Joan Spurgeon's Grandparents Book
When and where were you born? How much did you weight at birth? I was born at Hampstead on the 2nd September 1920, 7 lbs? Why were you given your first names My Father chose my names, I was not named after anyone in my family. Family photos? All my family photos were destroyed by my step-mother, so sadly I only have my own memories. My Father used to develop them in the sun which gave sepia photos.
Where did you live when you were young? Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire. How many rooms were there? 5. Did you have a room of your own? At an early age I had a room to myself but when I was 8 years old my Grandfather came to live with us, as he was very frail. So I shared a room with my brother (and a bed!). What do you remember about it? What sort of a building was it? Did it have a garden? The house was a council-rented property. The bathroom was off the kitchen, water boiled in a copper in the kitchen as there was no other form of heating - so a once a week bath was normal. The toilet was outside the back kitchen door, an oil lamp helped to both light & heat a little. When not well we were allowed a coal fire in the bedroom. The house was in a close with a green opposite and the main line to Kings Cross beyond this. Did you move home when you were young? My family moved when I was 13 years old to Enfield, Middx - they bought a small terraced house and both my brother and I had our own rooms - I found the move hard as I left all my friends behind. I joined the Guides and the Sea Rangers. Also the Red Cross and found many friends.
What are your earliest memories? Holidays to the seaside by train as my Father worked for the railway & had passes - we had to stay in boarding houses and my Mother shopped & the landlady cooked. We (my brother & I) were allowed to have a banana & cream, a real treat. I had a God Mother who was a rich lady, she hired a chauffer called Peters to visit us at Letchworth; bought cream cakes! And Leslie and I were taken for a ride in the Daimler car - a real treat. Did you have any hobbies? Not many, we played marbles, skipping, and other games. Helped at home and in the garden as my Father grew all our vegetables. I got 6d a bucket for getting horse manure for him. Also swimming: I learned to swim at a stately home - and got a pen for learning. Did you have a bicycle? How old were you when you learned to ride it? When I was 13 years old my Father got a second hand bicycle for me, and tried to teach me to ride, but being rather independent I went on my own and leant, by falling off a lot. One day feeling very brave as I had mastered riding I went to meet my Father at the station with my feet on the handlebars. To say he was shocked is an understatement!
Did you receive regular pocket money? From what age? Did you have to earn it? Yes we had a small amount from when we started school, and we both had small jobs to do. When my Grandfather lived with us, he had only a small pension but he always had sweets for us, and took us on an open top bus to his local pub at a village called Withan, where we had fizzy lemonade in the Rose Garden - a real treat. How much did you receive and what did you spend it on? I think it was about 6d a week, and mostly I spent it in a small shop which I passed on the way to school and home for lunch. Can you remember any of the things you used to buy? Sherbert dabs 1d, Gob stoppers 5 for 1d, Sherbert fountains 1d, Lemonade crystals 1/2 oz 1d.
Did you have parties on your birthday? Yes we did - and always my Mother made a cake and also a party dress for me. What other memories do you have of your early life? I had a school friend called Betty - who lived in a large house and they had a car! Which I used to go out in sometimes. Do you have any memories of Christmas day when you were young? I do remember that we always had a stir of the Christmas pudding which my Mother was baking. Making paper chains to decorate the house. I remember at an early age I knew about Father Xmas, but sworn to secrecy not to tell my brother! I remember too trying to keep awake on Xmas eve, and kicking my toes down the bed to see if my stocking was full!
What was your Father's name and date of birth and where was he born? James Willian Lee 17th April 1890 Stepney London Describe his appearance. What was his occupation? My Father was tall, almost six feet and very slim, upright and always very smart, shoes well polished, he smoked a pipe. He was clerk on the railway at Kings Cross. He had a great command of figures and a wonderful command of English & excellent handwriting. What were his other interests and hobbies? Gardening and very good at it, producing all the requirements for food and flowers. My Father acquired a knitting machine and made socks & stockings to sell. He was too busy for other hobbies. What are your fondest memories of him? Sitting on his knee after Sunday lunch he always had a nap! and he also snored, I remember being fascinated. Always very helpful with school work. We went cycling together. I remember going to Cardington to see the R100 airship.
What was your Mother's name and date of birth and where was she born? Maud Rose Joyce 1st December 1892 East Ham. Describe her appearance. What were her special interests and talents? My Mother was not very tall, petite would describe her best, she was in my opinion very beautiful, always neatly dressed, with wavy hair short as I remember. Of a very loving and generous disposition. A good cook & housewife, she sewed all our clothes and her own, could knit & crochet. What was her occupation before her marriage? Ladies companion to Mrs Mae West. What are your fondest memories of her? Always at home when we returned from school, welcomed our friends also. I do have good memories of new dresses for special occassions and of her coming to school to warm milk in the winter for us at playtime.
Leslie, 29th June 1923, Letchworth. What do you particularly remember about him from your childhood? I remember that we had many happy times playing together and to being very protective of my young brother.What was his occupation as adult? After the 2nd war finished Leslie took the exam for the Civil Service and chose to enter the Home Office Prison Service.
What is your fondest memory of him in adult life? Leslie was a keen Scout and attained his Kings Ring, and also a keen cyclist. I joined with him to cycle with the Civil Service cycle club.
Describe your first school. I started primary school at 5 years old at Westbury School, Letchworth, we had contract for cooking and housework! at Pixmore School nearby - I remember having to eat our concoction for lunch - taken over a heated stove. Also playing them and other schools for hockey - I was not much good at netball or field sports other than long jump. Which school did you move on to after that? I left school at 14 years old having failed to enter the exam for Grammar School. How did you travel to school? I walked to school and back home for lunch. What did you most enjoy about going to school? At which subjects did you do best? I did not enjoy my school work - not able to keep up with maths etc. I was given the task of keeping the wet & dry diary and also to attend the school garden which I enjoyed very much. Were there any subjects you disliked? Maths Geometry etc. How much homework were you given? Daily exercise in literature - spelling, arithemetic tables, etc. Did you ever get into trouble at school? What happened? Yes I got into trouble with the teacher who took sewing and got several raps on my arm for not being able to sew or knit at all well! Any musical instruments? I tried to learn the violin but without much success!! How old were you when you left school? I left school just before my 14th birthday, and started work as a junior at a firm Country Gentlemans Association dealing with properties for gentleman farmers. Did you go on to further studies? Yes I went to evening classes for shorthand typing & ledger work. Why did you chose this subject? My Father thought it would help me to gain qualification for getting a better position.
Book entries written by Joan Spurgeon.