This idyllic childhood came to an end on 3rd September 1939, when war was declared against Germany.
Yes this was my real life story 1939.
A few weeks before the outbreak of hostilities during the summer holidays, my Mother and I left London, never to return, and travelled to Buckinghamshire to stay with my Haydon grandparents, and so that I could be a bridesmaid for my Aunt Edna’s Wedding to Robert Brown on 3 September 1939 (see picture below).
I believe that she made the dress for me to wear, which was pale turquoise, and her dress and jacket were in the same colour, with wine red hat, gloves etc.
Uncle Bob was a craftsman in wrought iron, and together with his brother, David, owned a blacksmith’s forge in the village of Chalfont St. Peter.
As well as shoeing the occasional horse, Bob designed and made gates of intricate design, one commission being from the then Duchess of Kent, whose residence was in Iver, Bucks.
A commemorative plaque can also be seen in the village which was made by Bob.
They also made lampstands, grates and the tools for open fires.
I used to love to watch them at work in the forge, using bellows to bring the fire up to heat, and in later years, using acetylene welding equipment.
Edna was the fourth Haydon daughter, and was in her thirties at the time of her marriage.
They had a new house built for them up Joiner’s Lane, which was not far from the forge.
My grandfather had been Baptist Minister at Gold Hill, Chalfont St. Peter from 1928 to 1932.
After he retired in 1935, he and my grandmother came back to live there in a detached house overlooking Gold Hill common, called ‘Hampden’, (after the Puritan John Hampden)?
[Editor, I found this clipping from an unknown magazine or newspaper:]
Haydon, John, was born in Chesham in Buckinghamshire.
H.C.S. magazine or newspaper.
His early associations were with the Zion Church, where he was baptised and became a member.
As a local preacher he was much sought after in and around Chesham.
He married Elizabeth Batchelor, a member of the same church.
After marriage he entered Spurgeon’s College in 1897.
He began his full-time ministry at Burrowbridge, Sussex.
He did an excellent work there, but in 1905 moved to Rye in Sussex.
During his stay at Rye the church moved from the old building in Mermaid Street to new buildings in Cinque Port Street.
In 1915 he was called to the church at Woodford, Essex, and during his ministry there the large debt on the premises was removed.
For some years he was secretary of the Eastern Group of the London Baptist Association, and also took an active part in the work of the Dockland Churches.
He remained at Woodford until 1926 when he moved to Stony Stratford.
After Stony Stratford he ministered at Gold Hill from 1928 to 1932 and closed his active ministerial life at Long Crendon with Ickford from 1932 to 1935.
He spent his retirement from 1935 to 1946 at Gold Hill, where he served as the Nonconformist Chaplain to the Chalfont Epileptic Colony.
In 1946 he moved to Rye where he died on November 21st 1956.
All through his life John Haydon kept in touch with men and movements and ever sought to influence them for his Lord and Master.
His labours were much blessed and he had the joy of seeing a number of his young people come to hold positions of responsibility in the life of the denomination.
His daughters, his grandchildren, and a great host of friends, remember him with gladness for he was a good father, a staunch friend and a faithful and effective Minister of the Gospel.”
Edna Haydon married Robert Brown on the 3rd of September 1939:
Key to wedding day, as you look at it . . .
Front Row right to left
David Ratcliffe, Christine, Mary Fincher.
Second Row right to left
Rev. John Haydon, Mrs. Haydon, Edna Brown (Haydon), Robert Brown, Rene Haydon (Ellis), Jean Fincher (Brown), Nellie Haydon.
Back Row right to left
Rev ???, Arch Ellis, Jennie Mead, Nora Ratcliffe, Winifred Haydon (Christine’s mother), Mabel Howells, Annie Brown (Howells), David Brown, Howell Brown.
More of Christine Reason true life story in these articles:
[1] 1922 to 1930
[6] 1939 to 1940 evacuated to south coast
[7] 1940 to 1941 evacuated to High Wycombe
[8] 1941 to 1942 High school during war time