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| Above: Emily and Thomas living in Manchester c1923. |
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| Above: Emily and daughter-in-law Vilma c1947. |
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| Newspaper clipping c1978 |
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| There were cherry trees in front of each house in Elmleigh Road. Picture 1975 |
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Emily and Thomas (known as Billy) started life in Gorton, Manchester which was then a slum district, three of emily's children were born here. Thomas worked as a lorry driver for a paint factory, he then became a formen ganger, the same as his father, they also worked together.
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| Emily with Alf and Bill at their first home in Manchester 1922. |
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| Their next home probably for 2 years was in Watford, the home was a flat above a leather shop. The 3 boys shared one bed. Alfred joined a gang called the Green Spot Gang (they wore a green spot on the back of their hand). The only crime they did was scrumping apples. Emily's fourth son Eric was born here. |
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| Labelled on the back: Bill, Alf, Jack, Grandma & I [Emily] c1931. |
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During this period Thomas's father was able to buy a car, a Morris Oxford. Emily's son, Alfred was about 7-9yrs old and remembers going in the car on picnics. About two years later Thomas bought a car, a Morris Cowley.
The next home was 9 Lucus Green Rd, Chobham. Thomas passed away here at the age of 37 on the 7 December 1934.
The family then moved temporarily to Southampton and possibly lodged with Thomas's brother, Sid and his wife Florrie. They lived in Freemantle, Southampton (next to the station) and Florrie had a hairdressers there. The children went to Regents Park Road School. |
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The next move was to 11, Elmleigh road, Havant. Emily's father Alfred who was at the time lodging in Havant joined the family at Elmleigh Road. He was probably retired. He died in 1946 at the age of 81 whilst having a hernia operation!
Her son Alfred remembers joining Havant school for two more years and then left at 14 yrs old.
Emily lived
at Elmleigh Road for around 50 years and for many years worked as a dinner lady at Havant school, and was at the school when her grandson Barrie was there in the early 1950s.
To help with the finances Emily had many lodgers including Nancy, a Police Woman and Margaret who was a Brown Owl (Brownie leader) and a lodger for more than 20 years. |
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| Emily and grandson in the back garden. Havant station in the background 1948. |
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| Emily at 11 Elmleigh Road, Havant with lodger Nancy, early 1960s. |
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| Havant station was at the bottom of Emily's garden and until 1963 there was a branch line to Hayling Island beach, it was very popular with tourists in the summer. The small steam train was locally called the Puffing Billy. |
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