Farewell to a special person

This lovely photograph is a lady called Cynthia Wheeler MBE pictured in 1940 when she was just 15 and a volunteer for the Red Cross. It was a harrowing time for a young woman and she would tell me how she used to write letters for the injured patients. From that time she has worked tirelessly raising money for the British Red Cross. In her latter years she was forced to give up her post in the medical equipment service, but still worked from home to raise funds. She was a great knitter and in recent years has made dozens of beautiful knitted colourful berets for me (taken from a 1940's pattern that I found for her) and covered hundreds of old fashioned wooden coat hangers with knitted covers in a fantastic range of colours. These hangers have protected my delicate stock of vintage clothes. They have been admired and purchased by buyers for companies such as Cath Kidston.. and several were even used in the wardrobe on the set of Nanny Mcphee! Everything I have purchased from Cynthia has been enjoyed and passed on to my customers, and of course Cynthia donated all the money to the British Red Cross. Sadly, this wonderful person passed away this week.  I will miss my visits to her home and our little chats about the "state of the world" (and of course the nursing profession!)

The Class of 1979.....

This week is the 30 year anniversary of the November 1979 intake of student nurses at the Nightingale School of Nursing at St Thomas's hospital in London. The above photo was actually taken a year or so into our training, but it is the only one I have that shows most of the group.
Here are some of us who got together 2 weeks ago to compare wrinkles & grey hair. Ruth hosted a great day & served a delicious lunch. Some of us had not seen each other for 10 or sometimes 15 years, so there was a lot to catch up on. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone & reminiscing over funny stories that we had from our nurse training days....

This hilarious photo was taken I think in 1981, it was during our time at the "Geriatric hospital" in Clapham. We hosted a party for the residents, shown here doing the "Conga" by the look of things!

A Snapshot in Time

Recently I visited my parents, and mum had been sorting through some old boxes of photographs as she was about to visit a schoolfriend who she had not seen for some years.

You can imagine how much I enjoyed looking at all the fashions of the day. This one came with a newspaper cutting titled "Regatta Fashions", and described "Three fair spectators at the Northwich Regatta well equipped for the weather in rubber boots." Must have been the "Glastonbury Festival" of its day, and usually took place in the rain!

Happy Birthday to me!

A sunny day on September 11th in the mid 60's, does anyone remember that strange tradition of having the jelly & ice cream as a first course at Birthday parties?

Here I am with my little brother, Alison, Gilly S, Gilly T, Linda, Shirley, Lisa and the mystery girl in the foreground with the scary fringe. I have wracked my brain to remember who she is, so if you are that person do get in touch! It is not like me to forget names or faces, but she has me foxed!

There is a clue as to my Birthday pressie that year.. a gorgeous blue easel can be seen in the background, possibly by Triang?

Favourite China & friends coming for supper

It is always a pleasure to see friends, and this evening we are hosting a "pot-luck" style supper. All I have to do is set the table.......

well not quite, but this is the fun part where I can rummage into the sideboard and get out my favourite Alfred meakin Cactus Dinner service and Lord Nelson Rio 1950's side dishes..... along with my vintage glasses & favourite spotty jug.....
Oh yes, and the 1930's salad servers that I have had forever..... may have come from a jumble sale in the 1970s? Linen checked napkins, much nicer than paper I think.

Table cloth of course by Cath Kidston & spotty cutlery from Tesco! Just need the guests & the food......