ABOUT... BERNARD '' DINKY '' POLSON

Born. 05/08/1935. Cinderford Glos.

 

 

Bernie spent the first five years of his life in the Welsh mining village of Senghenydd in the Aber valley where his father was a miner and his mother was a barmaid. Senghenydd was the scene of one of the world's worst coal mining disasters. At ten minutes past eight on the morning of October 14th 1913 an explosion in the Senghenydd pit killed over 400 miners.

 

Bernie returned to Gloucester in 1940 and lived in Somerset Place. His grandmother was Mrs Beard the well known second hand furniture dealer of Southgate St.

 

In 1945 he arrived in Clapham when he was ten years old and lived at 2 Worrell Cottages for about 12 years. He started his first business in the front garden shed as a cobbler in 1955. Two years later he moved to his own shoe repair shop in New St. He had previously served in the Kings Dragoon Guards.

 

 

 

                              Education.

 

St. Pauls.

 

St. Peters.

 

St. Marks.

 

Central Technical School. ( Derby Road ). 

 

                   

 

                              Work History. 

 

     

 

Shoe Repair Shop.

 

Trouble Shooter for Quick Service Organization.

 

Transport Business.

 

Removal Business.

 

Home Improvement Business.

 

Security Business.

 

 

 

                                Interests.

 

Guard Dog Training.

 

Fast Draw. Gunfighting ( Champion )

 

Archery. Chess. Computers.

 

Photography. Canoeing and Music. 

 

                   

 

Bernie has two children ( Kim. & Lynnette ) by his first partner, Glenys Owen. He has married twice since and now lives with his present wife, Frances in Bristol Rd. Gloucester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bernie is attempting to make a film about old Clapham and has also started a Website about Clapham under the name of “The Reflections of Clapham Project”.

 

The Photograph Collection that he has amassed now contains over twelve hundred photos of Clapham and its people. The Collection continues to grow.

 

Bernie is assisted in the ‘Reflections of Clapham Project’ by the Committee, his wife, Frances, his son, Kim, his brother, Adrian, his grandson, Daniel and many of the Clapham people.