Christine’s portrait on a Christmas greetings card.
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)?
1939 Bob Brown & Edna Haydon’s wedding. March 2012
Earith, which is on the river Ouse, in the 1930’s is noted as a holiday resort and in the summer months many people enjoy themselves fishing, boating and swimming in this river. Our house, which is situated in the High Street, commands an excellent view of the fens, and it overlooks the river Ouse…
It would appear that God did draw a line in the sand and Hitler made a conscious decision to proceed with his plans. The facts come from a documentary “The Nazis: A Warning From History – Hitler’s Path To War”
The bridegroom had been in the Army in WW1, serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a stretcher bearer over in France. The bride was the second daughter of Rev. John Haydon and Elizabeth, his wife (nee Batchelor). My story begins at my date of birth…
Continuing my real life story, some time in 1934, my parents and I moved to Woodford Green, and my father purchased a house there at 47 Parkland Road. I think that the price paid was £700. Whether he ever re-couped this amount, I cannot say, as we only lived there for approximately five years to the outbreak of WW2, and we never lived all together in our own house again…
Continuing my real life toddler story, there used to be a man selling sweets from a barrow outside the school, and I used to look enviously at some of the children who were allowed to purchase the Sherbet Dips, Liquorice Whirls and boiled sweets (all unwrapped)…
