‘Everyone in the world had to have a hobby in those days. I could never understand the attraction of stamp collecting, but we did it, simply because everybody did.’
‘We were each given our own small patch of the garden to cultivate and tend. I remember the joy of growing love-in-a-mist, marigolds and forget-me-nots. I still try to grow these flowers, and other old-fashioned species from our garden then, such as hollyhocks, foxgloves and wallflowers.’
‘The whole family played cards every Sunday afternoon. Knockout Whist, a form of rummy, and Newmarket with matches. Occasionally, the adults would bet with money and let us kids win. A halfpenny each, or something.’
‘We belonged to the ‘I Spy’ books. You could join the club, and you got sent badges and things.’
‘I used to collect train and bus numbers, and I’d save up my pocket money to buy the books that had the numbers in them that you crossed out when you spotted them. An anorak from way back.’
‘We used to go to tap dancing classes in a bighall over the Co-op. We’d dance to “Papa Picolino”. I had little red tap shoes.’
Extracted, with permission, from The 50s & 60s: The Best of Times – Growing up and being young in Britain by Alison Pressley, published by Michael O’Mara Books Limited.
Copyright © Alison Pressley 1999, 200, 2002, 2003; compilation copyright © Michael O’Mara Books Limited 1999, 200, 2002, 2003. All rights reserved.
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