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.