Tilney St Lawrence

I was born at my parents home, Joyce's Farm, School Road, in 1948. I was one of 7 children born to my parents. Alice and Ted (Edward) Parker. We had the most amazing free and happy childhood. My parents weren't wealthy but we were never hungry and always seemed to have the most amazing birthday and Christmas gifts. I remember having twin pram one year! My father made one part of the barn into a play area for us. We had old rugs and pictures so that we could play house', my brothers had a dartboard on the wall and we even had an old organ to play on! During the holidays we helped pick strawberries that my father grew. They were always collected by Askew and Sons. Some were put in punnets others went in trays to be sent to the local jam factory. I also remember picking broad beans for a neighbouring farmer, Mr. Bert Whitear. I recall many happy hours playing around the farmyard and racing over the stubble fields with our dog, Ben. Sometime we would go off for hours and take a picnic, usually a bottle of orange squash, tomato or cucumber sandwiches and a packet of Smiths crisps! We all went every week to the Methodist Sunday School. For the chapel anniversary each year we always had new outfits. My young sister and I usually had matching dresses. The primary school head teachers were Mr and Mrs Carter. Both lovely people but I was particularly fond of Mrs Carter, she was always very kind to me, often commenting on my lovely cardigan etc. although she would probably have seen them before on my older sisters! Our nearest neighbours were the Sampson family, I often played with Joyce and Peggy, the eldest girls. Mrs Sampson was an amazing and hardworking woman. I was always fascinated by their outside toilet which was wooden and seated two! My mothers friend Phyllis Horn also lived nearby with her husband George. Phyllis was my godmother and was a lovely motherly lady. Life wasn't all good it must have been a great struggle for my parents at times but we were never really aware of it. It was a cold damp house, brr the ice on the inside of the sash windows in the winter and only linoleum on the floor. We all had to do our bit to help around the house and farm, but all things considered we were very fortunate and I have every respect for my amazing parents.

I was born at my parents home, Joyce's Farm, School Road, in 1948. I was one of 7 children born to my parents. Alice and Ted (Edward) Parker. We had the most amazing free and happy childhood. My parents weren't wealthy but we were never hungry and always seemed to have the most amazing birthday and Christmas gifts. I remember having twin pram one year! My father made one part of the barn into a play area for us. We had old rugs and pictures so that we could play house', my brothers had a dartboard on the wall and we even had an old organ to play on! During the holidays we helped pick strawberries that my father grew. They were always collected by Askew and Sons. Some were put in punnets others went in trays to be sent to the local jam factory. I also remember picking broad beans for a neighbouring farmer, Mr. Bert Whitear. I recall many happy hours playing around the farmyard and racing over the stubble fields with our dog, Ben. Sometime we would go off for hours and take a picnic, usually a bottle of orange squash, tomato or cucumber sandwiches and a packet of Smiths crisps! We all went every week to the Methodist Sunday School. For the chapel anniversary each year we always had new outfits. My young sister and I usually had matching dresses. The primary school head teachers were Mr and Mrs Carter. Both lovely people but I was particularly fond of Mrs Carter, she was always very kind to me, often commenting on my lovely cardigan etc. although she would probably have seen them before on my older sisters! Our nearest neighbours were the Sampson family, I often played with Joyce and Peggy, the eldest girls. Mrs Sampson was an amazing and hardworking woman. I was always fascinated by their outside toilet which was wooden and seated two! My mothers friend Phyllis Horn also lived nearby with her husband George. Phyllis was my godmother and was a lovely motherly lady. Life wasn't all good it must have been a great struggle for my parents at times but we were never really aware of it. It was a cold damp house, brr the ice on the inside of the sash windows in the winter and only linoleum on the floor. We all had to do our bit to help around the house and farm, but all things considered we were very fortunate and I have every respect for my amazing parents.