Streatham Vale Property Occupiers Association in 1966
The initials were the same but the association was then called The Streatham Vale property Owners Association. Topics was published monthly and browsing through old copies, one can see that The Vale was a very busy community.
The January edition makes a promise that the year will be even more exciting than the previous one, which had included a Christmas Carnival. Santa had arrived in a coach drawn by Bimbo the Clown. Games were organised for both adults and children and refreshments were served in the daringly named, ‘Mistletoe Room’. There were two horticultural shows, The Rose Show in June and one in September arranged. There was an Association Sunday service at Holy Redeemer which was attended by the mayor and Mayoress of Lambeth. The Chairman held a Reception evening when awards would be handed out to people who had served the Association in exceptional ways. This event also included refreshments and novelty dancing to a live orchestra. I would love to know what that was! A summer Gala day, which involved childrens’ sports, fancy dress competitions and of course lots of tea and cake was heavily promoted.
March has a report from the AGM, when a motion to increase the annual membership fee from 5/- to 6/- ( five shillings ofr25p to six shillings or 30 pence) was roundly defeated. There had been an industrial dispute between the council and their refuse collectors which meant bins were not being collected. Solutions from the floor ranged from dumping the contents of your bin on the steps of Lambeth Town hall, to witholding payment of rates! Fortunately these suggestions were not adopted. Traffic and pedestrian safety at the junction with Eardley Road was another problem which the Executive explained to the local councillor who was in attendance, was not being dealt with as swiftly as they expected, so he had to do better!
The summer issues majored on the Rose and horticultural shows and a report on the future of Scouting as the local Scout group had been in operation for twenty four years and was looking to celebrate its silver anniversary the next year. The momentous decision to modernise the uniform was announced. No longer a wide brimmed felt hat but a beret for ceremonial occasions. Shorts were to be replaced by long trousers, because they were more suitable for the British weather. Global warming wasn’t even a cloud on the horizon sixty years ago.
The November issue of Topics proudly announced that the SVPOA campaign to install pedestrian crossings near Streatham Common station had finally come to fruition. The Association had been fighting for this, at the request of residents for this for nearly four and a half years. Perhaps the stern words to the councillor at the AGM earlier in the year had proved necessary impetus to get things moving.
There was also an advert for the 1966 Christmas Carnival. It was so well supported that entry was by pre-purchased ticket.
Throughout the year there were amusing fiction pieces in particular a long running saga of the adventures of Dempsey the Boxer dog. Special sections for children appeared several times. Announcements for sports clubs, and charity events appeared every issue.
Some things in almost every issue looked all too familiar. Calls for more people to sit on the Association committees. More help in publicising the work of the SVPOA as a Road Steward or in other positions. Requests for help setting up shows and clearing up afterwards. One thing is clear, that Vale residents have always been a sociable lot who looked to make the Vale a pleasant place to live.
It was an interesting trawl through the archives. Perhaps you can think of items we should include in Topics in future? Hopefully in 2086, someone will dip into digital Topics to see what we were doing in 2026.