Life Stories

FRED HASLEGRAVE

ELEANOR O’CONOR 1 Life Stories

From DENNISFRED HASLEGRAVEBLURTON

Dennis Blurton Fred Haslegrave

As told to and written by ELEANORSARAH MERCER O'CONOR Contents

Life Stories from Dennis Blurton As told to and written Lifeby Sarah Stories Mercer from Fred Haslegrave AsAuthor: told to Sarah and writtenMercer byDesign: Eleanor Hannah O'Conor Fincham Page 9 Page 3729 Published by: Bridging Ages CIC Author:Printed by:Eleanor Lulu O'Conor About: Chapter 32 Design:Copyright: Hannah ©2018 Fincham Bridging Ages DaysSchool In The Army PrintedBridging by: Ages, Lulu CIC Copyright: ©2018 Bridging Ages, CIC Page 13 Page 4535 About: Chapter 43

Bridging Ages, CIC develops Life Stories LookingWork For A programs to encourage social Career Bridgingcontact between Ages, CIC the develops elderly programsand youth. to encourage social Page 17 Page 47 contact between the elderly Chapter 1 ChapterPage 53 4 andWe areyouth. based in Sussex, UK. www.bridgingages.co.uk Childhood Daysand ChapterMarriage 5 We are based in Sussex, UK. www.bridgingages.co.ukReprints can be ordered at Early Life Seafaring Years www.lulu.com Page 25 Page 55 Chapter 2 Chapter 5 Evacuation Holidays

4 5 Page 6563 Chapter 6 MarriedLater Life Life

Page 7973 SarahChapter Mercer 7 Bio Postscript

Page 77 Eleanor O'Conor Bio

6 7 Bridging Ages

Bridging Ages CIC is a small not-for profit community company established in Sussex UK, formed in 2014 by three friends who were concerned about loneliness and the lack of social contact between generations. The Life Stories Project was created to address these issues. In 2017, Bridging Ages was awarded a National Lottery Fund grant to develop a Toolkit for the programme, making it possible for any school or group to bring the Life Stories Project to their communities.

8 9 Life Stories

Life Stories aimsaims toto increaseincrease socialsocial contactcontact between generations. Teens visit older people in their homes, ask them about their lives and then write a professionally published book about them! In the process, young and old come together and each becomes a part of the other’s Life Story. AA Life Stories bookbook isis anan importantimportant familyfamily documentdocument forfor futurefuture generations.generations. Families can order more copies and usually do! However, the success of the project lies in the process of making thethe

10 1111 books. The student visits give support to older people who may be lonely. Conversations with a young person can stimulate reflections on a life lived and honour that life. The older participants tell about how things used to be and what they’ve learned in their lives. It is enjoyable to share these stories with a receptive ear and important to hand down this legacy to the next generation. Spending time with an older person and hearing a first-hand account of history can counteract negative ageist attitudes in the young. This is important in our rapidly ageing population. For many teens, this project is an introduction to volunteering, which can lead to future civic engagement. In addition, they meet the tremendous scholastic challenge of actually writing a book! The Life Stories Project builds respect, trust and empathy between generations, and that makes our communities stronger.

12 1313 Life Stories From DennisFred BlurtonHaslegrave

14 15 11 ChildhoodChildhood Daysand Early Life

16 1717 ChildhoodChildhood andDays Early Life

“Everyone“I would enjoy used going to fight to theover thecinema front for seat.” special showings for nine pence.”

II waswas bornborn intoon 24th the worldAugust at 1926 Chatham in HospitalBeckenham, on the a town 18 September situated in 1946. the countyI am theof Kent, oldest Southern member England of my family and was with an two only youngerchild. My sisters mother, and Sybil a younger Tamar brother.(Medwell), My fatherwas born Charlie, in 1889 Chaz and to my me, father, had five George daughters(Blurton), in from 1894. his My first parent’s marriage family but homeI neverwas in saw Kingswood them because in the myneighbouring dad was no longercounty part of Surrey of their and, lives. wishing Most toof returnthe years to ofmy my father’s childhood roots, was they spent only living lived inon a campBeckenham in Staplehurst for a short previously time after used they by ack-ackwere married. (anti-aircraft) I therefore gunners, only lived who inwould shootBeckenham down planesfor a year during or so the and war. have We no

18 1919 ChildhoodDennis ChildhoodChildhood memoriesoccupied the of livingfirst house there. you came to Blurtonand Daysand which We was moved the guardhouse.to a bungalow A councilin the village Early Early ofestate Lower was Kingswood, later built whichabout ais mile where away I Life Life grewbecause up. theIt was council a happy wanted place to to move live, uswith aaway church, from school, the camp, shops, perhaps petrol itstation was and twobecause pubs. they deemed the site dangerous, but IMy can't parents be sure. enjoyed The estate a happy was marriage, made up withentirely my offather ex-service commuting families, to workincluding in Londonour own, by making train to it Waterloo an extremely Station close-knit where hecommunity. worked for Southern Railway in their solicitors' My mother’s office. Both name my was father's Dorothy parents and diedshe was when based he was near young, Maidstone so I never at the knew myDetling paternal Aerodrome grandparents. for the However,Airforce, where my maternalshe was ironically grandparents nicknamed lived in Tiny Lower Kingswoodbecause she and in fact I knew was them not tiny well. at My all! I grandfather,remember she a carpenter, once told mekept that ferrets during and an heair had raid an she organ did not keyboard want to in get his up front and roomslept throughthat he would it as a play.result and thank goodness Additionally, for that my because aunts all and the uncle, other on myworkers mother’s were side killed of thein the family, raid alsoafter lived they inhad the got village up. Sadly, and would my mother come diedover offor tea withthroat their cancer children when some I was afternoons, eight years and old weleaving would my visit siblings them. and My me father’s in the three care of a brotherslady named and Ivy, his whosister lived had two by that doors time up. movedMy siblings away. and my dad and I still lived in our ownWe would house invariably but would spend travel Christmas to Ivy's Dayhouse at everyhome eveningbut over for the dinner Christmas and she DennisGrandad at - Mick's,Olympics 1940 periodwould wouldwash our visit clothes friends too. and Ivy relatives. would

20 2121 Wemake did me not packed tend to lunches have big for parties work with at ChildhoodDennis ChildhoodChildhood wentwe were back able week to makeafter week,the most but ofin thisvain, on home.some very interesting fillings, such as Blurtonand andDays becauseholiday visits.we were continually humiliated banana Growing sandwiches! up in the One village of the during earliest Early Early for the As wholea boy Iduration would pump of the the three village weeks peacememories time I Ihave would is ofplay the games kind neighbours of Cowboys Life Life weorgan attended and a littleand so later decided progressed to hang to up join our andwho Indians surrounded with mea gang during of local my childhood,boys in skates!the Church Choir and sang with them theespecially nearby the woods warm and smiles these they were offered an until At being breakfast evacuated as a child, to Canada it was at normal the age excitingafter my adventure.mother’s death. Riding down the hill forof fourteen. me to come In 1938downstairs I joined and a scout find groupplastic outside When our I homewas a onteenager a makeshift I lived as lively coveringthat had formedthe table in while the village. my father These and were pram-wheeleda life as you can go-kart imagine. was A notfriend always of mine brotherthe days repaired of trek carts car engines and I remember as part of accidentworked in free! a bakery A more and efficient used to go-kart borrow was the theirsetting weekend out for work.a first Mycamp brother on a Reigate was very builtvan at by weekends the scouts to and get itto competed and fro (they in a talentedHill estate. and This could was repair all right an engine on the way pre-warallowed himscout to competition use it I hasten at Broadlands.to add). himselfdown the by hill the but age involved of fourteen, lots whileof pulling I was CrossingLittle did thethey main know road it was on thefor ferryingway to me knownand pushing as the on dunce the wayof the up family! for our return. schoolhome after often many involved a wild help night! from Although the AA This My did great not put grandfather me off scouting was a preacherhowever, (Automobilethey could probably Association) tell after man a onwhole duty at atand St since Peter’s those Church early in days Islington I remained and my thecrowd crossroads. of inebriated He was teenagers always coveredsmartly in grandfatherinvolved, both was in aand steward out of in uniform, the 1908 in turnedflour had out traipsed in breeches home and from black the gaiters OlympicCanada and games Mayfield. and actually umpired in andbackdoor he saluted of the all van! passing Once motoristsmy friends who and I some I runningattended events the local probably village becauseschool, the he displayeddecided that the we AA would badge. try our hand at washead the master honourable of which secretary was our of next the door ice-skating On some and Saturday so we headed mornings up to I would Blackheathneighbour, andHarriers. then went on to Reigate goStreatham to the cinema ice rink. for We special had justshowings about for Grammar My brother, School, Bert, travelling went to there work by as bus an ninemanaged pence to which remain was upright always on enjoyable. the ice I electricianand remained in the there Chatham until I wasDockyard evacuated. wouldwhen a also ten actyear as old a ball came boy and at thepushed local us before it closed. They wanted to send him tennisover with club a whereshove. myThen parents she proceeded were to to Ross Clyde in Scotland, but he didn’t members.say, ‘This is We how had you a small do it’ terrierand did called a fancy that so he found another position as Binjer.perfect We waltz were on fortunatethe ice in thatfront my of us.father It a civil servant. He joined the motorway receivedwas absolutely certain incredible railway travel and spurred benefits in lighting division but he did not enjoy it, throughus a hope his to workdo the for same. Southern My friends Railway, and so I because two men got killed while working.

22 2323 After trying that he got a different job Childhood Childhood to me that I should try my hand at dancing testing electrics where he worked his way and and and so I went to the Court School of to the top and became the South East Early Early Dancing and have been going ever since. manager. He lives in Stilton near Life Life When I was twenty-one I passed my Peterborough now and I see him once a driving test and a week later at work we year when he rings me up and says, ‘Are had a job relatively far way. I asked who you free tomorrow because I’m taking you was driving and the rest of the men looked out to dinner’! I can always count on my at me and said, “You are because none of brother, if I’m ill and ring him then he will us have a licence!” So I drove, only a week come straight away even though we used after2 passing, a thirteen-seater minibus to fight like cat and dog when we were down to Folkestone. Let’s put it this way, younger, as all siblings do! everyoneEvacuation used to fight over the front seat My two sisters were called Phyllis and but the minute I was driving no one Christine. Phyllis went and lived in seemed to want that spot … They were all Australia when she moved out and died of sitting either by the emergency exit or at cancer not long ago. I’m afraid Christine the backdoor preparing to jump out! and I never saw eye to eye over my foster Before I could drive I would pushbike ten mother and so I haven’t been in touch with miles each way to work, starting when I her for about twenty years. I wouldn’t have was fifteen. It was either that or not go to described us as a particularly close family work, so everyone in those days more or but the memories I have of childhood are less used a pushbike. very much positive. I never met my dad’s parents, but I I used to love listening to Freddie and saw my mum’s parents quite a lot. My the Dreamers when I was sixteen. They granny and I were quite close, and she played in a club I went to one night, so did lived on a farm with one of her sons. They The Searchers. I’d say that was pretty good didn’t own the farm, but my uncle worked going to see them on apprentice’s wages! there so that him and my granny had When I turned twenty someone suggested accommodation. No matter where they

24 25 Childhood EvacuationChildhood were, he would always ensure granny and and would have somewhere to live. She always Early Early wore black. I think it was because she lost Life Life her husband but maybe she just liked the colour, I can't be sure. I would see her once a week while we were living in Staplehurst and then, when they moved to Frittenden, I used to visit her on the way back from work as I was based in the next village over. “My evacuation experience was life-changing.”

In 1941, at the age of fourteen, I was evacuated to Canada. I don’t recall much about the process of the evacuation, but the scheme itself was obviously publicised. In those war days we had no idea of what the future held and were living under the constant threat of invasion by Germany. This threat is really what led to the evacuation taking place. My parents must have thought very seriously about it and I think their decision Fred's brother, Bert was aided by the fact that my father’s

26 27 Dennis Evacuation brother had already established himself in Blurton Canada and had, with his wife, come over to visit us on holiday before the outbreak of the war. In that way it wasn’t as though I was being sent to live with strangers, as happened with so many other children, but would be going to stay with family. This probably helped settle my parents' minds that they were doing the right thing;2 however, being their only child, it must have been very hard for them to let meSchool go. I was evacuated in convoy from Liverpool to Canada, landing at Halifax, where the evacuees boarded the trans-continental train for destinations en route to Vancouver. We stopped frequently on the journey across Canada to allow children to disembark to go to their new homes. Whenever one of these stops occurred there was always a welcoming group of Canadian ladies who came on board the train to greet us and bring us fruit and sweets. These were, to us, a real treat as there were great shortages in England at that time with rationing making fruit and sweets hard to come by. Summer Holidays 1943 They were indeed very welcoming and

28 2929 outgoing people. Dennis EvacuationSchool separate the milk from the cream and was My uncle and his family lived in Blurton quite a valuable job as my uncle would Penticton, in the Okanagan Valley, British only separate what he considered to be Colombia, where he had a fruit and dairy surplus. farm. He had two children, both older than I would also pick the fruit. When I was me, a son who joined the Airforce whilst I about 16, I got a job in the summer was there and a daughter who was slightly holidays working in the packing house, younger and in the top grade at school humping boxes of apples, putting them when I arrived. She was into horses, so onto trolleys and wheeling them around. was very busy with them. The money I earned doing this was very The farm had a dairy herd of useful. “When I was at school jobs Guernsey cattle for milking and, as was In additionwere tolimited.” farm machinery my common in the valley at that time, uncle had a team of two horses which he orchards growing cherries, apples and used to work around the farm. I became enormous peaches. Peaches of course were quite knowledgeable about harnessing up a real luxury in England. the horses and was then allowed to use My uncle not only produced the milk, themMy education for working. started One at piece the Church of equipment of but he would bottle it and take it to the thatEngland was Primaryused by theSchool horses in Staplehurst, was a wooden town to sell to his customers, not unlike a platformfollowed bywith my no secondary wheels. This school would called be milk round in England. In addition, the draggedSwattenden along School the ground which wasbehind just them outside fruit would be harvested, graded and andCranbrook. onto which I stayed things there were until loaded I was and packed in the Penticton packing house. carriedfifteen yearsto wherever old. We they did Ruralwere Studiesneeded. During my time with my uncle I was which I went consisted to the of local ladder mixed making school, and very involved in the farm, both with the whichfarm work; had quite carpentry, a relaxed which atmosphere I wasn’t very dairy and the fruit. In the dairy I would comparedgood at; and with all whatthe core I had subjects been used like to at join my uncle in milking, going on the milk theEnglish boys-only and Maths. Reigate I was Grammar. good at As Maths I grew round, cleaning out the cow shed and olderand this it was helped very me nice later to havein my all job the because working the separator. This would beautifulI was one girls of the in only the classworkers to join who in could with

30 31 theatricalscorrectly figure and enjoy out metric the school units. dances. DennisSchool EvacuationSchool thanremember I was, thatwould one invite of our his exam friends pieces to the was They They thought would me make a little us strange do cross-country to begin Blurton sloughto make and the between Olympic them Games they rings built logo a hut out with,running the around way I dressed the estate and in spoke, Cranbrook, but all onof brick. the island It had in to the be middle. completed I remember in three it treatedand I must me saytremendously that I was notwell. a keen hadhours, a wood-burning which was not stove very andlong in at the all to runner. Softball My friends was the and only I would game waitplayed for at wintercreate ait masterpiece. became quite But a social as long meeting as you schoolthe good and runners we were to alsogo by all before enrolled cutting into place,got a wall as long up youas there passed, was even ice onif it the was theacross school another Cadet farm Force. track This that mainly took us slough.lopsided Although or crooked. I had Then been we ice-skating would have on involvedback to the a lot start. of drill This sessions rather confused over the fourthe ato rink do theory in Purley, where back they in England,would ask it uswas lots on yearsteachers I was because there, webut got also back included about a ten theof questions slough in on Canada how to that do differentI really began to summerminutes beforetraining the session fastest on runners. Vancouver To skateprocesses and toand play the some like. Asice-hockey. long as you My put Island.stop this happening again, cross-country cousinsomething was downa very you keen would and good get a running In Canada, was moved just as to in the England, school groundsI joined ice-hockeypercentage player,for trying, so I whichleft the could serious be the thewhere scouts they which could Ikeep thoroughly a closer enjoyed. eye on us, playingdifference to himbetween and hispassing contemporaries. and failing. Themuch camping to my dismay! trips that we went on lasted During my final year of evacuation, for about When ten I was days at andschool, were job always options a great were when I was 17, my uncle left to farm in adventure,limited. You much either more worked so than at the in farmEngland. or Enderby but I stayed in Penticton with Theseyou worked were heldin the over building the summer trade or in the another lady and her husband and surroundingmanual work. mountains There were of a British few jobs somehow found myself driving her car. Colombiaavailable in and shops involved but that a lot was of hiking,virtually it. Although she must have taught me what cookingAfter secondary and general school exploring. I progressed On one to a to do I had no lessons and certainly didn’t occasioncollege in all Maidstone our gear waswhere taken I stayed up to for the have a licence. I just got in and drove it! campsitefive years onand pack left horses.when I was nineteen. I made and kept up with numerous You Therehad to wasattend a ‘slough’ college at for the one farm. day Thisa friends from Canada, all of whom have wasweek originally and then partthe otherof the four river days that of ran the now sadly died, as have my aunt and uncle alongsideweek would the be farm for sitework.boundary, I didbut to and their son and daughter. The only one simplifybricklaying the classes flow of andwater we a didn’t bend hadget outbeen remaining (at time of writing) is the removed,before eight leaving at night. what During was known the average as a widow of my uncle’s son, who is about 98 ‘slough’.college day, My wecousin, would who learn was our a little trade older and I and living in a home in British Colombia

32 33 Dennis Evacuation and I still keep in touch with her. These Blurton close personal friendships made over time were not lessened by the distance between us, being continued for many years by written correspondence, telephone or visiting. Looking back, I can confidently say that my evacuation experience was life-changing and such a complete, personal3 and enjoyable experience because I was with family. I consider myself to haveWork been fortunate in this way as it did very much depend on which family you were with whilst evacuated. That said, I was very excited when I learnt I was going home, not having seen my parents since I had left England four years previously.

Dennis on the farm with the Guernsey cattle 1942

34 3535 Work 3 “The turning space was full of Daysbits of timber with nails In sticking out of them.” The I started working for a construction companyArmy called A.T Palmer when I was around fifteen years old and continued to work for that same company for the next fifty years. I worked with the same people for about sixteen years of that and so I became good friends with them; we got on well and always had a laugh. I also had each generation of bosses because it was a family-run business. I first worked with the grandfather (Arthur Palmer who started the company), then his son and

36 3737 Work WorkDays then his grandson. When I retired his In grandson was still the boss and I think The continues to be now. Army I remember that my first job with them was at Cheeseman’s Department Store in Maidstone and I was told to take one end of a forty-foot ladder. As we got to the door, we were warned that any breakages through careless ladder manoeuvring would result in our pay being docked.“Serving With inthis the fear Indian instilled, Army we had to carrywas the a ladder complete through contrast the to crockery departmentanything I hadand previouslyI was so petrified of experienced”knocking something over that once I made it safely round there was no way I was going back again! On my One return of my to eyes England is made as ofan glass due to an18-year-old, altercation I went with toa ten-inch the recruiting hook whilst office workingto join up on but a six-flutewas told chimney. to “go home A hook and waswait attached for your tocall-up”, a rope which being Iused duly to did. ferry As thingsa younger up and boy down my dream in a bucket. job had Here been it to getsjoin thea bit Royal gory, Navy. because Service after life a malfunction was withdeemed the torope, be morethe hook acceptable flew into and the was air, in landed,fact sought and lodgedafter following in my left the eye. terrible One of therecession carpenters, of the Graham, 1920s. There was therewas no with Fred working in Horsmonden Vicarage meshortage that day of recruitsand actually and intook those the days hook out Work mybeing eye. in He any had one to of climb the services up fifty invariablyfeet of scaffoldingmeant that toyou get would to me. be Another posted abroad.'eye' was I

38 3939 made for me straight away from a mould DennisWork DaysWork wasto chase called my up boss into in the an Army attempt shortly to get after the of foam that was squirted into my eye Blurton In mybread return and whenfrom Canadahe asked and what went the straight matter socket. My eye now is made of a glass-like The awaywas with to start the birdstraining I replied in the that Infantry. it must substance and whenever I get a new eye Army have After been initialhis deodorant training andI was perhaps given the he moulded, about every seven or eight years, opportunityshould change to itundertake because hefurther was pulling training I'm given it in a little presentation box tothe gain wrong a Commission type of bird! and Finally, was postedthe piece to of which looks rather like a ring box! I take Bangalore,bread dropped India. out As his it happenedtrousers as the he war was my eye out occasionally and wash it in a endedgetting whilst into his I was car. approaching What he called Bombay. me I designated brandy glass. spentnext is a unprintable!further three months training in The funniest thing that I saw whilst Bangalore, As well before as many being funny commissioned experiences, as I a working took place on a smallholding. My Secondhave also Lieutenant had some and that joined I would the rather 4th not boss would come at dinner time every day Battalionre-live. One of theday, 16th my managerPunjab Regiment told me thaton a to see how the work was going and every brigadeI had to drivestation the in lorry the North up to WestLeeds Castle day I would chuck a piece of bread so that Provincebecause the of India.normal This driver, area 'Billy is now No in Legs' the chickens would greet him. On one Pakistan(we called and him not this far because from the he Afghan was short), particular day, I threw a piece of bread as borderwas ill. inAs the you tribal can imagine, area quite it isoften difficult in the to usual but this time it ricocheted off the newsdrive withnowadays. only one The eye Brigade intact was and expectedon the concrete drive and landed straight into the toway keep back the from tribal the peace castle and it was an eye raining on the turn-up of my boss’s trousers. This created nearbyheavily border.and this caused the lorry to skid on complete chaos – first one cockerel tried the wet Serving road inoutside the Indian Leeds Army Church. was We a to get the bread, then a second cockerel completeslipped down contrast the street to anything sideways I had and I came to help, and soon the whole harem of previouslyreally thought experienced, my number both was from up butbeing in hens came racing along to join in. As my suchthankfully a different I was countryable to regain and serving control with of boss went round to see the other the Indianlorry and soldiers bring ofit tothree a halt. different My heart bricklayers, the most ridiculous thing religions.was beating There ridiculously were four fast Companies, and I can’t happened; the resident duck came flying eachsay I madewanted up to of drive platoons. again One in a Company hurry. Sure over the wall missing his nose by only wasenough, made however, up of Sikhs, the next one ofday Hindus my and Christmas 1941 eight inches! The two cockerels continued twomanager of Punjabi told me Muslims. to drive I theserved lorry with back the to

40 41 his house and ferry all the blocks from his DennisWork DaysWork latter.face was still red with rage, and so, to house to Leeds Castle. When I pulled up at Blurton In defuse When the tension,we were thetraining bricklayer in Bangalore who did the drive I found that the turning space The wethe didlarge have jobs a wentlanguage to the teacher car and who asked did if was full of bits of timber with nails Army histhat best was to the help new us, way not of too laying successfully, paving, forto sticking out of them. I knew that the crafty learnhim to Urdu. lay the It seemedslabs and to then me that me toour roar man thought that I would clear them up teachersdown with were the morelorry keenand chip to find it into out awhat new for him. No chance! I loaded up the lorry, lifeshape. in England All the staff was in like the so office used andto fellow determined to refrain from cleaning the encouragedirectors of us every to join site in he conversation, went on asked in mess away, and found a small car park at English,the manager about about our life this in new England. way of the rear of his house. This was a difficult paving. I served By the in end India of forthe one day year some and of theas manoeuvre with one eye but I managed it Indiacustomers was shortly had joined to gain in. Soindependence somehow after the and then went on my merry way to Leeds. Britishan accidental Officers collision were returned with my to manager’s British After the manager had his dinner, he came Service.pathway, I foundI had created myself transferreda new trend to of red-faced and shouting, ‘Do not let that Greece,crazy paving! where I served in Athens. It was one-eyed git near my house or the lorry from On there top that of doing I was construction eventually sent work again.' The storeman asked what I had homeduring to the be week,demobilised to make after some three extra years done and I had absolutely no idea. It ofmoney service. I would do construction work for turned out that I had been so caught up the governor, my boss, at weekends. I with the timber and nails business that I would build garden walls for him, lay slab had actually clipped his path without floors and everything like that. Anytime I realising and the damage was rather wanted work I just used to appear at his significant. The paving had turned into a house! In the summer time I had a job at a crazy pattern of mess! Sutton Valence School doing repair work When I turned up to work the next because there were lots of bits and bobs day, twenty blokes were clapping me in that needed doing. One of the many jobs saying, “You've surpassed yourself this was sweeping twenty chimneys - an time, Cyclops, no more lorry for you!” awkward job to say the least! India 1947 When the manager came into the yard his After many exciting and fun

42 43 Work Work experiences at A.T. Palmer, I decided to retire a month before I turned sixty-five, seven years ago. I went fifty years without a wage packet ever being short. In my time there, I was able to visit over 33 different villages and towns across Kent and East Sussex so I’m lucky to have visited more than4 most people probably have! Looking For A Career

Yokes Court where Fred lost his eye

44 45 Looking For A Career 4 “I feel it was sad that my Marriageparents didn’t see more of me from 1941 onwards.”

I was demobilised in 1948 on my return to England and for a few weeks went up to London with my father to gain some work experience in his solicitor’s office at Southern Railway. Some of this work was interesting but I really couldn’t see myself taking up a desk job as I’d much rather be up and about doing something. Thinking that I would like to be a farmer I decided to go back to Canada as an immigrant. By that time my uncle had moved from Penticton and bought a farm in

46 47 Dennis LookingMarriage Enderby in the northern end of the Blurton For Okanagan Valley. Here he raised cows for A cream and butter, grew grain and also Career made hay for his cows. The difference here was that all the milk was taken away to the factory to be made into cream and butter. This was much less labour intensive for my uncle than it had been in Penticton where he was producing milk and fruit on site. I spent several months with him but“Rosemary not really wore being a pretty able todress; see a way forwardshe moved always to wore Vancouver lovely where I stayed in thedresses.” YMCA. Although not now being able to recall how it happened, I found myself working as a batman in the Officers' Mess of the localI met army my wife unit. Rosemary My duties at included the Court makingSchool of beds, Dancing cleaning in Tunbridge shoes, bar Wells, duties andwhere generally we would being go twiceuseful a in week the Mess.before I enjoyedwe got married. the work When but I wecouldn’t first met see whereI was thistwenty might and take she mewas so thirty-two. decided to Rosemary return to England.was a local On lady my who return had I stayedlived in with Mayfield my parentsher whole in lifeLower and Kingswood. I would have I feelmarried it was a pityher sooner that my but parents unfortunately didn’t see her more parents of me fromwere 1941unwell onwards and so andshe hadas an to only look child after theythem, missed delaying a lot. the I prospectsdid write themof marriages a tremendousfor a while. number of letters from the Canada time We I was got evacuated married at and a registry still have office a in

48 49 collection of these. MarriageDennis Marriage Crowborough on the 25 May, which also On my return to England, the first Blurton happened to be Rosemary’s birthday. I position I applied for was work as a wore a suit and Rosemary wore a pretty trading assistant for, I believe, Unilever on dress; she always wore lovely dresses. I the west coast of Africa. Not getting that had to round up two neighbours as job I then applied for one as a Junior witnesses to the ceremony. One was our Assistant Purser for P&O (the Peninsular Latvian friend whom we knew very well. and Oriental Steam Navigation Company), After the wedding we took the two a very large shipping company which not witnesses out for dinner in celebration. only ran a fleet of cargo ships, but also one The reason we didn't get married in a of passenger ships. I was successful in my church was because Rosemary suffered application to work for P&O and thus terribly with her nerves and I knew I began the next chapter of my life. would have never got her up the aisle. Once married I moved into her flat in Mayfield, where I still live now, which had belonged to Rosemary’s family for seventy years so it’s a flat with a lot of history built within its walls. As for children, we never had them because Rosemary did not want any and I wouldn’t put the prospect of a mini-me into the world! We went to America for twelve days as our first holiday together after we got married and toured it on a paddle steamer. The look of happiness and excitement on her face made it completely worth it. We went to so many different places such as Fred's wedding day BB King’s Blues Club in Memphis, the

50 51 Grand Ole Opry, and ended up at a Marriage country and western dance the day after before going to New Orleans. We also went on the Chattanooga train ride. That I must say was not good for my phobia of heights! Finally, we arrived in a very posh area with horse-drawn carriages lining the streets and you’ll never guess what we were there to see …five ducks! They came out of a golden fountain and then would 5 waddle along a red carpet with five hundred people watching; we thought we Seafaring were having our leg pulled – celebrities or ducks?! Our trip to America was action Years packed and we enjoyed every minute of it. Back at home, we went ballroom dancing almost every Saturday together at the Court School of Dancing. I wasn’t very good, but Rosemary was. Rosemary and I got married thirty years ago and even though we only were married for ten years before she died, I have so many fond and joyful memories to look back on. She was a thoughtful, generous and beautiful woman.

52 53 Seafaring Years 5 “In looking after the money Holidaysthere was a considerable turnover to account for.”

I took up my position as Junior Assistant Purser with P&O in 1950 and was to spend 23 happy years with them. When I joined, their passenger fleet vessels ran from England to Australia and the Far East. Initially I sailed to Australia with the ships leaving from Tilbury then on to Port Said, Aden, Bombay, Colombo, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. You would generally be posted onto a ship for a period of eighteen months to two years, at which time you would then apply

54 55 Dennis SeafaringHolidays for leave of about three months. On Blurton Years returning to your new posting you would probably be posted onto a different ship so over the years I sailed in several different passenger liners – Mooltan, Corfu, Aracadia, Strathmore, Oriana and others. The routes we sailed expanded over time to include round-the-world voyages when I would sail to Australia, carry on cruising from there and back home via the west coast of“I usuallyAmerica only and eat the good Panama old Canal. It includedEnglish calls food.” at Vancouver, where I managed to get my cousin to come and visit. She thought this was quite an outing for her. From Vancouver we would sail down to San Francisco, Los AngelesI went to and Canada then byback myself to England. after my Other wife portsdied. Vancouverof call on our was voyages full of beautifulwould include black thosesquirrels in the that Far ran East all oversuch theas Penang, place and, Singapore,being afraid Hong of heights, Kong and I naturally Yokohama. thought My longestit was a voyagegreat idea was to five cross months, the Vancouver but this onlysuspension happened bridge. once. It was a struggle and, if I saw Over a gap time between I progressed the planks, from my being a Juniorimagination Assistant would Purser run wildto Deputy and form Purser an andimage then of someas Ship’s poor Purser. person My before role wasme an administrativefalling through, one which responsible was not helpful.for I runningmay have the been passenger shaking side like ofa leaf,the ship.but I Dennis with his sons Thismade covered it! I went the whale documentation watching and to enable it was

56 57 the ship to enter foreign ports, plus the HolidaysDennis SeafaringHolidays completedamazing to her see teacherthem all training flipping in about Wagga in accommodation, catering, providing Blurton Years Wagga.the water She and was I’m on actually the way surprised to London they for services to passengers such as arranging supplygot me teachingout there but for herthe mainsimple objective fact that in I cash and currency for various ports of call. comingcannot swim; over was I can to only tour impersonate round, which a she Furthermore, I was responsible for the did,brick! sight-seeing There were in about both eightthe UK of andus on the crew – paying out advances on their salary Europe,dinghy and visiting the whales France swam and Spain about amongst fifty and keeping a cash account for the ship. In others,yards away. some I ofwas it byabsolutely hitch-hiking. petrified. She has looking after the money there was a seenAnother more thing parts I loved of the was UK thethan wild I have. bears considerable turnover to account for. Beingthat roamed a royalist, freely she in was the alsonational keen parksto be in Having served in the Indian Army it closeralongside touch all withthe people the Royal walking Family around. and was of great interest to me that many of would I go be to quite Hayling happy Island to go regularly up to London for the the crew P&O employed were Indians forMcKeefry anything Irish ‘royal’ Music and Festival stand forwith hours my to whom I was able to relate to. The men watchfriends. and It’s wait! absolute mayhem because employed to work in the engine room everyone Our first is there date for was the on same that reason,same to were all Muslims from the North West voyage,dance and a double have a date laugh. with In July,the First I am going Frontier Province of India, now Pakistan. Officerwith my - friendsa great friendand there who are was going later to to be be The actual deck crew, the sailors, were also ourten 60sbest bands: man. We The made Animals, up a Theparty Searchers of four Muslim but they were from India having and venturedtwenty hours to the of Estorilmusic. Casino,Last year some they never moved to Pakistan. In fact there are distanceset up stalls from with Lisbon, different our port foods of from call. It more Muslims in India than there are in wasaround a great the worldevening and though I tried I some do Pakistan. The third group were the rememberMalaysian chickenwe cut it which a bit finewas toextremely get back Christian Goanese. I enjoyed working aboardtasty and before adventurous sailing. for me considering closely with them all. I usually Berenice only spenteat good two old years English in England food. I It was on the deck tennis court aboard beforeget to thereturning island byto car,her homewhich in is Gosford,about a the SS Arcadia on a voyage back to Newsixty-mile South drive, Wales. so Her rather family long. home I’ve beenwas England from Sydney, that I met my neartwice Terrigal, so far and an this Aboriginal year (2018) word I’m that going darling wife, Berenice. Berenice grew up in meansa further ‘place six times!of little Everybody birds’. I must there have is Holiday Magazine Gosford, New South Wales and had lovedfriendly the and name welcoming, Terrigal as,as wellto this as day,rather our

58 59 home today in Mayfield has a pottery HolidaysDennis SeafaringHolidays merry I must say! name-plate crafted by a local artist and on Blurton Years it are three birds, representing our three boys. When we were courting and my ship had docked in England, I would have about a week’s leave so would either catch the train up to London to see Berenice, or she would come down to Lower Kingswood to visit me there - if she was neither working nor touring, that is! After Berenice returned to Australia and my ship docked in Sydney she would come down to see me and we would have supper on board together. It was on my next visit to Sydney that I proposed to Berenice whilst relaxing on the beach at Wamberal. Within six months we were married in Gosford. Berenice’s mother was a great seamstress and made her wedding dress for her. Our wedding was attended not just by Berenice’s family but also a great collection of my shipmates. Our best man was one of the navigators. By strange coincidence one of the ship’s Dennis and Berenice, stenographers - nowadays called Women Fred on the Vancouver Terrigal, 16 January SuspensionAssistant Pursers Bridge – Margo (now 1963 O’Connor), who was at our wedding lives

60 61 in Mayfield and has become, with her Dennis husband close friends of ours. Blurton My parents did not come over to Australia for our wedding, so Berenice brought her dress back to England and when we had a little gathering in Lower Kingswood to celebrate our marriage, she wore it for everyone to see. 6 Later Life

62 6363 Later Life 6 “I love living in Mayfield Marriedbecause it is a place full of Life character.”

I moved to Mayfield about thirty years ago from Staplehurst. I live in South Mead Close in three blocks of four flats and I have had some rather interesting characters for neighbours over the last thirty years. I suffer from bowel cancer and I remember that one afternoon as I was being driven back from having radiotherapy at the hospital, my driver said ‘Fred, there’s a fire engine down your road’. As we got closer we saw that all the firemen were holding each other up,

64 65 Later MarriedLater laughing hysterically. I went round to find Life Life out what the matter was and one of my neighbours, Lucky Eddie, had left the saucepan on. This, however, was not the only time for the fire brigade to be called for Eddie. It actually happened a further two times because Eddie enjoys his drink and so fire safety does not seem to be his strong point as a result! The second time he tried to cook a pork chop in the toaster and the third“My time children - after now the enjoy fire brigade had put himtravelling on the mains just as - muchhe burnt as we a piece of toastdo.” which set off the fire alarms. He also attempted to boil an egg in the kettle ... When I came to live in Sussex I Ibecame was 36 teetotalyears old because when I drink married driving my was darlingnow against Berenice the lawin 1963. and becauseI had previously my wife saidhad ato bad myself leg due that to were Lymphoedema I not married that by themade time it hard I was for 30, her I would to walk remain and so a I bachelor!always needed We have to ensure now been that happily I could drive marriedher if she for needed 55 years. it. TheI still only go dancing sadness aafter lot these our marriage days and I wasenjoy that many in thosedifferent days genres once you except were line marrieddancing andyou couldn’tbarn dancing, sail with which your I hate wife - if youall they were do on is duty.prance So, about having and spent near a the Fred out dancing with friends coupleend its ofnearly nights putting in a Sydney me to sleep.hotel afterI our weddingparticularly I had like to beat leave dancing, Berenice Irish and sail

66 67 dancing or anything with a partner. I like DennisLater MarriedLater away. Not being able to come with me she following my own rules in dance and not BlurtonLife Life had to wait for the next ship back to somebody else’s. I’m afraid that if you get England which, I think departed ten days in my way and I can’t see you then I will later. When Berenice arrived back in mow you down! England after our marriage she lived with I go to Deanlands, a big entertainment my parents for nearly a year whilst we centre near the Golden Cross pub, that can searched for a house. Nowadays, things hold around three hundred people for have changed, and some wives are able to dancing. Another one I go to is the club in sail with their husbands. Hailsham that my friends get me into Being Australian and living in because I am not a member myself. On Australia I did not know my New Year’s Eve I danced in Herstmonceux parents-in-law very well, as I could only and so as you can tell, I pretty much dance see them when my ship called into Sydney. everywhere and anywhere. Every day I go However, after we married I did get to for my dinner next to the market at know Berenice’s mother quite well as she Heathfield at a place called the Butcher's came over to England and stayed with us Hook. My favourite meal to have there are for some weeks. lamb shanks or steak and kidney pie. At the end of the voyage during which Sometimes I go on a Sunday and have a Berenice and I had married, I left my ship delicious roast dinner. I can’t stand any and we went on our exciting honeymoon type of Italian food, pizzas, pasta - I just to British Colombia, Canada. We travelled, can’t stand any of it! together, by ship to New York, bussed up I love living in Mayfield because it is a to Montreal, and then took a train across place full of character from the people who to Vancouver via Ottawa, where I live there to the village itself – you never remember we stopped and visited another know what is going to happen next. It cousin of mine who had married a encourages everyone to be themselves and Canadian soldier and had therefore moved Keremeos Rosemary to embrace all our quirks and unique out to Canada after the war.

68 69 qualities. Arriving in British Colombia we DennisLater Married Christopher Paul - was a full-time visited my uncle. His daughter by that BlurtonLife Life occupation. She was always there for me time had married, and she and her whilst I was away on the passenger ships. husband had taken on a ranch in When I was on leave we often took a Keremeos where they bred beef cattle. We cruising holiday with the family, all of spent an exciting time with them. In total, whom are well-travelled. We spent many we spent about six weeks away on our happy holidays cruising and seeing the honeymoon as we were able to take it as world together, at various times of year part of my three-month long leave. depending on when I was on leave. Our Whilst searching for our first, and children now enjoy travelling just as much only, home in Surrey, Sussex and Kent as we do; my eldest son in particular can’t using my father’s car, we were fortunate seem to stop! to find a house being built in Mayfield. It I very much enjoyed my job with P&O. was an ideal site looking out over open I was fortunate that I was able to meet a fields and we saw it being built. It was great range of people over the years. Many situated in The Warren, ¾ mile from the were coming to England from the centre of Mayfield village. We thought it a Colonies, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Fiji and so on, very exciting house as it had two on leave, or to study, or on holiday. In bathrooms! My parents thought we were reverse there would be people travelling to going over the top. We moved in as soon Australia on holidays, and in fact the first as it was ready, with no carpets. At that ship I was on was taking migrants to stage there were twenty-eight houses in Australia, some known as the ‘ten-pound the Warren; now there are forty-two. Poms’. Should these particular migrants We have three sons. Our first son was not settle well in Australia and want to born a few months after moving to our come home to England we ended up Mayfield home. My wife gave up her bringing them home, but they would have teaching, as raising our three boys - to pay for their own passage back. Steven Richard, Philip John and I held this job for 23 years, but

70 71 although I was, thankfully, able to Dennis Married would be brought into the offices by maintain total involvement with my Blurton Life dispatch riders either from journalists on family, I really missed home. In 1973, I left the ground somewhere in England, or my seafaring job and returned to Mayfield from airports before being put together full time. At this stage our sons were aged and produced ready for you and I to see on 13, 11 and 6. I was fortunate that I came television. ashore when they were still growing up Of course, it was also nice to be and it was great to be with them. All three working just to the north of Oxford Street, went to comprehensive school in almost adjacent to Portland Square, where Heathfield, which they much enjoyed. 7the BBC is situated. ITN itself has moved They were all active in musicals and the now to Grays Inn Road but this happened theatrical side of school life. Berenice and I afterPostscript I retired. enjoyed watching them. My role within ITN was that of House Having left P&O, I found employment Services Manager. In other words, I was with ITN which was a complete change to responsible for all the services of the office. anything I had experienced before. They They had three buildings to the north of were producing the news for publication Oxford Street and I had the responsibility and broadcast on television and of course of maintaining the services, to keep their outlook on life is a bit different to everybody else happy. Whether it was the everybody else. Everything had to happen maintenance, catering, cleaning or ‘yesterday’ and, always being in a hurry, communications like the telephones - the they worked to tight schedules. telephone exchange where we had three There was, however a tremendous telephonists on duty at any one time atmosphere, with very talented people and falling under my responsibility. My time we never got bored as every day there was with ITN lasted 15 years at which point I something happening. It took a lot of was happy to take retirement three years organisation as, of course, in those days all early. of the film came in as physical film. It Marriage for me has always been a

72 73 marvellous experience and the fact that Dennis MarriedPostscript how wonderful she is. Now I enjoy taking Berenice and I were blessed with three Blurton Life breakfast to her each morning. great children was an added blessing. The We have remained happy in Mayfield fact that my wife has been such a splendid for over 50 years now, amongst friends mother in all respects is another very from our early days, together with those fortunate thing. When I think that I spent who have come since. Such an active so long away on the way to and from village, meeting so many different needs, it Australia and there she would be, raising has provided various interests for us and our three young children, the washing, the continues to do so in retirement. It has ironing, the cooking, cleaning, getting provided excellent opportunities to them to school etc. In those early days we become and“Thank remain you, involved. Fred” didn’t have a car, so she would be Berenice has been involved in village pram-pushing up the hills when she came life, particularly with the WI (Womens into the village to do the shopping. Institute), having been with them for over Fortunately, everyone was very 40 years. She has been their President for helpful. One of our neighbours kindly four separate spells, as well as Secretary drove her to hospital when she went into andI have Treasurer. really enjoyed learning to listen and labour with our second baby and she getting As ato member know Fred, of the finding Church out of the would loan us her car which was also of Englanddetails of I hishave vibrant served and on interestingour Parochial life. I great help. Churchhope I have Council done (PCC), justice and to hisseparately voice, his as a The main thing I think of is the sidesmanstyle, his humour at St. Dunstan's, and his store a position of vivid I still constant loyalty and hard graft to run a enjoyanecdotes to this and day. recollections. My faith has I hopebeen that house. We had our high moments when importantFred will enjoy to me this throughout as much asmy I havelife. we would go on a cruise and take the boys enjoyed Two meeting of our sons him were and writing baptised, this. three with us, but the fact that meantime she confirmed and one married at St. was there on her own with demanding Dunstan’s. Having attended primary children - although they were, and are, school in Mayfield and then secondary very good boys - just makes me realise school in Heathfield they also enjoy

74 75 long-standing village and school Dennis Married cottage. He sees his brothers whenever friendships and continue to relate with us Blurton Life possible and we are looking forward to to St. Dunstan’s and the village scene. visiting him in October and for Christmas Our eldest son, Stephen, who is this year. unmarried, went to Reading University Student I consider myself to have been very and then joined the National Westminster fortunate in my life, not only in Bank, where he is still employed. Our employmentBio but by having my loving, middle son, Phillip, went to Nottingham patient Berenice and family by my side. I University and on leaving spent seven have in fact been spoilt. years in the Royal Navy. After he left the Navy he took a further course at Southampton University, then taking up a position in the Social Services with the Local Authority. He is married with three children. His daughter is studying in Tokyo for a year; his son is spending a gap year in the Army, after which he is hoping to undertake a 2,000 mile walk in America; and his younger daughter is currently in My name is Eleanor and, like Fred, I can sixth form in Tonbridge. Our youngest bust a move. I am seventeen years old. I son, Christopher, who has a male partner, am currently at Mayfield School studying went through a London college and then English, History and Classics, all of which I took a job in London working for MAC, the thoroughly enjoy. make-up company.Eleanor After O Conor a while he decided to leave both his job and London and now runs a bed and breakfast in Cornwall where he lives in a listed cottage whilst owning another self-catering

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