What interesting information do you know about other people in our family?
Your Grandad, Robert John, was one of a family of eight. Your Great Gramma looked after them when she was left after her husband, Harold, was killed by a motorbike; he was 42. Doris, Ciscely, Clara, Bill, Madge, Jean & Alan were all your Dad's Aunts and Uncles. They had children: June, Roger, Michael, Lynn, Sharon, Steve, Paul, Janice (your 2nd cousins) then your 3rd cousins are Ben, Rhiannon and Luke (Lynn's family); Karen & Mark (June's family); Stephen, Debs & Daniel (Pat & Roger's family)

What do you remember about the place/s you lived when you were a child?
Went to Hammond Square School. I was evacuated in 1939. War started and school children went by train to the country. A few of us went to Dagnall Village with our named labels, chocolate, corn beef and biscuits. We then went to the hall and people in the village chose us to stay with them. I stayed with Mr & Mrs Downes along with Dorothy and her 2 brothers, halfway between the zoo, at Whipsnade, and Dagnall. We then moved into the village. Dorothy and I stayed with Mr & Mrs Putnam, who were fondly known as Mr & Mrs P. There I met Peggy, my life-long friend and Mrs P was their Nanny or childminder.

We had wonderful times staying at the Niche (their bungalow was called). We used to put on plays for the adults, and also played in the playhouse, dressing up with clothes which Mrs Elms provided.

In the summer days, when it was harvest time, we would play on the hayricks and help Steve, the farmer, with the potato picking, travelling on the tractor and we had pay! Winter time we would slide on the pond, which was nearby. Springtime, we would go to Primrose Hill, Studham Lane and pick primroses and violets, then would pack them to send to my family in London.

My dearest friend, Bette, and I were inseparable and had so many wonderful times.

What were your favourite childhood toys or games?
I loved my whip and top, spent hours playing in the village; spin a hoop, skip; a crowd of us would play tin can alley .. tins were lined up and we would try to knock them down to score them, in the field behind our house. We would play statues; whoever was in the best position would win.

We would walk, every Sunday, from Dagnall to The Plough pub, then onto the Travellers Rest where we would have lemonade and crisps. I would get very tired and ask 'When are we getting back to Bedskins?'.

We would go to Studham, walking by Lucy's Lane; on the hills were large craters, where bombs were dropped during the wartime. Searchlights were there, operated by the army, plane spotting.

What sort of pets did you have when you were young, and what were their names?
I always had rabbits, then we had a dog called Jenny and then her puppy, who was Smokey. The rabbits were DoDo and Tiny.

What do you remember about your holidays as a child?
Because it was wartime the only holidays were to stay in Wembley with Auntie Vi, when Uncle Bob was in the the army.

My 1st holiday when I grew up (17 years old) , I went with my friends Bette & Peggy to Woolverstone, near Ipswich.

What did you do for entertainment when you were young?
We had wonderful school plays, which our London teacher organised. I acted in all of them and in Peter Pan I was Wendy. Mr Luckman loved our play and treated us to the cinema to see The Wizard of Oz!

What did you study at school and what were you best at?
Drama, English and Poetry .. I won a prize (a Savings Certificate) in a writing competition!

What did you want to do when you grew up?
Was fortunate to get a job as an apprentice hairdresser, eventually having my own business in Ivinghoe, for 12 years. Doris, whom I served with, was my business partner for the first 6 years.

What were your favourite hobbies when you were young?
Reading; I was a real bookworm.

What chores had to be done when you were young that aren't needed to be done today?
Cleaning the silver and, every Saturday, sweep the stairs with a dustpan & brush; no hoovers in those days.

What age were you when you started work?
15

Tell me about the jobs you have had ...
After the shop I made bed handles for mattresses, at Goldens, packed hair colour for Loreal, then morse code equipment. I worked in 2 grocery stores and then did office cleaning at Tunnel Cement until I retired in 1990.

And finally, for the record ....

What is your full name?
Jean Bates

What was your maiden name?
Brown

What is your date of birth?
13.02.1932

What colour are your eyes?
Hazel

How tall are you?
5ft 2 inches


Thank you for taking the time to share you memories with me, Nanny Jean, I shall treasure them always.

Daisy Jay Bates