Comments on: At The Brady Clubs

By: Minna Markowitz

Minna Markowitz — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:51:42 +0000

My memory is a little fuzzy about my Brady club years. I left for South Africa alone at the age of 16 in 1957 , to stay with my aunt, uncle and cousins. Love the Brady club from what I remember. Used to sing to a crowd of girls sitting on the floor of a room. Loved singing and had a pretty nice voice. Enjoyed going after school at Deal St. Primary and then Montifiore Secondary Modern !

Does anyone remember Minnie Witzler or Vivianne Juber, Marlene Cohen, Ruth Levine, Florence Meyer ?

Love to hear from or about anyone mentioned ?

By: Gwyn Headley

Gwyn Headley — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 15:30:54 +0000

I was in a Chelsea beat group called The Sloane Squares in the 1960s and we were booked by Trevor Fishman to play at the Brady Club several times in 1966/67. We played with Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Creation, where the lead guitarist used a violin bow on his guitar, and others. Pink Floyd were a little too avant-garde for the audience who booed them off, chanting for The Sloane Squares! Anyone got any pictures? Our lead singer Pete Gage went on to sing with Doctor Feelgood.

By: Christine Rolfe

Christine Rolfe — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:01:37 +0000

Mary Tabone, I was there at the same time, I remember Miss Green, I have very fond memories of the club and Skeet and the dances. Did you know an Elaine Holeman?

By: George Cummings

George Cummings — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 17:27:59 +0000

I taught pottery in the evening at the Club during the winter of 1964-65. Where was it located then?
In late 1964 or early 1965, the Beatles gave a charity concert to which employees of the Club were given tickets. Unfortunately, I was in the Midlands visiting relatives for the holidays and didn’t get my ticket until I returned to late to use it. The Club’s manager told me I didn’t miss anything, because the Beatles couldn’t be heard above the noise of screaming kids.

By: Mary Tabone

Mary Tabone — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 07:49:03 +0000

Hi all, my sister and I attended the Brady Club. We were there from around 1964-70. We both have very fond memories of it. The activities, trips, the walk for charity and so many much else. The staff. Loretta Canter. Ms Green. I have some pictures too.
Does anyone remember me and my sister (Mary and Jean)?

By: Frances Halperin

Frances Halperin — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 21:59:11 +0000

Working on family genealogy here in Toronto, I came across a plaque at the Brady Centre in Hanbury Street commemorating Brady Boys and Girls Clubs. I know my parents, Bert (born 1911) and Sadie(born 1913), nee Podolsky, both belonged and imagine they were enthusiastic participants.

Don’t expect to hear from any of their peers but, perhaps, some grandchildren may recognize the name.

By: Marilyn Gwyn-Jones

Marilyn Gwyn-Jones — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:12:39 +0000

Came across this site by accident when searching photos of Skeet Hill House in Kent.
My father John Henry Sexton was caretaker and handy man for Skeet Hill House. During his time in London he also worked for Brady Boys Club and Brady Girls Club. He was particularly confident in painting n decorating, wood work, electrical, you name he could do it. When in Skeet Hill House my mother was the cook when, at weekends, the house would be occupied by members of both clubs. She also ran the canteen in the boys club.
Although my parents were not Jewish I was able to become a member of the Girls club where I made many friendships. I remember Brenda Black who married Lionel Schaffer, June Orwell who married a police officer, Ruth who married Michael a member of the Boys Club and I believe they went to America. Hannah ? I still have a photograph of Hannah and me bathing in the sea when on holiday I think in Switzerland.

Now the boys. Michael Green, David Powell, Eddie (?) and Cliff Jones who also went to America and appeared in several episodes of Space 199
I also remember two of the managers, brothers whose surname was Kaye and also the never unforgettable Yogi Mayor.
Me, being Welsh as you can see from my surname, married my childhood sweetheart . We had known each all our lives and when Peter came to London to become a Draughtsman we met up. We have 3 children, 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Peter and I celebrated our 60th Wedding anniversary in March 2020.
I have written a book and during this awful time I have become a keen crafter, crocheting and fabric toys. These are sent to a charity who allow children to choose a toy when they have had to go through having blood tests.

By: Jenifer Moss

Jenifer Moss — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 17:51:55 +0000

Looking for MARK ROSE, my late father. He boxed for the Brady Boys club, everyone had photographs, except me. His address would have been Valance Rd, or nearby.

Can anyone help? Did anyone remember Mark Rose?

Man thanks

Jenifer Moss.

By: Michael Green

Michael Green — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:50:23 +0000

It’s Michael Green again. I wrote a comment in July, 2019 and never knew that my friend, Peter Modler, saw my entry and followed with comments in December 2019. We didn’t go out to L.A. last December so didn’t see Peter. Now with the Covid-19 pandemic, we aren’t sure when we can go again. That’s when memories are important. My wife, Marilyn and I were recently talking about memories; how personal they are. Not because something personal needs to be hidden, rather, that some memories are of experiences which have made us who we are. That’s how I always feel when I think of Brady. This evening, I just started browsing Brady and, an hour later, I’m fully back in the early 1950s, reminiscing at Brady, at my old school, at Johnny Isaacs, and, never to be forgotten, at Skeet. Harry Potter had nothing on us. Our steam engine out to Knockholt with soot in the compartment; the old Austin taxi, with cracked, worn leather seats we drove in from the station to Skeet’s country location. Oh my, what wonderful memories. No, certainly nothing to hide. I’ll be back. I need to browse some more. Stay healthy everyone.

By: Paul Singleton

Paul Singleton — Wed, 13 May 2020 00:24:53 +0000

Loved reading these comments. Many happy memories.

I was a Brady Boy through the late 60s to perhaps 1970 or shortly after as far as I recall – my early-mid teens. I remember well the chaotic football on the fenced-in roof, the canteen and the short-lived model railway club. I vaguely remember Skeet though I think it might have been a day-trip. I also did rifle shooting with the club which was based at Chelsea Barracks and run by the Army.

I even played once or twice for the football third team but I was dreadful, so they must have been desperate!

I thought it was a fantastic place though I was the other end of Stepney and it was a fair old walk to get there. Had a huge number of laughs and felt more at home than in any other club I belonged to.

I thought though I needed to add a comment about some of the religious origin observations above….

I was a non-Jewish member (Catholic) and never detected the slightest awareness between the youngsters relating to religious differences. As far as I remember, we were seamless and united. All my friends in those days, without exception, were Jewish. Faith never and I mean never came up between us or inside Brady with other kids.

However, I must take slight issue with the suggestion above that the club was open to all. It wasn’t and I think historical accuracy is important.

When I joined, I joined the same evening as three of my Jewish pals. In those days, there was a little “interview” the first evening where the club’s leader made the rules clear. He also said very politely and with good humour but equally serious intent to all of us, that Brady was primarily a club for Jewish youth and I would be admitted only because their policy was not to split-up Jewish and non-Jewish close friends.

I had absolutely no problem with that at all. I understood and respected it. How long that policy lasted or whether it was ever “official” I do not know. I do know that another non-Jewish boy from my school applied independently to Brady about a year later and he was refused membership on the grounds that he was not Jewish and had no close Jewish friends in the club.

I don’t think this changes for one second the wonderful nature of the club but as I said, I do not believe it was quite the open-door for everyone, irrespective of denomination, that some appear to recall it to have been.

This is purely a statement for the record and balance. I wouldn’t swap my memories of Brady for anything. A wonderful place that did only good. Best wishes to all.