| Father was born 1909 in Hull, East Yorkshire, one of six boys. He went to Trinity House School at 14 years of age. When graduating' he went to sea and sailed all over the world. As a merchant seaman he sailed to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and went through the Suez Canal. He finally became a Captain although he said there were so many by then he had to work as a First Officer.
He finally worked for the B.I.Company, and during the war was ferrying cargo on the rivers for our troops. At the end of the war he settled for a desk job and remained there until he came home.
Mother was born 1911 in Hull, One of four siblings, (2 boys and 2 girls) she was the third. She went to Madam Clapham's at 14 years old and qualified as a seamstress. When she was 21 years old she met my father, had a whirlwind courtship and married him, and sailed to India on her own, as my father had to go back to India sooner, as he was only on leave for 6 months. This was the first time my mother had ever set foot outside of Hull, and it was quite an ordeal for her to find the docks taking her to India.
Mother came back in 1938 for the birth of their first child, unfortunately she lost him after going full term. In 1939 she managed to get the last ship sailing for India, as war was declared. My brother was born 9 March 1942 and I was born 11 March 1945, just before the Japanese war ended.
My parents spent 20 years in India before coming back to England to live and work. My father ended up asa director of a painting firm that painted all the bridges in England, and my mother stayed at home rearing her 2 children.
My father died prematurely at the age of 51 in 1960. My mother died of old age at 90 in 2001. My brother married and had 4 children, but I never married, and ended up looking after my beloved mother until she died.
Submitted by Shep
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