大象传媒

I was born in North London, a stone's throw from Highgate Hill and the Archway.

I lived with my parents and Patrick, my brother who was two years older than me.

Our house was terraced, and the streets and roads in the vicinity were named after characters found in William Shakespears Plays. Names such as Miranda, Parolles, Prospero, and Cressida.

I was born March 1939, and it was 1943/4 when I was about five, that memories of WW2 began.

Mrs Callow, who was our next door neighbour, invited Patrick and myself into her house. We were to meet her sailor son, who was home on leave. As we had never heard of this man before, it is probably safe to guess he had been away a long time. There was great excitement when we arrived, duly cleaned and polished for this special treat.

Mrs Callow introduced her son, and he very soon brought a long, round bag from which be produced the treats. There was a strong smell of Lifebuoy soap. I thought we were to be given a bar , but know we were handed something we could eat.

We simply did not know what to do with these strange objects, especially as they smelled even stronger of soap. Much laughter and instruction followed and we tasted our first ever banana. Of course, it even tased of soap, possibly because it had been stored close to his personal cleaning equipment.

I must have eaten many dozens of bananas since that day, but never without that special fragrance of Lifebuoy soap invading my memory.

This small story has been told to my childlren and grandchildren. I have also included it in the stories I have written for the family tree.It is possible that the sailor son of Mrs Callow is out there somewhere. If he is, please get in touch. If not, then I say thank you Mrs Callow and your son for your kindness.

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