大象传媒

This story begins in July, 1924, when, aged 2 months, I was taken on my first water-borne journey. It appears, too, from the photographs taken, that I, my mother, my grandfather and nurse were the only passengers on that particular crossing. History does not record the reason for my being taken to Walberswick at such a tender age, although I would think it likely that my grandfather was 'hosting' a holiday for my mother following my birth.

In June 1944, almost exactly 20 years later, I was to be found writing a letter to my parents from 13th Queen's Royal Regiment, Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster, during infantry training. What is the connection?

Within days of my despatching this letter, our survival training had been completed and my platoon was entrained for an unannounced and unique transfer to a remote rural rail halt near Southwold. From the halt I recall marching the final leg to our new billet - in Walberswick!! A more complete turn fo a 20-year cycle could hardly have been envisaged.

Once we had settled into our quarters and carried out further training I made an attempt to find the ferry I had been on, but 1944 had different modes of transport than the 1924 old ferry!

A further link in the rather strange sequence of events occurred when, after army service in Europer and the Middle East, followed by a career in industry, my wife and I came to live in Monewden in 1982. Some time later, we visited the former rector, Rev. C. G. Fox, who had retired to live - Walberswick!

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