1965 - Maria’s Story
Up until the time we were married, I worked for the Bradford Equitable Building Society but when I wanted to get married, they would only allow me two weeks holiday, which wasn’t enough to cover the time until John went to Aden. I therefore gave my notice and quit.
The time came when John had gone and I needed to find another job. In 1964 this was not too difficult and I found a job in a furniture store on Godwin Street. I was handling accounts and dealing with customers who were meant to be paying their accounts but weren’t. I hated it and walked out. I had an interview with an optician but, when I said that I would only be available for a year, they turned me down because all the training I needed would be wasted. I then walked into DER on North Parade and asked for a job but explained that I could only stay for a year. Mr. CARLISLE, the manager, said that if I would stay for a year, the job was mine. That was the start of a very happy year’s work.
Much of my year alone was spent in writing letters; they must have numbered about three hundred. The best bit about writing letters was that I also received lots and I always looked forward to the postman’s arrival.
 |
| 1965 - Southsea Jack, Doreen, Maria & Michael TURNER |
During the summer of 1965, I was asked to go on holiday with John’s family. They were going to Southsea in Hampshire to stay in a hotel. It was quite a memorable holiday in some ways for me. The hotel owner liked to watch over his guests a little too closely and I wasn’t too good at eating and got quite upset until John’s Dad had a word with him to explain the situation; after this chat he could not have been more friendly. He made a special effort to bring me my letters from John. I did go rowing on the boating lake with John’s brother Michael.
 |
| 1965 - Southsea Maria & Michael TURNER |
I had to do the rowing to start with because I knew how, the result of being taught by my Dad. We, as a little family group went to see ‘Mary Poppins’ but got the timing wrong thus we saw the second half first, which rather spoiled the story. For those who cannot remember, cinemas used to have continuous shows in those days and, if you wished, you could stay in for more than one show.
If I wanted to do anything away from work, my Dad more or less insisted that I was chaperoned by one of my brothers. I don’t know that it happened very often but Paul did take me to Doncaster Races once, an outing that I really enjoyed. With my Mum, I went to Leeds to see ‘The Sound of Music’. At the point where Maria marries, my Mum started to get up to leave because she thought that was the end of the film. As the reader may be able to tell, my first year of married life was quite mundane.
In those days in the RAF, part of the married personnel’s pay was a Marriage Allowance, which was paid directly to the wife. This amounted to £6-6s (£6.30) per week and during this year I saved it all so that when John came back we had approximately £300 to spend on household essentials.
Close to the time that John was due back, I was at work when in walked this stranger much to my consternation. Even considering all the letters, we did feel like strangers and I felt quite flustered, not quite knowing how to react. Mr. CARLISLE said that I could go home, but I insisted on finishing at the proper time and John went home alone!!
I had the photo at the start of the chapter taken especially to send to John.
No comments:
Post a Comment