Note Apart from converting to HTML and some very small changes, the following story is as received by me. Settle down and have a read.
Joanna R. writes about Garston ......
BORN BESIDE THE MERSEY. 2001
MY STORY OF LIFE IN LIVERPOOL. JOANNE ROBERTS (NEE MANSELL)
IT IS NOW THE YEAR 2001, AND I FIND MYSELF LYING AWAKE IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. SLEEP KEEPS SLIPPING OUT OF MY GRASP, AND MY HEAD SPINS WITH THOUGHTS OF THE PAST. HOW FAST TIME HAS GONE, HOW SWIFTLY LIFE PASSES US BY, AND THEN IS LOST FOREVER EXCEPT IN OUR MEMORY.
I CANT BELIEVE THAT 60 YEARS HAVE GONE BY SINCE THAT AWFUL NIGHT MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT MY MOTHER HAD GONE TO HEAVEN TO BE WITH MY GRANDMA, BROTHER, SISTER, AND GOD. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN WHEN I NEEDED HER SO, HOW COULD GOD DO THAT TO US? I DONT REMEMBER A LOT THAT HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE THAT TIME, JUST A FEW SNIPPETS SLIP THROUGH THE HAZE OF MY EARLYIER LIFE.
I WAS BORN ON AUGUST 7TH 1930 IN GARSTON, A SOUTHERN SUBURB OF LIVERPOOL. ENGLAND. IT WAS A THURSDAY,.....WHAT IS IT THEY SAY?...THURSDAYS CHILD IS FULL OF WOE! AMONG THE FEW THINGS I DO REMEMBER, WAS THE FUN WE HAD WHEN MUM WOULD PACK A PICNIC BASKET AND WE WOULD ALL GO DOWN THE ROAD TO THE OLD DOCK IN GARSTON, WHERE MY FATHER WORKED AS A DOCK GATEMAN, AND WE WOULD ALL LUNCH TOGETHER, IN THE LITTLE HUT NEAR THE BIG DOCK GATES.
MY OLDER SISTER, QUEENIE, AND I WOULD RACE ALL OVER THE DECKS OF ANY SHIP THAT HAPPENED TO BE IN PORT. WE WOULD CLIMB THE RIGGING, RACING AROUND HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME, AND GENERALLY MAKING NUISANCES OF OURSELVES. THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIPS USED TO GIVE US BANANAS, AND IN THE WINTER HE WOULD MAKE US STEAMING MUGS OF HOT COCOA... IT WAS WONDERFUL!
AT OTHER TIMES WE WOULD STAND ON THE LITTLE WOODEN BRIDGE, AND DAD WOULD PULL THE LEVER TO OPEN UP THE DOCK GATES. WE WOULD WATCH THE GRIMY WATERS OF THE MERSEY SWIRL IN OR OUT, DEPENDING ON THE TIME AND TIDE. SOMETIMES MY DAD WOULD TELL US THE STORIES OF THE THINGS HE DID WHEN HE WAS IN THE MERCHANT NAVY. HE TOLD OF ONCE WHEN HE JUMPED SHIP IN AMERICA, HE WORKED HIS WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MEXICO, WORKING AS A RANCH HAND, MENDING FENCES,ALONG THE WAY.HE SAID THEY ATE SO MUCH CORNED BEEF, AND RABBIT, THAT HE GOT FED UP WITH THEM AFTER A WHILE.
ON SOME OCCASIONS WE WOULD CATCH SHRIMPS OR FLUKE, TO TAKE HOME FOR OUR TEA. THEY WERE WONDERFUL DAYS, FULL OF LAUGHTER AND SUNSHINE, BUT THAT WAS IN ANOTHER LIFETIME SO LONG AGO.
WE HAD OUR SHARE OF SCARY AND SAD TIMES TOO, SUCH AS WHEN MY TWIN SISTER, AND OUR OLDER BROTHER BOTH DIED OF DIPTHERIA IN 1932.(AFTER CATCHING IT FROM ME). I DONT HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF EITHER OF THEM, BUT I DO REMEMBER HOW SAD IT MADE MY PARENTS. WHAT A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND LOSS OF LIFE FOR TWO WHO WERE SO VERY YOUNG.
I REMEMBER THE RAGING EARACHES I HAD WHEN I WAS ABOUT FIVE, AND MY DAD TAKING ME TO THE DOCTOR WEEK AFTER WEEK, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS NOTHING,JUST RUNNING EARS, BUT ALL THE ASPIRIN I WAS GIVEN, AND ALL THE WARM OLIVE OIL PUT IN MY EARS DID NOT TAKE THE PAIN AWAY, AFTER A FEW WEEKS DAD COULD NOT TAKE MY SCREAMING ANY LONGER SO HE WRAPPED ME IN A BLANKET AND RUSHED ME TO THE EMERGENCY CENTRE AT THE LIVERPOOL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. I WAS EXAMINED AND RUSHED RIGHT IN TO EMERGENCY WHERE I WAS PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY ON BOTH MY EARS. DOCTORS THERE SAID I HAD EXTREMELY BAD MASTOIDITIS IN BOTH EARS AND ONLY HAD A MATTER OF HALF AN HOUR OR SO TO LIVE WITHOUT SURGERY. I DONT REMEMBER VERY MUCH ABOUT THE PROCEDURE EXCEPT BEING HELD DOWN WHILE THIS HUGE CONTRAPTION WAS PUT OVER MY FACE. I STRUGGLED AS HARD AS I COULD AS I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO ME, AND THE LAST THING I REMEMBER BEFORE I WENT UNDER THE CHLOROFORM WAS THE SOUND OF BELLS IN MY EARS.
WE HAD A GERMAN SHEPHERD WE CALLED CAPTAIN, AS DAD HAD GOT HIM FROM THE CAPTAIN OF A SHIP. CAPTAIN WAS A GREAT COMPANION, AND ALSO A GREAT GUARD DO. WE FOUND THAT OUT WHEN WE WERE ALL OUT FOR A WHILE, WHEN WE CAME HOME THERE WAS A WOULD BE THIEF SITTING ON A CHAIR WITH CAPTAIN WATCHING HIM, WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED, AND HE WAS QUESTIONED, HE TOLD US HE THOUGHT HE WAS ON TO A GOOD THING, AS CAPTAIN JUST WAGGED HIS TAIL AND WATCHED AS THE MAN TOOK LOTS OF THINGS AND PUT THEM IN A BIG BAG, BUT WHEN HE TRIED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, THE DOG BAILED HIM UP AND WOULD NOT LET HIM OUT. WE WERE VERY PROUD OF CAPTAIN.
MUM AND DAD USD TO PLAY THE PIANO, AND MUM TRIED TO TEACH ME, BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE TRYING TO TEACH SOMEONE WITH TENTACLES INSTEAD OF ARMS AND FINGERS, AND IT DIDN;T HELP THAT I WANTED TO PLAY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC BUT DID NOT WANT TO LEARN THE SCALES, AND OTHER BASICS FIRST, SHE GAVE UP AFTER A FEW TRYING MONTHS. I USED TO LOVE HEARING HER PLAY, AND THE LAST PIECE I HEARD HER PLAY, AND INCIDENTLY THE LAST PIECE OF MUSIC I REMEMBERED SEEING ON OUR PIANO WAS A POPULAR MELODY CALLED, "ALWAYS." I WILL NEVER FORGET IT AS I WILL NEVER FORGET HER.
ONE OF MY MEMORIES WAS BEING TAKEN TO LONDON TO SEE THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD, AND CAUSING A LOT OF AMUSEMENT WHEN I DECIDED TO MARCH BESIDE THE SENTRY ON GUARD, HOLDING AN UMBERELLA TO MY SHOULDER LIKE A GUN. THE POOR GUARD WASN,T SUPPOSED TO LAUGH AND HIS MOUTH WAS TWITCHING TRYING NOT TO. NOW WHEN I THINK BACK ON IT I FEEL SO SORRY FOR HIM. ON THAT SAME OCCASION MY SISTER WENT MISSING, AND EVENTUALLY WAS FOUND HANGING ON TO A MONUMENT IN AN EFFORT TO GET A BETTER VIEW.
WHEN I WAS FIVE TWO SETS OF MEMORY COME INTO MY MIND, ONE OF THEM WAS THAT I STARTED SCHOOL, AT DUNCOMBE ROAD INFANTS, AND THE OTHER WAS THAT A NEW FAMILY CAME TO LIVE IN THE END HOUSE OF OUR BLOCK OF RAILWAY TERRACE HOUSES. ( NO 201) THEIR SURNAME WAS STARKEY, AND MARJORIE WHO WAS SEVEN MONTHS MY JUNIOR, AND MYSELF, BECAME FIRM FRIENDS, GETTING IN TO ALL THE TROUBLE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD GET INTO WITHOUT ACTUALLY CAUSING HARM TO ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
THERE WAS THE TIME I FELL OFF THE MONKEY LADDER, AT GARSTON SWING PARK, LANDING ON MY HEAD, AND MARJ WHEELED ME HOME ON A DOLLS PRAM, AND OF COURSE THE TIME WE STOLE APPLES OUT OF A LADIES ORCHARD, IN BOWDEN ROAD. WE WERE SEEN BY A ......FRIEND !!....OF OURS, AND BECAUSE WE WOULDN,T SHARE WITH HER SHE TOLD THE OWNER. OF COURSE WE FLED, AND ON REACHING HOME, WHEN THE LADY KNOCKED AT MARJORIES DOOR, IT WAS HARD FOR MRS STARKEY TO COVER FOR US, WITH MARJORIES YOUNGER BROTHER EATING AN APPLE THE SAME KIND AS THE ONES ON HER TREE.
WHEN I WAS FIVE I STARTED SCHOOL AT DUNCOMBE ROAD INFANTS. (THE INFANTS WAS LATER MOVED TO SOUTHBANK ROAD.) I WAS TAUGHT TO READ AND WRITE AND THE TEACHER ATTEMPTED TO TEACH US TO KNIT, BUT I DON,T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS THE DARK GREEN STRINGY WOOL, OR JUST ME I ENDED UP WITH A LONG SCALF FULL OF HOLES. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER I WAS GIVEN MY FIRST PAIR OF ROLLER SKATES FOR MY BIRTHDAY, AND I WAS SO THRILLED WITH THEM, THEY WERE DOUBLE BALLBEARING AND HAD A SPECIAL KEY TO LOOSEN OR TIGHTEN THE FASTENINGS AS REQUIRED, ENSURING A PERFECT FIT. I SPENT HOURS SKATING UP AND DOWN WHITEHEDGE ROAD EACH DAY.
OFTEN WE WOULD ALL GO TO THE LOCAL SWIMMING POOL DOWN BY THE TRAM DEPOT IN SPEKE ROAD.WHERE DAD TAUGHT US TO SWIM, AND DIVE. I LOVED IT AND BECAME A FAST AND STRONG SWIMMER. I SPENT MANY AN HOUR AT THE SWIMMING BATHS,WHICH WERE INCIDENTLY NEXT TO THE WASH HOUSE, DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VILLAGE. DAD ALWAYS REMINDED US OF HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO BE ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT IN THE WATER, BECAUSE SO MANY SAILORS HE KNEW, DROWNED WHEN THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE SEA, AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FLOAT, AND STAY CALM THEY PANICKED. (DAD WAS IN THE MERCHANT NAVY DURING WORLD WAR ONE.)
AROUND ABOUT THIS TIME I WAS TAKEN TO WHIPSNADE ZOO AND HAD MY FIRST, (AND ONLY) RIDE ON THE BACK OF AN ELEPHANT, ....WHAT A WONDERFUL MEMORY.
ON SOME SATURDAYS WE WOULD GO TO ST MARY,S CHURCH HALL TO THE PENNY PICTURES,WHERE WE WOULD SEE THE THREE STOOGES, ABBOT AND COSTELLO, AND FELIX THE CAT, (THEY WERE SILENT MOVIES.)
I WAS ALLOWED OUT TO PLAY, AFTER I HAD DONE ALL MY CHORES AND ANY HOMEWORK, AND I USED TO SPEND MOST OF THE TIME WITH ALL THE REST OF MY PLAYMATES AT GARSTON PARK, PLAYING CRICKET, OR ROUNDERS,OR TENNIS. ON ONE OF THESE OCCASIONS, IT WAS A LOVELY SUMMER,S EVENING, WARM, SUNNY AND STILL VERY LIGHT, WITH ENGLANDS LONG DRAWN OUT TWILIGHTS, AND WE WERE ALL PLAYING ROUNDERS, WE HAD BEEN PLAYING FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO WHEN I THOUGHT TO ASK SOMEONE THE TIME, I WAS HORRIFIED TO FIND IT WAS NEARLY 11 PM AS I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HOME IN MY BED BY 9.PM. OF COURSE I SPRINTED DOWN STORMONT ROAD AS FAST AS MY LEGS WOULD CARRY ME, I GOT HOME AND HAD A QUICK BATH, BEFORE DIVING INTO MY BED. I WAS VERY RELIEVED THAT MY DAD WAS AT WORK ON THE EVENING 4PM-MIDNIGHT SHIFT. I GOT UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO BE MET BY AN IRATE FATHER APPARENTLY MY SISTER HAD MADE IT HER BUSINESS TO INFORM HIM, BECAUSE SHE AND I HAD HAD AN ARGUMENT EARLIER THE PREVIOUS DAY, AND SHE WAS STILL ANNOYED WITH ME.
I SUPPOSE IT IS JUST AS WELL FOR SOME YOUNGSTERS IN AUSTRALIA THAT WE DON,T HAVE LONG DRAWN OUT TWILIGHTS HERE AS IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO KNOW THE APPROXIMATE TIME. ALTHOUGH I REALLY ENJOY THE TWILIGHT HOURS.
ON THE CORNER OF ST MARY,S ROAD, AND WHITEHEDGE ROAD, THERE IS A BRICK BUILDING WHICH USED TO BE THE POSTAL.
IN SEPTEMBER 1939 NEVILLE CHAMBERLIN BROADCAST TO ALL OF ENGLAND THAT WE WERE AT WAR WITH GERMANY. I WAS 9 YEARS OLD. THE FIRST TIME THE GERMAN BOMBERS CAME OVER EVERYONE WAS SCARED THINKING WE WERE ABOUT TO MEET OUR MAKER, (WITH THE HELP OF THE GERMAN BOMBS), BUT AFTER A NUMBER OF RAIDS HAD BEEN MADE, WE BECAME A LITTLE COMPLACENT.
ONE OF MY TOMBOYISH ACTIVITIES WAS TO CLIMB THE WALL OF THE SORTING OFFICE ON THE CORNER OF ST MARYS ROAD AND WHITEHEDGE ROAD, WE USED TO TERRIFY THE ADULTS WHO EXPECTED US TO FALL ANY SECOND. ALSO WE RAN ACROSS THE BLACK ROUNDED PIPE WHICH SPANNED THE BANKS ALONG THE RAILWAY BRIDGE OPPOSITE THE OLD LYCEUM PICTURE HOUSE. WE WERE CERTAINLY LUCKY NOT TO FALL OFF. I KNOW WHEN I SAW MY OWN CHILDREN DOING IT MANY YEARS LATER I NEARLY DIED OF FRIGHT, AND BANNED THEM FROM IT.
WE USED TO LOVE GOING TO KELLYS FISH AND CHIP SHOP NEXT TO THE SORTING OFFICE, AND ENJOYED FREE BAGS OF CRISPEES. (THE BITS OF CRISP FRIED BATTER WHICH FELL OFF THE FISH WHILE IT WAS COOKING. AND WE COULD GET A FISH, FISHCAKE. (BEST I EVER TASTED) AND CHIPS FOR 3d.
NEXT DOOR TO THE CHIP SHOP WAS DONALDS, GROCERY SHOP WHICH LATER BECAME THE CO-OP C0 AND HERE WE BADGERED THE GROCER FOR BAGS OF BROKEN BISCUITS, WHICH HE GAVE US FROM THE BOTTOM OF DIFFERENT BISCUIT TINS. I ALSO LOVED TO WATCH WHILE HE CUT PORTIONS OF CHEESE, OR BUTTER TO ORDER, AND SLICED BEAUTIFUL RASHERS OF SMOKED BACON. BUT THOSE DAYS ARE GONE NOW IN THE DAYS OF PREPACKAGING. WHAT A MISTAKE TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO GET THE AMOUNT YOU WANTED, FROM THE BLOCK YOU WANTED, INSTEAD OF PICKING UP PREPACKED FOOD, (HOWEVER OLD WE WILL NEVER KNOW FOR SURE). NEXT DOOR TO THAT WAS JOES THE BUTCHER, AND THEN HARRISONS DRAPERY SHOP.
ON JANUARY THE 22ND 1941, I WAS SENT TO PLAY WITH MY FRIEND MARJORIE, WHILE DAD VISITED MUM IN GARSTON HOSPITAL, WHERE SHE WAS BEING NURSED FOR ASTHMA, AND BRONCHITIS, COMPOUNDED BY PNEUMONIA. THAT NIGHT I SLEPT AT MARJORIES HOUSE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I WAS TOLD MY MUM HAD GONE TO HEAVEN, AND THIS NEWS DEVASTATED US ALL. SHE WAS 8 DAYS OFF HER 40TH BIRTHDAY. MY DAD WOULD NOT LET ME SEE MY MUMS BODY, OR ATTEND THE FUNERAL, I KNOW HE THOUGHT HE WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING BUT REALLY AS I GREW OLDER I COULD NOT FORGIVE HIM FOR NOT ALLOWING ME TO SAY MY GOODBYES TO HER, AND FOR MONTHS I USED TO HAVE NIGHTMARES THAT SHE WAS ALIVE, AND LIVING DOWN THE ROAD, BUT NO-ONE WOULD LET ME SEE HER, OR HER ME.
SOON AFTER THE FUNERAL, I WAS SENT TO MY GREAT AUNTS HOUSE, IN MANTON, WORKSOP, NOTTINGHAM, AND I STAYED THERE FOR 6 MONTHS, I GUESS AT TEN I WAS NAIVE AND STUPID, BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT OF DROPPING A LINE TO MY FRIEND MARJORIE, AND WHEN I GOT BACK HOME AGAIN, IT WAS TO MY NEW SCHOOL. (BLACKBURNE HOUSE)
WHEN I DID FINALLY GET AROUND TO DOING NORMAL THINGS, I DASHED AROUND AND KNOCKED ON MARJORIES DOOR, BUT HER MUM ANSWERED IT AND TOLD ME THAT AS I HAD NOT BOTHERED TO CALL MARJORIE HAD BEEN VERY UPSET, AND NOW HER MUM SAID, I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE HER ANY MORE. SHE OBVIOUSLY HAD NOT BEEN TOLD I HAD BEEN SENT DOWN SOUTH TO MY GREAT AUNTS, AND WOULD NOT LET ME EXPLAIN. I HAVE ALWAYS MISSED MY FRIENDSHIP WITH HER, AND STILL DO, I OFTEN WONDER HOW HER LIFE HAS GONE, AND WHETHER SHE EVER REMEMBERS ME. OH! HOW I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM HER AGAIN!
IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME THAT I WENT TO LIVE AT MY AUNTIES HOUSE FOR A WHILE, AS DAD WAS STILL SUFFERING THE LOSS OF MUM. I HAD TWO AUNTIES LIVING IN STORMONT ROAD, ONE AT NUMBER 76, AND MY AUNTIE ALICE AT 91, WHERE I WAS STAYING. I REMEMBER GOING ON MESSAGES UP STORMONT ROAD, TO GARSTON OLD ROAD, TO THE GROCERY SHOP TUSHINGHAMS.(RITA TUSHINGHAM THE FILM STAR, WAS THE DAUGHTER OF THE OWNER MR TUSHINGHAM.
IT WAS LATER THAT YEAR THAT WE HAD SOME REALLY BAD BOMBING RAIDS. THE GERMANS BOMBED DOCKYARDS IN LIVERPOOL AND BIRKENHEAD, MUNITION FACTORIES, EVEN HOSPITALS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS.... IT WAS HORROR TIME.....WHAT SORT OF A MONSTER WAS THIS HITLER? DURING ONE AIR RAID, MY SISTER AND I WERE EVACUATED TO THE LOCAL A.R.P.CENTRE. LATER IT BECAME THE GARSTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
APPARENTLY TWO LAND MINES HAD DROPPED IN GARSTON. ONE IN A FRONT GARDEN IN WHITEHEDGE ROAD, JUST UP THE ROAD FROM US. AND THE OTHER IN THE BIG GASOMETER DOWN IN BANKS ROAD. IF THEY WERE TO EXPLODE, HALF OF LIVERPOOL WOULD HAVE GONE UP WITH THEM, SO WHEN I HEARD MY DAD HAD HELPED A GROUP OF MEN WHO WERE DEFUSING IT I WAS VERY PROUD OF HIM. HE HAD NUMEROUS MEDALS FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR SAVING MEN FROM DROWNING IN THE DOCK, DURING THE BLACKOUTS.
IT WAS ALSO IN 1941 THAT I PASSED THE DREADED ELEVEN PLUS EXAM, AND WAS AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP TO HIGH SCHOOL. I WANTED TO GO TO ST. EDMUNDS COLLEGE IN PRINCES PARK, OR TO AIGBURTH VALE HIGH, BUT MY DAD HAD IDEAS OF HIS OWN AND SHIPPED ME OFF TO BLACKBURNE HOUSE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, OFF HOPE STREET IN LIVERPOOL CITY ITSELF. I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED, YET I WAS TO LEARN TO LOVE THE SCHOOL, AND I CERTAINLY FOUND MYSELF PROUD TO WEAR THE UNIFORM. THE UNIFORM CONSISTED OF NAVY BLUE GYM TUNIC, WHITE BLOUSE, AND THE TIE WAS NAVY, GREEN ,AND GOLD. THE BLAZER WAS ALSO NAVY .... (AND THE BLOOMERS TOO!),.... BUT THE BLAZER BADGE AND THE METAL BADGE FOR MY HAT WAS IN NAVY, GREEN AND GOLD. EMBLAZENED WITH THE SCHOOL MOTTO.......... (NON NOBIS SOLUM SED TOTI MUNDO NATI)... I,M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT WORDING BUT I KNOW IT MEANT.... NOT FOR OURSELVES ALONE, BUT ALSO FOR OTHERS.
THE SCHOOL WAS JUST 100 YEARS OLD WHEN I COMMENCED THERE. WE LEARNT THE USUAL 3rs, AS WELL AS ENGLISH, .. HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, TRIGONOMETRY, ALGEBRA, AND GEOMETRY. WE LEARNT PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY, AND WERE GIVEN A CHOICE OF 2 OUT OF 3 LANGUAGES. THE CHOICE WAS FRENCH. GERMAN AND LATIN. I WAS A BIT NAIVE AT THE TIME AND DECIDED, (TO MY LATER DISAPPOINTMENT) NOT TO TAKE THE LATIN.
WE ALSO PLAYED A LOT OF SPORTS, AND THESE INCLUDED CRICKET, NETBALL, HOCKEY, TENNIS, AND SWIMMING. WE ALSO HAD P.T. BUT I WASN,T MUCH GOOD AT THIS, I HAD SUCH SHORT LEGS THAT I WAS INVARIOUBLY LAST, (OR NEARLY). IN THE RUNNING RACES, AND I COULD NOT SPRING HIGH ENOUGH TO GET OVER SOMEONE, IF WE PLAYED LEAPFROG.
I WAS GOOD DOING WATERFALLS (COMPLETE SOMERSAULT) OVER THE HORSE BUT WHEN THE HORSE WAS PUT LENGTHWAYS I NEVER MANAGED TO CLEAR THE LENGTH OF IT. I ALWAYS GOT STUCK IN THE CENTRE. HOWEVER I DID EXCELL AT CLIMBING THE WALL BARS, I EXPECT ALL THE YEARS OF CLIMBING THE RIGGING OF THE SHIPS HAD GIVEN ME THAT ADVANTAGE.
THE WHOLE CLASS USED TO GO EACH FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO OUR SPORTS FIELD, NEAR GREENBANK PARK, WHERE WE WOULD PLAY OUR FIELD SPORTS, AND IT WAS ON ONE OF THESE OCCASIONS THAT MY BEST FRIEND, ALICE WILLIAMS AND I NEARLY HAD A SEVERE FALLING OUT. WE HAD FINISHED SPORTS FOR THE DAY AND DECIDED TO GO TO NEARBY GREENBANK PARK, ON A ROWING BOAT ON THE WAY HOME. ALICE USUALLY HATED ROWING, BUT JUST AFTER WE GOT IN OUR USUAL PLACES SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED A GO AT THE OARS, SO I HUNG ON TO THE BANK WHILE SHE MOVED TO THE OARS. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME THE BOAT STARTED TO DRIFT AWAY FROM THE BANK, AND I FOUND TO MY DISMAY THAT BECAUSE I WAS STILL CLINGING TO THE BANK, MY FEET ENDED UP GRIPPING THE SIDES OF THE BOAT, WITH THE REST OF MY BODY DRAPING ITSELF ACROSS THE STRETCH OF WATER BETWEEN THE BOAT AND THE BANK WHICH WAS GROWING STEADILY WIDER. I WAS SOAKED, AND BECAUSE OF THIS I DECIDED TO GO STRAIGHT HOME, TAKING A SHORT CUT ACROSS THE PARK. THIS ENTAILED CLIMBING A TALL IRON RAILING WITH ORNAMENTAL SPIKES ON THE TOP. I WAS QUITE USED TO THIS FEAT SO I CLIMBED UP WITHOUT A QUALM. UNFORTUNATELY I WAS STILL SO HUMILIATED I MISJUDGED MY FOOTING, LANDING UPSIDE DOWN WITH MY SOCK CAUGHT IN THE SPIKE. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MY SOCK TORE AS I COULD NOT REACH THE GROUND. SO WHILE I WAS WAITING I CONTEMPLATED THE ANTS RUNNING AROUND DOING THEIR OWN THING. ALICE CRACKED UP LAUGHING. NATURALLY I DID NOT AT THE TIME SEE THE FUNNY SIDE, AND I WAS FURIOUS WITH HER. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WHEN I REACHED THE TRAM STOP AT AIGBURTH VALE, THE CONDUCTOR REFUSED TO LET ME ON THE TRAM AS I WAS STILL DRIPPING WET, AND I HAD TO WALK THE EXTRA COUPLE OF MILES HOME TO WHERE I LIVED AT 215 ST MARYS ROAD, GARSTON........
FOR SOME REASON UNKNOWN TO ME I WAS PICKED TO BE PART OF THE SCHOOL CHOIR. ALTHOUGH I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY I WAS CHOSEN I DID ENJOY THE PRIVELEGES THAT WENT WITH IT. WE WERE OFTEN TAKEN TO THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC HALL WITH OUR MUSIC TEACHER, DR WALLACE, AND IT WAS THERE THAT I BECAME ENAMOURED WITH CERTAIN LIGHT OPERAS. MY FAVOURITES THEN, AND STILL NOW ARE. " FINGELS CAVE." "HANDELS MESSIAH". AND "VERDI,S PAGGLIACCI". BUT MY SPECIAL FAVOURITE WAS" POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE," BY ELGAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE LATE, GREAT SIR MALCOMBE SARGENT. ON ONE BIG OCCASION MANY OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS AMASSED THEIR CHOIRS TOGETHER, AND WE ALL SANG "THE HALLELUJA CHORUS ON ST GEORGES HALLS STEPS, IT EVEN MADE THE LIVERPOOL ECHO, AND I WAS NEAR ONE OF THE HUGE PILLARS SINGING MY HEART OUT WITH ALL THE OTHERS.
IT WAS ALSO DURING MY EDUCATION AT BLACKBURNE HOUSE THAT I GAINED MEDALS FOR SWIMMING, WHICH WAS ANOTHER MEASURE OF PRIDE FOR ME.
SOMETIMES I WOULD CYCLE TO MY SCHOOL, AND OTHERS I WOULD TAKE A NUMBER 33 TRAM, AND THE BOYS ALSO TRAVELLING TO THEIR SCHOOL. THE LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR BOYS, WOULD SHOW OFF TO US GIRLS, BY SWINGING AROUND THE POLES IN THE TRAM, AND CHATTING TO US, AND PRETENDING TO STEAL OUR TEXT BOOKS. AMOMGST THEM WAS A BOY CALLED FREDDIE PATTERSON, AND ANOTHER CALLED DENNIS ELLAM AND ANOTHER, WHO LATER BECAME A GREAT FRIEND TO ME, AS ALSO DID HIS WIFE PHYLLIS.
DAD HAD AN ALLOTMENT BEHIND THE HOUSES IN BOWDEN ROAD, ALONGSIDE THE RAILWAY LINE, AND HE GREW VEGIES AND FLOWERS BIGGER THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN SINCE. AT THE ALLOTMENT. ONE DAY WHILE HE WAS DIGGING DOWN HE CAME ACROSS A HUGE CONCRETE SLAB, AND AFTER HE HAD CLEARED THE SOIL OFF IT HE GOT HELP FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MOVE IT. UNDERNEATH IT WAS A BIG STONE WELL, WITH CLIMBING RUNGS DOWN THE SIDE. NATURALLY HE EXPLORED IT, BUT LATER COVERED IT OVER AGAIN AND GREW POTATOES OVER IT. HE KEPT CHICKENS TOO, RHODE ISLAND REDS.
DURING THE WAR YEARS, FOOD WAS SCARCE, AND RATIONED, BUT I WAS LUCKIER THAN MOST AS DAD WAS WELL, LIKED AND THE SHIPS` CAPTAINS USED TO GIVE HIM LUXURIES TO BRING HOME, SUCH AS LEGS OF HAM, TINS OF SALMON AND TINNED FRUIT. WE ALSO GOT BEAUTIFUL GAMMON RASHERS. AND MY AUNTIES GAVE ME MOST OF THEIR SWEET RATION. AS AT THAT TIME CHOCOLATE WAS VERY HARD TO BUY, MOST OF THE CHILDREN I KNEW, INCLUDING MYSELF USED TO ENJOY A CONCOCTION OF SUGAR AND COCOA, WHICH OUR PARENTS MADE AND PUT IN PAPER BAGS, FOR US TO EAT OUTSIDE. ANOTHER THOROULY ENJOYED CONCOCTION WAS "CONNIE ONNIE BUTTEES" A PIECE OF BREAD WITH CONDENSED MILK ON, WE REALLY ENJOYED THESE SWEET TREATS.
DAD WOULD CYCLE UP FROM THE DOCKS ON HIS OLD FAITHFUL PUSH BYKE WITH A BIG BROWN PAPER PARCEL OF GOODIES, AND WHEN THE DOCK POLICEMAN STOPPED HIM TO QUESTION HIM DAD ALWAYS TOLD THE TRUTH BECAUSE HE ALWAYS SAID TRUTH WAS STRANGER THAN FICTION, AND HE PROVED IT TO BE TRUE AS THE POLICEMAN WOULD LAUGH AT HIM AND TELL HIM TO STOP TELLING STORIES AND GO HOME.
MY UNCLE RALPH USED TO BRING SHEETS OF LEATHER HOME, ALSO GIVEN TO HIM BY SHIPS CREW. HE USED TO STRAP THEM ROUND HIS MIDDLE, UNDER HIS NAVY SERGE GREAT COAT. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR HIM, COMING UP THE ROAD ON HIS SCOOTER, BUT HIS BOOTY OF LEATHER WAS USED BY BOTH HIM AND MY DAD, AND THEY MADE SOME BEAUTIFUL BOOTS, AND HANDBAGS, AND ALSO SOME BELTS. HE ALSO USED TO MEND OUR SHOES. I GOT SO USED TO SEEING MY FATHER WITH OUR SHOES ON A LAST, AND A HANDFUL OF TINGLES IN HIS MOUTH, A HANDKERCHIEF OVER HIS HEAD TO KEEP THE SUN OFF, AND A HAMMER IN HIS HAND. IT WILL ALWAYS STAY A MEMORY IN MY HEART, AND I CAN STILL PICTURE HIM CLEARLY.
MY SISTER QUEENIE MARRIED SID OGDEN WHEN I WAS ABOUT 14 YEARS. SID LATER BECAME KNOWN WELL IN THE WELLINGTON HOTEL, AND THEY LIVED IN 26 WELLINGTON STREET.
A GROUP OF FRIENDS AND MYSELF USED TO GO TO THE LOCAL CINEMA (THE LYCEUM) IN ST MARYS ROAD, EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND BEING A GROUP OF RASCALS ONE OF US WOULD PAY FOR A TICKET, AND ONCE INSIDE WOULD OPEN THE BACK DOOR FOR THE OTHERS, WE GOT CAUGHT A FEW TIMES, WE ALSO DID OTHER ANNOYING THINGS, LIKE TYING A ROPE ROUND A DOOR KNOB AND ALSO THE ONE OPPOSITE, AND THEN RINGING THE BELL AND RUNNING, WE WOULD HIDE AND WATCH THE RESIDENTS TRYING TO OPEN THEIR DOORS. IT CERTAINLY WAS VERY NAUGHTY BUT I STILL RECKON IT WAS A HEAP BETTER THAN THE SADISTIC AND CRUEL THINGS SOME TEENAGERS DO IN THE NAME OF FUN TODAY.
ON SUNDAYS A LOT OF US WENT CONCIENTIOUSLY TO CHURCH, AND DURING THE VICARS LONG, LONG SERMON WE FOUND IT HARD TO STAY AWAKE, SOME BOLDER BOYS USED TO SIT AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH AND PLAY CARDS.
IN 1945 THE LAST ALL CLEAR SOUNDED AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR WAS FINALLY OVER. AT LEAST IT WAS FOR US, THOUGH I EXPECT FOR MANY OTHERS INCLUDING THE JEWS WHO SUFFERED SO BADLY AT THE HANDS OF THE NAZIS, IT WILL NEVER BE OVER. BUT IT WAS TIME FOR THE MANY STREET CELEBRATIONS, AND BUNTING AND UNION JACKS WERE DRAPED OVER EVERYTHING.
AT THE AGE OF SIXTEEN I STARTED AT THE LILIAN ROSS BALLROOM DANCING ACADAMY, WHER I LEARNT THE ART, AND JOY OF DANCING. IT WAS GREAT FUN AND ONCE I LEARNT THE STEPS I WAS NEVER WITHOUT GOOD DANCING PARTNERS. I LEARNT TO WALTZ, QUICKSTEP, FOX TROT, AND TANGO, BUT MY FAVOURITE WAS THE QUICKSTEP.
WE ALSO WENT ROLLER SKATING, AND ICE SKATING, AND ALTHOUGH I WAS PRETTY PROFICIENT ON ROLLER SKATES, ON THE ICE IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY, AND THE BEST I EVER MANAGED WAS TO DANCE THE PALAIS GLIDE ON MY ICE SKATES, HOLDING ON TO MY FRIENDS.
BEFORE I MATRICULATED, DAD ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED TO DO AFTER I LEFT SCHOOL. I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO BE A NURSE, BUT HE FLEW OFF THE HANDLE AND ONCE AGAIN I DID WHAT HE TOLD ME, SO I FOUND MY SELF AT FELT AND TARRENT COMPTOMETER TRAINING SCHOOL IN THE CUNARD BUILDING AT THE PIER HEAD, IN LIVERPOOL. I WAS SURPRISED THOUGH, AS I FOUND MYSELF BEGINNING TO ENJOY IT. THE TRAINING WAS HARD, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE BEING AT SCHOOL AGAIN, LEARNING DECIMALS OF ONE FARTHING AND ONE HALFPENNY, UPWARDS TO A SHILLING, AND ALSO OF A POUND STERLING. I STILL REMEMBER A LOT OF THOSE TABLES, IT SEEMS ONCE IT,S DRUMMED INTO YOUR HEAD IT STAYS FOR ETERNITY. AS FELT AND TARRENT WAS AT THE PIER HEAD, WE OFTEN ATE OUR SANDWHICHES, WHILE ABOARD THE FERRY, TRAVELLING BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS OVER THE RIVER MERSEY, EITHER TO WALLASEY, BIRKENHEAD, OR NEW BRIGHTON.
LATER I WAS TO SPEND A TWO WEEKS HOLIDAY PERIOD AT A FRIENDS HOUSE NEAR BLACKPOOL. HER FATHER WAS CARETAKER OF THE POOL, AND THEY LIVED IN A HOUSE ATTACHED TO THE PREMISES. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AFTER THE POOL WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, SWIMMING AND DIVING UNTIL WE WERE WORN OUT, THEN FALLING IN TO BED TO SLEEP LONG AND HARD. DEEP, HEALTHY SLEEPS.
I USED TO GO TO THE LOCAL LYCEUM CINEMA, IN GARSTON EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH A GROUP OF BOYS AND GIRLS, AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT PROPERLY BOY AND GIRL FRIENDS, WE DID PAIR OFF, AND I WAS HOPELESSLY ENAMOURED BY MY PARTNER RICKY STEELE, IT WAS ALL INNOCENT AND CHILDLIKE, BUT BEING MY FIRST LOVE, I ALWAYS REMEMBERED HIM, AND HIS GREEN EYES, AND GOOD LOOKS, SO WHEN HE DID NOT TURN UP ONE SATURDAY AT OUR USUAL PICTURE SHOW I WAS VERY UPSET, AND ONLY LATER FOUND OUT THAT HIS MOTHER HAD DIED SUDDENLY, AND HE WAS SO DEVASTATED HE RAN AWAY TO SEA. I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN, BUT I NEVER FORGOT HIM, AND I DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM HIM WHEN I WAS 22YEARS OLD, AND MARRIED.
I USED TO GO DANCING AT THE RIALTO, AND ALSO THE GRAFTON, I HAD WONDERFUL TIMES, AS I COULD ALWAYS GUARANTEE A PARTNER, BECAUSE I COULD DANCE. (THANK YOU LILIAN ROSS)!
MY FIRST EMPLOYER WAS B.E.A. (BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS) I WAS EMPLOYED THERE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, AND DURING THAT TIME ALL THE STAFF WERE ALLOCATED ONE FREE FLIGHT, EITHER TO LONDON, OR THE ISLE OF MANN. IT WAS AT B.E.A. THAT I FIRST MET RAY, WHO WAS DESTINED TO BE MY HUSBAND IN LATER YEARS. RAY AND I, WITH SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OPTED FOR THE ISLE OF MANN, AND WE FLEW OVER THERE IN A DAKOTA, PILOTED BY THE FAMOUS CAPTAIN GREENHALGH, WHO USED TO BE AN ACE FIGHTER DURING THE WAR. WHEN WE ALIGHTED AT DOUGLAS, IN THE ISLE OF MANN WE TOOK A WALK ALONG THE PROMENADE, AND BOUGHT PIES FOR LUNCH, HOWEVER THE SEAGULLS HAD THEIR EYES ON US, (AT LEAST ON OUR LUNCH). THEY DIVEBOMBED US RELENTLESSLY UNTIL IN DESPERATION WE GAVE THEM THE LOT. WE ALL ENJOYED OUR ALL TOO SHORT VISIT, WISHING WE COULD STAY LONGER, NOT KNOWING OUR WISH WAS SOON TO BE GRANTED FOR APPARENTLY IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO LAND AT SPEKE AIRPORT ON THE RETURN TRIP, DUE TO A REALLY THICK PEA SOUPER OF A FOG. SO WE HAD TO RETURN TO DOUGLAS AND STAY OVERNIGHT, AND WERE ACCOMODATED IN A HOTEL AT THE AIRWAYS EXPENSE. SOON AFTER THIS TIME,THE AIRLINE FOUND THEMSELVES IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, AND HAD TO LET MOST OF THE STAFF GO. RAY AND I WERE AMONGST THESE, AND ALTHOUGH FOR RAY IT DIDN,T REALLY MATTER AS HE WAS DUE TO JOIN THE R.A.F. TO DO HIS NATIONAL SERVICE, FOR ME IT MEANT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB.
I FOUND MY NEXT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WITH YET ANOTHER. B.E.A. THIS TIME, BRITISH ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY, IN A BEAUTIFUL MANSION SITUATED IN CLARK GARDEN, IN WOOLTON.
IT WAS AROUND THIS TIME I HAD A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH, WHICH WAS TO ALTER MY VIEWS ON LIFE AND DEATH.
IT WAS ON THIS OCCASION THAT I BEGAN TO BELIEVE IN FATE, WHAT GOD HAS MAPPED OUT FOR YOU WILL COME TO PASS.
TWO OF MY FRIENDS AND MYSELF, WENT TO THE LOCAL CINEMA (THE LYCEUM) NEAR THE BRIDGE ON THE EMBANKMENT IN ST MARYS ROAD. WHEN THE FILM HAD FINISHED MY FRIENDS WENT OFF TO THE NEARBY MILK BAR (GANDOLFOS) IN SEDDON ROAD, BUT I DECIDED TO GO THE OTHER WAY TO MY HOME, AS I HAD TO BE IN BY 9 o.clock ANYHOW. THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO MY HORROR, IN THE PAPER, AND ON THE NEWS WAS DETAILS OF A SMASH WHERE AN ARMY TRUCK HAD LOST CONTROL AND PLUNGED ONTO THE PAVEMENT, KILLING ONE OF MY FRIENDS OUTRIGHT, THEY HAD BEEN CATAPULTED INTO THE PLATE GLASS DOOR OF THE FUNERAL PARLOUR. IT WAS SO BAD SHE HAD BEEN DECAPITATED. IF I HAD GONE WITH HER IT WOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN ME. BUT APPARENTLY MY TIME TO DIE WAS NOT THEN.
IN B.E.A. I WAS ONCE AGAIN DELEGATED TO WAGES, AND SPENT MY WORKING HOURS CALCULATING AND CHECKING WAGES, AND OVERTIME ETC:
WHILE RAY WAS IN THE FORCES, I DECIDED TO FILL IN MY TIME BY JOINING THE LOCAL TERRITORIAL ARMY, AND ENROLLED AT THE ARMY BARRACKS IN MATHER AVENUE. WE LEARNED ABOUT THE ACK ACK GUN, AND THE RADAR AND TRACKER, AND I WAS PUT ON THE TRACKER WITH ANOTHER JOAN. WE WOULD SIT IN OUR SEATS FACING EACH OTHER, AS SOON AS WE HAD THE SLEEVE OF THE PLANE IN OUR SCOPES WE WOULD CALL 'READY', AND THEN WHEN WE WERE SURE OF OUR TARGET WE CALLED "FIRE," WHICH WAS THE ORDER THE GUNNERS WERE WAITING FOR SO THEY COULD FIRE THE ACK ACK GUN. WE HAD TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL WE WERE ON THE SLEEVE FOLLOWING THE PLANE, AND NOT THE ACTUAL PLANE, AS WE DID NOT WISH TO SHOOT OUR OWN PLANES DOWN. WE WOULD TRAIN TWICE A WEEK FOR TWO HOURS, AND EACH SUMMER WE WOULD GO AWAY FOR THREE WEEKS FOR MORE PRECISE TRAINING.
THE FIRST AND LAST YEARS I WAS WITH THEM WE WENT TO TOWYN, IN NORTH WALES. WE CAMPED IN LARGE ARMY TENTS, AND DID LOTS OF STRENUOUS MANOUVRES. BUT IN OUR LEISURE TIME WE WOULD SIGHT SEE, EITHER THE PRETTY COUNTRYSIDE, OR GO IN TO RHYL OR LLANDUDNO TO SEE THE SIGHTS THERE. ALL IN ALL, IT WAS GREAT.
THE SECOND YEAR WE WERE TAKEN TO BUDE IN CORNWALL, AND THE THIRD YEAR TO KINGS LYNN IN NORFOLK. ALL THESE PLACES WERE INTERESTING, AND VERY PICTURESQUE, EACH ONE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS.
RAYS MUM DIED IN 1950 OF THROAT CANCER, SHE WAS ON MORPHINE, BUT STILL IN AGONY FOR A LONG TIME, IT WAS A SAD RELIEF WHEN SHE FINALLY PASSED AWAY, AND WAS AT PEACE AGAIN. WHAT A SAD LOSS! SHE WAS A LOVELY LADY, AND A GOOD MOTHER TO RAY AND HIS BROTHER ALLAN.
ABOUT THIS TIME I MET A VERY NICE YOUNG MAN CALLED KEN, FROM NEARBY WIDNES. AND WE WENT OUT A FEW TIMES, IT WAS TO BE A HARMLESS FLIRTATION, AS HE HAD BEEN GOING OUT WITH A GIRL, AND I WAS GOING AROUND WITH RAY, WHEN HE WAS HOME, BUT IT DEVELOPED INTO A LOT MORE THAN FRIENDS, AND EVENTUALLY AFTER A LONG DISCUSSION WE DECIDED THERE HAD TO BE AN ULTIMATUM, EITHER HE AND I SPLIT UP OR WE GET MARRIED, AND BREAK WITH RAY, AND FREDA. I DECIDED TO STAY WITH RAY SO I STOPPED SEEING KEN, WHICH CAUSED US BOTH SOME HEARTACHE. LATER I WAS TO MEET A YOUNG MAN WHO I REALLY FELL HARD FOR, AND STILL REMEMBER. HIS NAME WAS JOE MERCER AND HE TOO LIVED IN WIDNES, BUT I WASN'T SURE OF HIS FEELINGS ALTHOUGH HE SEEMED TO LIKE MY COMPANY A LOT, SO I REGRETFULLY DID NOT TAKE IT ANY FURTHER. I STILL THINK OF HIM WITH REGRET THAT WE DID NOT SEE MORE OF EACH OTHER, AND GIVE OURSELVES A CHANCE OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL HAPPENNING.
I STAYED WITH B.E.A. UNTIL MY WEDDING TO RAY ON 26th APRIL 1952, WHEN I BECAME MRS COURBET. AT ST MARYS CHURCH IN CRESSINGTON, WHERE I AND LATER ALL MY CHILDREN WERE BAPTIZED. I WAS VERY HAPPY AND CONTENTED, HE SEEMED TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND, AND WE WERE IN LOVE! A GREAT COINCIDENCE ON THAT SPECIAL DAY WAS THAT A COUPLE OF OUR VERY GOOD FRIENDS PHYL AND TOM OSBOURNE GOT MARRIED 1/2 AN HOUR BEFORE US AT A DIFFERENT CHURCH, AND BEFORE ANY OF US KNEW OF OUR IMPENDING MARRIAGES, BOTH BRIDES (MYSELF AND PHYLIS) HAD ASKED THE OTHER TO BE BRIDESMAID, OF COURSE WITH BOTH BEING MARRIED THE SAME DAY IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
RAY AND I WENT FOR THE WEEKEND TO BLACKPOOL FOR OUR SHORT HONEYMOON, BUT LATER WE TOOK A CYCLING HOLIDAY DOWN TO DEVON AND CORNWALL. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME, AND ALSO HAD A LOT OF LAUGHS, SUCH AS THE TIME WE WENT BODY SURFING AT BUDE. WE LEFT OUR CLOTHES ON THE DECK CHAIRS WE HAD, BUT RAY LEFT HIS SHOES ON THE BEACH AND WHEN WE RETURNED TO OUR CHAIRS WE FOUND THE TIDE HAD COME IN AND RAYS SHOES WERE BOBBING MERRILY ALONG IN THE WATER.
RAY BEGAN WORKING ABOUT THIS TIME ON THE BUSES, AS A CONDUCTOR, AND LATER WAS A DRIVER.
ON YET ANOTHER HUMEROUS OCCASION WE WERE CYCLING DOWN A REALLY STEEP HILL FROM LYNMOUTH INTO LINTON, WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED AND THE GEARS BROKE, I CAREERED DOWN THE HILL AT BREAKNECK SPEED, WITH RAY PEDALLING FURIOUSLY BEHIND ME. WE OVERTOOK A CAR, AND I COULDN,T HELP LAUGHING (THE LOOK ON THE DRIVERS FACE AS WE HURTLED PAST HIM HAD TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED). AS WE NEARED THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WE FOUND WE HAD TO CROSS A NARROW BRIDGE, SO I JAMMED MY FEET ON THE GROUND AND CAME TO A SLOW STANDSTILL WITH MY SHOES WORN TO THE UPPERS AND STILL SMOKING. WE FOUND OUT HOW NICE THE FARMERS WERE WITH THEIR OFFERS OF MILK FRESH FROM THE COW, SOME HOME MADE BUTTER. AND APPLES STRAIGHT FROM THE TREE. WE ATE AN AWFUL LOT OF COX,S ORANGE PIPPINS.
ON A LATER OCCASION WE WENT FOR ONE OF OUR REGULAR BIKE RIDES, AND THIS SPECIFIC TIME WE DECIDED TO RIDE THROUGH THE MERSEY TUNNEL, UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS A STEAM ROLLER BEHIND ME AND HE WASN,T WASTING TOO MUCH TIME SO I RODE PRETTY SWIFTLY, AND WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE TUNNEL AT BIRKENHEAD, I WAS HOT, AND RED FACED, WITH BLACK SOOTY SPOTS ALL OVER ME, .... I NEVER RODE THROUGH THE TUNNEL AGAIN!
WE HAD TO LIVE WITH MY DAD BECAUSE WE WERE NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR A COUNCIL HOUSE, BUT ALTHOUGH WE NATURALLY HAD SOME PROBLEMS, (COUPLES ALWAYS HAVE WHEN LIVING WITH PARENTS), LIFE WAS MOSTLY SMOOTH. MY SISTER CAME TO VISIT ONE DAY JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND WHILE SHE WAS VISITING US, SOMEONE BROKE INTO HER HOUSE, STEALING MONEY FROM THE GAS METER, AND ALSO ALL THE CHILDRENS TOYS, AND CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. RAY AND I DECIDED TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND RUSHED AROUND IN SECRET GETTING CHOCOLATES, WINE, AND A FEW PRESENTS FOR EACH OF THE CHILDREN, AND LATE ON CHRISTMAS EVE WE BROKE INTO HER HOUSE, AND LEFT ALL THE GOODIES ON THE TABLE. WHEN WE VISITED THEM THE FOLLOWING DAY, MY SISTER SAID SHE ALMOST STARTED TO BELIEVE AGAIN IN SANTA.
OF COURSE WHEN I TOLD MY DAD SIX MONTHS LATER THAT I WAS PREGNANT HE STARTED COUNTING THE MONTHS, (WHAT SUSPICIOUS MINDS PEOPLE HAVE.) STEPHEN WAS BORN THE FOLLOWING MAY 21st (WE HAD THEN BEEN MARRIED 13 MONTHS.)
DURING THAT PERIOD WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH PHYL AND TOM, WE WENT TO SEE ' PAGLIACI ' BY VERDI. AT A THEATRE IN BIRKENHEAD AT ONE TIME, AND MANY DAYS WE SPENT SWIMMING AT NEW BRIGHTON SWIMMING POOL. ON ONE SUCH OCCASION I TRIED TO GET TOM TO COME DOWN SOME STEPS AT THE DEEP END, AS I KNEW THERE WERE ONLY SIX STEPS AND A BIG DROP, BUT INSTEAD OF TRICKING HIM, I FORGOT I WAS AHEAD OF HIM, AND IT WAS ME THAT DROPPED AND CAME UP AGAIN, LOOKING BEWILDERED.
ON MANY BONFIRE NIGHTS WE WOULD HAVE A BIG BONFIRE IN OUR GARDEN, PHYL AND TOM AND LYN WOULD COME, WE WOULD ROAST POTATOS AND CHESTNUTS, AND LIGHT FIREWORKS, AND OF COURSE, BURN OUR BONFIRE FIGURE, IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE GOOD FRIENDS.
WE WERE TRULY BLESSED, STEPHEN WAS A REALLY GOOD BABY. HE HAD HIS CRYING TIMES WHICH MADE ME WONDER IF I WAS COPING AS A GOOD MOTHER, BUT IT WAS TO BE MANY YEARS LATER WHEN STEPHEN WAS AN ADULT THAT WE FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF HIS CRYING HAD BEEN CAUSED THROUGH A HIATUS HERNIA. ON THE DAY I WAS ALLOWED HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL AFTER STEPHEN WAS BORN I CAME HOME TO FIND THE STREET WAS HAVING A PARTY, (AS MOST STREETS IN ENGLAND WERE.) FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND.
IN 1958 WHILE STEPHEN WAS QUITE YOUNG HE WAS STANDING NEAR TO THE CABINET THAT ACTED AS A TABLE FOR OUR BIG HEAVY TELEVISION, HE FOUND HIMSELF OVERBALANCING, GRABBED HOLD OF THE CABINET HANDLE AND THE WHOLE CABOODLE FELL OVER. THE HANDLE OF THE CABINET CAUGHT UNDER HIS NOSE AND RIPPED IT BADLY, AND THE TV JUST FELL, LUCKILY IT TURNED AS IT FELL AND FORTUNATELY ONLY GAVE HIM A SLIGHT KNOCK ON THE HEAD, GIVING HIM A NASTY BUMP. IT IS A FAMILY JOKE NOW THAT THIS WAS THE REASON HE BECAME AN ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN.
STEPHEN IS NOW MARRIED, TO DIANA AND THEY HAVE A YOUNG SON COLIN. COLIN UNFORTUNATELY SUFFERS WITH A SERIOUS CASE OF A.D.D. COMPLICATED WITH ASPERGERS SYNDROME. WHICH MAKES LIFE SO VERY HARD FOR DIANA AND STEPHEN AND HAS NOT DONE MUCH FOR THE HEALTH OF EITHER OF THEM. DIANA SUFFERS A LOT OF DEPRESSION AND MENTAL ANGUISH, AS DOES STEPHEN, BUT STEPHEN ALSO HAS A BAD HEART CONDITION AND ALSO IS CRIPPLED WITH ARTHRITIS. THEY ALL LIVE IN ALICE SPRINGS, AND STEPHEN USED TO WORK FOR THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, UNTIL DESPERATION IN LOOKING AFTER DIANA AND COLIN, AND ALSO SICKNESS FOR HIMSELF, FORCED HIM TO RETIRE EARLY. HE WORKED FOR THEM FOR NEARLY THIRTY YEARS.
12th FEBRUARY 1955 SAW THE BIRTH OF RAYMOND, OUR SECOND SON. AFTER HE WAS BORN LIFE WAS NEVER QUITE THE SAME. HE WAS HYPERACTIVE, WALKED EARLY, TEETHED EARLY AND MADE LIFE HECTIC. WHEN I WAS LATER HEAVILY PREGNANT WITH OUR THIRD SON JOHN, 11 MONTH OLD RAYMOND BIT ME HARD IN THE STOMACH. I SAW RED AND BIT HIS ARM. HE NEVER BIT ANYONE AGAIN AS FAR AS I KNOW.
NEAR ENOUGH THE SAME TIME THAT RAYMOND WAS BORN, PHYL AND TOM HAD A BABY GIRL THEY CALLED LYN, AND OFTEN, WHEN THEY CAME TO VISIT, WE WOULD PUT THEM END TO END IN THE ONE PRAM, IT SEEMED FUNNY, AND CUTE, LOOKING AT THEM, AS THEY BOTH HAD HUGE BROWN, INNOCENT LOOKIN EYES.
UNTIL HIS HEART, FIVE BYPASS IN 1991 RAYMOND HAD BEEN HEAD STOREMAN WITH THE AUSTIN HOSPITAL, IN MELBOURNE, BUT AFTER HIS SURGERY HE HAD TO GIVE UP WORK AS HE WAS VERY SICK FOR A LONG TIME. HE IS STILL ON SICKNESS BENEFITS, AS HIS BYPASS IS BREAKING DOWN AND HE IS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME.
1956 BROUGHT OUR THIRD SON JOHN. HE WAS REALLY EASY TO MANAGE AS HE WAS SUCH A GOOD BABY, WHICH WAS JUST AS WELL AS RAYMOND WAS GETTING MORE OF A HANDFUL AS HE GREW OLDER, ALTHOUGH WE LOVED HIM AS MUCH AS ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL CHILDREN, MY FATHER DEFINITELY PLAYED FAVOURITES AS FAR AS RAYMOND WAS CONCERNED, ALTHOUGH DAD DID TELL ME WHILE RAYMOND WAS YOUNG THAT HE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS AND WOULD EITHER END UP IN JAIL, OR BE FAMOUS.
ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN WE ALL WENT FOR A DAY OUT ON THE ISLE OF MANN BOAT, I WAS SETTLING JOHN DOWN FOR A NAP. RAYMOND SLIPPED AWAY AND I WENT AFTER HIM, BUT HE WAS NOT CALLED SPEEDY GONZALOS FOR NOTHING AND SOON GOT OUT OF SIGHT. I FINALLY GOT TO A LARGE GROUP OF PASSENGERS, AND THERE WAS A POOR MAN HOLDING ON TO A SET OF BABY REINS, HAULING RAYMOND BACK FROM A WATERY DEATH. RAYMOND WANTED A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WATER! !!!!!!! IN LATER YEARS HE DESPERATELY WANTED TO BE A SAILOR. THANK GOODNESS THE MAN HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO ACT AS HE DID OR WE MAY NOT HAVE STILL HAD RAYMOND.
RAYMOND MARRIED SHERYL AND THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN. BELINDA, SEAN, AND CHARMAINE, UNFORTUNATELY THAY ARE NOW DIVORCED, BUT BOTH LIVE IN MELBOURNE.
JOHN SPENT A LOT OF HIS EARLY YEARS IN AND OUT OF HOSPITAL, THERE WERE A LOT OF WORRIED DOCTORS WHILE THEY SORTED OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM, BUT AFTER SUSPECTED POLIO, THEN MENINGITIS, THEY SAID IT WAS A MILDER FORM OF MENINGITIS, CALLED MENINGITEMUS. HE WAS IN HOSPITAL ON HIS FIRST CHRISTMAS AND THE NURSES BOUGHT HIM A DRUM, WHICH ALTHOUGH A LOVELY THOUGHT DID NOT IMPRESS US TOO MUCH BECAUSE OF THE NOISE IT MADE. HOWEVER WE DID EVEN WORSE, AS WE BOUGHT HIM THIS HUGE CHIMPANZEE SOFT TOY, (BIGGER THAN HE WAS), AND HE WAS SO TERRIFIED OF IT WE WERE FORCED TO HIDE IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, UNTIL HE WAS BIG ENOUGH TO COPE WITH IT. WE GOT A REALLY BAD SCARE WITH JOHN WHEN HE WAS ABOUT SIX. HE HAD BEEN PLAYING WITH HIS FRIENDS IN A FIELD AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSES. IT STARTED TO GET LATE, AND TWILIGHT HAD SET IN. I WAS WORRIED AND WENT OUT TO BRING HIM IN BUT AFTER SEARCHING WITH RAY, AND SOME FRIENDS WE STILL HAD NOT FOUND HIM, BY THIS TIME WE WERE GETTING SCARED, THEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A TINY VOICE CALLING 'MUMMY, MUMMY' IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM NEAR MY FEET AND WHEN I LOOKED CAREFULLY I SAW A SMALL HOLE, AND TWO TINY HANDS REACHING UPWARDS. HE HAD FALLEN DOWN AND COULD NOT GET OUT. HE STILL HAS THE SCAR ON HIS LEG FROM THE DEEP GASH HE GOT ON A PIECE OF CORRUGATED IRON AS HE FELL IN THE HOLE.
JOHN NOW LIVES HAPPILY IN SYDENHAM, MELBOURNE WITH HIS WIFE LORRAINE AND THEIR THREE LOVELY DAUGHTERS. FIONA, TANIA AND DANIELLE, AND HE IS A BLUE COLLAR WORKER WITH AN EXPORT FIRM,NEXT TO TULLERMARINE AIRPORT.
AROUND THIS TIME I GOT PART TIME WORK AS AN AUXILLIARY NURSE AT SEFTON GENERAL HOSPITAL, IN WAVERTREE. I WAS PUT IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AS A RUNNER, AND ON ONE OCCASION TWO MEN WERE BROUGHT IN ONE SUFFERING BROKEN WRISTS, AND ONE FROM BROKEN LEGS. AFTER THEY HAD BEEN SEEN TO AND WERE COMFORTABLY INSTALLED IN HOSPITAL BEDS I HAD TO FINISH CLEANING THE MUD OUT OF THEIR EARS AND HAIR, AND HAD TO ASK THEM WHAT HAPPENNED IT TOOK ME ALL MY TIME TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE WHEN THEY BLUSHINGLY TOLD ME. APPARENTLY THEY HAD BEEN REPAIRING THE WALL AT OTTERSPOOL PROM, AND WHEN THEY FINISHED THEIR JOBS, ONE FORGOT WHERE HE WAS AND STEPPED BACK TO ADMIRE HIS HANDYWORK, OF COURSE HE STEPPED BACK INTO FRESH AIR, AND LANDED FEET FIRST IN THE SHALLOW MUDDY MERSEY, BELOW, HIS PAL ON SEEING HIM WAIST DEEP WITH HIS HANDS IN THE AIR THOUGHT HE COULD NOT SWIM, SO HE DIVED IN HEAD FIRST TO RESCUE HIM, ONLY TO LAND HEAD FIRST IN THE DEEP MUD. (UNFORTUNATELY THE TIDE WAS OUT)
WHILE WE WERE LIVING AT MY FATHERS HOUSE, WE OFTEN HAD JOKING COMMENTS FROM ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT SHE COULD ALWAYS TELL THE TIME IN THE MORNINGS BY LISTENING FOR MY CLOTHES LINE TO CREAK AS I WOUND THE LINE UP ON THE PULLEY, AND ON ONE OCCASION WHEN I MET HER DURING MY SHOPPING EXPEDITION IN THE VILLAGE SHE GREETED ME WITH A LAUGH AND TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE THAT I CALLED IN TO HER HOUSE TO LOOK AT THE NEW FLOWER ON HER LILAC BUSH. I DID AS SHE ASKED AND HAD TO LAUGH MYSELF AS ONE OF DADS SHIRTS HAD BLOWN OFF MY LINE AND WAS SPREAD OUT ON THE BUSH.
ONE TUESDAY MORNING, EARLY IN APRIL 1961, WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH OUR FOURTH CHILD, MY FRIEND PEGGY WAS VISITING ME. WE WERE CHATTING AWAY ABOUT BABIES, AND LIFE IN GENERAL WHEN PEGS NEW BABY STARTED TO CRY. PEGGY WENT TO COMFORT HIM, AND AT THAT MOMENT THERE WAS A MIGHTY CRASH. THE FRONT DOOR BURST OPEN TO ADMIT A VERY WORRIED LOOKING RAY. HE HAD HEARD THE BABY CRYING AND HAD VISIONS OF ME LYING THERE BY MYSELF WITH OUR NEW BABY. ONCE WE REASSURED HIM IT WAS ONLY PEGS BABY AND I HADN,T ACTUALLY GIVEN BIRTH ALONE, HE CALMED DOWN AND WE ALL HAD A GOOD LAUGH. POOR RAY! IT TOOK HIM A LONG TIME TO FORGET THAT.
IRENE WAS BORN ON THE THURSDAY 13th APRIL 1961 AT 8pm. SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WAS A DELIGHT TO LOOK AFTER. SHE IS STILL A GREAT DELIGHT. IRENE NOW HAS A GOOD POSITION WITH A BIG PHARMECEUTICAL COMPANY IN MOORABIN, NEAR MELBOURNE. SHE WAS MARRIED BUT IS NOW DIVORCED, AND WORKS HARD, SHE HAS NOW COMPLETED 6 YEARS AT PART TIME UNIVERSITY, WHILE STILL WORKING FULL TIME, AND HAS LETTERS BEHIND HER NAME, AFTER GRADUATING WITH DISTINCTION FOR BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, AND LAW. IRENE LIVES LIFE TO THE FULL, AND NOW IS BUYING A HOUSE IN EAST RINGWOOD, NEAR MELBOURNE, WITH HER LOVELY MAN ANDREW.
THE BABY OF THE FAMILY, VIVIENNE, WAS BORN TO US IN DECEMBER 1962. SHE TOO WAS EASY TO BRING UP AND A DELIGHT TO US ALL. IT WASN,T UNTIL MUCH LATER AS SHE GREW UP WE FOUND SHE HAD A WILL OF HER OWN, BUT SHE WAS SO SWEET AND WELL LOVED.
WHEN SHE WAS AT SCHOOL IF ANYONE PICKED ON HER, OR HER SISTER SHE WOULD GET INTO A FIST FIGHT WITH THEM. SOMETIMES SHE CAME OFF VICTORIOUS, BUT EVEN WHEN SHE DIDN,T SHE ALWAYS SAID THAT WHATEVER WAS DONE TO HER THE OPPONENT CAME OFF THE WORST.
VIVIENNE WAS MARRIED YOUNG TO NICK AND THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN, CHRISTINE, MATTHEW AND DANNI. THEY WERE LATER DIVORCED BUT VIVIENNE REMARRIED LATER, AND NOW SHE AND GRAHAM (A SCOT) HAVE FOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS. KYLIE ELAINE, - VICTORIA JANE,- GEORGIE, IRENE, AND BABY JEANNIE ANNE. THEY ARE AT PRESENT LIVING IN BURPENGARY, QUEENSLAND WHERE GRAHAM WORKS AS A CONTRACTOR CARPENTER BUILDER.
SOON AFTER VIVIENNE WAS BORN I BECAME ILL WITH MENIERES SYNDROM, AND FOR YEARS I SUFFERED BADLY WITH THIS FRIGHTENING AND DEBILITATING DISEASE. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE AND I WOULD NOT WISH IT ON ANYONE. THE NAUSEA, SICKNESS VERTIGO AND GENERAL DEBILITY WAS WORSE THAN I CAN DESCRIBE AND IT WAS TO BE MANY YEARS BEFORE IT GRADUALLY EASED OFF, EVEN MORE YEARS BEFORE I WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO GO OUT OR BE ON MY OWN AGAIN. RAY WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME, AND I KNOW THAT WITHOUT HIS SUPPORT I WOULD NEVER HAVE GOT THROUGH IT. I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HIM.
AROUND THIS TIME, MY FRIENDS PEGGY AND MICK, TOOK THEIR CHILDREN TO A CARAVAN PARK IN NORTH WALES, FOR A HOLIDAY. THEY HADN,T BEEN THERE LONG WHEN THEY TELEPHONED US ASKING FOR HELP AS THE CARAVAN PARK HAD BEEN FLOODED OUT. RAY DROVE DOWN THERE IN OUR OLD FORD V8 PILOT TO BRING THEM HOME. ON THE WAY BACK HE THOUGHT HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO CHEER THEM UP SO AS THEY WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE HE TOLD THEM TO LIFT UP THEIR FEET TO AVOID GETTING THEM WET. THEY ALL FELL FOR IT AND LIFTED UP THEIR FEET, SO HE TOLD THEM TO DUCK WHEN THEY CAME TO A LOW BRIDGE. IT WORKED AGAIN, THEY ALL DUCKED. EVERYONE HAD A GOOD LAUGH.
WHENEVER RAY, MYSELF AND OUR FIVE CHILDREN WENT ANYWHERE IN THE CAR, HE WOULD ALWAYS WOLF WHISTLE ANY PASSING YOUNG FEMALE. IT WAS COMICAL TO SEE THE GIRLS TURN ROUND WITH A SMILE, UNTIL THEY SAW OUR LARGE FAMILY, THEN THEIR SMILES VANISHED ABRUPTLY.
AS FOR MY DEAR FRIEND PEGGY, SHE PASSED AWAY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH A SUDDEN BRAIN HAEMORRHAGE AT THE AGE OF 60. WE WERE ALL VERY SAD, AS SHE WAS SUCH A LOVELY LADY, AND A GOOD FRIEND. HER HUSBAND MICK WAS DEVASTATED.
AFTER IRENE WAS BORN WE WERE ALLOCATED A COUNCIL HOUSE IN HIGHBANK DRIVE, ALLERTON. I LOVED BEING THERE AND LIKED THE HOUSE AND THE AREA. IT WAS ALSO HANDY FOR RAY AS HE THEN WORKED AS A BUS DRIVER AT GARSTON DEPOT, JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN ST MARYS ROAD. WE HAD A HUGE GARDEN, BOTH BACK AND FRONT. AND THE TWO RAILWAY LINES CROSSED EACH OTHER AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR GARDEN, SO THE BOYS DID A LOT OF TRAIN SPOTTING.
WE HAD ANOTHER SAD EVENT ABOUT THIS TIME, WHEN GOOD FRIENDS OF OURS, JOHN AND ANITA McDONALD LOST THEIR BABY DAUGHTER, TO COT DEATH. POOR ANITA HAD TO BE CONTROLLED BY SEDATIVES AND THERE WAS NOTHING MUCH WE COULD DO TO HELP THEM, EXCEPT TO BE THERE.
WE SAILED TO AUSTRALIA IN JANUARY 1967. I NOW LIVE IN DENILIQUIN.NSW.AUSTRALIA
JOANNE ROBERTS
Formerly of 215 St Mary's Road, Garston
