Year 2000 Memories

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Win Hilling. Stories for my Grandchildren

Year 2000 Memories

In May I had a trip to England to visit my son Rodney and his wife Lesley, my grand daughter April and my sister Elsie.

My wish was to visit Wimbledon, S.W. London where I was born, and see what changes had been made during the past 87 years.

Where my home once stood there was a beautiful Parge tree which stood proudly before a huge modern building containing many homes.

As we drove around the streets that I knew so well, it seemed that all the buildings were much smaller than I remembered them. I saw the park where at the age of about 4 yrs I fell at the stone fountain and cut my forehead very badly and I still have the scar.

We proceeded to Morden and there I saw the long fence with high trees which looked exactly as I remembered them when my sister and I jumped as high as we could to try to see what lay behind and we never did see what the high fence was hiding.

As we turned the corner we saw large gates which were open to the public and we drove in and discovered a beautiful large home – now a restaurant – set in park like grounds with gorgeous roses and flower beds and with a bridge over a bubbling stream, where a wedding party was posing for photos.

My leisurely walk through what had for so long been a mystery area was quite thrilling.

Next we drove to Sanderstead Surrey where my son and I wanted to see the house where he was born.

He and I posed before the house and Lesley was to take a photo but discovered there was no film in the camera and went back to the car to get one. Just then a car pulled up outside the house and we spoke to the occupants who invited us into the house.

What memories I had and was asked to share with the new owners. They were so eager to hear how my daughter and I lived there during World War 2. Sylvia was 7 years when we left that house and moved to Eastbourne. Memories of a very bad air raid flooded back, when we looked out over Croydon at so many fires left by bombs.

An oil bomb was dropped into a tennis court opposite but didn’t explode and we were hurried away by air raid wardens out of danger until the bomb was removed.

That night was the worst night I can remember and my teeth were chattering. Our neighbours were all away and I felt very alone in the area, worried for fear I might be killed and my child left. My little girl said, “Don’t be afraid Mummy I have my Teddy bear and if we get under the stairs we shall be safe. Daddy told me that when he was home on leave!”

What a long frightening night that was with bombs thudding as they dropped and we waited to hear whether they would explode. Some were pencil bombs and we were told to stay in the house until wardens searched all the gardens because our children could have picked them up and have them blow up in their hand.

Memories came back of my embarrassment when my young daughter gently chastised my elderly neighbour for cutting the heads off the daisies when he mowed his lawn.

He was such a gentle man and he loved Sylvia, so his lawn was cut while Sylvia was at school. There was a great bond between them and for many years after we came to N.Z. Sylvia corresponded with the old man and visited him when she was in her twenties until he died.

Much care had been given to our long garden which looked so lovely, very different from war time with its air raid shelter, etc. We were invited to go all over the house and tell the owners what changes had been made during the 50 years since we lived there. The 4 bedroom house is now 5 bedroom and there is a conservatory but I still felt the lovely vibrations that were still there.

The lady of the house told me that the condition of the house was the worst they had seen when they first saw it, but somehow and much to her husband’s surprise she knew they must purchase that house so she was so delighted that we called and invited us to return and visit them any time, remarking, “This is all so exciting – you have certainly made my day.”

For me and for Rodney it was a day we shall never forget.