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This is an extract from a booklet written by Charlie Hutchins in 1989 where inhabitants of Portsea give an impression of the life and times of the suburb in the1920's and 1930's, a neighbourhood that had great character and a wonderful comradeship.
Born in Portsea in the early 1900s, times were hard, but not so bad for some as for others. One made do with what came along. A mother could make a meal out of bits and pieces that today most people would throw away.
For children pleasure was to be had quite early at practically no cost - buttons, cigarette cards, whips and tops and five stones. Bonfire Corner was a great place to hear children laugh. Walking around the back streets we would often see a group of children jumping and skipping, ropes usually held by a couple of mothers. The mothers would sometimes join in the skipping.
As one advanced in years babies would be born to enlarge the family. It then fell to the eldest girl the job of 'minding'. On fine days there would be a packet of sandwiches or sometimes just bread and marg, and a bottle or two of water and a pennyworth of lemonade powder, then off they went full of anticipation of fun.
Usually one went to the Hard, Victoria Park or Pembroke Gardens, when one neared the latter the group would break for some of them to rush across the road to watch the Highland Soldiers in the barracks. The food and drink were soon gone and after a few games the trek for home.
I played on the Hard and also mud-larked; some kids used to cry to people to throw in money, and then dived in to find it.
How often one's mind goes back to school days, happy days for me. Three schools served the area, the Free School in Richmond Place, Kent Street boys, girls and infants and the Beneficial also in Kent Street the entrance being in Curzon Howe Road.
I can remember some of the teachers with affection. One thing I shall always remember was Kent Street Boy's rendering 'Jerusalem' in 1927, it was the first time I ever heard if sung.
Of course at 14 one had to leave school to embark on a life of work and earning, some of the jobs didn't last very long. I remember one job, Errington's where one made plaster chocolate shapes for shop displays. I think the shop, I suppose it could be termed factory, was on the corner in Cottage Grove. I looked a fine mess at the end of the day smothered with powder and dust.
There was still fun to be had and Queen's Cinema provided a fair programme for 2d & 3d on Saturday afternoons. A trip to Flathouse gasworks to buy bags of coke for mother and a neighbour earned us some money for the pictures.
Grown-up people went to the Coliseum or the Empire as it as once called. I remember seeing many acts there that became famous. There were also the other three theatres.
One favourite occupation for older folk was gathering together all sitting on the doorstep chattering away to each other.
I've tried not to mention the grim side of life that was always lurking, one could find such of lot of fun and laughter in the oddest places if you searched.
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