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Archie Greenshields was born in 1920 and brought up in Chichester, West Sussex.
My mothers sister, Florrie was born on the 8th April, 1914. Of all my Uncles and Aunts, she alone has had the greatest influence on our family.
Florrie had always been considered by me in the roll of an older sister and I am extremely fond of her and have always been. She had been a Girl Guide for a while and wore the old style wide brimmed hat and carried a staff to her meetings.
She was the first member of the family circle to have a camera and some of her snap-shots remain treasures. She was helpful to her sister in so many ways by taking her nephews and nieces out on walks and even cooking for us whilst Mother was not on the scene.
Her education had been purely elementary and her skills self taught and was ever ready to help her eldest sister, in singling her out and heaping her with praise. Uncle Fred, my mothers brother, who was very fond of his sister too and I am sure gave advice and help if asked.
He had chosen a military career and his life centred around that. Due to the Second World War he moved further away from his environments and we saw less and less of him.
I believe that Florrie obtained her first employment as a sales-girl in Voke's Bakery in The Hornet, Chichester. During the time she was there she was found to be suffering from tubercular glands in the neck and was forced to spend a considerable time in the Sanatorium at Aldingbourne.
I remember that Mother and I visited Florrie in the sanatorium a few times and found her receiving a fresh air cure by being bedded in an open faced wooden hut, positioned on the front lawns, which was continually revolved round to face the sun. She received an operation for her illness and had quite a scar to her neck which must have caused great disappointment for her.
After recovering from her illness, I believe she returned to Voke's for a short period. She then obtained a position behind the shop counter of Fuller's Café, then situated by The Cross next to the shoe shop which is still situated on the corner of South Street.
Eventually she became manageress there and her great friend, Rèné, also served there too. I was always requested by Florrie to call into the shop to make my farewell's on my way to the railway station to be given a small parcel of goodies to take back with me. The gift always contained a Lyon's individual fruit pie.
I learned the news whilst I was a P.O.W. that she had joined the Auxiliary Police Service and had been promoted Sergeant. This of course is just what Florrie would have decided was her contribution to War work. By the time I returned to this Country again at the end of the war, she had married an airman, Bert Bennett, who was them himself overseas.
She eventually had a son, John, who was tragically killed in an accident in Bognor Regis during the 1970's. She re-married after her husband Bert died and now lives with her second husband, George Cook, not far from me.
She was always ready to help her sister in times of trouble, whenever there was trouble to be sorted out. Although she was did not exactly lean on Florrie for guidance, Mother's announcement, 'I will ask Flo, she'll know what to do', seemed to solve everything in her eyes.
I am confident that her concern to other peoples worries, will always prevail. She herself has had more than her share of personal troubles and tragedies but they have been faced with fortitude. Her health has worsened during the past years and is often in constant pain, nevertheless it is still in her nature to give help and advice if needed.
Archie Greenshield, West Sussex, 2001
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