I was born in Upper Norwood, the eldest of four girls, and went to Rockmount School, where I spent a lot of my time in reading lessons teaching three children from the local orphanage to read. At 71A1 took the part of Alice, my first school play and the agony as the teacher (a stickler for detail) insisted that another girl should comb my very thick curly hair to make it straight! My next part was as Maggie Tulliver in The Mill on the Floss. At 9 I joined the Co-operative Children's Choir and we sang in the Crystal Palace. Schooling continued at The Lady Edridge School in South Norwood and I had leading parts in school plays.

Leaving school I started work as a cashier in the local Co-op, moving on to be the wages clerk for a very large building firm. They were working on army camps, airforce bases and other military places all over Britain. Wages in those days were not paid by cheques but all the money was wrapped in paper and put with the notes in Registered envelopes. It was my job to carry all this money to the Post Office on Thursdays and almost without exception it arrived safely on the sites on Friday morning. Imagine today a young teenager carrying several thousands of pounds around for posting!

1939 and my life changed dramatically as my beloved father died very suddenly at the age of 42. Six weeks later war was declared and the firm and staff were evacuated to Eastcote. After two years I changed my job for one nearer home and became a Cost Accountant clerk at the Telephone Manufacturing Company. Life changed again and I was called up for the A.T.S. and posted, after training in Wigston Magna, to the Pay Corps in London. Collating little pieces of paper in numerical order became so boring I threatened to leave!! However I was transferred to a section run by George Mitchell. He was also interested in starting a Swing Choir and detailed several members of the A.T.S. and army personnel to join. Unwilling at first we started to enjoy it and we sang in various places in and around London. Joining Stars In Battledress we met many people who became household names, Cyril Fletcher, Violet Carson, The Beverley Sisters etc. Being stars of Variety Bandbox, A.E.F. Music Hall Stage Door Canteen and resident of B.B.C. Feature Knocking at Your Door we broadcast every Monday evening at 6.45 p.m. After our first rehearsal for T.V. Peace was declared, I was demobbed and given a commission to go with the army to Germany.

After all the training my mother became ill and I had to resign and returned to my old job at the T.M.C. Surprisingly, three service men had been taken on, one ex naval, became my husband, and we were married in I 947. (I had to agree that he could continue with his Scouting life, which he did almost to the end. He was Scoutmaster, Cubmaster and Assistant County Commissioner for Shropshire).

Bert changed his job soon after we married. Our elder daughter, Susan, was born in 1948 and Marylyn in 1952. About his time the job necessitated him travelling all over the country and Northern Ireland, finally going to the Forest of Dean, where after two years the family moved. Here I joined the W.I. and became involved with the Drama Group and a very good Choir. The drama was such fun. We entered the Forest Festivals and twice came second. I was even Highly Commended for one of my parts1 praise indeed1. I had other interests, M.U. and Keep Fit, my children's Ballet Classes, Brownies and Guides, so I was quite devastated when my husband changed his job to work in Ludlow.

After two years commuting we all moved and happily for me I was able to continue all my activities, including another W.l. Drama Group and Choir. Taking my daughter to her first meeting in Ludlow I was asked by Brown Owl if I would be willing to teach the Brownies how to sew on buttons ready for a test. Later she dropped a bombshell, she would be leaving shortly could I take over as Leader. What was one to do when 24 small Brownies sit looking at you with pleading eyes? Yes, I became Brown Owl for the next 13 years, four of them District Commissioner as well.

Eight years after coming to Ludlow my husband changed his job again and came to Ross-on-Wye; the girls left home, one to Oxford and one to College in Solihull. While Bert commuted for the next five years I found myself a different occupation. Firstly, school secretary to a local Junior School, and when my services were no longer required I joined a firm of accountants as a part time clerk Five years is a long time to be living as a family for weekends only that I also came to Ross determined to live a life of leisure!

Other people had other ideas. First I was asked to run a Brownie Group at Kings Caple. This I did for a year while I trained a new Leader, then I was asked to do farm accounts, I worked part time at the local Accountants instead. My husband and I joined both Twinning Associations and had to learn French and German at evening classes if we were to enjoy visiting France and Germany.

Eventually we got involved with R.O.A.D.S. and found enjoyment in taking part in a few sketches which were put on in the Convent, helped out at Crossfields and were both involved with the accounts for a while. Reaching retirement we both decided to do something different and what fun when we joined the Ross Reel Club. Next on the agenda was taking our medals Bronze, Silver and Gold were accomplished, the last one coinciding with my husband's appointment as Mayor of Ross.