FAMILY INFO

Baby Mick on my lap

At the age of 15, I became a sort of surrogate mother as my brother’s first wife’s mental health deteriorated badly after the birth of Michael and my mother and I shared a lot of his young life.

He was quite happy to roam the fields with me, black-berrying, beach combing, and fishing these were just some of the occupations we had. Mick is always reminding me of the time we were out in the field’s black-berrying and I espied some really large berries completely out of reach and I was heard to say “How Mean”!

When I started nursing it was more difficult for me to spend as much time with Michael as I wanted but my Mum his Nan was there for him.

Once I had finished my training I earned a better salary so saved up and took him to Butlin’s holiday at Bognor Regis camp for a week’s holiday with another nurse friend and her young brother. I think he was about 12 or 13 at the time but now turned 60 still remembers it well.

After several occupations Michael and his wife now foster children who are difficult to place and I must congratulate them in doing this very exacting and unpredictable work.

They do get remuneration for doing this work but I think their main reward is seeing the progress made after providing the young people with a stable and caring home life to try and give them the encouragement and independence to improve their life style. Michael has a son and daughter Darren and Joanne from his previous marriage who both have children of their own my great great Nieces.

Butlins at Bognor Regis  1950's

My sister Edith married John whilst in the WAAF, he was in the RAF and much involved in bombing missions.

They lived in Suffolk after their demob and had two sons Don and Jim with only eleven months between them I was only twelve when Don their first born arrived so when they came to visit us it was like having two young brothers.

As they grew up they would visit us as frequently as they could but by this time their home and schools were at Crawley. One year we all joined for a holiday at Butlins. 

Don at 63 owns and runs single handed a farm-house bed and breakfast business as well as being an IT technician and Jim as a Bachelor of Science works in the business of metallurgy as a successful consultant.

Edith, John, me and the two boys Don and Jim

Don has two daughters Debby and Jo and a son James who have good working lives and Jim has two sons and a daughter Geoff, George and Alice who are doing equally well in the big wide world. I am indeed proud of my three nephews and their families and love to meet up with them when possible.