Re: The British Legion....This photo is in fact the original legion building in Hurst lane. Next to it you can see the R.E.M.E camp, that was also in Hurst lane, with the Guardhouse next to the Legion. To the right, lower you can see the Rd curve, that's where Brownfield Rd starts, and where the boys club was built. I lived in Longmeadow Crescent from 1952. This location was at the end of our Rd, and I remember it very well. I too attended Alderlea boys school, and still have my "Leaving Certificate" dated 13th April 1962.
....When we first moved to Shard End from Heneage St, the bus from town only went to Lea Village, ( No 14, I think ). We had to walk up Packington Ave, past the quarry ( Now the Norman Chamberlain park ) to get home. After a while the 55 bus ran from "Old Square" to it's terminus at what became "The Harlequin". Later the terminus moved to the corner of Hurst Ln/Packington Ave/Freasley Rd, before moving once again to the corner of Longmeadow Crescent/Kitsland Rd, ( Very convenient for me ).
Shard End was actually planned before the war, with the intention of heating the houses with the "Waste heat" from Hams Hall power station. This, of course never happened, and in fact the whole project was shelved due to the war.