Mum and Dad moved from a two bedroom flat in Clapham South to 5 Priest Hill in Caversham in October 1961.  She was so happy there right from the start, with three small children and the fourth on the way, it was heaven for her to have her own garden and no more going up and down five flights of stairs with babies, shopping etc.

Mum hadn't even seen the house and it was pitch dark when they moved in late in the evening (the removal van had broken down on the way from London!).  We never knew how Mum managed, being seven months pregnant, and three little ones to care for.  She remembers that the gas and electricity were off, so she still couldn't see the house that she was going to live in for the next sixty years until the morning.  Luckily a friendly neighbour helped by providing candles and soup so that Mum could get us off to sleep on the mattresses they had brought with them.  Even today there is a very friendly feeling about Priest Hill which was confirmed to me by the lady who runs Neighbourhood Watch. 

Mum especially loved her beautiful garden and was a keen gardener.  She grew her own vegetables next to our sandpit in the early days and in later years had an allotment.

Mum saw many changes in the shop at the bottom of Priest Hill, in the early days she bought milk, eggs and cheese from Clifford’s Dairy.  She was a very good friend of Vivian and her family who lived there in the 1970’s and ran a hairdresser’s.  She usually made friends with whoever was in occupation and would pop in for a chat on her way past, she particularly loved the Blue Duck Gallery, and she was very sad to see the last tenants, Siblings Café, leave a few years ago.  She always wondered what was going to come next.

She was friendly with her neighbours at 3a and b and saw many comings and goings over the years.  One family from Finland were especially fond of her and she had a wonderful holiday with them over there.  She loved small children and was happy when the family from 3a would come to tea with their little boy.  Mum was outside on Christmas Eve and the little girl at 3b was waving to her through the window and bellringing.  She then made Mum a lovely Christmas card.