Bexleyheath Broadway Now and Then part1 

Oh my, I recognise the voice of the Narrator, Norman Eastes. Such a lovely man. His front room was a library archive of films. So nice to hear him come back to life. I’m sure he’d love to.know his films still live on today, amazing to see he has lived in in the history archives. I would see Norman every week in his last years. I have many fond memories of stories he’d tell me. The music accompanying the film shown here must be of the orchestra music played in the early years of cinema. No recording, it was actually played live in those days as Norman fondly told me. Odd thing to remember, he told me of a peculiar dream he’d had that Billy Cotton and his band were playing music in his garage. Somehow, Norman had managed to open his back door whilst sleep walking and woke to find he’d locked himself in his garden. Bless him, a very vivid dream that left him puzzled how he managed to end up in his garden on a cold day in his pyjamas. Ok, we all have crazy dreams at times, but in his earlier chapters, an interesting array of stories of reality including being able to diffuse a bomb in the dark and stories about Lancaster bombers. A very old photo of his dad as a fisherman and later his dad owned Eastes Garages in Bexleyheath on the Broadway opposite where there is a gym now. The front facade, higher in the middle section, workshops and forecourt, the building is still recognisable today. Norman had a motorbike once upon a time before moving on to cars. It must be a couple of decades since Norman passed. I only had the honour of Norman’s company each week as a carer before he departed. So nice to hear his voice again. We were neighbours. I only lived a short walk away in Somerhill Road. Late one evening, Norman had a fall, I called over when I saw the ambulance. Paramedics picked him up, checked him over, got him to his bed which had then been moved downstairs. I went home to find a replacement apple pie which had taken a tumble with Norman when he fell . I worried for him rolling a cigarette in bed. I couldn’t leave until he’d finished it in case he fell asleep as it was midnight! I banged my head on the birdcage and disgruntled bird fluttered it’s wings so I ended up with bird seed in my hair to take home. Norman was so funny and entertaining in himself. Good at enormous jigsaws too . Incredible and unexpected to hear him again narrating one of his films of Bexleyheath

That snooker room used to be the library, and that is where my enduring love of books began. 75 years later, that love has not diminished. I will always remember that building with the fondest of memories.

Fantastic. I was 6 years old in 1986 and remember the area well

The Bexleyheath I grew up in and loved,totally unrecognisable today. I remember the building that was the original cinema when it was a Tesco store and how my Mum and Nan would blackmail my sister and I with a Wimpy if we helped them go shopping. I still miss the big Woolworths that was by the clock tower. Happier times for me.

Thank you. I lived much of my time in Chestnut drive in the mid 60s to late 70s, and then visited until 1990

I remember the Regal and the Astor showing my age lol

I am slightly traumatised by that extended demolition scene and will never feel as comfy in Asda again, lol

Bexleyheath when they had normal roundabouts zebra crossings etc....not the bloomin layout they have now...nobody knows what your supposed to do when driving or walking.....😳 started coming here regularly in the late sixties as my boyfriend now hubby lived in Sidcup...me in Essex.....have lived here for 40 odd years now....seen lots of changes not all for the better...but that goes for every town I suppose........my mother in law was injured badly in the Woolworths that was hit here during the war..and her own mother lost her life as well in the same bombing.😢

when i was little i recall seeing the jungle book at the cinema which is where asda is now. im 40.

I've lived in Bexleyheath most of my life. It's nice to see it back in the day but it's sad to read the comments from so many people who seem so reluctant to accept change.

80s scenes with 20s music

took a long time before they put a Cinema , back in bexelyheath

Such a Shame ....the post office moved in a Shop.....just ruddy Crazy !

Things have changed so much Compared to now

First scene is right by where i live damn.

Blimey!

could you also put what the years where in each of the clips thanks

1963-1968

🧐🧐🧐