Elsie started writing her story after reading our son's school assignment "The amazing story of ...." After her death earlier this year, I sorted out favourite photos and printed her short, unfinished memoirs to fit in a not very large memory book. The written pages were placed next to suitable photographs. Some of the very old photos were poor quality and scratched. It was not too difficult to scan, crop and "repair" these. Some of the reproductions were amazing. The following is a short excerpt:Time went by. I was fourteen and started work at Barratt's shoe factory, 7:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m, pedalling furiously home, up and down Kingsthorpe Hill, for a quick lunch in the 12:15 to 1:30 break. For this I earned thirteen shillings twelve of which my mother had, which left one shilling for me to buy stockings. We worked Saturday morning too, 7:30 to 11:30. There were over 300 girls and ladies in the room I worked in. The older ladies taught us how to use the machines and stitch the shoes, which were famous all over the world.
Elsie died when she was 93, the same age as my father. Both were born in 1917. Of greatest interest is the sharp contrast between their two lives ..... one a shoe maker in Northampton, the other a tenant farmer in Hertfordshire. In retrospect, from the age of 70 onwards both had similar retirements. They both continued to do some work when required. Elsie was one of the few people left who could make a complete shoe. My father built a swimming pool and started a mail order fuchsia business in his seventies. They both enjoyed short holidays and frequent visits to their local pub. The following is a short extract from my father's incomplete biography:
In 1919 the whole family moved to a mixed arable and dairy farm. Our family was not considered wealthy but we had a large house and extensive garden and my father was able to employ a gardener, Percy, who also looked after the sale of milk from the dairy attached to the house. Other things we took for granted might now be considered signs of wealth. Mother had two domestic servants and a nurse maid which now seems very extravagant. However, I recall one occasion when the Vicar called finding us tearing newspaper into squares for toilet paper. Also, although we ate well, when there was a surplus of cracked eggs, for the main meal we would see these scrambled.
For those of you living in or near Nepean, Ontario I am able to help with family memory books. Currently I tutor in student's homes and have also worked as a home support worker helping seniors maintain their independence at home. I enjoy working with people of all ages and am able to interview family members and type biographical entries. I know that seniors enjoy visitors, particularly if they are totally or partly housebound. I am also willing to help seniors with their own projects such as editing written projects .... some may enjoy art lessons.
You can view my full profile and local at-home services at: www.nepeanlearning.com.
Or contact me, Gill Brown, at:
nepeanlearning@rogers.com
