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My mother Florence was born in 1915 and due to the depression came to work in Wimbledon in 1933 and spent most of the war years in the Haydons Road area. During the blitz A large bomb fell on the corner of Haydon Park Road and Haydons Road, a direct hit on an off licence run by friends of my mother. The off license was filled with the owners friends and family due to the marriage of their daughter the following morning.To my mothers recollection all were killed and the rescue teams could not find the body of the bride to be. She was finally located straddled across the chimney stack of the shop premises opposite. Screens were erected around the site and for many days the smell of decomposing flesh filled the air. They were blown to shreds.
The site was rebuilt after the war. The only clue is the 1940's flats built on the corner of Haydon Park road and the changed roofline of where the original off licence stood.
My mother died last Saturday the 1st November 2003. She would have been 88 on the 21st.
My mother recalled many sad stories. I will try to add some more if time permits.
John Charles Wakely (Son) born 1948

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