I was born June 25th 1939, in the middle front bedroom at the Haynings, the youngest of the first three children of Dan (aged 33) and Phyllis (aged 28). Margaret was just 3, and Frank 20 months.
It was 2 months before the start of the 2nd world war (Sept. 3rd 1939). I imagine there was a lot of worry and anxiety. Dan was in the RNVR and could be called up at any moment. There was much talk of the Germans invading, and if so, they would land on the East coast. A Craig cousin lived in Ambleside in the Lake District, so it was arranged for Phyllis, the 3 children and Celia, the nursemaid, to join her. Meanwhile Dan was called up to the Sparrows Nest, the recruiting naval base in Lowestoft, and locums assigned to the practice.
I of course remember nothing of these earlier years, but was perhaps 3 when going into my parents room to get into bed with my mother was told in no uncertain terms, to get back into my own bed. Had I be sleeping with my mother whilst my father was away?
I also recall the day nursery having a coal fire enclosed by a large fender, on which our clothes were aired. The nursery had toy cupboards down one side and a window seat opposite overlooking the garden, I don’t remember where we all slept. Was it all three together in the night nursery?
The next memory is of Ian’s Christening. Phyllis had been ill before the birth and Ian, when born, was a delicate baby. At that time, we all attended the Presbyterian church in Ipswich, so it was arranged that the minister Rev. McPhail would come to the house. The Christening took place in our panelled dining room - the big oak table was pushed back, chairs arranged in a semi circle and the font placed in front of the fireplace. I was assigned a little chair by the hall door to show people their places.
Around this time, Phyllis took Margaret (aged 7) to join Dan in the Orkney Islands. Frank , baby Ian and I, were left behind with the cook Mrs. Waite, her daughter Olive and Ian’s nurse. The weather was good because we played in the garden. Frank and Olive climbed the old yew tree, which used to be in the centre of the lawn. It was not a happy time for Frank or me. I think Ian's nurse was quite severe.
Later, we took our bikes down to Framlingham Station, boarding the train bound for Thorpeness Halt. Arriving we would unload bikes and picnic and cycle the half mile to the beach. Thorpeness was fortified with barbed wire and huge blocks of concrete, but the army had left a gap for locals to have access to the beach and sea. The Meare, of course, was closed.
I also stayed with Granny at Leiston who lived in a house called ‘Minsmere’. It was a small double- fronted detached house with the sitting room on the left with interesting large gold framed pictures of bluebell woods and wooded landscapes, and the dining room on the right. At the back of the house was a very old fashioned kitchen with a stone floor where her maid Celia presided. Behind the kitchen was a scullery, and through that one arrived at the shed where a very beautiful Victorian rocking horse lived. Beside the shed was a large dog kennel with steel bars where Bruce, the black Labrador was kept. I can see Granny, graciously sitting in her chair with long earrings and her white hair arranged in a bun. She used to put on her stockings by sitting on the bed and putting one leg over the other. Grandad often took the dog for a walk and used to chase the boys off the railway bridge opposite the house with his walking stick.
The guest room had two beds with lavender eiderdowns to match the lavender chintz curtains. The bathroom was strange as the lavatory sat on a raised plinth at the back of the room. On a little shelf near the bath were various white enamel jugs for hot water. Aunt May and Helen were usually away in London but had interesting attic rooms on the 3rd floor reached by a varnished pine staircase.
I also visited Auntie Betty and cousin Penelope at Gar House Leiston. Her two older children, John and Wendy were at Boarding school but Pen was a year younger than me. The play room was at the front of the house with a large cupboard full of prewar toys. Treasure Island was a favourite with little boats and real treasure, They also had the ‘Baba’ books. Once we went to Aldeburgh and saw Aunt Jessie Sylvester in an old fashioned victorian bathing dress emerging from a bathing machine . Usually we cycled to Thorpeness over Aldringham Common or played in the garden where Auntie Betty kept her hens . There was a dug out fort here which was really just a hole in the ground, but to us children was a great adventure.
My school days began at the Limes Nursery School at the other end of town. I don't remember being unhappy there - just bewildered. The naughty boys, Martin and Tony Harvey from Tannington once threw chairs about, and I was sick after eating custard powder ice cream. It was the particles of ice that I recall most.
At 7 I transferred to Robert Hitchums Primary school . This was unusual, as at that time middle class children didn't usually go to state schools. I made friends with a group of local children including Doremy Thompson, Barbara Bridges, and Elizabeth Cooper my teacher's daughter. We did the usual ‘girlie’ things such as playing house between the roots of the lime trees, hopscotch in the playground, and had birthday parties at each others houses. I was intrigued to see the Thompson’s only water supply was a pump in the yard. My accent deteriorated and I was rebuked at home if I didn't speak grammatically.
I was taken to school by my father if he was going to the Framlingham School to see boys in the sickbay, or by an older girl called Muriel Cotton and her friends. They weren't always kind to me, but I don't remember complaining. I was brought home by my mother pushing the two boys in the push chair. I remember being ashamed that she wore a duffle coat!