Comments on: H.H.Ford Family Butcher, Bedfont

By: Pete Baker

Pete Baker — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:23:49 +0000

Growing up in Bedfont in the 1960s I remember going in Ford’s shop many times with my mum. There was sawdust on the floor and they seemed to know all the customers by name. Many people would only buy Ford’s meat but they didn’t go there only for the meat – people wold stand around chatting for ages, so you didn’t go there if you were in a hurry. It was a different pace of life then, lost with the arrival of supermarkets.

I also remember Rayner’s shop opposite, featured in one of the photographs. But does anyone remember the little sweet shop (perhaps with off license) next to that? I think it was called Bell’s. This closed long before Ford’s, probably in the late 1960s. My grandad used to do odd jobs in there, like sweeping up, in return for some Sharpe’s Extra Strong Mints which he always kept a supply of.

By: Helen Healy

Helen Healy — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:06:27 +0000

What a fantastic find! Whilst I don’t have memories of Ford Butchers – more’s the pity – I am now in New Road, and pass this corner every day on my way to work! How lovely it would be to see it as it was! Thank you so much for sharing

By: stephen ower

stephen ower — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:04:33 +0000

I used to go to ford the butchers with my mum as well. remember the bulls head very well . became a butcher myself and worked in hayes for clarke bro’s . also went to a car show in 2008 at a place near farnham with old buildings . like a walk back in the past . and they had a book of your old receipts there . i now live in australia . nice to look back

By: Barry Raymond

Barry Raymond — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:33:58 +0000

Hello there, just come across this, absolutely brilliant, we moved from Hounslow two years ago to the top end of New Rd, bought a cottage there as my wife wanted to return to Bedfont having spent her childhood at 127 Hatton Rd. a large flat-roofed bungalow which stood where the flats now are next to where Lenster Motors used to be. This site brings back many memories for her, she remembers the Clancy girls and their mother Doris still lives in Hatton Rd. opposite where my wife once lived as does my wife’s childhood friend Diana (Luke) who still lives next door. My wife’s name then was Marian Hillier. Thanks

By: Paul Gibson

Paul Gibson — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:20:10 +0000

Hey Trevor send me an email: paul@twickers.org

By: Harry Ford

Harry Ford — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:37:23 +0000

Heya Sandra, I am sitting next to my Nan Doris Clancy (who was Doris Fowle), who just informed me when she was younger her and Dennis were sweethearts at junior school. Thanks for commenting.

By: Marion Tanner (Bolton)

Marion Tanner (Bolton) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:52:17 +0000

I remember young Ralph at Bedfont Junior School, and my Mum used to use the shop on a regular basis

By: Janice Denslow (nee Budd)

Janice Denslow (nee Budd) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:55:35 +0000

I lived in a pre-fab in Page Road from 1951-1957.Here is a small extract from my memories of that time..

PLAYDAYS AND SUNDAYS

We bought most of our meat from H. Ford Butchers in New Road, at the top of Page Road.
A corner shop with sawdust on the floor to soak up the drips of blood from the carcasses that were hung from giant hooks from the ceiling. There was a massive wooden chopping block on the counter. Mum would ask for a “piece of Beef about this size, please”, demonstrating with her hands. The Butcher, with his dark blue shirt and trousers and a blood-stained apron, would raise his chopper and thwack the meat. It was always accurate! I liked watching him put odd bits of meat in a machine that minced it smaller. Then this would be put in another machine to make sausages…I didn’t like the smell in there, so I waited outside with my nose pressed up to the window, making steamy patterns on it with my breath.

We were lucky in that the pre-fabs had Gas Fridges.
Quite small, but enough room for the joint and the sausages and perhaps a pound of Mince, alongside a colander of shelled Peas or Broad Beans.

By: BOB SPERLING

BOB SPERLING — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:07:59 +0000

It was so good to come across the FORDS family butcher site .I remember the shop so well .In the 1940s I went to Bedfont Infants/junior school .The war was still on when I started school ,and we frequently had to go in the air raid shelters in the middle of lessons and the anti aircraft guns sited on the grounds behind the school were being fired .When I moved up into the Junior part of the school my teacher was called Mr Hurrell .I was well built and very fit and one day in the middle of the morning he asked me if I knew where Fords the Butchers was ,of course I said I did.
It was then he gave me a sealed brown envelope and told me to take it round to Fords ,but I was only to give it to the elderly butcher . I went straight round to the shop ,it was a great adventure, I gave the envelope to Mr Ford senior .It was a bit scary because he had quite a bit of blood on his overall and his false teeth were loose and they moved about when he talked but he was always pleasant.He went to the back of the shop and came back and gave me the sealed envelope back which I took back to my teacher .This went on every week until I left the school.I not sure what was in the package but I think Mr Ford may of been cashing a cheque for Mr Hurrell..GOOD MEMORIES but I cant see todays education system allowing such an adventure ??

By: BOB SPERLING

BOB SPERLING — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:37:24 +0000

Hi Sandra ,you dont know me ,but I remember your Grandfather very well .I can recall when he started his horse and cart mobile green grocery round very well .Although I cant be sure of the date I think it was in the late 40s.
In fact he became quite a topic of conversation in my family ,because my Grandmother had a greengrocers shop in Bedfont which was sited opposite the
“Beehive” public house which had been in the family for years.
They were tough austere times just after WW2 and I think my family were scared that your Grandfather would be able to undercut their prices hence loosing them business.
Although I was young at the time ,it all seem to blow over in no time . In its own way I suppose its a bit like TESCO and ASDA
Anyway its good to look back on the good old days and to wish you a happy new year.