Jottings of an Octogenarian
(not necessarily in chronological order)
Life as written by Mollie Eileen Eborn (nee Kneller) and given to her younger son, John Henry (Kneller) Eborn for Easter 2003.
(Words and explanations in italics and Brackets added by JHKE in 2016)
I was born at home; “Dorincourt”, 90 Portsmouth Road, Woolston, Southampton on January 26th 1916. (The house looked well maintained in the late 20th Century when I went past it).
I went to a little school and I was called Mollie Eileen. Why, I’ve no idea but that name wasn’t used much because of a white fur coat I wore, I was always called Bun, except by my cousin, Betty, who liked MEK better until, many years, later my husband objected although I was born a Kneller.
But back to the School; it was a house on an inner road; parallel to Portsmouth Road, just across our drive so no need to be escorted. Our drive came beside the house to a paddock at the back, which housed the Carpenter’s shop, sheds and another building; later to become my garage.
I had everything; a Pony, a Rabbit, (until it gave birth), Skating boots, Piano lessons, Dancing Classes from the age of three.
Christmases were spent at ‘Claughton Lodge’, 67 Portsmouth Road, Woolston,
Claughton Lodge was the home of my paternal Grandparents, Nannie and ‘Nutna’ Kneller. (The house still exists although on the last time I visited it was derelict with a burnt out car in the drive.)
Indeed it was there that I was told that I had a little Brother. What to call him? I liked a little boy at school (I was eight at the time) called Colin. Nannie said Godfrey must be included (for the Artist to whom I understand we are related to through Sir Godfrey Kneller’s brother) and Harry for his Father and Grandfather. So Colin Godfrey Harry Kneller it was.
Claughton Lodge was the home of my paternal Grandparents, Nannie and ‘Nutna’ Kneller. (The house still exists although on the last time I visited it was derelict with a burnt out car in the drive.)
Indeed it was there that I was told that I had a little Brother. What to call him? I liked a little boy at school (I was eight at the time) called Colin. Nannie said Godfrey must be included (for the Artist to whom I understand we are related to through Sir Godfrey Kneller’s brother) and Harry for his Father and Grandfather. So Colin Godfrey Harry Kneller it was.
My Mother was very sweet (and beautiful) but not very demonstrative; neither was my Father but “Daddy” encouraged me to do things that would not be allowed today. I drove his Rover 20; a black fabric covered body with a 4 inch red stripe around, to Tennis. I belonged to the West End Tennis Club) (I think my Great Grand-parents either owned or gave the land). I drove by sitting on a cushion with a block of wood under my feet because I wasn’t tall enough. Talking of cars, for some extraordinary reason we bought 3 black and blue Morris Oxford Saloons; registration numbers OW 7772, OW 7773 and OW 7776. I don’t know who used them all, I didn’t.
I went to Southampton Town Hall on my 17th birthday and bought a driving licence.
(There was no such thing as driving tests then) Nannie Kneller’s Rent Collector (for the many houses which the family owned), a shabby little man, took me out three times and my Father said “now you can drive, I’ll come”. He said that if that was the best I could do, he would get out and walk (and I was being so careful) – after which I never dawdled about the roads.
I digress; my Father used to take me on my pony to South-Western Shore in Southampton, me mounted, him on foot in spite of a permanent limp due to a horse rolling on him many years previously.
I went to Southampton Town Hall on my 17th birthday and bought a driving licence.
(There was no such thing as driving tests then) Nannie Kneller’s Rent Collector (for the many houses which the family owned), a shabby little man, took me out three times and my Father said “now you can drive, I’ll come”. He said that if that was the best I could do, he would get out and walk (and I was being so careful) – after which I never dawdled about the roads.
I digress; my Father used to take me on my pony to South-Western Shore in Southampton, me mounted, him on foot in spite of a permanent limp due to a horse rolling on him many years previously.
I forgot to add that all the Kneller males were artistic.
My father retired at 45, I never remember him going out to work, although he physically built a house opposite “Dorincourt” and let me lay some of the bricks.
(Mum said the house was next door when we visited the house many years later. Mum also nailed some of the oak paneling in Dorincourt and was delighted to see it was still there when she and I visited the house.)
I want to St Ann’s School - wrong school – and left there for the Convent High School in The Avenue, Southampton. I left there with a nervous breakdown; the Nun’s terrified me especially when the last pair (walking in ‘crocodile fashion) had to carry their umbrellas on our after lunch walk. (Mum said that the Nuns used to hit the girls with the umbrellas).
I left there and went to “The Atherley” in Hill Lane. Miss P J who was the Head and she was even worse than the Nuns. It was a snob place. Louise P (her Father was Mayor at the time) arrived daily in the Mayoral car.
I walked to Woolston, met my friend Phyllis C opposite Nannie Kneller’s or rather who was there first chalked on the Doctor’s fence, to say we had already gone. Poor Doctor Prr, he never knew neither did his daughter, Ursula, who was quite nice. We caught the floating bridge (ferry) over the River Itchen and the tram up Southampton High Street, under the Bar Gate and so on to The Avenue.
I left there and went to “The Atherley” in Hill Lane. Miss P J who was the Head and she was even worse than the Nuns. It was a snob place. Louise P (her Father was Mayor at the time) arrived daily in the Mayoral car.
I walked to Woolston, met my friend Phyllis C opposite Nannie Kneller’s or rather who was there first chalked on the Doctor’s fence, to say we had already gone. Poor Doctor Prr, he never knew neither did his daughter, Ursula, who was quite nice. We caught the floating bridge (ferry) over the River Itchen and the tram up Southampton High Street, under the Bar Gate and so on to The Avenue.
(Mum used to say how later she bought her gloves in a department store Above Bar. The assistant would ask Mum to place her elbow on a cushion on the counter as the assistant smooth the gloves over her hand and arm).
I forgot to say that the nervous breakdown resulted in a very bad stutter, in fact my friend Dorothy W - it rhymed with Kneller - used to answer the Roll Call for me. It was then decided that I wasn’t going to learn anything anyway so I might as well leave. I think I was 16. It was then that Uncle Syd and Auntie Lily ‘took over’ my life. They took me to Lugano and many trips to Switzerland
(Mum especially remembered trips to the Hotel Eden where the Kneller family used to go en-masse. The waiters used to clap the family into the magnificent dining room - On a much later trip to the Hotel Eden with Mum, Dad and me; Mum was sad to see that the hotel she held so dear had been demolished and replaced with a 1960’s Post Modern Hotel).
I spent a fortnight with Uncle Syd (Mum’s Father’s brother; the youngest of the four) and Auntie Lily every summer. Indeed it was from their home, “Morecote, Sandy Lane, Wallington, Surrey, that I was eventually eventually married when I think I was 23.
(Mum and Dad married on July 18th 1940 – Mum was actually 24). Uncle Syd and Auntie Lily were wonderful to me and even used to go on evening picnics, after Uncle Syd’s day in the office at Kneller and Chandler’s in London.
I must retract that I was given Piano lessons by a Mrs R. but I wouldn't practice, the room was too cold! I tried the Violin (I learned the Trumpet, the Violin and the Piano - I was terrible at the first two and managed a tiny amount on the piano) but I was no good at that either. The only thing I could do was Dance. (Mum taught me to dance which we often did at the Charity Balls in London - where I also won a holiday in the raffle at one Ball). The Misses B put on Matinees at the Palace Theatre in Southampton. I was a Rose Soloist with a chorus of Wisteria, a Dutch Girl. Nannie painted Tulips on the hem of my dress and made a Dutch bonnet complete with wings and my Father mad me a Milkmaid's wooden should holster from which hung baskets of Pink Tulips; hampered the Clog Dance but very effective. We also danced at a Fete at The Chine; a delightful sunken garden just off Hill Lane. FRom there more or less, I graduated to The Womens's League of Health and Beauty. We marched down Oxford Street (London) in an outdoor uniform; a black velvet skirt added to our usual uniform of white satin blouse and black satin shorts (knickers, really). This was under the auspices of Prunella Stack - I think she was Lady something really - very pretty and very charming.
(With acknowledgement to Wikipedia: Prunella Stack OBE 28 July - 30 December 2010. She was a British fitness pioneer and Women's Rights activist. She was head of the Women's League of Health and Beauty which her Mother had founded in 1931. She was born in India, the daughter of Captain Edward Hugh Bagot Stack and his wife Mary. In 1938 she married Lord David Douglas-Hamilton with whom with whom had two sons, Diamaid and Iain. Squadron Leader David Douglas-Hamilton was killed in 1944 when his damaged airplane crashed. In 1950 she married Alistair Albers, a Surgeon, in South Africa. He died in a climbing accident in 1951 while climbing Table Mountain accompanied by his wife. In 1964 she married Brian Power, an Irish Barrister.
(Mum and Dad married on July 18th 1940 – Mum was actually 24). Uncle Syd and Auntie Lily were wonderful to me and even used to go on evening picnics, after Uncle Syd’s day in the office at Kneller and Chandler’s in London.
I must retract that I was given Piano lessons by a Mrs R. but I wouldn't practice, the room was too cold! I tried the Violin (I learned the Trumpet, the Violin and the Piano - I was terrible at the first two and managed a tiny amount on the piano) but I was no good at that either. The only thing I could do was Dance. (Mum taught me to dance which we often did at the Charity Balls in London - where I also won a holiday in the raffle at one Ball). The Misses B put on Matinees at the Palace Theatre in Southampton. I was a Rose Soloist with a chorus of Wisteria, a Dutch Girl. Nannie painted Tulips on the hem of my dress and made a Dutch bonnet complete with wings and my Father mad me a Milkmaid's wooden should holster from which hung baskets of Pink Tulips; hampered the Clog Dance but very effective. We also danced at a Fete at The Chine; a delightful sunken garden just off Hill Lane. FRom there more or less, I graduated to The Womens's League of Health and Beauty. We marched down Oxford Street (London) in an outdoor uniform; a black velvet skirt added to our usual uniform of white satin blouse and black satin shorts (knickers, really). This was under the auspices of Prunella Stack - I think she was Lady something really - very pretty and very charming.
(With acknowledgement to Wikipedia: Prunella Stack OBE 28 July - 30 December 2010. She was a British fitness pioneer and Women's Rights activist. She was head of the Women's League of Health and Beauty which her Mother had founded in 1931. She was born in India, the daughter of Captain Edward Hugh Bagot Stack and his wife Mary. In 1938 she married Lord David Douglas-Hamilton with whom with whom had two sons, Diamaid and Iain. Squadron Leader David Douglas-Hamilton was killed in 1944 when his damaged airplane crashed. In 1950 she married Alistair Albers, a Surgeon, in South Africa. He died in a climbing accident in 1951 while climbing Table Mountain accompanied by his wife. In 1964 she married Brian Power, an Irish Barrister.
The march ended with a display in the Albert Hall. Uncle Syd and Auntie Lily came to that.
I also liked the Skating and managed to waltz on ice, not very well, but the right way up!
My Grandfather, as well as building ‘The Colonnade’ in Woolston (a parade of shops which still existed in the 1990’s), laid out a Golf Course on high ground, sloping towards the River Itchen. Betty (my Cousin) and I used to spend many afternoons there. (I think that the family later built on the land).
I was taken to Sholing, nearby in Hampshire, to see Great Gran Kneller. She was a little old, formidable, lady dressed from head to toe in black who neither spoke nor moved. I seem to have been terrified of something all my life.
My maternal Grandmother, Nannie Sherry, was so different from Nannie Kneller and was hard working. On Mondays there was an awful fire under the corner ‘Copper’ (clothes boiling drum) and the kitchen filled with steam.
My Grandfather Nutna Sherry sitting in as chair saying “I put it in paper bags”, which looking back might not have been so stupid, as they had a Greengrocer’s shop on the corner of Orchard Lane in Southampton and the usual wrapping was newspaper. (Mum thought that they may have been the first to use paper bags for Groceries).
His son, Uncle Jim bred Airedale dogs and somehow was very friendly with Gracie Fields (a famous Singer and Musical Hall star). My parents took me to a performance at the Theatre and on stage Tommy (Gracie’s brother) said “Who told you to wear your Uncle Joe’s hat?” answer “Mollie Kneller did!” I don’t remember much of the evening after that.
My Grandfather Nutna Sherry sitting in as chair saying “I put it in paper bags”, which looking back might not have been so stupid, as they had a Greengrocer’s shop on the corner of Orchard Lane in Southampton and the usual wrapping was newspaper. (Mum thought that they may have been the first to use paper bags for Groceries).
His son, Uncle Jim bred Airedale dogs and somehow was very friendly with Gracie Fields (a famous Singer and Musical Hall star). My parents took me to a performance at the Theatre and on stage Tommy (Gracie’s brother) said “Who told you to wear your Uncle Joe’s hat?” answer “Mollie Kneller did!” I don’t remember much of the evening after that.
Nannie and Nutna Kneller had four sons of which my Father was the oldest. Three of them married girls called Lily except Uncle Wally who married a Hilda and when she died, married another Hilda. Uncle Billy’s Lily died early. He then married my Mother’s sister Flo; unpredictable and moody.
Before she married she ran a second hand shop next to her parents’ Greengrocers on Orchard Lane.
Before she married she ran a second hand shop next to her parents’ Greengrocers on Orchard Lane.
I have always had a dog; my dog Toby – a real Punch and Judy dog complete with curly tail, used to wake up, my Mother said, when I was due home, and race down to meet me when I whistled. When I went to see Nanny Sherry he would wait patiently outside. He and Paddy (Nanny Sherry’s dog) did not get on.
For my 19th birthday (1925) I was given a car, a Singer that would never start. My Father said “change it”. I knew the salesman and bought the best car I have ever had, a Silver Grey Triumph Gloria with blue leather upholstery. I bought a blue coat with silver fur collar to match the pale blue leather. (The car – Reg No BBP 335 - was left in the New Forest during the Second World War. I believe that it was used by Mum’s brother Colin but he could not remember what happened to it. The car was a rare two door hard top coupe. I tried to trace information about this with Triumph archives but all their records were destroyed in the War. I went to a Classic Car show in Suffolk in 2016 and I was told that there is just one such car still in existence.)
On my 19th Birthday I drove three friends to Bournemouth to a Tea Dance and on my 21st Birthday I was given a house – apart from the Tea Party you know about. (Mum held a tea party for the elderly in the area. It was reported in the newspapers and I have the cuttings. She later said that part of her motive was that she liked Canon Jolly’s son and wanted to do good works as a result). On the advice of my Father, I sold the house; he said it would always be a worry. I was sorry but realized he knew best and took his advice.
My Father built caravans as a hobby, not to sell but to park on a permanent site at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth. They were the last word, one even had a Piano; my Mother played. The caravans were called TOLAZIN (To laze in) and TOWEEKENDIN (To weekend in). I had a dancing partner, Lionel Hutchings who built caravans to sell. They operated in Winchester – Winchester Caravans – he used to come and take me to dances – that was all – he was a beautiful dancer and then I married your Father who could only walk around!
Incidentally, Colin used to be a lovely dancer. He was at Peter Symonds School in Winchester and sometimes I used to pick him up from school and take him down to Weymouth as a surprise for my parents. As an example of how much freedom my Father gave me, he fitted up a covered wagon and sent (me and) Margaret Br – I have a picture of her doing handstands - on a trip to Devon and Cornwall, even to go up Porlock (Hill, Somerset), 1 in 3 I think.
Incidentally, Colin used to be a lovely dancer. He was at Peter Symonds School in Winchester and sometimes I used to pick him up from school and take him down to Weymouth as a surprise for my parents. As an example of how much freedom my Father gave me, he fitted up a covered wagon and sent (me and) Margaret Br – I have a picture of her doing handstands - on a trip to Devon and Cornwall, even to go up Porlock (Hill, Somerset), 1 in 3 I think.
What made me gravitate to St Mary’s Church, Southampton, I will never know. I was a Sunday School teacher for a time, took the ‘little dears’ to the Isle of Wight for the Sunday School outing. Canon J was very nice, rather like Rex (Late Rector of the benefice in Suffolk where we lived to the end of Mum and Dad’s lives). Mrs J tolerated me as I was frequently at their house and she is the only person I have actually seen dispensing tea from an old fashioned contraption – don’t know what it is called, you will know. (Samovar is an Antique Tea Dispenser).
The J’s had three sons and one daughter, Cynthia, with whom I was fairly friendly. David, the oldest, Hugh, very nice; and Stephen, to whom for a while, I was unofficially engaged. I stayed with the Jolly’s at their weekend cottage at Berymarble - wherever that was. (I haven’t found anything). Mrs Jolly wondered if there were any way in which I could be made taller (I think Mum was 4 foot 6 and a half inches tall). She also didn’t like my slipshod way of bed making.
There is a picture of them at my 21st also my parents and Jack H who helped me with my Plate Making, the third one broke in firing and that finished that. (The other two painted plates were very good).
The J’s had three sons and one daughter, Cynthia, with whom I was fairly friendly. David, the oldest, Hugh, very nice; and Stephen, to whom for a while, I was unofficially engaged. I stayed with the Jolly’s at their weekend cottage at Berymarble - wherever that was. (I haven’t found anything). Mrs Jolly wondered if there were any way in which I could be made taller (I think Mum was 4 foot 6 and a half inches tall). She also didn’t like my slipshod way of bed making.
There is a picture of them at my 21st also my parents and Jack H who helped me with my Plate Making, the third one broke in firing and that finished that. (The other two painted plates were very good).
My Parents brought me frequently to London to the Comedy Restaurant (I don’t know where that was) where we ate too much, also The Ivy (still trading in the same location) where my Father objected to the Flutes (glasses) and said he wished he had brought his own ‘proper’ Champagne glasses (Champagne ‘Saucers’).
We also visited London Wall; George Dawson’s for my Mother to stock up on her pure silk underwear. (George Dawson and Sons was a Lingerie Manufacturers owned by William Henry Eborn). I was bought party dresses and I remember one delightful pale lemon Net affair.
HEK (Harry Ernest Kneller, her Father) and WHE were on the Hampshire Yeomanry together and in spite of – or perhaps because of – being completely different characters, became friends.
We stayed at the Regent Palace (Hotel) and always went to the Yard in Basinghall Street (Kneller and Chandler Haulage) to see Uncle Syd, immaculate in Black coat and Stripes and Uncle Billy in overalls having just come from under a lorry!
HEK (Harry Ernest Kneller, her Father) and WHE were on the Hampshire Yeomanry together and in spite of – or perhaps because of – being completely different characters, became friends.
We stayed at the Regent Palace (Hotel) and always went to the Yard in Basinghall Street (Kneller and Chandler Haulage) to see Uncle Syd, immaculate in Black coat and Stripes and Uncle Billy in overalls having just come from under a lorry!
To recap, I said earlier all the male Kneller’s were artistic. Nannie Kneller beat the lot (I have two paintings by her and I believe that cousin Barbara has others).
All my Golf Clubs and Bag were of a special small size.
I don’t know when Henry first came on the scene; my Father installed him in a Gypsy Caravan in our paddock. He – Henry- used to come up and play dominoes with me when my Parents went to the Cinema in Woolston which they did frequently and brought back Fish and Chips. If I had gone to bed they often let me get up and join them. Once during the film my Father heard the Fire Engine and they made a hasty retreat but fortunately all was well.
Auntie Edie lived in Thornleigh Road – a cut through by Henry’s caravan – a sweet timid thing. She and I spent a lot of time together and both had our ends permed at the Woolston ‘Salon’ for 5 shillings. She and Uncle Tom, my Mother’s brother had two sons, Don and Roy. And I believe that Brian Kneller still keeps in touch with them.
Nannie Kneller had a Housekeeper, Flora, and I can still ‘taste’ her Rock Cakes. I think it was about that time that my Father bought Vale Cottage at Fritham in the New Forest and indeed it was there that I heard on the wireless that War had been declared; my Father said that if I were going to live in the New Forest I must learn to ride properly, so to Stoney Cross I was taken for lessons complete with Harris Tweed hacking jacket, jodhpurs and bowler hat. I learned to ride and jump a fair sized log, so was able to enjoy riding in the Forest – something a lone female would not be safe to do today.
My Mother doesn’t feature in all this very much; she just used to tag along, but did enjoy wandering down the stream near to the cottage (and) playing her piano accordion. We were not all that close and looking back I was a very thoughtless daughter. We led a strange life; after an enormous breakfast cooked by my Father, including mushrooms picked that morning by my Father we ‘set sail’ for Southampton visited Paris, Smith and Randall (family Solicitors) and so on after a liquid lunch to Nannie Kneller’s who used to say I hope you’ve had lunch, we have!
Nannie Sherry was so different and thought I would fade away each time I visited her if she didn’t ‘feed me up’. I don’t remember my parents when visiting Nannie Sherry’s.
Nannie Sherry was so different and thought I would fade away each time I visited her if she didn’t ‘feed me up’. I don’t remember my parents when visiting Nannie Sherry’s.
During the War, Billy used to come to the cottage occasionally for a weekend, but I had to drive him to Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst – I can’t remember which, to catch the milk train so that he could be in Leyton at 8 am to open up the factory. He soon got tired of this and at a dance at Minstead Hut (now Village Hall) he asked me to marry him. His Father’s friend, Percy S knew a Jeweller so your Father brought down three rings for me to choose from (I think they were afraid to let me loose in a jewellers). They were a diamond, microscopic and two coloured stones (I was staying with the Eborn’s at the time). My Father advised me against coloured stones as it wouldn’t ‘go’ with anything but the Sapphire seemed the best of the lot – I don’t remember what the other stone was so I settled for that – it cost £12.
My poor Mother. I went down and said we are getting married next Thursday. When she saw the first floor maisonette (in Buckhurst Hill, Essex) overlooking the Railway line (steam), she burst into tears.
I remember a small parade of shops nearby and when the order I’d given for the week didn’t arrive, I couldn’t understand it, poor man, Mr C by name, was worried about his money but I convinced him all was well and we became friends. He was a good Grocer.
I remember a small parade of shops nearby and when the order I’d given for the week didn’t arrive, I couldn’t understand it, poor man, Mr C by name, was worried about his money but I convinced him all was well and we became friends. He was a good Grocer.
My In-Laws were living in a flat over the factory in Leyton but moved to Purley in Surrey so we went to Leyton. After 3 years, ( my elder brother) was born, in a small nursing home at Woodford. Don’t know how we found my Doctor but he was wonderful, in fact his wife came to visit me in the nursing home. They were Jewish and many suppers we spent with them – they didn’t bother about keeping to the meagre rations. It was wonderful to have proper food.
Grandad Eborn was in the Leyton Rotary Club and Oscar D (also a member) promised us a house away from Leyton as soon as one came up. He kept his promise and we moved to 43 Worcester Crescent at Woodford;
My parents came to Worcester Crescent and brought your brother a lovely pedal car. I can ‘see’ it but I don’t know what became of it.
I spent the next 3 years looking for my ideal house and found it in Hoe Lane Abridge. (It was renamed Minstead in honour of the place where Dad asked Mum to marry him).
Your Father really came up trumps on that and beat the other would-be purchaser to it. I was so afraid he wouldn’t get it, I spent the day in bed with awful migraine.
I loved the house and Patch (Labrador Cross) was a great joy. His friend the was the dog belonging to the family opposite who used to call for him and they would go off together through the fields. (There was not much traffic in those days) Patch came from Mary B-M at Old Harlow. They said they had some puppies and would we like one. He only went out of the front gate once at Minstead, it was a very sad day.
When Grandad saw Minstead, he was furious. They then moved from Surrey to “Tescombe Lodge”, Forest Lane, Chigwell and we had to see them every Saturday morning – in spite of the fact that your Father and his Father worked together every day. You, of course, Johnnie, were on the scene by then.
(John Henry Eborn born Friday 13th August 1954 at the London Hospital on the Mile End Road). You loved the staircase at Tescombe Lodge (that inspired me with the design of the double return Oak staircase I had built at the Suffolk Farmhouse we all eventually moved to).
Your Father decided to carry on with the Christian name tradition – no planning, no discussion (the possibility of it being a girl didn’t come into it at all). How I got to the Nursing home at Woodford I don’t remember but I know your Father didn’t come but waited at the factory for Jack H, my Doctor, to phone him. He then shaved and pressed his ‘best’ shirt and cycled to see his son. It took for ages and Jack said he must have been asleep! Bentley which I don’t think your brother likes, was not after the car but the woods near the cottage at Fritham.
Grandad did very well from being a relief salesman of George Dawson underwear to Edwin Jones (Department Store) in Southampton to owning the company, but it didn’t make him a ‘nice’ person and it wasn’t until years later that I realize how jealous they were when Grandma – who was really very sweet – said (influenced by Granddad no doubt) if I wanted help in the house, I had money to pay for it. I was at “Minstead” by then re-named from ‘Tondenbar’. (The Vendors Mr and Mrs S’s three sons), Tony, Dennis and Barry. (The house still stands although greatly altered and extended. It is now called Greenacres). When you were born I said I would Kneller Eborn be too much and was told of course it would, if only I hadn’t been so timid and naïve. (Shortly after Mum’s death I changed my name by change of name deed to John Henry Kneller Eborn – not hyphenated.)
I only came into my own at ‘Minstead’. Indeed it was I who had to go to persuade PT (the Headmaster of Chigwell School) to take you back as a Day-Boy having been involved in a fight – including breaking your glasses as a Boarder. Another mistake I made, I thought as you were such a lonely little boy you might enjoy the companionship – how wrong I was.
I only came into my own at ‘Minstead’. Indeed it was I who had to go to persuade PT (the Headmaster of Chigwell School) to take you back as a Day-Boy having been involved in a fight – including breaking your glasses as a Boarder. Another mistake I made, I thought as you were such a lonely little boy you might enjoy the companionship – how wrong I was.
Your Father never seemed to be around; I was often alone but never lonely and never bored. I suppose about this time Granddad died (he died in 1959 and the factory at Leyton was sold. (I think that Dad ran it for a while until about 1967 and then had to sell it as it and the adjoining cottages were compulsorily purchased for the M11 extension which was due to go through the site. In the event the motorway followed an alternative route and the site was sold on and built on).
Your Father retired for a very short time but it didn’t work out. He then went into importing Pyrenean Dressing Gowns and had many trips abroad (Dad told me that one time the Pyrenean wool company took him on a Sleigh through the snow in the mountains).
I bought a bleached wood baby grand Chemin piano. I paid £300 for the piano and I remember taking the cash to London in £1 notes. I was playing it when U (next door neighbour and wife of the Rector) came to take me to meet Betty P as someone of a similar age but we had nothing in common, although we did take Margaret (her daughter) to Olympia to the Royal Tournament. (*I think this was probably the mid 1950’s as I do not remember that piano and so it was probably gone by the early 1960’s). I sold the piano eventually*.
Ursula was very good to me and when Ralph (her husband and the Rector of Lambourne) went abroad, used to share his letters with me, I also baby sat at the Rectory or at Minstead and in fact the two boys (the elder son later became a Bishop) were with me when it became obvious (mid August 1954) that I must away to London Hospital
I was bought (by Grandad) a 3 wheel Bond to take you to school; Woodford Green Preparatory (the Red School). (I have a photo of me in my school uniform standing behind the Bond when it was in Mum’s garage). You didn’t say a word the whole of the first term – Miss R (the Head) was delighted when you decided to ‘join in’.
I suppose your brother had left or was leaving Chigwell (School – my brother is 11 years older than me). I sold the Bond for a proper car with a wheel in each corner and a reverse gear – the Bond only went forward. (Mum bought a Red Austin Mini Countryman – with the wood trim. It was the first of her 4 Mini Countryman / Travellers. The first number plate I cannot remember but the others were BVW 987B (Yellow), MYK 356D (Red) XGC 758G (White). I had a Reliant Regal 3 wheeler as my first car at 16 and in later years I had the White Mini Traveller).
Your Father doesn’t seem to have taken part in any of these transactions, but he did maintain all the cars I bought and took us on some very good holidays. (I remember holidays with Mum and Dad to France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Crete and Yugoslavia).
Your Father doesn’t seem to have taken part in any of these transactions, but he did maintain all the cars I bought and took us on some very good holidays. (I remember holidays with Mum and Dad to France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Crete and Yugoslavia).
I was driving from a function in London (probably a Drapery Trade Charity Ball) in very thick fog and went into Woodford Green Police Station to ask for an escort home, I don’t think I got it but obviously arrived home safely. I of course was in evening dress – I had some lovely Ball Gowns, one of which is in the Museum of London. I think we have a picture of it, in a group when Mary C was the head of the Corset Guild. There was a very good Dress Shop in Gants Hill, Ilford in those days, next to the Wimpy Bar to which you loved to go (I was a fussy eater and loved Wimpy and Chips. I think Sadie was the lady who usually served us - mmm those Wimpy burgers were good!)
I am ashamed to say that I don’t remember much of my Mother’s funeral – she was 55 except Nannie Kneller’s fairly large front garden being ringed with wreaths and my Father in her kitchen making two piles of ham sandwiches “some with Mustard and some without” and being annoyed with me for not wearing black stockings.
I tried your Father on some ball-room dancing lessons – what a waste of time, although ‘Eve’ was very patient he had absolutely no sense of rhythm and wouldn’t even try. Ah well.
Did you ever know Rufus, an enormous black Labrador? (I never knew him). He was always running away to Jean S (they lived up Hoe Lane at a house called St Johns). She had him eventually, inspite of an elaborate overhead exercise system we constructed for him; he just broke loose.
I think Derek was the only one of our generation with qualifications. (Derek was a cousin – Mum’s Dad, Harry Ernest Kneller was the eldest of four brothers. The next brother was Walter Alfred and Derek was his middle of 3 children. The first was Betty; Mum’s closest and the youngest was Alan who was killed in World War II).
Derek worked at Cheverton’s Estate Agents in Woolston (Southampton) and took me for a spin sometimes to the Western Shore (The Sea Weed Hut) which was there in those days. (Derek was married twice; he divorced Laura who then emigrated to the USA with her three children –Susan, Michael and Sandra. He had nothing more to do with his children and his second wife, Marion, did not have them mentioned at his funeral. This upset the USA family greatly. Susan changed her name sometime after emigrating. Her son, Christopher, with Carl B was adopted away). Michael married Sharon and secondly, Rylee who he met from his visits back to Vietnam following the Vietnamese war which affected him. Sandra married Marty H and their son Jeremy and his wife Kim have a son, Will.
Mum, Nick and I were at the home Derek and Marion’s shared in Southampton. Marion was then a widow and she called me upstairs to see some things she had of Auntie Lily’s so that I could have them. I came down with an Art Deco heater and other items. Mum and Nick said “isn’t that wonderful!” I said “yes”. Later, in the car, I explained how Marion had charged me £30 for the family items. When Marion died I wrote to her daughter by her first marriage offering to buy anything from the family. The daughter who was very pleasant, called me in and sent me away with family items almost filling my 4 x4. She refused to be paid for anything and I was very grateful for her generosity in letting me have family things which I treasure.
Derek worked at Cheverton’s Estate Agents in Woolston (Southampton) and took me for a spin sometimes to the Western Shore (The Sea Weed Hut) which was there in those days. (Derek was married twice; he divorced Laura who then emigrated to the USA with her three children –Susan, Michael and Sandra. He had nothing more to do with his children and his second wife, Marion, did not have them mentioned at his funeral. This upset the USA family greatly. Susan changed her name sometime after emigrating. Her son, Christopher, with Carl B was adopted away). Michael married Sharon and secondly, Rylee who he met from his visits back to Vietnam following the Vietnamese war which affected him. Sandra married Marty H and their son Jeremy and his wife Kim have a son, Will.
Mum, Nick and I were at the home Derek and Marion’s shared in Southampton. Marion was then a widow and she called me upstairs to see some things she had of Auntie Lily’s so that I could have them. I came down with an Art Deco heater and other items. Mum and Nick said “isn’t that wonderful!” I said “yes”. Later, in the car, I explained how Marion had charged me £30 for the family items. When Marion died I wrote to her daughter by her first marriage offering to buy anything from the family. The daughter who was very pleasant, called me in and sent me away with family items almost filling my 4 x4. She refused to be paid for anything and I was very grateful for her generosity in letting me have family things which I treasure.
Sorry this is such a muddle dear but I wrote down things as I thought of them, hope you can read some of them, anyway it is with love, don’t know how it differs from your Father’s account (he wrote two life stories; one personal and one business) but I might be able to fill in any gaps you may want sorted out. Sorry the spelling is so atrocious (I looked that up once!) “but mine own”.
The only thing I remember about The Atherley (School) Open Day was a florist packed end to end, box of blue Iris, don’t think they ever came to anything – my parents, I mean. (I don’t know what this means but I do know that Mum loved Iris, Daffodils and Freesias and she painted the first two on her plates).
V (my Brother’s wife) wanted a half-slip for her middle brother's wedding (V had two younger Brothers; R and C.) and asked your Father if he could help – he said her hadn’t got the colour – needless to say she never asked him for anything again – I found just what I think she was looking for when next I went to the Showroom.
Your Father didn’t swear or drink and I think it was from the drink that I was escaping (Mum’s Mother died early and I understand that she drank too much).
We never discussed anything. I adopted the line of least resistance. He wouldn’t go to Owen C’s wake and dragged me away from Phil C’s (The C’s were friends from the Drapery Trade but I don’t know what the event was or how things unfolded). There is or was an earring in the Ballroom of the Grosvenor House (Hotel in Mayfair, London where there were many Drapery Trade Balls) – I’ll show you the remaining one. (Mum left lots of single earrings as she liked screw-on earrings – as Mum said there is an enameled gold earring somewhere in the field behind Minstead).
I didn’t expect anything therefore was not disappointed, only in one major thing.
Mum finishes here but I am certain that the major thing was more children. She never actually said but allowed me to know that my younger sister was lost in birth at Christmas when I was young. Mum was born born on the 26th January 1916 in Southampton
.
She suffered a stroke on 17th February 2005 at home in Milden, Suffolk and passed away on 24th February 2005 at the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds. She left detailed instructions for her funeral and had already asked Timothy (the Bishop she had baby-sat as a child) to conduct her funeral. When I phoned his office to ask him to officiate, his secretary said he doesn’t usually do this sort of thing. I said I was sure he would in this case.
The funeral was held at Kettlebaston Church in Suffolk and the burial at Milden Church. So many people attended that there were about 100 cars of mourners. The lanes were entirely blocked at unbelievably one of the cars which couldn’t get through was a Reliant 3 wheeler – there can’t be many around; I think it was Mum’s joke! The Wake was held in the Great Hall (Gallery Restaurant) at the Swan in Lavenham where Mum and I had had had many short breaks from 1968 to 1996.
SHE LOVED LIFE - Mum asked me to put this on her gravestone, which I did.
(These words were written prior to Easter 2003 and given as an Easter present to JHE. They were edited and annotated by JHKE in December 2016.
Edited and annotated by JHKE in December 2016. Copyright J.H.K.Eborn.
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