RECALLING MY YOUNG YEARS

Me at the age of 7

I read often now in these modern times about child abuse and the help that is now available via Child Line etc and I think back to myself. Our house was semi detached and next door also had a family of five including 3 children.

The eldest boy who would have been about 14 with me being old enough to remember vividly used to encourage me to perform indecent acts to him of which no one would believe me at the time but will live with me until my demise.

I wonder how many people there are of my age that had such experiences that were not listened to and have never been able to tell anyone.  I sincerely hope that by inserting this small paragraph which although painful to write may help other people reading this memory of my young life to realise that horrific paedophile stories have been happening for a very long time but were swept under the carpet.

Fortunately today’s society in the 21^st century is much more aware of child abuse and there is extensive help and support for people who suffer similar experiences.

My first vehicle a convertible and free of road tax

Whilst I was still young another cousin nearly five years my senior was quite sickly with asthma and his doctor recommended him to have a spell living by the sea, so having a spare bedroom at the time Mother gave John a temporary home and I think I can say his asthma attacks did improve.

John’s Father died suddenly during his young life and being an only child he was rather isolated where he lived.

While he stayed with us I can remember him building a cart on a set of old pram wheels and taking me for rides, it was like having another brother for a time and now I am 76 and he is eighty one we are still quite close.

Off to my weekend job

At the age of thirteen I decided to look for an afterschool and weekend job to supplement our family income and so went to work at a local hotel Owned by a lady called Mrs Pearce. She was very strict and watched ones every move, I had to wait at table wash up piles of dishes and pans, changing beds at weekends. For this I earned one shilling an hour and loved weekends because many of the guests would give me tips but I had to try and receive them out of sight from the Mrs Pierce or she would take them from me for herself! 

I continued this part time work until I started full time employment. When I left her employment she refused to pay me my wages that were due and my Mother had to go and demand them from her in no uncertain words.