Families are like fudge . . .

Joan (5) and older sister, Winifred (16)

"Families are like fudge--mostly sweet with a few nuts."
       --author unknown

     "I went to High Street Infants school, then to an elementary school.  Next I moved over to the other side of Arnold to Church Drive Senior School where I stayed until I was 14.
     Unless you were awarded scholarship to secondary schools in Nottingham, you had to leave school at 14.  One day I was in school, the next sitting at a sewing machine in a factory.  There was not much hope of a scholarship unless your parents were involved in the political system.  I always feel so much talent was passed over by stupid class rules and who you knew.
     Mam made all our clothes up until I was married; she was a wonderful seamstress.  She always dressed Molly (Kit's daughter, born in 1932) and me in the same outfits.
     There were too many of us living in the council house at 151 Cross Street, so we doubled up.  I had a bed in Mam and Dad's bedroom.  I would hear him say, "Good night, my darling," to Mam at night.
     I think, of all my sisters, I was closet to Doll (twin of Win).  She and Jack, her husband, would take Molly and me with them on holiday, even on their honeymoon.  They rented a caravan at the coast.
     Nanna was weak and ill for awhile after my birth, so Win was the one who took care of me as a baby.  Jack always 'took up for me (protected me),' especially against Mick because she could be very nasty, was jealous and lashed out and 'gave me her hand.'  Jack would get her back for it.
     I think Mam and Dad must have had a difficult time with that many (10) in the house and with all the squabbling that went on.  All my siblings were older than me and were off at work each day.  As a child, I spent most of my time with Molly, Kit's daughter, who lived with us. " --Joan Shelton

left to right, top--Nell, Kit, Win, Nanna
bottom--Molly (Kit's daughter), Joan, Doll

Joan and Molly at Win's wedding--notice the similar
 dresses made by Nanna

Joan and niece, Molly

     "Mam and Dad took me and Molly everywhere with them.  Some Sundays we would ride the bus to Oxton to visit Grandad and Granny Strutt.  He was a lovely old gentleman.  Granny looked to be 100 even though she was only 72 when she died.  We went for long country walks, stopping for ice cream somewhere.  Sometimes we would go in (split the cost) with Mam's brother and rent the local limo to visit relatives at New Holland, near Hull, for the day."          --Joan Shelton

bottom row, left to right--Doll, Mick and back row, left to right--Kit, Nell and Win--Jack, Joan and Molly not yet born

Bit of history:  Infant school is primarily for children in the UK between the ages of 4-5.  It is compulsory unlike nursery school.  Today in the UK, school is compulsory only until age 16 (14 in Momma's day), when the student can opt to continue schooling until 18, transfer to a college, seek paid work, or complete an apprenticeship.  A council house is a form of public housing built by the local council or government to provide affordable housing to working class people.  

"All grown-ups were once children. . .

"All grown-ups were once children. . . but only few of them remember it.

       --Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

     "I was born in the front bedroom at 151 Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, England, on April 25, 1927.  I was the seventh of Mam's children, and when I was born, Mam was 42, Dad was 41.  I had 5 sisters and 1 brother.  Kit was born in 1911, Nell in 1912, Winn and Doll in 1916, Mick in 1918, and the only son, Jack, in 1921.  When I was born, Kit, my eldest sister, was 16.
     I had a very loving childhood; I adored Mam and Dad.  They were so hard-working.  Mam took in washing, and Dad kept four allotments going so that we always had good healthy food on the table.
     Dad worked as a blacksmith at his forge four days a week.  On the fifth day, he went around to all the local farms, shoeing horses and repairing farm machinery.  He also built some beautiful wrought iron objects.  In Oxton, a village near Arnold, he build a huge wrought iron gate which is still there today.
     I spent many hours with Dad at his forge badgering him with question after question.  I loved to blow the bellows and see the fire flare up.  I still get goosebumps when I see a blacksmith working.
     Dad had a lovely Golden Retriever named Rex who walked with him to work each day.  He rescued the dog from a local farm where he was being abused."                                 --Joan Shelton        

Dad with Rex

Bit of history:  An allotment is a small piece
of land leased by the owner to individual gardeners.  An allotment usually has room for a shed and beds.  Its main purpose is for the growing of fruits, vegetables and flowers.
     Dadda, my grandfather, worked 4 allotments. He had a lot of mouths to feed--9 in all!  I imagine he also grew food in the long, narrow backyard at 151 Cross Street.
     Look at the eyes on the picture of Momma above.  She's 84 now, but her eyes are the same.
Pity the picture isn't in color so we could see their vivid blueness.