Whereabouts in Bromley?

[Stathamender]

I have found a Jack Dawson at nearby 36 Aylesbury Road in the Thirties.......1.6 miles away. Perhaps an image will one day turn up of the South Suburban Co-Operative Society which appears to have shared No1. with Dawson's........

I can't find any more Kelly's online but all UK telephone directories up to 1984 are supposed to be available at ancestry.co.uk. Probem is that I can't get any search, even for myself (and I'm reasonably certain that I actually existed and had a telephone before 1984), to work. I shall persevere.

[Stathamender]

I have found a Jack Dawson at nearby 36 Aylesbury Road in the Thirties.......1.6 miles away. Perhaps an image will one day turn up of the South Suburban Co-Operative Society which appears to have shared No1. with Dawson's........

I can't find any more Kelly's online but all UK telephone directories up to 1984 are supposed to be available at ancestry.co.uk. Probem is that I can't get any search, even for myself (and I'm reasonably certain that I actually existed and had a telephone before 1984), to work. I shall persevere.

I have now got the telephone directories search at Ancestry to work, the earliest available mention of Dawson's of Bromley is in 1957 and the latest in 1984 (which is latest directory available). Dawson's appear to have ceased trading around this time, certainly at this address, as there is a successful planning application in November 1984 to change permitted use from Fishing rod manufacture and shop to Shopfitting showroom. This then becomes an electronics place in 1990 and the restaurant in 2014. According to Bob Brookes viewtopic.php?f=420&t=21317 Peter Dawson was in his 90s when he died four years ago so he would have been in his late 50s/early 60s back then.

I'm wondering if Peter Dawson was the Peter A Dawson who was resident at nearby Forde Avenue for much of the time the shop was working.

Nobby, are you sure about the South Suburban sharing premises (this would be Nand House now)? The relevant branch is further down Chatterton Road on the other side (although this is obviously a building from the 70s at the earliest).

[Nobby]

I can't for the life of me remember how I drew that conclusion Iain...probably best to disregard it....:-(

[Tonkin Wand]

Dawsons of Bromley rods I have seen anywhere seem to have no "Trade Label" attached to the rod bags. Despite their destinective lighthouse logo used upon the rods.However today upon that well known trading site is a Sabina example with a rod bag just showing a faded imprint of the company stamp ( no lighthouse) ! Has any one seen an improvement on this poor example?

[Nobby]

No that's a first...better nick the image ;-)

[CreamTeaGirl]

As a kid I back in the 70’s I used to go to Dawson’s in Chatterton Road to buy maggots. Peter had a rod making room out the back from the shop floor. His wife worked with him they were good to us kids as we didn’t have much money then. In lockdown I stumbled across a split cane rod on eBay made by Dawson’s of Bromley I managed to buy this rod which was a Sabina. I went on to acquire a further two rods an Avolon and Elaine.i have been very fortunate to have all three restored by one of our finest rod restorers. To me they are priceless memories of growing up in Bromley. I now live in Somerset and use all three rods with my Vintage fishing kit which includes Kelly kettle teapot and cake tin.

[Stathamender]

As a kid I back in the 70’s I used to go to Dawson’s in Chatterton Road to buy maggots. Peter had a rod making room out the back from the shop floor. His wife worked with him they were good to us kids as we didn’t have much money then. In lockdown I stumbled across a split cane rod on eBay made by Dawson’s of Bromley I managed to buy this rod which was a Sabina. I went on to acquire a further two rods an Avolon and Elaine.i have been very fortunate to have all three restored by one of our finest rod restorers. To me they are priceless memories of growing up in Bromley. I now live in Somerset and use all three rods with my Vintage fishing kit which includes Kelly kettle teapot and cake tin.

My Sabina is one of my favourite rods, great action: sensitive enough for delicate float fishing and strong enough to land a 6lb tench with no trouble. Looks good too.