Quality Of L Ife

A Memory of High Wycombe.

I was born in Beaconsfield in 1946, but grew up in Micklefield, Melbourne Road to be exact. Oh what lovely memories I have! Walking in Kings Woods with my father and picking bluebells; buying a threepenny bag of chips and walking home watching the smoke spiral from the chimneys just before dark. I enjoyed going to Lords and Gilbeys shops and buying sweets, having them cut out coupons from the rashion book.We would take day trips to the seaside, everyone sang on the bus and passed the hat for the driver.
I attended Netherwood School and St. Bernards Convent and we used to walk to the Rye to play lawn hockey and swing on the swings. My Dad used to take me rowing on the Rye and I used to catch tadpoles and bring them home in a bucket.
My Grandparents used to cook me huge breakfasts every Sunday - the works with cups of tea and lots of bread and butter. I was lucky, I had a better childhood than children do today, in spite of the fact my parents divorced when I was 11 and at 12 my mother took me to the USA. Part of me is still home in High Wycombe...always will be.