margaret’s Life Story Book

This photograph always makes me think of the street where I spent my childhood. Everyone seemed to know everyone then, and doors were always opening and closing with neighbours calling to one another.
We played outside for hours, skipping, hopping and making up games until it was time to come in. In the summer the street felt full of life, and in winter it felt cosy and familiar.
It wasn’t a grand place, but it was home, and I have very happy memories of growing up there.

Some of my happiest childhood memories are of visiting the fun fair in Rhyl. I remember the music, the bright lights and the smell of candy floss as we walked along the promenade.

I loved the Waltzers and dodgems, although I wasn't always brave enough for the biggest rides! We'd finish the day with chips and walk home tired but happy.

Even now, those sounds and smells bring back wonderful memories of childhood.

John and I were married on a bright Saturday morning. I wore a simple white dress made by my aunt, with a short veil and a small bouquet of pink roses.

After the ceremony, everyone gathered outside the church for photographs. Our reception was held in the local village hall, where we had sandwiches, fruit cake and plenty of tea.

The first song we danced to was “Unchained Melody”. John was nervous about dancing, but we laughed all the way through it.

Sunday lunch was an important family tradition. I usually cooked roast chicken with potatoes, carrots, peas and plenty of gravy.

Susan helped set the table, while Michael often tried to sneak a roast potato before everyone sat down. John carved the chicken and turned on the radio in the kitchen.

After lunch, we washed the dishes together and sometimes went for a short walk if the weather was fine.

Emily came to help me plant flowers in the back garden. We chose red geraniums, yellow marigolds and a tray of lavender.

She filled the watering can while I showed her how to loosen the roots before placing each plant into the soil. We worked slowly and stopped for tea and biscuits halfway through.

The garden looked bright and cheerful when we finished. Emily was very proud of the flowers she had planted by herself.

Every summer, we travelled to Rhyl for a week by the sea. Dad carried the suitcases while Mum made sure Peter and I stayed close on the busy platform.

We spent hours building sandcastles, collecting shells and paddling at the water’s edge. Mum always packed sandwiches in greaseproof paper, and Dad bought us an ice cream before we walked back to the guest house.

I remember feeling tired, happy and very sandy at the end of each day.

This was one of those lovely seaside days when the weather was kind to us and everyone was happy just to be together. We spent the day on the beach, with buckets and spades, deckchairs and sand everywhere.
The children were full of energy, running backwards and forwards between the beach and the water, while I tried to keep an eye on everything and still enjoy the sunshine.
It was such a simple day, but those are often the ones I remember best — the sea air, the laughter and seeing the children so happy. I remember hearing a great song from someone’s radio close by...Gloria Gaynor.

We all went to Llandudno for the day and spent most of it walking along the front and the pier.
It was quite breezy, but the sun was out and everyone was in a good mood. We stopped for something to eat, looked around the shops and, of course, had to take a family photograph by the sea.
Days like this always remind me that the best memories are often the ordinary ones — just being together, having a laugh and enjoying the day.

This was taken on a night out with my friend Susan when we had gone dancing. We loved getting dressed up and going into town for the evening, especially when there was music and a good crowd.
I can still remember the excitement of getting ready, doing my hair properly and looking forward to the night ahead. We laughed so much, and even standing outside for a photograph felt like part of the occasion.
Those evenings always felt special — a bit of glamour, good company and plenty of music.

Susan and I have known each other for many years, and we’ve shared an awful lot of cups of tea in that time.
This was a lovely afternoon in the garden. We sat outside for far longer than we intended, talking about old friends, family, holidays and all the things we used to get up to.
There was plenty of tea, far too many scones, and a lot of laughing.

Emily came over one Saturday afternoon and we decided to make Welsh cakes together. She got flour absolutely everywhere, including all over herself, but she was very proud of the ones she cut out herself.
We used the same old recipe I’ve had for years. She kept asking when they would be ready and then ate one while it was still warm.
It was one of those simple afternoons that turned into a lovely memory.