23: Pinner High Street (Middlesex). The Queens Head...

Pinner High Street (Middlesex). The Queens Head pub and my old Cortina Mark 4 on the other side of the road. 1979. Taken on my old Pentax ME.

15 comments so far...

DianePutnam December 31, 2016, 03:46 AM

A lot of cool cars there! Were you rearing your shiny polyester shirt and velveteen pants, Andy?

Andy Rodker December 31, 2016, 08:18 AM

I remember the day well, Diane. I had come to Pinner for a job interview in the early Summer of 79. I was at university at the time and didn't know what I was going to do afterwards). I was an hour early and so went for a walk. Pinner seemed a very pleasant suburb of Northwest London that I had never been to before. I had my Pentax ME with me and some unfinished b and w film. So I took a few shots. The car was actually my cousin's who let me use it from time to time. After uni I went to France for a few months but I did take up this job here (in financial services) eventually and Pinner became my home for the next 30 years!

I remember that polyester shirts dried very quickly and attracted masses of static! You could startle people simply by touching them and giving them a shock, or just by the mere sight of your hair standing on end and having a party!

As for velveteen pants ... what is velveteen and what benefit would accrue to me by wearing it over my private parts? I do recall once owning a pair of velvet trousers though!

Happy New Year, etc!

DougShepherd December 31, 2016, 11:00 AM

Nice shot here Andy, takes me back a few years. I had lodgings in Pinner from Nov 1988 to August 1991 while I was posted to HMS Warrior at Northwood. Don't remember much about Pinner except for the pub and high street in your picture. I was either working (12 hour shifts) or driving to and from Scarborough. It's a small world.
Best wishes for 2017, Doug

Andy Rodker December 31, 2016, 12:43 PM

Small world indeed, Doug!

Did you know Cmdr Mike Norman? He was at HMS Warrior in the 80s. He was a client of mine. He was 2nd in command on HMS Sheffield when it was hit during the Falklands war, but was fortunately unhurt. I also got to know a few others from Northwood Base and Warrior - they and the Americans based there tended to drink in one of the three pubs in Pinner High Street; The Queens Head, seen here, The Victory and The Hand in Hand, the latter two attracted a younger crowd. There were great darts match competitions I recall. Sadly only the Queens Head exists today.

Best wishes and have a great New Year! Andy

DougShepherd December 31, 2016, 03:09 PM

Hi Andy. Unfortunately I do not remember the name. I worked in crypto, a small department deep down in the bowels of the place. Never saw anyone apart from those I worked with, although it is possible I may have spoken to him on the phone depending on where he worked.
I remember the other pubs but mainly used the Queens Head, and then not that often, it was pretty good as I recall. Shame about the other pubs closing but a sign of the times I'm afraid.
All the very best for 2017 for you and yours, Doug

Nadia Kushnir December 31, 2016, 03:33 PM

Bravo, Andy!!!!!!!!!! LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andy Rodker December 31, 2016, 04:28 PM

Thank you, Nadia!

SteveDrury December 31, 2016, 05:04 PM

Very nice indeed Andy and around the time i was setting out on my working career .. no cortina for me just a moped :))

Best wishes ... Steve

Andy Rodker December 31, 2016, 05:30 PM

Well, Steve. I couldn't afford a car, either. I used to borrow my cousin's! I realised my mistake in the notes and thought to correct change it but unlike ipernity, it would have meant deleting and starting again. So I kept it as it was!!
Thanks and best wishes,
Andy

SteveDrury December 31, 2016, 06:30 PM

Hello Andy if you put your cursor arrow on your writing here it turns yellow .. this allows you to click and edit before saving again

steve

Andy Rodker January 01, 2017, 09:18 PM

Tanks steve. I have just used it on tbhis reply!

Andy Rodker January 01, 2017, 09:19 PM

Well, That didn't work Steve. I don't have this feature!
Best wishes, Andy

Sonja January 01, 2017, 11:30 PM

A beautiful old building! 1705 on the pub sign, that's rather old for a beerhouse. You are still a young boy compared to it....

Andy Rodker January 02, 2017, 12:15 AM

Actually the sign was about Queen Anne and not the pub, which is much older. It is recorded, under a different name (I knew it once but it was a long time ago and my Pinner history books are in Cornwall and I am in Madrid), in the 15th century.
All I remember is that the jetty is the longest in any Middlesex pub!

Andy Rodker January 04, 2017, 12:16 AM

Steve! Thanks. It worked!
Best wishes, Ady