22nd November, 2011
My dear Jeremy,
Those were busy days for Dad organising the new college which opened in the middle of August. Your arrival made it even busier as he fitted in caring for me as I lay in bed recovering. In those days one had to stay in bed until the milk 'came in', was the expression, and not overdo things. Such a contrast to today when new Mums are up and doing again as though nothing had ever happened. I wonder if the reason so many mothers suffer from post natal depression because they have not had time to rest and make up for lost sleep.
It was October and therefore it was very hot before the rains broke. Perhaps that is why you like Summer time and hot days. There was a swimming pool in Mufulira and we would go there to swim to cool off. Jill belonged to a Swimming Club so much time was spent there. She swam in inter school galas like the one in Kitwe where she was in the lead when for some reason she stopped and was overtaken. There is a picture of her on one of the cines. There is also a picture of Celia and Tim playing in the school grounds amusing themselves. Celia is wearing the hat Joyce had given her. White gloves also went with the hat.
Thought you might be interested in this entry from Dad's diary which said: 'Played cowboys with Tim.'
It was also at this time that Dad tried to sell the Land Rover and Caravan without any success. No doubt you will be pleased to know that as the Land Rover became such an important part of our lives. My handbag was stolen when I left it on the seat of the Land Rover in which was a ‘gold’ fountain pen I had had for many years and which I really liked. I was sad about the bag as my Mother had given it to me
We also seemed to have lots of visitors entertaining people like Elsie, the Humbles, the Hiddlestons, the Caseleys and van Ghents to tea, lunch, drinks or dinner and the compliment was returned to us so there was much social activity. The van Ghents we knew in Abercorn and he was now the doctor at the new big Kitwe Hospital. Dad also had endless visitors at the college of VIPs from overseas all showing an interest in African Education and a new Teacher Training College. Every Sunday a preacher came to take the Church service in the hall.
Miss Churchill, Churchie as we called her, arrived and bought a Renault Dauphine car. I don't think she thought it was right for the Principal's wife to be driving a heavy vehicle like the Land Rover so persuaded me to use her car for the school run. She also said it needed to be run regularly and she only used it at weekends. There were no seat belts or child-saftey seats in those days so I would lay you on the back seat with Tim sitting beside you to catch you if I braked suddenly. I often called in to visit Joan Harker on some of these days.
We celebrated Federation Day on the 28th October. It was probably for the last time before Independence.
Vernon and Phyllis Bailey joined the staff. They were Quakers so meetings were sometimes held and other Quakers came over from Kitwe. I remember some visiting English Quakers
I do not remember clearly but there was a Gymkana Club where we used to go to see the horses and a place called Rhodin where we could have picnics.
One day some Quakers called Heron came to stay. Mrs Heron once offered to watch you lying in your pram while I went to fetch the girls from school. I never forgave her as when I got home there you were howling your head off and she was sitting beside you reading her book and taking no notice of you. I was so angry I rushed in picked you up and comforted you and told her very sharply that I never let my babies cry. I was very pleased when they finally left. I think they were rather ‘precious’.
Mr O’Connell was the Mine Manager and I remember going to a cocktail party and later a Christmas party in his house. Mrs O’Connell was always very smartly dressed… He took an interest in the college and several times came out and had tea with us.
It was Celia’s birthday and she woke at 2 am and when it was Christmas she woke at 3 am. Tim was more discreet and only woke at 5am.
Jan Kelly was an American who joined the college staff and when JF Kennedy was assassinated in late November she was distraught and went stumbling around the colleges well as about the perimeter of the college in the dark. As the college grounds bordered on the main road and was not fenced and there were no lights Dad was very concerned about her and went to call her in but still had to spend some time walking up and down with her comforting her.
There was, of course, great excitement when Christopher came home for Christmas. We met him at Ndola station,
On Christopher’s birthday we packed a picnic basket and went down to a nearby river where it ran over rocks making a small waterfall. There is a photo of Chris swimming there and enjoying lying with the waterfall flowing over him.
In the meantime you were growing and smiling and going and giving us all great pleasure. You were a strong, healthy, happy baby and much loved by your brothers and sisters and your parents, too, of course.
And that was the end of 1963 with its ups and downs.
Love you,
Mum