Real-life stories: wartime children and African safaris

Christine Reason, a wartime child of WW2, twice evacuated, then on to romance, marriage and self-employment. 1930 to 2019.

Working for the British Government on African Safaris in the 1950s and 1960s.
Fires in caravans, crawling caterpillars in a line, a dog in a bar likes a tipple, marbles as gifts, no brakes on a cliff edge, etc.

A young lad’s memories of the 1930s to the 1950s in historic Earith in Cambridgeshire, England. Primary school days, on into grammar school and into the Homeguard.

Table of contents for these three categories:

1. London girl pre WW2 and beyond – real life story

1930 to 2019. WW2 and beyond
Or see the London girl pre WW2 and beyond – real life story category page.

[1] 1922 to 1930 my story Christine Reason
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…
[2] 1931 to 1935 real life toddler story
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…
[3] 1935 to 1937 Daddy’s office
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)…
[4] 1936 to 1938 pre-war story
In my pre-war story, my mother and I often used to walk to the railway station at Woodford to meet my father off the train in the early evening. I remember all the men (hardly any women) alighting on to the platform wearing their bowler or trilby hats, and carrying rolled up umbrellas and briefcases…
[5] 1939 my story – war declared
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…
[6] 1939 to 1940 evacuated to south coast
In my real life story, after the September 1939 wedding, we did not return to Woodford, supposedly because of the threat of the German Luftwaffe bombing London, and I was sent down to Rye in Sussex to live with my Aunt Rene and Uncle Arch by myself. They were childless at this time…
[7] 1940 to 1941 evacuated to High Wycombe
Continuing my real life story 1940, during the Spring of that year, because of the air battles over the Channel and the threat of invasion by the Germans, as France had fallen to the enemy quite quickly, it was thought expedient to send me back to my grandparents in Bucks…
[8] 1941 to 1942 High school during war time
Continuing my real life story 1941 I went in for the Scholarship exam, but failed it, so I sat for an Entrance exam to attend the High School for girls at High Wycombe, and passed, so I was able to go there, paying a fee of £5.00 per term…
[9] 1943 to 1944 American Forces
During my real life story 1943 and 1944 American Forces were stationed nearby, and we often used to get several of them attend Sunday services. Occasionally, my Grandparents invited them home to Sunday lunch. They were charming men and often very homesick for their loved ones back in the States…
[10] 1944 to 1945 test of faith
In my real life story 1944 my faith was severely tested eighteen months later when my Mother, who had been ailing some time, died of breast cancer, aged 51 years…
[11] 1946 new mum – my story
In my real life story 1946 I was still attending the High School when my Mother died in January 1946, and I moved out of my Grandparents’ home, and went to live with Aunt Edna and Uncle Bob…
[12] 1947 to 1948 Essex girl
As a group, we did Folk Dancing, and I was quite attracted to him. In my real life story 1947 one day a visit was arranged to go to Cecil Sharp House in London. Sharp was a founder of the English Folk Song Society, and as a group we used to sing Folk Songs, including…
[13] 1949 to 1951 boyfriends
In my real life story 1949, Stanley kept coming into the Library while I was working, and I used to be filling the shelves up with returned books, and he used to pop his head round the corner of the bookcases! Eventually, this wore me down so I agreed to go out with him…
[14] 1951 to 1953 romantic manure
In my real life story 1951 after Roy fetched the Chrysanths, he said to me “I am soon going home to jam sandwiches and Beethoven”. So I realised that, like me, he loved classical music, and it was definitely love at first sight! It was very difficult for us to meet on our own…
[15] 1951 to 1955 wedding day
Continuing my real life story 1951 … of course we were on our own when Roy saw me home after the meal at their cottage, but in the two years we were courting, we only went out to a cinema three times, as the only bus from Terling into Chelmsford…
[19] 1972 to 1976 Peter’s first job
We eventually moved in the summer of 1972. Roy had to lay a concrete roadway, erect a large packing shed which he bought second-hand, and a smaller shed to house the second-hand tomato grader…
[17] 1957 to 1960 I’m not rearing pigs!
Continuing my real life story 1957, Roy had always wanted to be self-employed, so he applied to the L.S.A. (Land Settlement Association) for a smallholding at Lawford, near Manningtree, Essex, and we moved there in November 1957. We had a financial struggle at first, as we had to put down a deposit and then pay…
[16] 1955 to 1956 baby boy
Real life story 1955, our first home at Terling was a new Council House, but we left after seven months, as the market garden could not support another family, as by this time I was pregnant, and Roy got the job as Manager at Harry Church’s Nursery at Witham, just a few miles away…
[18] 1961 to 1970 field found by Providence
To continue my real life story 1961, in February, my Father, who had been very ill with a duodenal ulcer, had survived an experimental operation to by-pass part of his duodenum, sadly died less than a year later, aged 65 years. Peter grew up on the small-holding, and became friends with Paul Austin, whose parents…
[20] 1977 to 1987 working in Aladdin’s cave
We had a very happy life at Ardleigh, attending St. John’s Anglican church in Colchester, but by 1980, profits in horticulture had started to fall, owing to the quantities of Dutch produce flooding the markets, so we decided to look for another business, perhaps in retailing….
[21] 1988 to 1992 building a kit car
After moving to Newton Flotman near Norwich we went to Norway with Roy’s brother, Ted Reason, which was to become our last holiday with him. Also in 1989 our son, Peter, bought a Midas Gold kit car and because he had no garage, we said he could use ours.It was based on reconditioned mini engine…
[22] 1993 to 1998 gathering storm clouds a real-life story
When Roy and I worked on our tomato nursery at Ardleigh, Colchester, our son, Peter, would encourage us to play Badminton but our answer was always, ‘We are too old to play badminton!’ Then when we retired and moved to Newton Flotman, near Norwich, we took up badminton!Roy was like a Jack Russel chasing a…

2. African Safari stories

1940s to 1960s Joe Lucas shares his memories of WW2, his employment in Africa in the 1950s and 1960s on safari.
Or see his African Safari stories category page.

[1] A bad shortcut down the Muse Escarpment!
Well, this short cut includes the Muse Escarpment; descending 2000 feet in a mile and a half. Four years earlier, I made the trip as a passenger in the middle seat of a Land Rover, so I knew what was coming. Fortunately for Mohammed, he didn’t know…
[10] African safari – The valley of the Shadow of Death
Lightning now frequent and close – hardly need the headlights! Down into THE valley – Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, a lightning trap on this African safari. Just once, my passenger reached towards the crash bar. The vertical rock face is a reassuring milestone, but then a direct hit floodlights the scene.
[11] Souvenirs from East Africa: figures 1 to 3
Souvenirs from East Africa, these wooden figures were collected mainly from Tanganyika – now Tanzania, during the early 1950’s. Most were bought at stations on the Central Railway Line…
[12] East African Colonialism out in the bush
East African Colonialism; In Africa their simple tiny churches were much better attended than ours and, despite poverty and hardships, had a touching faith, humility and inner confidence. Mission training was its basis. Throughout East Africa, every known Christian denomination had a station somewhere. Priests and lay brothers – always known as ‘White Fathers’ – tore…
[13] A good read while on safari
There was always a risk on arriving unbooked, to find ‘No Room At The Inn’ on my Tanganyikan safari. Unfortunately the reasons for my travels rarely gave enough notice to make reservations. Unlike the big city palaces, the bush hotel would usually fit you in somewhere…
[14] Souvenirs from Tanganyika: figures 4 to 6
This group of carved 3 figures, souvenirs from Tanganyika, is also made from a lightweight softwood, initially ‘Tea Rose’ coloured – darkening with age…
[15] Comfort in solitude: uplift
Comfort in solitude, the ultimate experience was a first ever encounter with a powerful thermal of rising air, flying a glider. Throw her over into a steep turn, concentrate on ‘look-out’, scan the instruments and see the ground sinking away below…
[16] On a Wing and a Prayer
The planes engine’s song keys down, her nose dips, and the little township rises centre stage. A touch to starboard and there’s the runway ahead, but something is wrong. On a Wing and a Prayer…
[17] Souvenirs from Kenya: figures 7 to 8
These wooden figures were collected in East Africa, mainly from Tanganyika – now Tanzania, during the early 1950’s…
[18] The Silent Key
The Silent Key, someone who is no longer around: I once found a group of 10 year-olds at an exhibition of WW2 equipment, puzzled by a morse key and buzzer; all computer experts probably (unlike me). But I had to ‘show them how’ and rattled out a quick ‘CQ’ _._. … (General call)…
[19] A sting in the tail – deadly scorpion
Our first survival rule read NEVER PUT YOUR HAND INTO A HOLE. I forgot it, and knew what hit me before I saw it. A deadly scorpion! Burns, stings and high voltage shocks a-plenty; but nothing had equalled this, stunning rather than electrifying…
[2] African 1950s Safari introduction
Joe′s Journal of 1950’s safari′s, work contracts and expeditions to far away places. The 1950′s saw a steady stream of well trained technicians available to industry, having completed National Service. I opted for travel and adventure overseas, well paid work with low taxation…
[20] Sundowners on African safaris
Even ‘On Safari’ you found a place to pull in off the ‘road’, brew up, eat and rest during that glorious hour, the ‘Sundowner’. Eyes free of blinding light and the dust settled; refreshed, you could press on in the cooler night air. This stop was essential to those of us who spent long hours…
[21] A Dog’s Life in a hotel bar on an African safari
A Dog’s Life, HE arrived with a whimper. Hungry? – A sausage roll made the tail wag. Thirsty? -a bowl of water raised a cocked head of doggy amazement, and no wag. Then someone gave him a half of India Pale Ale. Instant wagging and immediate consumption…
[22] Processionary caterpillars on African Safari
Five thousand feet up English roses grow as well as Paw Paw fruits, but t’was the huge wooden pillar, remains of some giant pergola, that caught my attention. What’s that dark line on it? Old creeper stem? No, it’s moving! Too thin for a snake – and snakes are not hairy anyway…
[23] African Souvenirs: figures 9 to 11
The first of my African Souvenirs are two sets of figures, made from an ebony like wood, probably finished with boot polish…
[3] WW2 dogfight – Before the Safari days
A quick scan and I became pack leader on spotting them: twenty plus Dornier 17’s, heading for Bristol. This was a WW2 dogfight unfolding before my eyes. Beautiful blue undersides paled into the matching autumn sky, but black crosses stared from the wings. Crackle of gunfire revealed just three Hurricanes weaving around…
[4] 1950’s Mosal – Kurdish delight but very dangerous
The tarmac soon gave way to dust in 1950’s Mosal, but it was halfway through the day, about 70 miles on before foothills replaced the plains. Further on and well into the mountains my driver seemed happier, now in his own country, so I raised the subject of the bullet hole that starred my half…
[5] A Gift of Marbles
The beaming proprietor began counting cool objects into my sweaty outstretched palms. No – NOT CHANGE! Seven clicks as each kissed its neighbour, eight little spheres of gleaming glass with whorls of white on blue, green, red or amber, two of each hue. One per gallon MARBLES…
[6] Wallowing Hippopotamus, Sable and Roan Antelopes
What chance against a lion? A Sable Antelope in Southern Rhodesia Game Reserve. A shy Roan Antelope and wallowing Hippopotamus…
[7] A 1960’s Safari Guide and the Victoria Falls
1962 Luangwa Valley Game Reserve with my African Safari Guide. Inspired by the book ‘Wildlife in an African Territory’ also saw the Victoria Falls.
[8] Tanganyikan safari: Fire in the night
An hour or so later on this Tanganyikan safari: Awake! … Smoke! … Fire? ‘Get back to sleep; it’s the crew and their camp fire, still rejoicing.’ Another hour. Awake again, more smoke, but no fire and the crew silent now. Sleep again. And again! Choking this time and definitely not from wood smoke!…
[9] The Donkey’s Revenge – Egyptian safari
Easter, mid-1960s found me working in Cairo on my Egyptian safari, in a traffic jam, fortunately not driving. Two huge characters perched on a dray headed our queue, drawn by a very small off-white donkey. He waited for the whistle, the whip cracked. ‘Enough’ thinks the donkey, as he spreads out four legs, and sags…

3. Earith historic 1930s to 1960s – a schoolboys outlook

John Wales retells his school boy life in the small village of Earith, Cambridgeshire, England from the 1930s to him joining the Homeguard in WW2.
Or see the Earith historic 1930s to 1960s – a schoolboys outlook category page.
Or see the historic children’s club in Earith known as Earith Storykeepers.

[1] 1930s Earith National Fishing attraction
Earith National fishing attraction: Every year they’d ring direct to mother because they lived well with us, you know, home cooked ham and eggs for breakfast, mainly from the North- Lancashire people. Coach loads used to come to Earith from places like Nottingham and Sheffield to do fishing…
[10] At school in 1930s Earith
Lessons with ‘Gandhi’ at school in 1930’s Earith. Before each day’s school the bell on the roof was rung by an older boy and we all lined up in the playground under our respective teachers and filed quietly in. When I was in Standard two we had ink pens to write with…
[11] 1930s school playground
1930’s school memories: I remember when I was in the infants class Mr Jewson, who lived nearly opposite the playground in the house called ‘Cavendish’ used to go to Mickey Day’s sweet shop and buy a large paper bag full of liquorice Allsorts. He then came to the playground railing and threw the sweets out…
[12] Earith parades 1936 to 1960
George V Jubilee Day 1936 at Earith. Recreation Field, Earith circa 1938-1939 Conservative Parade circa 1950-60
[13] Earith farming in the 1930s and 1940s
Jewson’s gave casual work to many villagers, portering wood from barges to their yard. But farming was the biggest Industry (around the Earith area) and with the busy weekly market in St Ives livestock was put on the local train to Somersham and then distributed to local farms by pony and trap…
[14] Huntingdon Grammar School days
Being in the third form of Huntingdon Grammar School we have a fair amount of homework. We have Physical Education twice a week and a games period on Friday afternoons. We play football in the winter, cricket in the summer and in between these two we have cross country runs. In the Physical Education period…
[15] Earith WW2 and evacuees
Jack’s father and his father before him were calf dealers, and along with many others in the Earith area, they would keep four or five cows in a small holding on the fen, to supplement their meagre agricultural earnings…
[2] Old bridges at Earith
Here is a picture of the Earith Suspension Bridge – known then as the Earith High Bridge… Below is the old Seven Holes Bridge at Earith where there were seven sluices. The modern sluice now stands at the same location…
[3] Remembering 1930s Chapel Road Earith
This used to be a lovely kitchen garden at Earith, Cambridgeshire belonged to Miss Parren the big house on the front. We used to go and play croquet there. Very old red brick wall — hand made. Threw stones at pear tree and cut the pear off – just like that!…
[4] 1930s Pubs in Earith an evocative walk
1930’s Pubs in Earith, there was a lot! Earith was well served with Public Houses. Beer was brewed on the premises and many people supplied their own tankard, which was kept at their preferred public house. ‘The Anchor’ (situated near the pond) was kept by Walter and Violet Broughton…
[5] 1930s Bridge End and Earith High Street
The cows used to walk through Earith High Street, here to the Washes. These good ladies complained bitterly about the mess on their doorsteps. Mrs. Harradine used to ride a tricycle and she would hold on to a cow’s tail to be pulled along. Pledgers and Darbys cowherds as well as our own all used…
[6] 1930s St. Mary’s Bluntisham cum Earith Church graveyard
On my evocative Earith walk I remember Derek Broughton’s 8 year old brother got knocked over by the only car in the village, broke his leg and went to hospital and then died with Meningitis whilst still in there. I can remember standing on George’s corner and Lew provided his lorry. It was covered in…
[7] Skating at Earith in the 1930s
Earith skating: Her father said; “Come on, get your skates on we will skate over to see Uncle so and so at Houghton (skating all the way on the river). The river was frozen and they could do in those days. So they skated all the way from here (Earith) and got to St Ives…
[8] Earith Bonfire and fireworks – before health and safety!
Arthur Thoday who had three young men, sons still at home, he was very keen, he always made the Guy to put on top of the Earith bonfire and Mr. Russell also had three sons kept the shop that sold fireworks and he was a bigger kid than all of us he was always trying…
[9] Flooding in Earith in the 1930s
As children we used to have a great time down there (Earith flooding: the Causeway) when the water was only about, say, a foot deep and the cars used to try and get through and they’d get stuck…