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Born at Shoreham-by-sea in 1928, Gordon Mills lived at Brighton: firstly at 65 Firle Road, and then at 14 Islingword Street.
Educated at St. Luke's School, Queens Park Road in the town he remembers Percy Middleton, Raymond Hawkes, Eric Parris and Joyce Peachy.
Gordon worked at Cooper & Betteridge, Solicitors at 1 Old Steine, Brighton before emigrating to Canada.
Firle Road where I lived was a council house area up near Brighton Race Course. Near there was (and still is) Sheepcote Valley, where we would toboggan down the hill, down to where Whitehawk now is.
We would pinch rationed margarine to apply to the sled runner to go faster. We were all rather poor people and the street was quite a community, with street parties on Coronation Day in 1937.
I went back a few years ago, walked up to the house I lived at and knocked on the door. A young woman came to the door and I told her I lived there before and during the war, building an air raid shelter in the back yard.
She listened and then said quite casually, "Is that right,' and closed the door. I wanted to go in to look around but no such luck.
My old school, St. Luke's was filled with children all in the same type of home as I was. Our teachers I remember were: Mr. Godfrey, Mr Tampkin, Miss Dutton Bryant, Miss Atherfold and the Head Master Mr. Raisebeck.
This coming year I understand they are having a giant reunion there and a book is to be published about the school during the war by a firm in Brighton named, I think, Queen's Park.
The sad story I remember took place during 1941 when the war was on. Our butcher was named Rolfe and his shop was on Islingword Road. Apparently my mother owed him seven shillings and sixpence (7/6d) for meat.
Mr. Rolf posted a large sign in the shop window telling everyone where we lived and that my mother owed seven and six for meat. I was so ashamed on reading this that I ran all the way home to tell my mother who immediately started to cry, as we had no money at the time.
I haven't forgotten this meanness and have vowed that I would never ever treat anyone in such a manner, not knowing the circumstances they had found themselves in at the time.
My first job with the solicitors Graham, Hooper & Betteridge saw me as a general office boy. I was paid 10 shillings a week with 4 pence off for unemployment.
On pay-day I would walk to Lyons which was nearby (no longer there) on the corner of Edward Street and have a hot cup of blackcurrant; the rest of my wages I gave to my mother.
Although I failed the 11 plus exam and was doomed to employment of a menial type I emigrated to Canada in 1957, became a police officer, and on my retirement I was elected to parliament as an MP.
I also became a Parliamentary Assistant to 4 different Cabinet Ministers. All of this gave me a great feeling of pride after such humble beginnings. I was also presented with Canada's 125th Confederation Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 1993 for my services to community and fellow compatriots.
I have also written my life story for my family: 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren here in Canada.
Gordon Mills, Canada, 2002
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To add a comment you must first login or join for free, up in the top left corner.| Comments | | Posted
04 Jun 2014
9:42
By mgmcolchester | just seen your comment re percy middleton of brighton , he was my father`s brother , who was Philip middleton of firle road , and I am the eldest son Michael g middleton of Colchester , ,my father stayed in Colchester after the war and married , and he told me many stories of his past like police went round in pairs and brick fights etc , sadly all the middleton`s of firle road have now departed. percy being the last in 2012 , is this any help , ps I am doing midlleton family research and have another contact , Geoff barber of Australia who has gone even further in his search branching out on loads of surnames , have meet him nice chap , he has site on the internet |
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