- Contributed by听
- hildaken
- People in story:听
- ken and hilda clark
- Location of story:听
- glasgow railway station
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A1975773
- Contributed on:听
- 05 November 2003
In May 1943 Hilda aged 19 was returning to London after a holiday with family friends in Scotland. Her older brother Will saw her off at Glasgow train station. He was concerned to find the train full of soldiers. They had returned from service in West Africa and their ship had docked in Clydeside due to the war conditions. A friendly young sergeant leaning out of a train window offered to look after her. A handsome young Welshman aged 23, Ken Clark was returning home to Barry for some well earned leave.
After a pleasant journey, during which Ken plied her with chocolate, Hilda left the train in London where she worked at the War Office. But not before Ken had obtained her address.
The following weekend Hilda spent the weekend with her older sister Marjorie in Portsmouth. She showed Marjorie a letter she had received from Ken. She said that he had been nice but she had no intention of replying to it. However Marjorie persuaded her to reply, saying it was the least she could do in view of his kindness on the train.
A few days after Hilda wrote to him, she came out of work one evening to find Ken waiting for her. He said that he had decided to have a short holiday in London. Wartime restrictions notwithstanding, he proceeded to wine and dine her. Marjorie and her husband Fred came up to London for the day and the two couples went to Richmond where they took a boat out on the Thames. A photograph from that time shows an attractive young couple sitting on the grass.
With family approval assured, Ken pushed ahead with his marriage plans. Hilda's family home in Portsmouth had been bombed and the family members scattered. Marjorie agreed to organise the wedding and proceeded to work miracles with hoarded food coupons. She was only 23 herself, married with a baby girl.
Hilda and Ken Clark were married on 11th December 1943 in Portsmouth. I was born eleven month later. They later had two more children.
On 11th December 2003, we will gather at their home in Fareham to celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary. Marjorie will be there. All are in good health. Family members are travelling from Scotland and America to join this ever youthful couple who had a Brief Encounter experience sixty years ago and have been devoted ever since.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo