Looking Back: Sheffield Girl - The First 19¾ YEARS

LONDON GIRL - 28th MARCH 1961

Interview at The Bailey's Hotel in London today! I was interviewed by the assistant manager, a small, neat sort of man in his narrow pin striped trousers and black jacket, 30ish and with a thin, rather dapper moustache. Seems pleasant enough, if a little harassed. He says I will get my train fare re-funded if I stay for at least six months. On top of the £6 a week wages, I will get accommodation in the hotel and all my meals. The switchboard, which is on the ground floor just opposite the bar, is in a fairly open position and easily accessible to one and all. It's a 2-person 'dolls eye' type - not a problem, having worked one of these at the Grand. And I start next Tuesday!

Mum is not best pleased about me going to work in London, and says she could stop me if she wanted to. I'm baffled by this, and ask her why on earth she would want to? Mum has known for ages that I wanted to spread my wings, and working in London was always a strong option. I have tried different things, now I want to move on, London seems such an exciting place to be, and I'm looking forward to meeting Jenny - I just can't wait!

Godfrey is taking the sermon at the Methodist Church, so I just had to go to their service and gaze at his handsome face, as I shan't be seeing it for much longer! (I shudder now, at how obvious I was, this wasn't my church, I had never attended before, and probably never would again!) The church is very small, but it has an adjoining kitchen, and after the service tea is served, we stand around drinking the welcome hot brew, and making small talk. A rather nice young man brought my tea, and stayed chatting for a while, he turns out to be the vicar's son, I dread him asking what I am doing there, but he just says very politely, that he hopes I will come again.

Thursday, went to see all my old work mates at Bassetts, and to say goodbye, felt very popular, with everyone crowding round, telling me how envious they are that I am embarking on such an exciting adventure! Bert, the chauffeur, offers to take me home in the limo - can't refuse an offer like that! I'm sure all the net curtains are twitching as the huge black car draws up outside our house, but the icing on the cake is when he gets out to open the door for me, he smiles and gives me a little salute before wishing me good luck. The big car pulls sedately away, and I can just imagine the number of people who will be doing double takes, as the limo purrs grandly through the estate on its way back towards Bassetts.

I have decided to have a clear out of all my fan clubs, I'm not going to have time to run any of them now - not even Dave Berry's; shame, after he'd had those nice membership cards printed too. Meeting Lorna tonight, we're going to the Locarno, and I hope to be able to say goodbye to some of my old friends. It feels like a huge wrench, leaving my social life behind, but I also feel great excitement for what lies ahead...Lorna is very sad, but she has her own life now, and we will keep in touch. Met up again with Peter, he was very nice and polite, so I allowed him to drive me home, but I made it clear that I wasn't going to kiss him goodnight, he says he will come up to London to see me, but as I don't greet that news with any particular enthusiasm, hopefully he won't!

Went to the evening service on Sunday, afterwards Godfrey asked me about London - in a not particularly friendly manner, he seems to think that I am too young to be going off to London on my own - I'm nearly twenty, for heaven's sake! (But I think he was perhaps referring to my lack of maturity - and in that, he wasn't wrong!) A few of us went round to Alan's afterwards for cup of hot chocolate and home made fruit cake, I shall miss these nice little social gatherings. He walked me home afterwards and wished me luck. I suspect they all think I am a little mad, but are too polite to say so.

Easter Monday, and everywhere is so quiet, once upon a time there would be all kinds of things going on, parades through the streets, a band playing in the park, and there isn't even a church service! So on with the packing - busy day tomorrow!

Tuesday, Mum came to the station to see me off, she is very upset and starts crying - oh dear, and here I am all excited, why can't she see what a wonderful adventure it is? I feel terrible as the train pulls away, and I leave Mum on the platform, with tears streaming down her face. (I would have to become a Mother myself, before I would understand how worried she was about the dangers I might face - dangers? dangers? - what dangers??)

Continued...

Copyright © Freda Brown.