Happiest Time Of My Life

A Memory of Barking.

I think it was in 1969 that I worked in San Feliu de Guixols, Spain (Costa Brava) where I met and fell in love with Patricia L. Dawe, from Barking/Essex. Pat was on holiday in San Feliu with her parents and her twin sister, I think her name was Jane.

The end of that season (1969) I decided to go to England and surprise Patricia with a visit - it was a surprise indeed and our relationship grew deeper. I got a job at Madison´s Holiday Camp, New Romney, as a redcoat and after the time in New Romney my English, I am German, had improved enough to get a job as a Physical Education Teacher at Bow´s Secondary Boys School in Bow.

As well did I teach Spanish language in Barking at a center for adult education, worked as a waiter at Flanagan´s, Leister Square, as a singer in the Jodling Sausage on Kensington High Street and as a ski instructor for Sak´s on a dry ski slope in an abandoned church in Kensington.

Patricia and I were meant to get engaged and than to marry but my past caught up with me and I had to leave England, leaving Patricia and her family that trusted me so much despite my (in those years) in Britain somewhat odd nationality.


The two years with Patricia and her family in Barking, Sundays Roast Pork, mashed potatoes and peas with gravy were the happiest of my life ever. When I had to leave England, my job and Patricia, Pat helped me with 600.-- British Pounds enabling me to get away safely - she never heard of me again and I still suffer from my conscience.

Lately I have turned to the internet trying to find my way back to Barking in order to sort out the mess I left behind in 1970 but I have not succeeded to find a trace of Patricia, their adres was 45 Melford Ave., Barking Essex.

Anyone knows anything?

Peter Bössenecker.
peter@globalanimalexchange.eu

---

---