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A working class childhood is how you could describe the early years of Mrs Kathleen Skeet, born in 1929, and whose contribution is as follows:-
Mum had seven children; the last born were twins but unfortunately only one survived; the other is my sister Pat.
We were always well fed with nourishing stews, bacon and onion puddings, and sausage pies; always finishing off with lovely 'puds'. Sundays without fail were always a roast with Yorkshire pudding then apple or apricot tart and custard. Mum's pastry was out of this world. Rabbits, of course, were often on the menu as the fields were harvested.
My three eldest brothers and sisters were away working in Service as trainee footmen or cooks.
Pat and I often saw my father (Will) hitting Mum and knocking her to the ground bleeding. Dad only earned thirty shillings a week which had to feed and clothe all eight of us.
One day Mother had had enough and decided to leave my Father and took my brother John, sister pat and myself to London.
She was always in contact with the lady she worked for before she was married and started back there as a housemaid, as before. Also employed were a cook, ladies' maid and chauffeur.
The flat was very large. When I saw the lift gate I remember thinking I was still on the railway station. We children had always to address the lady as 'Madam' - we were reported to my Mother if we forgot. Madam gave us each our pocket money in envelopes every Friday.
Mum hardly ever seemed to get time off but us children were really spoiled. Mary the cook would make us special ice cream made with the whites of eggs. Lena the ladies' maid would often take us out and the chauffeur would take us to Hyde Park to feed the birds.
One thing I can boast about is that I actually lived in Sloane Street, Knightsbridge while poor Mum was working there.
We went down to Worthing to stay with my Auntie Kath for two weeks. During that time the Second World War broke out. We stayed and were classed as evacuees, and that's another story.
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