My grandfather worked for the G.W.R. until his death from Lung Cancer on 22 May 1939. He, his wife, my mother and her brother had lived in the house at 40 Noel Road, Acton, since 1925. After his death, my grandmother continued to live there and it became a home for me, my mum and dad until 1953 when my grandmother died of disseminated sclerosis. The tenancy had passed from grandfather to his wife upon his death and continued for a further 2 years after her death, when we were notified by the 'powers that be' we were to be evicted and made homeless. Some time ago I discovered that the housing associations of the railways were disallowed and that the residences had to be sold off. If this is correct, then when did this occur and how was it handled? To my knowledge, my parents, who were housed by the Acton Borough Council at a flat on Horn Lane knew where we were until 1963 so it would have been 'nice' if we had been given the chance to purchase this property. Along with my wife, daughter and son in law we visited the house and the flat in Acton last year. We couldn't get an answer at the flat but at the house we were made quite welcome in spite of a language barrier. While the house looked quite attractive it had changed internally and it would have upset my mother if she was aware of the changes that had been made to 'her home' from 1925 to 1955.
Probably a rolling programme following the railways being Nationalised in 1947. There is a 'contact us' link on this website and they may be able to offer more precises information: http:// everythinggwr.com/
Reply received - 24 July - "Not up on the Housing Association of the GWR but will look into it when I come back from vacation on 12 August. Please follow up then. Thank you". +2 more weeks - must be a nice trip.
