大象传媒

Written by my sister Glenys Williams.

All the Family went to Colne in Sept '39. Mother (father had died in Sept 1937.) with Dora 2, Sonny 5, me 7, Gordon 9, Anne 10 , Violet 11 and Ernest 13. We were split up and I went with Violet to Mr and Mrs Wilkinson who had no children of their own. It was a modern terrace , with a bathroom and electricity. My sister moved a few weeks later I was on my own, it was marvellous! Mr Wilkinson's mother and father lived next door, Ma was very kind, Pa was very stern but also kind.

A few weeks before Christmas I was taken to the markethall and stood looking at about 6 rows of dolls. 'Which do you like best?', I was asked, there were so many, so I picked a black one from the bottom row but I never expected to get any! Christmas morning I awoke to find a white pillowcase on my bed. 'He's been', I shouted and took the case into their bedroom. In a box was the doll with lovely knitted clothes. (I was told afterwards that the doll had a big tummy and the knitting patterns were adapted from baby patterns!)
There was also a pair of blue zip-up slippers, pyjamas, gloves, hankies, a jigsaw, 3 books, waterpaints, 2 lead pencils, an orange, a bar of chocolate and 2 sixpences! It was magical!
I took them next door and showed them off to Ma and Pa. I couldn't understand why they cried. It was a marvellous Christmas!

The next day I went for a walk with my best friend Margaret with our dolls. It was very icey and I fell and dropped my doll. I was so upset, I thought I would have all my presents taken away from me for breaking the doll. Margaret came home with me and held my hand while I told the story to Mr and Mrs Wilkinson. They looked at the doll and sent Margaret home and I expected a good hiding. They said it was only the eyes that had broken and it can be mended at the shop. They both hugged me tight and I stopped trembling. What wonderful people they were, I was so happy!

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