Polyanna

My brother and I were born at 72 Fretson Road. Next door were Mr and Mrs Eyre and their son, John. On the other side were the Hancock family, then Mrs Toone, then my grandmother and her sister, Mrs Briggs and Mrs Walker. Beyond them were the Milners. Round the corner, almost opposite the top corner of 'the Rec' were the Fitzakerleys. I think John F went to school with my brother. Opposite us Mr and Mrs Hastings and Mrs McGrath lived. From looking into my family I wonder if Mrs Hastings was my grandfather's sister. That would have meant her maiden name was Hague. We moved to The Crossways before the birth of the first of my two younger sisters. We all went to Standhouse School. Miss Wright was head at that time. My teachers included Mrs Asplen, Miss Dodd, Mrs Parkin, Miss Berry and Mrs Miles. My brother was in Mr Rackham's class. I remember going with my mum and grandmother to the shops at Fairleigh. We also used to get our paper kites from the man up the little close. My brother and I stayed at Standhouse until secondary school. My sisters hit the 'middle school' period in education and transferred to Prince Edward. Most of the children from where we lived went to Pipworth Road. My parents were married at St Swithun's church and two, or maybe three of us, were baptized there. My youngest sister was baptized and Prince of Wales Road Methodist church where we all went to Sunday School.