TOM TURNER
Born 1920 London
Moved to Towfield Road 1960s
Tom’s early life was started in the Waterloo Road\Blackfriars area of London.
The rent at about that time was 7s 6d per week and now the houses can be sold for £400,000. As Tom’s says it is a very nice area.
Later on in life, as he knew the area so well, he would lead rambles for members of the Camping Club of which he was President and Vice President.
Tom served in the 2nd Tactical Air Force in WW2 and little did he know that he would be invited to 10, Downing Street - just a couple of years ago -for tea and biscuits with the PM – for Tom to be honoured for his war service
After demob the ex-military men were encouraged to attend Evening Classes. We were pressed to vote for Labour and that’s how I got involved says Tom. All of his adult life he has been involved in the community eg as a councillor in Carshalton and a School Governor at Feltham Community College.
At a union meeting in Twickenham Tom heard that Twickenham Council needed electricians. That led to him becoming an Inspector for the new houses being built on BUTTS FARM
One particular incident that Tom recalls to mind was during an inspection of wiring in a living room. The wire was running under the floor but straight across and under the hearth of the open fire – not a good idea says Tom. The man answered that it was the shortest route – yes says Tom and also the most dangerous – get it taken up and redone!
Whilst in the early years of working on Butts Farm, 1950s, Tom and Gladys lived in Carshalton and Tom travelled to and from work on his bicycle.
Tom and Gladys were asked if they would like a house on Butts Farm. As they needed Tom for emergency work this would save him travelling from Carshalton everyday. So it was in the early 60s that the Turner family moved into TOWFIELD ROAD and this is still their home.