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In the last days before the declaration of war, I fell to thinking about the kind of world we would be leaving behind. What would it be like when peace returned?

The sights, sounds, smells of old London and in Bermondsey. Sarson’s Vinegar Factory; Courage’s Brewery; Peak Frean’s sweet aroma of biscuits in the making; the leather factories. Billingsgate Fish Market, and of course the Borough Market. The cries of the muffin men, the Walls Ice Cream tricycle surrounded by little urchins, hot pies, faggots and pease puddings and much more peddled around the streets on a Sunday afternoon.

The personalities at Speaker’s Corner; Tower Hill and other public spaces. Prince Monolulu, the race course tipster, ‘I’ve got a horse’ featured in colourful robes and headgear reaching up to the skies. Van Dyke, the ex-convict from Dartmoor, tattooed from head to foot, protesting his innocence. Mrs Van der Elst, a doughty campaigner against capital punishment. ‘King Anthony’ a former police inspector, elegantly dressed with bowler hat who claimed he was a direct descendant of James II. Happy Harry the fake clergyman who always drew the crowds with his biblical readings and hymns. People came to take the mickey. They left happy. He died very rich owning many properties in Southend.

Revd. Doctor Soper, the Methodist preacher and wit. And of course, the escapologists who struggled to escape from the padlocked sacks and trunks. One could go on. The singing in the pubs. The sentimental, slushy songs. The tears and sighs as they listened to their favourite songs. Bud Flannagan’s ‘Underneath The Arches’. George Roby’s ‘If You Were The Only Girl In The World’, Kate Carney, the costa queen singing ‘Are We To Part Like This Bill?’ — whose it to be, me or her? Don’t be afraid to say. For her and me, friends can be for the sake of old times. Ivor Norvello’s ‘Keep the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Fires Burning’. I must stop or the pubs will be awash with more tears instead of beer.

Every street, every district were real communities with neighbours supporting and watching over each other. For example, sometimes, husband and wife having had a ‘skinful’ would start arguing and even throw the odd punch. Friends would step in to prevent too much damage to their relationship, not always appreciated. Husband and wife have been known to turn around and clobber their friends. They would all meet up next day and kiss and hug each other.

This of necessity has to be a very small window on the world which was about to disappear.

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