I grew up in Ealing and still love the place. I was lucky enpough to grow up in the days that nice ordinary houses were occupied with small shop keepers, teachers, railway people and BBC technicians, office workers and lots of artisans.A real mix, not posh but some were more sort of intellectual and others more practical, but what made it good was just how friendly it was.I went to school in Brentford. Although less than a mile from home it was, in the 1970's a different world. A dying town, down at heel, stripped of it's identity by the strong corporate reach of 'Hounslowism' ( Remember that horrid 'coil spring' logo and vile colour schemes?) LB Hounslow used it as a dumping ground for problem families and unfortunately the borough has had more than it's fair share for far too long.But falling off the radar has not been all bad, Hounslows contempt for Brentford and Chiswick has at least spared some of the town of the development horrors that blight much of what were once the prettier suburban parts.I now live here, in the older bit. Referred to as the "victorian slum district" by my LBH geography teachers. Not far from the truth, as even in 1975, much of old Brentford had tin baths and outside loos.It's not like that now and much to my delight I found that that nice mix of people are here, it has more than it's fair share of people who do not want to be part of any community but there are brilliant nice people here and it has more of a village feel than that of a town.Ealing, on the other hand, is now full of management consultants and self important types with jobs that are almost impossible to see the point of. They do not mix or care about their neighbours. Nice car, nice house and stuff all else. It's not a community anymore. But it is here, alive and I like it.30 years later I live here. Historic Brentford. It needs no posh alternative name.
John Norie ● 6104d