My wish was also to visit Merton, SouthWest London where I was born, and see what changes had been made during the past eighty seven years. Where my home once stood there was a beautiful large tree that 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 four years I fell at the stone fountain and cut my forehead very badly. 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 - 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. We drove in and discovered a beautiful large home - now a restaurant - set in park like grounds with gorgeous roses, 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. Memories flooded back as we entered the beautiful old home and enjoyed a tasty drink while soaking up the atmosphere. 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 about to take a photo but discovered there was no film in the camera. She 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 Two. Sylvia was nine years old when we left that house and moved to Eastbourne. Memories of a very bad air raid flooded back, and times 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, so 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!” So we both sat under the stairs until the raid was over. The trust shown by my daughter was a big help to me that night. What a long frightening night that was with bombs thudding as they dropped, while 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 New Zealand Sylvia corresponded with the old man. She also visited him when she was in her twenties before he died. Much care had been given to our long garden that 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 fifty years since we lived there. The four-bedroom house now has five bedrooms and there is a conservatory. I felt the lovely vibrations that were still there. I could remember Rodney as a baby kicking his legs into the air whilst in his big pram outside the dining room doors, and Queenie’s infectious laugh as she watched him. 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 particular 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 Rodney and I it was a day we shall never forget. |
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