Sam Costa on the Light Programme; "Sing Something Simple" tunes. O semis in the chalet style: built by William Brise; O Noel Rees: the Tudorbean splendour of Knoll Rise; O Maxwell Arms: Dry Fly for me, and Charringtons for you: O Orpington! Suburbia! The "Golden Arrow" thunders through. JBO If any one remembers these memories and wants to share them or has any images - please get in touch by emailing us research@orpington-history.org