memory lane
-
When I was growing up, going to London was a rare and special treat. So when Dad asked me if I’d like to go with him to see the sights and to The National Gallery, I jumped at the chance. Nearly forty years ago and I still remember it well. We had a lovely day
-
And the Certificate is Awarded to… When I moved a little while ago, I came across a pile of certificates from my childhood. I loved getting a certificate. I wasn’t a very confident child and being given a certificate made me feel I’d achieved something. It was there in black and white and couldn’t be
-
A Royal Obsession It was in 1981 that I first took an interest in Princess Diana. I was nine years old and we were on holiday in Torquay. There was quite a furore in the guest house where we were staying: Prince Charles and Lady Diana were getting married that week, and everyone staying there
-
My Days as a Duranie I couldn’t believe it – more than thirty-five years after I first fell in love with the pop group Duran Duran, I was going to see them live. My partner had surprised me with tickets as a Christmas present, and I couldn’t wait. Alas, Covid had other plans, but in
-
Memories of My Special Grandparents I was twelve when my grandad died. So I only have a few memories of him. I wish I had more. Grandad and Nan had moved away some years before so we didn’t see them very often. He’d also had a stroke when I was younger and Mum always said
-
When I was three, I loved watching Andy Pandy and wistfully yearned for a doll like Looby Loo. I sang Humpty Dumpty over and over, completely out of tune much to Mum’s dismay. I had teddy bear pictures on my wall and wore frilly dresses. For today’s three-year-old, it’s a little different and it certainly
-
What teenager who grew up in the 1980s doesn’t remember ‘Girls Just Want To have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper? As an eleven-year-old, I thought Cyndi was amazing. After all, she had pink and orange hair! As a child, I had always been taught to be respectful, to have manners and to toe the line. And
-
When I was fourteen, we used to visit my nan most Sundays. She lived a good hour or so away so Mum, Dad and I travelled by car to see her. I didn’t like travelling by car as I’d often feel car sick, but I coped with it by listening to music on my Walkman
-
It was the spring of 1993. I was a student at college and lived at home with Mum and Dad. I’d just passed my driving test (after two attempts). I’ll always remember the date I passed – 25th April. It was Mum’s birthday. I hadn’t told her I was taking the test as I wanted
-
I looked at the frail form lying so still on the hospital bed. Tears threatened to fall. I blinked them back, but they wouldn’t have it. I let them come. This was it – time to say my last goodbye to my dear, dear grandad. I held his hand, savouring the life still there. I
Esther Chilton 