UK Memories Blog!

Jean from Linwood

Hi Neighbours,

I am currently reading a book called “A 1950s Childhood: From Tin Baths to Bread and Dripping”. I have also read the book “A 1940s Childhood: From Bomb Sites to Children’s Hour”. They have both been written by English authors, so are based on their memories of growing up in England during those years. These books are also recalling wonderful memories for me, growing up in England during those years, covering school, games in the street, i.e. hopscotch, pop stars, ie. Tommy Steele, etc.

When I first came to live in New Zealand, in 1984, I was amazed (and still am!) at how many people in New Zealand write with their left hand, something that I always wanted to do! When I was a lot younger, I used to imagine what it would be like for me to write with my left hand, so I used to stand in front of the mirror and write something with my right hand, and watch myself writing “left handed in the mirror”, and think “I wish I could do that for real! (Isn’t it sad for some people ha! ha!)

So, I thought I would share one of the pages from the 1950s book with you, but especially any neighbours who were brought up in England during these years, from which you will see in the attached page, in the blocked paragraph, what it was like for us if we tried to write with our left hand. I’m sure a lot of English people will remember those days!

I have another book to read like these two above, and that one is called “Pie ‘N’ Mash & Prefabs”; my auntie lived in a pre-fab in Slough, Berkshire, UK, so it should bring back some lovely memories for me.

If there are any English people out there who are interested in these books, I bought them from www.amazon.co.uk.... Also, of course, if any New Zealand neighbours had parents who lived through these years in England, these books would give them an insight into how their parents lived in those years.


In time, I may consider donating these books to Linwood Library, but I want my friend to see them first, as she was born in Heywood, Lancashire