- Contributed by听
- Joanne
- People in story:听
- Jean Grant
- Location of story:听
- Mile End and Somerset
- Article ID:听
- A1130338
- Contributed on:听
- 01 August 2003
I am writing a biography for a lady called Jean who was born in 1933 and who grew up in Maplin Street in Mile End, which is adjacent to the Mile End Station. She lived in a pub called 'The Royal Standard' and was an only child of the landlords Lil and John Grant.
Lil and John loved their fortnightly trip to the flicks, but during the blackout it was so dark with all the lights out, including the picture house lights, Lil had to depend on John to guide her. He had firm hold of her arm and led her down the street in the pitch black telling her when and where to step. On approaching the cinema he told her a step was coming up, Lil started to lift her leg up to get on the step but couldn't feel it, up and down her leg was going as John still insisted there was a step, when she found out there was no step and realised she would have looked hideous had there been light, they laughed and laughed. All sorts of games and tricks were played during black out as people had to keep in high spirits during this bleak period.
Jean went to Southern Grove School in the next road and was evacuated with her cousin Norma to Bridewater in Somerset.
They got split up from one another, Norma went to Mrs Smiths who didn't really want her but had to take her for money was short and the meagre few shillings were welcomed. Jean went to a Mrs Wynn who had a young son of her own. The house where Norma stayed was cramped, dark and running alive with bed bugs, Mrs Smith tried to get Norma to sleep in with a rough gypsy lot in one of the rooms but Norma demanded a different room! After getting the measles Mrs Smith demanded Norma to leave and arrangments were made to move her to Mrs Wynns with Jean. This was only a temporary arrangment and a further move had to be made to old Grampa Mayo for both Jean and Norma.
Grampa Mayo was miserable as sin but Jean and Norma loved his big back garden which was full of roses and the wonderful aroma of spring! Jean and Norma also found a blackberry bush in the garden and decided it was a good idea to pick some. Some turned into loads and having eaten most of these delicious large berries, (with evidence down the front of their dresses)they took the rest inside the house to maybe persuade Grandma Mayo into making blackberry pie for tea. With dresses turned up and made into handy bags for the berries they stood in the kitchen wondering what could have possibly caused the look of horror on Grampa and Grandmas face. It turned out they were Grampa Mayo's prize winning blackberries! whoops!
I think yet another move was on the cards!
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