London Days

I'm sitting here realizing that there is no way I have the ability as a writer to put in words what it was like to be a teenager living and working in London. Living in this day and age and thinking in terms of my grandchildren at that age, and great-grandchildren for that matter, it seems totally unreal that being two weeks short of 17, I would get on a train in Llandudno, saying goodbye to my mother and father, and heading to the 'big city'. My parents had arranged for me to take lodgings with Gordon's wife's father and mother in Hayes (a suburb) and I had their address safely in my purse. Gordon and Irene were living in Canada by then. I arrived at the huge Euston Station feeling very grown up and went to the ticket office asking for a bus ticket and routing to Hayes. Hayes Surrey or Hayes Middlesex said the agent. Suddenly I was very young, very afraid and totally bewildered. I had no idea and they didn't have a phone. Neither did my parents. Thanks to God who was obviously watching over me, this elderly man came up and asked if I was Margaret Thomas. It was Irene's father.

I lived with them for a year, then took lodgings closer to work with another couple of families briefly and finally ended up in a house run by a widow who rented out two of her rooms to single girls. We had a room each and shared the use of the kitchen. This was cheaper for me than paying full room and board. My cooking skilled were very varied. Baked Beans on Toast. Baked Beans with little sausages on Toast. Canned tomatoes on Toast. And as a big splurge occasionally, sardines on Toast. I worked two years with Her Majesty Inspector of Taxes, then six months with Parke Davis Pharmaceuticals and ended up with the Gillette Corporation until I went to Canada.

They say that three times a bridesmaid, never a bride - but I am living proof that isn't true. I was bridesmaid three times while I was in London:

First for my best friend Sylvia:


Then for my brother Gerald, when he married Kitty. Gerald was in the Royal Navy and it was a beautiful naval wedding.

And the third for Mair when she married Norman. This photo shows Mam and Dad all dressed up too.

Mair and I had our photos taken together at this time. I cherish this photograph - she was (and is) a wonderful sister.

But London - aaaah London. I loved the shows - spent every spare penny on them. The London stores were amazing and Oxford Street at Christmas time was a sight to be seen. It seems I played constant tourist, never passing up an opportunity to go to one of the historial sites - Trafalger Square, Picadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral. Went to the museums (and only scratched the surface of them). Went to an Ireland versus Wales rugby match with an Irish boyfriend and ten of his friends. I was drowned out. Saw the Oxford/Cambridge annual boat race. Saw Roger Bannister break the four minute mile at Wembley Stadium for the second time. Joined five thousand Welsh people living in London at the Royal Albert Hall for their annual Gymanfa Ganu (community hymn singing). Went to Petticoat Lane on Sunday mornings for the street market, went to Hyde Park Corner to hear the speeches. Walked the magnificent Hyde Park and Regent Park.

I lived, I dated, I danced and I dreamed of more adventure.........

Thus 3-1/2 years after arriving in London, I decided to join Gordon and Irene in Canada...

This photo was taken on the wall at Llandudno during one of my vacations home.