Forever Grateful

NORWICH IN THE LATE SIXTIES BY CINDY D'LEQEZ-SAGE.
I LIVED IN NORWICH WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN IN 1969 IN, WHAT WAS THEN, THE NEWLY BUILT HOSPITAL.THEY HAD LIGHTS BY THE FLOOR IN THE CORRIDORS SO YOU COULD SEE WHERE TO STEP AT NIGHT. I WAS AN UNMARRIED MUM AND USED TO HAVE TO VISIT A SISTER TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE OK. THEY WEREN'T BUT I NEVER TOLD HER AND DIDN'T HAVE AFAMILY TO TURN TO SO IT WAS HARD. AT ONE TIME WE LIVED IN OLD PALACE ROAD WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PULLED DOWN. I SHARED THIS HOUSE WITH STUDENTS FROM NORWICH SCHOOL OF ART AND DOWNSTAIRS RICHARD JOHNSON HAD TWO ROOMS. WHEN WE ALL MOVED IN WE BORROWED THE MILKMAN'S CART AND TRUNDLED IN UP THE STREET , TO THE CURIOSITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SHOP OPPOSITE, PILLED HIGH WITH OUR FEW BELONGINGS. THE NEIGHBOURS CALLED IT 'THE HIPPY HOUSE' AND, AS WE LOOKED SO POOR, COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAD BOUGHT IT. RICHARD'S MUM AND DAD BOUGHT IT FOR HIM TO USE UNTIL HE FINISHED HIS DEGREE AT THE ART SCHOOL AND USED TO VISIT IN THEIR ROLLER. RICHARD PLAYED MUSIC IN THE LOCAL PUBS ON A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENT DRESSED IN A GENUINE, ANTIQUE SHEPHERD'S TOP AND HE CARRIED A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS TO THESE GIGS IN A HUGE, WOVEN BATH CHAIR THAT HE HAD PUT BIKE PEDALS ON. THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO MET IN THE PUB BY THE ART SCHOOL, 'THE FESTIVAL HOUSE' AND WE USED TO GO TO GILE'S BOOKSHOP FOR OUR ALTERNATIVE LITERATURE AND NEWS. TWO MEN CALLED COLIN AND DICK WHERE FRIENDS AND WORKED THERE. WE ALSO STAYED WITH JOE AND MAUREEN (MO) SHARP WHO HAD A BABY CALLED ELECTRA. AFTER READING FRANCIS FRITH, I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM ALL. IT WAS A TIME OF STRANGE PARTIES AND ASSOCIATES THAT HAS NEVER LEFT ME.
NORWICH BY CINDY D'LEQUEZ-SAGE.