Clements Hall

I must have been about six when I stayed at Clements Hall with my brothers Edwin and Terry. Christine's story brought back memories. I also remember the geese, the matron often made me sit on the step to shell the peas and the geese would gather around pecking at me, I was so very frightened of them as a small child. I also remember the tram, we spent hours playing in it. I also remember a wooden gate not far from the tram that led into a lane, I seem to remember going along that lane to Sunday school. The main hall had 2 or 3 steps that we used to sit on and wind wool around our hands with a lady we knew as Sadie Coco, there was an old record player on a table and I remember so vividly listening to 'Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be' and 'How much is that doggie in the window'. At Easter there was a huge Easter egg donated decorated with iced flowers, the chocolate must have been a good inch or more thick. We ate our meals on big wooden tables with long benches either side. I also remember the bathroom that had a long bench with hooks above to hang your clothes. I remember standing naked awaiting my turn to go in the bath, normally they did two or three at a time. The bedrooms were dormitories, I being a bed wetter often got the matron's wooden spoon across my buttocks for fouling the bed. There was also a privet hedge across the back lawn, I can remember my brothers and I hiding in it and making a camp through the middle of the hedge. It is strange I can remember going to Sunday school but can't remember going to a school, I must have done so as I was of school age. I cant say it was happy memories for me but at times we all look back!