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I grew up around the Kingsway area, my mum
and dad lived on Connaught Road and my
grandparents lived on Highbury Road. The
greatest change to the area has been the
Westside Centre there used to be a Sainsbury’s
there, I specifically remember Eddies fashion
and fair Maiden which was where people
would get their uniforms. There were other
memorable landmarks there as well which are
no longer there.

The shops in Bury Park have changed a lot for example the cinema is no longer there, that was the first cinema I visited
I remember going to see the Jungle Book at the Odeon. One of the old shops I recall being there is a shop called ‘Time
and Sonic’, that is where I got my ears pierced from. The shops have changed quite a lot, I remember a shop called
Curtis and Harvey Willis. At the centre point of Bury Park where the Nadeem Plaza is situated there used to be a pool
centre and across the road there used to be an arcade where people used to go to play video games.

There’s been a shift from how it used to be. The shops are mainly South Asian focused; clothing, food, jewellery etc
whereas before it was a mixture of everything such as fish and chips etc. I think Bury Park may have been popular
for the South Asian community because people are inclined to stay close to people with whom they find it easier
to communicate and connect with which may be why they all may have chosen to stay in that particular area. This
particular area saw an influx of a certain culture because people belonging to those cultures felt at ease having all the
facilities to hand therefore chose to reside within the locality and so decided to remain in the area.

My best couple of memories are of my grandparents who used to live on Highbury Road, and we lived on Connaught
Road, I used to walk from my parents’ house to my grandparents’ house and then from my grandparents’ house with
my cousin’s through Bury Park through to Westside centre. The trek meant that I came home with more money than I
left which is why this is one of my fondest memories. As a teenager I loved going to the ODEON Cinema in Bury Park.
Where the Bury Park Community Centre is now, there used to be a McDonald’s. Bury Park was the place to be as there
was always something going on there. I remember a small record shop and a guy called ‘Honey boy’ who owned it. I
recall spending a lot of time in that area as the place was full of places to eat (kebab shops) all located just near the
plaza. I visited the place frequently in the 80’s all the way until my son was about 12 years old.

I don’t live local to Bury Park anymore therefore I rarely even drive through Bury Park as much as I used to. Now that
I’m talking about the changes, I can see that the area has in fact changed a lot, sometimes you don’t realise when the
process is so gradual. I recall in the past going to Bury Park to buy chicken for our Sunday dinner because the butchers
would cut it up for you into the pieces and prepare it for you the way you want it, which is really good. There’s now a
cake box there so again this means good food. I can go to the area to get the cake. I have noticed that there’s a lot more
places to eat in Bury Park, more places where you can get desserts and that kind of thing. Then there was the ‘Manho
restaurant’ which is has been there a very long time. I visited that restaurant for my 40th birthday. Bury Park has seen a
lot of changes but because these have been so gradual, they were not very easy to notice. When I do go through Bury
Park, I like the hustle and bustle and the community feel it’s all very nice.

Its nice to see that the same shops that were around in the 80’s are still here today. Having a community centre in Bury
Park is also really useful, I have used that on number of occasions for various things. There is quiet of lot of culture in
the area which is actually quite nice especially being able to get different types of food. There is also a football ground
in the vicinity. I am a football fan I follow Luton town.

I’m also an Arsenal supporter and so there’s a bone of contention because Luton town did beat Arsenal in 1988 in the
Littlewoods Cup so although I live in Luton follow Luton, I am Arsenal supporter. I remember the Millwall incident, and
all the hooliganism associated with it, I recall walking through the parking which was absolutely trashed by Milwaukee
ants and there was always graffiti. With regards to racism, I’ve got older friends that talk about racism in this town and
going back into the 80s, but I grew up with different cultures. During my childhood I had a Ukrainian and a Chinese
friend as well as friends of other nationalities hence I have been oblivious to racism. I have been fortunate to have
never witnessed any kind of racism.

Claudette Rhiney

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