Life at Meadway

Although Meadway was a fairly large house, with the added luxury of two toilets, only one of which wasoutside. The only source of heating and hot water was an old coal boiler in thekitchen and an open fire in the front room.

As soon as the coal boilerwas stoked up, as many as they could would queue up outside the bathroom andone after the other, as quickly as possible, would wash before the hot waterran out. Needless to say, those at the back of the line knew there was littlechance of them washing in hot, warm or even lukewarm water that time!

There was no heatingupstairs and even with 3 to a double bed crammed into the bedrooms, it wasstill cold enough in the winter for icicles to form inside the windows.

They had tin water bottleswhich although did warm them, did also scorch their feet too.

With a surplus of armyblankets left over from the war and their coats over the top they endured thecold. Besides they knew they had to stay in bed after bedtime!

To make sure of this mygrandad, their dad, had a big pair of false teeth that he would leave at thetop of the stairs which he implied would bite anyone who got out of bed!

Grandad loved gardening andalways grew all the vegetables and fruit for the family to eat (and neighboursif crops were plentiful) which they usually were as his "vegetablepatch" took up most of the huge garden at Meadway.

In later years he also hadan allotment in Oakley Road and would bring back a wheelbarrow of whatever wasin season. Whether it be strawberries that needed washing and de stalking orpeas for shelling, it was quite the norm to see the family sat on the frontstep of an evening carrying out these tasks.

It was also quite the normto see Grandad shovelling up the horse manueur from the road, after Mr Watlersmilk delivery (or any delivery) that was made by horse and cart. All for thegood of the garden! Fresh fertiliser!

Grandad also kept chickensat Roundwood Lane and Meadway to feed his family. During the war yearstrading eggs with many local families for other rations or goods to make lifeeasier.

Home cooked hearty stews,dripping on bread and home baked goodies (and the occasional sugar sandwich)kept the family fed and content!

Life was simple back thenand the children would happily play outside in the street and surroundingfields until dark!

Terry and Bill would takeoff on their bikes and camp out over night at Nomansland (or even furtherafield) from about 10 years old, without them or my grandparents ever having athought or concern for their safety. People felt safe and being abducted orattacked just was not on anyones mind as this just did not happen, ever.

Walking or cycling were theusual mode of transport to get you where you needed to go as public transportwas left wanting and cars were a luxury.

My grandad in later yearsdid get a car of sorts. A red three wheel convertible Berkeley, without a gearto reverse as standard. To turn round, it meant he needed to either drive tothe village to do so or get out of the car and in the road, physically lift upthe back of it and face it in the right direction.

Once a week, my nan with apram and 3 or 4 of the younger children would walk to Watling Street, Markyatethrough the lanes to visit her mother who by was blind.

In the main, my grandparents cycled everywhere for all of their lives, even as pensioners, come rain orshine. Well into his 80s, you would hear his bell and see Grandad ride by,usually in a suit, shirt and tie with his trousers held in from the knee by cycle clips.