My Grandad

A Memory of Bebington.

I was told by my mum, still here at 88 this week, that my grandad on my dad's side also lived in the old hall with his sister who ran a soup kitchen. His name was Herbert Walter Dawson, the same as my dad. They were both in the police. My dad, after the war, being in the Chesers in Egypt, went into Lever's then into the police. He reached the rank of Sergeant. My other grandad's farther was an interpreter to John Laird.


Added 31 March 2012

#235795

Comments & Feedback

Dear Brian,
I was so surprised and excited to see your comments about the
Old Hall, Lower Bebington. As I am now 67, and feeling a little
nostalgic about my childhood, I had just googled Mayer Hall,
and called my son to point out the gates in the stone wall on the opposite side of the road, which lead into the Hall, as you know, and explained to him that the wall, and sadly the Hall
no longer exist. I then came across you memory comment, Kama I think! My excitement at your memory stems from having lived there for a few years in the 1950's myself.
My parents moved into No. 1 the Old Hall in approximately
1955, when I was 7 years old, I have treasured memories
of the old house, beautiful black and white Victorian tiled
entry porch, bay windows, four bedrooms a really grand
old house, I remember cuddling up in an arm chair next
to a huge cast iron range in the kitchen and dark green
mullioned windows in the scullery, and lovely old flag stones
on the floor. I was a very happy little girl there. Above all I am excited that after all of these years your name definitely rings a very familiar bell! I remember what was to me an old lady living in the end house (I used to walk past on my way to the church school up the road)
she was always peeling potatoes, (soup kitchen?) and there were little boys
running around eating pieces of potato. I am sure they were
the Dawsons. My Mum and Dad both served in the Airforce
during the war, and met when they went to Wirral Grammer
School, I was born in Borrowdale road at my grannys house,
just up the road from the school. My dad worked as a builder
carpenter in an historic building where Church and Heath
road converge just below Mayer Hall. My uncle had a paint
and paper shop just before the church.Your Mum and mine
are much of an age. My Mum's name was Betty Hodges,
she died at ninety 3 years ago, she was a wonderful person.
My Dad's name was Allan, and in 1957 with the hardship
after the war, he took us to Nyasaland (now) Malawi, to work
for the British Government there, quite adventurous for those
days. So here I am a little Bebington girl, now living in South
Africa, and very African at heart I must say, but still with my few English roots, and wishing you well. How lovely it would be if you have any pictures of the Hall. With regards, Doreen Anne Grilli, (Hodges)

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