When I was a Bairn in the 1930's

I was born in 1930, in the Royal Navy Hospital, Portsmouth. My Father, was a Telegraphist, what Ship he was serving on at the time I do not know, but his Ship was nine Months into a two and a half Year stint of the Orient. This had a fatal effect on our Relationship, as we never 'bonded'.
The early Years, he was still in the Navy, but came out when I was about Four.And for reasons unknown to me, but most probably, work, we moved to Mildenhall, in Suffolk. Remember my pre Visit to the School, as if it were yesterday. They had a Table with Sides, and on this Table was Sand, and Camels, and Palm Trees, and I was allowed to play with it, while the Teacher spoke to my Mother. I could not wait to start, thought it would be lovely to play with this all Day, but of course, was soon to learn otherwise
So I started School.

We ran around all Summer, Starkers, I have Pictures to back it up. We kept Ducks, and Chickens, probably purloined from One of the many Farms in that Area. They certainly would not have been bought, as Father was out of Work for about six Months. Mum, was a heavy Smoker, and when they were on short commons, the Shop Keeper's Daughter, would ride out from the Village , with our weekly Order, and Mum, would be leaning on the Gate, waiting for one of the five Woodbine, she allowed herself. Neither of them were Green fingered, so do not remember much being grown, but maybe it was, just can't remember it. If Gran had anything to do with it, something would have been planted, she was the Driving Force, of many Things in my Life, as she had that very nice commodity, Money.
Nan, and Grandad, had two Shops, back to back, One a Men's Hairdressing Salon, the other, a Greengrocers. Also, a small Market Garden. When Grandad died, Nan, who was only fifty two, put the Money from the Businesses,into a Block of Luxury Flats, called 'Clifton Court', near Clifton Heights, or on them, anyway, she lived in One Flat, and let the others out. This will have a certain bearing, later.
Mum, and Nan, Father's Mother, kept a State of armed Neutrality, Nan, was a Pillar of the Establishment, Mum, was a Stray Irish Lass, not only that, she was a Catholic! One, of these would have made Gran throw up her Arms but both! was almost enough to carry her off. To say that they ever became Bosom Buddies, would not be true, they learned to reluctantly tolerate each other, particularly during the War.

Out of the Blue a request for me to go and stay with my Gran, who lived in Bristol, it was said that she was lonely, but as she had her youngest Son at Home, I cannot see that that was true. I must have been about6/7. Imagine what they did next, sent me to London in the care of the Guard, with a Label attached, saying who I was. I was met in London by my Great Uncle Henry, who put me on the Train to Bristol. Arrived in Bristol, to be met by Nan, who had expected my Father to bring me. I explained earlier, that Nan, had sunk the Money from the Shops, into a Luxury Block of Flats, called Clifton Court. She lived in the top One, and let the rest out. I have always been terrified of Heights, and she would take me to a Park, that overlooked Clifton Gorge, even thinking about it I feel bad. You obeyed your Elders, with no argument, but one thing I would not do, was cross the Suspension Bridge, and yes she did pull me, but dug my Heels in.

Was living with Gran for a couple of years, when War broke out. My Mother wanted me back. They were living in a small Village in Suffolk, called Beck Row. Tried to impress my Father with my Dancing Steps in the Train Corridor, he was not impressed, probably had his Mind on his imminent posting abroad. Could have been that he did not like me much, which he did'n't.

Beck Row, is a small Village in Suffolk, and we were living there when War broke out. Father, was employed by the Air Ministry, and we had an old Farmhouse, called aptly enough, The Cottage Farm, it was on the edge of the Airdrome, with five empty Barns, then the House, making it L Shaped. Think it was a Saturday, as we were not at School, and Father was working, there was an almighty Bang, my Mother uttered an Irish Swear Word, the Germans are here, we must go down the Cellar, well, if I could have undone that Cellar Door, I would not be writing this today. One of our Planes, on take Off, had gone into the end Barn, and they were all in Line for the House. It was said, the Pilot was heading right for the House, but slewed into the Barn to avoid doing so. We ran into the Street, the Barns, were blazing, even the Apples on the Trees were cooked.

He enrolled me and my Sister in the Catholic School, my Mother was in no position to oppose him, can't remember how long we were there, when Father, appeared without warning, he had been sent Home because he had had Malaria, and could not warn Mum in advance, things like that happened in Wartime. Remember him, literally dragging us out of the Schoolroom, we were on the Road to nowhere, by evening.