A New Life – Part One
So with the ending of the War in 1945 and the start of a new year, we began a new life in our new house at the beginning of 1946.
Our chief job was trying to find a school for Christopher who was so far behind in all school work. Doug seemed to think he would be able to walk into Dulwich Prep straight away, but no hope of that. So we managed to get him into Oakfield, a private school at West Dulwich for two years.
Harold Collins who was in the RAF in Kenya, and was also demobbed about the same time, left with his family, Doris and two boys, in May 1946 for South Africa, where he expected to find a good job immediately and make a fortune, which of course he never did. I wonder if he ever regretted leaving a permanent job and pension on retirement in Lloyds Bank the same as Doug. I imagine they had a dreadful time on the whole, trying to bring up their two boys who, nevertheless, are now both married with families and good jobs in South Africa.
In July 1946 Chris developed violent pains and had his appendix out. Whether it was really necessary I am not sure. By that time I was pregnant again. In August we went on holiday to Porthcawl again where Eric and Bobby were still living, but this time there were no doodlebugs or rockets to worry about.
I was 39 in October and on 3rd January 1947 Elizabeth was born in a Streatham nursing home – Photo 145. The easiest birth of all, no fuss, no stitches, a nice fortnight’s holiday except that it was the year of the snow and ice. Mother had to come and stay with us because there was no water at “Mount Edgcumbe” and it was bitterly cold. Liz screamed a lot when being bathed and could not be christened until March when the banks of ice on the side of the road were shovelled onto lorries and carted away.
During 1947 Eric and Bobby with their two boys, Graham and Nigel moved from Porthcawl and went to live at “Mount Edgecumbe”. Later that year Chris left Oakfield School and went to Thomas Carlton secondary school where Graham already was. Chris met Frank Johnson, a good friend to him and they both eventually ended up as prefects.
The next year, 1948, Amy and Edgar Powell persuaded us to have a holiday at Southbourne where they were living, which we did, only Sally had to have German measles at the last minute. So Doug and Chris left by train on the Saturday and we followed after the weekend by car all the way. Did I feel sick with Sally being a bit fragile and Liz one year old in a high chair. Anyhow we enjoyed it and saw plenty of the Powells, picnicking beside the river at Christchurch and bathing and playing games together etc – see photos (146/147). We came home by car – Photo 148 is of the children waiting for him to turn up before we left. but the wretched driver had illicitly used some of his allotted petrol in the morning and ran out of it in the New Forest. Anyway so he left us there to find a garage and a can of petrol and was absent for quite a long time. Even then it only lasted until we got to the bottom of Woodwarde Road, so we had a trunk, high chair and all our bits and pieces to carry up the hill, including Liz – the driver got the sack needless to say.
In 1948 Sally started at the Church of England Infants School in Dulwich Village and found a friend, Pauline Stockwell, who was two years older. Pauline had a younger sister Jeanette who was very fragile to look after and a mother who seemed to think we were so well off and who looked down on them because they lived in a council flat, which was totally untrue.
Coming home from school alone one day Sally rushed across the road in front of a lorry and a teacher on her bike coming in the opposite direction and of course I got told off and so did Sally, which upset her very much.
After this episode the house and garden was full of children and eventually it was over the fence at the bottom of the garden into Alleyn’s school playing field, which was rarely used. In fact we made a gate through the fence and then other children round the field came out and they all played together, having a lovely time. Apart from the fact that I could not get them to come in to go to bed, my voice was too weak.
Doreen White and her two boys from No. 98 got very friendly, although the eldest boy Ian did not play so much with Sally, the youngest Jeremy used to play with Elizabeth for ages and we had many picnics together in various places like the Shirley Hills, because Doreen had a car – so useful. Photo 149 is of Sally and Ian and Photo 150 taken when Ian was a bit older, with Liz on his left and Jeremy on his right. The other two in the picture being Richard Swan and Jennifer Greenwood, all friends from the field.
What I have written up to here are vivid memories of mine, but for what follows I studied Doug’s diaries which he kept from 1940 until the day he died. They were brief notes of various events over the years, which have helped me remember.
1949
Life was very pleasant in Dulwich and we made many friends. I joined the Church Young Wives Fellowship and Doug started having his voice trained by a Miss Barry. He joined the local Dulwich choir under Mr. Rafter, apart from being in the Church choir. He also joined a local club called Post 56, so named after an old Wardens Post in the war. Eventually a choir was formed amongst members of this club with the help of Walter Dougharty to sing carols at Christmas and concert of May Music in the summer.
We started our regular holidays at Bembridge, I.O.W., firstly in the Willows Guest House – Photo 151 – where all five of us slept in one huge bedroom and we were so near the sea.
Sally had a spell of ill health and attended Kings College Hospital out patients dept. I was never quite sure what was wrong with her, but thankfully she seemed to grow out of it.
1950
This year has Sally aged 7 and Liz aged 3, both busy with their friends, Doug with his many hobbies, and Chris, aged 13 going on 14, at school with his pals.
Chris went on a school Journey to Somerset in May and we had another holiday that year at The Willows, and although there were tummy bugs about, we survived and had a nice time as can be seen in photos (152/154).
1951
Doug was busier than ever with his singing commitments and Chris went on another school journey, this time to Wales in April. With only studs in his ordinary shoes he climbed Snowdon, which seemed rather dangerous to me.
We had a week’s holiday in Frank and Rene’s bungalow at Caterham, while they were away.
We came home for Sheila’s wedding to Eric Bryant, a Methodist Minister, at Dorking. We were taken there by Winnie who had a car by then. Photo 155 is of the wedding group, including Trissie and John.
1952
Elizabeth started school early 1952 and made many friends, progressing rapidly – Photo 156, also see Photo 157 of Jeremy White taken at the same time. Then Mother was taken really ill in June, but at that time there was an elderly nurse lodging in “Mount Edgcumbe” and she took over the job of night nurse for Winnie who was due to go on holiday. Bobby and her family were living there anyway, after coming back from Wales, and Eric went back to his old job as representative of a pottery firm in London. Rene came over from Caterham to help Bobby in the daytime, but on 6th June 1952 sadly Mother died. Winnie was left with “Mount Edgcumbe” which she had to sell for a song as it was so big that nobody in the family wanted it. But we did miss it so.
Winnie went to live in Dolphin Square, London in a flat on the 9th floor and she continued to work with Dick in the tie manufacturing firm of Frank Theak and Roskilly, of which Father had been a director. Their trade mark being “Theros”. However we still saw Winnie regularly at church in Camberwell and she often came to dinner.
In August 1952 we went for a holiday to Rustington and Chris had the mad idea that he and Doug could cycle there. So they took a Train to Dorking where they had breakfast in the station hotel and then cycled from there to the coast. Meanwhile, Mr. Speller, a local car hire man motored the rest of us down and we passed them on the way and laughed like mad. But they made it alright and the cycles were useful in getting to the sea shore.
Chris had left school and started working for the Borneo Company in the city in September. Our church friend Lex Malcolm was the Managing Director of the company. Chris seemed to like it alright and had some money to spend at last.
1953
As Chris was old enough to babysit for me, I was free to go out in the evenings. So I joined Post 56 with Doug. The choir arranged to sing “Merry England” and rehearsals were held at our house under Walter Dougharty, we had a lot of fun practising.
Then on the 2nd. June Queen Elizabeth was crowned in Westminster Abbey, and Charles Butterfield bought a small seven inch television and invited us all round to watch. With several adults and loads of children, we had a birds eye view of the service, the procession in the pouring rain, and were amused by Queen Salote of Tonga in an open carriage waving and smiling to the crowds.
In August we had a holiday in Seaview, I.O.W. and enjoyed it very much, meeting a nice family on the beach with three children, so ours had someone to play and bathe with – see photos (158/159).
There were the usual Carols to practice and sing at Post 56 in December and Doug’s Dulwich Choir concert which I usually attended.
1954
After the Post 56 dinner in February, we started rehearsing for “The Mikado” in March, but Doug was dragged into singing in a short operetta called “Plain Jane”. Something to do with the Rugger Club I think, Photo 160 is of the actual performance – note Doug in a wig – doesn’t he look strange. That was in March, then it was rehearsing “The Passion according to St. Mark” for the Easter Music at St. Bartholomews, Sydenham.
We had a day at the zoo on the 26th April, so tiring, and then the next day it was Doug’s musical evening at Post 56.
Doug played a lot of snooker with various people and always went to the Rugby Seven-a-Sides at Twickenham with Lex Malcolm. We usually spent Bank Holidays at Eric and Bobby’s.
We went on a river trip with Post 56, and Lex had a party for his sister, Gertie Malcolm from Canada, lovely food but a freezing cold house.
Our holiday in August was spent at Bembridge, boarding with Dolly’s brother Harold Hobbs and his wife Lois. Dolly had the use of a beach hut on the shore where we could picnic, which was so useful and she, Dick and Christine were there at the same time. Bertie Newman also came on a visit from his home in Cowes – see photos (161/162). Chris was 18 during this holiday so we had a small celebration at the “Crab and Lobster”.
The children and their friends gave a concert in our house in aid of raising money for a stained glass window for St. Barnabas, which kept them busy.
In September Sally started at Honor Oak Grammar School, having passed her common entrance exam.
The year ended with a dinner party for David Cullingham’s 21st birthday. David being the son of Jim Cullingham who lived further down Woodwarde Rd. and was the President of Post 56.
1955
Chris had his two years National Service to do and joined the Royal Artillery in March 1955, reporting to Oswestry, Shropshire for initial training and then down to Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire for about a year. Photo 163 shows Chris and a colleague amongst the stones of Stonehenge, which was only a short walk from his camp at Larkhill.
Meanwhile at home we carried on with our hobbies, choosing “Patience” for the Post 56 summer concert.
Our holiday was spent at the Hobbs again, without Chris, but he had loads of leave; 36, 48, 56 and 72 hours and occasionally 7 days. Photos (164/165) are of ourselves on this holiday and photos (166/167) are of the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary (if you can see them) taken from Lane End, Bembridge by the lifeboat station.
In October Post 56 went to see “Kismet”, lovely music by Borodin, and we had the usual carols near Christmas when Chris had 7 days leave. The children had another concert at home in the Christmas holidays.
1956
Post 56 decided to do “Iolanthe”, which we went to see at the Streatham Theatre early in the year.
The girls were in a dancing display in July for which I had two ballet frocks to make, but it was worth it. Photos (168/170) are professionally taken pictures of the show.
Also in July, Rene had a spell in her local hospital and at The Maudsley hospital, Camberwell, which was the beginning of her troubles.
We had our usual holiday in Bembridge and Chris, still in the army, suddenly appeared for one of the weekends we were there, having travelled down from Salisbury Plain, staying in Portsmouth the Friday night and coming over to the I.O.W. early on the Saturday morning. Photos (171/174) are of this holiday when Chris was there, Dolly and her kids were also there – no sign of Dick but he probably took the pictures.
Due to the Suez crisis, Chris was posted to Colchester, where he was kitted out to be sent to the Suez Canal Zone, and consequently became due for embarkation leave on more than one occasion. It was a worrying time for all and I do not think it was good for England. Personally we were glad when the whole affair was cancelled on the 9th November, and we had a peaceful Christmas, thank goodness, with Chris home on leave.
1957
Claude died suddenly on 10th January 1957 aged 65 and Doug and Frank went up to Newcastle for the funeral, but Dorry decided to stay up there in their flat because it was so much cheaper than London and the South East.
Post 56 decided to do the “Gondoliers”, so of course we went to see it in London. We had a lot of rehearsing to do for our version, but unfortunately one of the choir, Bill Davies, had a heart attack in our house. Lex took him straight to hospital and he did recover but sadly died in 1958.
Chris was demobbed from the army in Colchester on 24th March 1957, returning to work at the Borneo Company.
Mr. Whitfield, a priest at our church in Camberwell, died in May, leaving Mr. Heath, the only other priest, to carry on alone and he was quite old.
In June we had our Silver Wedding party, there were loads of flowers and one silver spoon, but such fun.
Ian Roskilly was married to Diane Kilby at Otford, with the reception held in the Old Manor House where Diane’s parents lived and worked.
Chris had his 21st birthday in August 1957, usual family affair with plenty of fun.
Doug was singing away as usual with his many commitments, and Walter and Peggy Dougharty became regular visitors on Sunday evenings, so there was always plenty of music. Photo 175 is of Peggy and Walter, taken at their wedding a few years earlier when John Green’s brother Keith was Walter’s best man. Photo 176 is of them at their bungalow at Rustington which they went to some years later after they moved from Dulwich, where Walter continued to live after Peggy died.
1958
There were preparations for Chris to go abroad as he was being sent by the Borneo Company for a four year tour to their Far East branches, starting off in Kuala Belait, Brunei State. In March we all saw him off, together with his friend Frank Johnson, at Heathrow, which was rather a sad experience, especially when the girls said “why did you let him go ” and the house was much quieter after that.
Anyhow Elizabeth passed her Eleven Plus and was accepted at Honor Oak Girls Grammar School, so that cheered us up and in August we had a holiday with Doug’s Sister Winnie and her husband Jack Cummings where they then lived at Hordle near the New Forest – photos (177/179).
Christopher was very good and wrote a lot and sent many photos, and he seemed to spend a lot of his spare time in a swimming pool when he was in Kuala Belait – Photo 180 is of Chris by the pool at the Panaga Club, a Shell club where he used to go. In December he was sent to Miri, Sarawak where he met Shirley Cox, who was working in the Miri office, and was much happier. Photo 181 is a picture of Shirley that he sent us at the time.
Post 56 choir rehearsed for the “Pirates of Penzance” and Doug continued with his many singing commitments.
Brian Roskilly was married to Violet Cross at Otford in September and on the same day his brother’s wife Diane had a daughter, Bridget, so he was an uncle already.
This seemed to be quite a busy year, there was always something on with so many friends.
Edgar and Amy were staying somewhere, probably near Eric and Bobby at Waddon.
Our church in Camberwell was closed for a time as Mr. Heath was ill.
1959
We attended St. Barnabas in Dulwich whilst our Church in Camberwell was closed, which was very sad.
Post 56 choir sang “Yeoman of the Guard” in May which we had been to see at the Princes Theatre in London.
Chris and Shirley became engaged on his birthday, the 14th August 1959, and we had even more pictures from them – photos (182/183).
We had another holiday at Hordle, and whilst there, went to see Maggie and Bertie in Cowes – Photo 184. Quite easy on the ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth, I.O.W.
Our near neighbours the Flynns moved to Ringwood and their daughter Anne lodged with us because she was working in a bank at Bromley and became one of the family. Photo 185 is of Anne with her Fiancee Ray Benson.
