‘
Memories of an Exeter
Childhood-1941 to 1955’
My name is Robbie … or at least that is close enough … and I was a war
baby, born in 1941 at Mowbray House Nursing Home in Heavitree, Exeter, which building to my knowledge is still there … but now converted into retirement flats I believe.
My dad was away in France at the time … no, I know what you’re thinking! He had been in England on home leave at the time of my conception … or so they tell me!
I had (… and still have) a brother, Keith, who is a couple of years older than me and Elsie and Percy and their two offspring lived in a tiny two-up, three-down terraced house in the St Leonards district of the city … a house that was rented from a private landlord.
This book is an account of the conditions that nurtured my early
childhood together with the main highlights such as the day that I went missing, my first girlfriends and my
memories of Coronation Day. Also included are memories of the four schools that I attended and of radio and television programmes of the day. Where necessary and to protect the innocent, I have changed some names but the actual memories are as is!
My father died back in 1966 and my mother more recently at the grand old age of 93. I would like to dedicate this book to them … two parents whose love for each other spilled over onto my brother and me and set us on the road of life, with their high standards as an example.