A collection of things that have shaped my life …
The end of my Velocette journey. One of the later Mark 1s, from 1933, with a 4 speed box and steel flywheels. Delightfully light and smooth, happy to cruise at 60 – and maybe faster? From the ‘golden’ era of the company. A keeper, definitely.
A prefect – these were elected by the pupils and wore a braid around the edges of their uniforms. An interesting phenomenon whereby prominent – but popular – hooligans were given responsibility for managing the conduct of their juniors, often to the benefit of both! They could ‘award’ detentions and the names of the offenders were read out in the daily assembly. I fell foul of this as my brother (sensibly) chose not to read out his own surname, so I didn’t turn up!
Called ‘Beauty’ – and she was – but too boisterous for them, and had to be rehomed.
This should read ‘Gaillardias’ – I think we called them ‘jam-tart’ plants.
20/9/1915 at St Thomas’ Church, Winchester – now converted into flats. Joan & David were born exactly a year later.
Presumably at Buriton, where Mrs Pegram, now Mrs Bonham-Carter, lived.
There were only 6 beds: a double, a double ‘Put-u-Up’ sofa, and a double ‘board’ which folded down from the wall in the living room. Presumably one shared with their Grandma…
Here are the boys with their mother …
Peter Robert Turnill, third and youngest son of Joan, b 1/5/1947, m 19/10/1971
I have only recently recalled this event and remember being incarcerated in my own room behind a glass wall in the Portsmouth ‘Infectious Diseases Hospital’ (IDH) with the family, on a visit, tapping on the glass and waving. I don’t recall feeling distressed – or even ill – but I do remember a child in an adjacent cell (!) shouting repeatedly “Wanna go to poop!”
Roger Graham Turnill, second son of Joan, born 24/4/1944, died ??/6/1974
Roger on left with older brother Richard
Little more than a shed! The picture shows it in 1982 shortly before we demolished it. The house to the left was built by Joan and occupies half the plot they bought in 1952. They had about 2/3 of an acre of ground.
Margaret Ianthe ? ? Hanson, first child of Derwent & Margaret, b ??/??/1942, m ????? d ??/??/2008? Ellen holds Ianthe – taken 1/3/43
Richard Brian Turnill, first child of Joan & Victor, b 23/10/1942, d 12/1/1961. Douglas must have got lost somewhere.
They certainly did …
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Could this be “St Aubyns”? This church in Copnor Road (less than a mile from Green Lane) suffered bomb damage but was rebuilt in 1956 and is now a listed building.
No. 1 Kingston Road Portsmouth. Now an Indian Restaurant.
The Fords were also neighbours in Lovedean (see 1952) in the next shack, but they are not mentioned at that time. In the picture Mrs Ford is seated with her two daughters, a grandson and Dick Hanson. in Dick’s garden some time in the early ’70s.
The ‘Clarence Gardens’ nearby in North End, still a Pub
The ‘Odeon’, North End, a striking Art Deco building opened in 1937, closed 2007
Derwent George Cooper Hanson was their 3rd child, born 8/9/1918, and thus just 21 at the start of the war. Died ??/??/??
Lionel ? ? Cooper was the 4th and last child, born on 10/4/1922 and not registered at the start of the book
Older brother and sister, Joan and David (twins) are peeping round the door …
He had been a guest at their wedding. They named their next child (born 1918) after him.
Note Ellen’s greengrocer’s apostrophe! Henry and Elsie got married …
Henry’s school-leaving report – he was just 13, and he became a plumber.
Ellen as a little girl, all dressed up for the photograph. I wonder if the doll was the photographer’s prop?
His parents were obviously Liberal supporters! He continued the tradition by naming their son Thomas Ewart. The picture shows Thomas at 3 years and 8 months “with Sandy, Grandad’s dog”.
Margaret Williams, born ??????,
died ??/??/?? daughter of a very tall Royal Marine
