NextBackIt must have been a terrible time for them all as l did not want to stay, and I was given to tantrums etc .but with kindness, firmness and patience they eventually gained my confidence. Here Lily taught me the love and affection of a happy family, something that l had never experienced before. I had now got a foster mother and two elder sisters! 'Lily took me everywhere with her, she taught me all about the countryside and to always be kind to animals.
Lily's life was devoted to the Church we were always preparing for some occasion in the Church, such as Sunday School, Anniversaries, Harvest Festival or Christmas. This is when l had recitations, but first of all Lily had to teach me to speak properly before l could recite. Then there were the cycle outings. First of all Lily and Margery bought me a bicycle, and then they taught me how to ride. We went on lots of outings with other members of the Church. This was a very happy experience, we visited many places and had lots of laughs together.
“I still feel part of the family. Even when I eventually had to leave, Margery, Lily's sister, kept in touch, and so the family ties were never broken. My memories of Lily are of happiness, love and the devotion she had for her Church. May she rest in peace and have eternal life which I am sure she has earned" Even the older children were involved in war work. Derek was about thirteen and still at Crabbs Cross school when the war was on. "I was a messenger for the ARP. If anything happened. I was to rake messages from the one depot at Crabbs Cross School to the Redditch ARP Headquarters along Red Lion Street at the old Fire station".
