Meet the Family (Part 12)

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I finished Part 11 at the point when Dad came out of the army having served 6 years during the Second World War. He'd returned to work for his former boss, Tom Cook, who'd taken Dad under his wing and was helping him to further his career. Tom had taken Dad round Norfolk arable farms to inspect crops and Dad had decided he'd like to study and achieve a Diploma in Agricultural Botany. By 1950 Dad had become manager of Aldborough flour mill and it was at that time he met my mum. I've already told you what happened in Part 6 but, just to recap, a lorry driver from Coltishall granary (also owned by Tom Cook) had filled up his lorry with fuel at the village garage where Mum worked. The lorry wouldn't start so Dad arranged to drive over, He duly arrived while Mum was on reception and the rest, as they say, is history. Dad proposed to Mum in 1952 but very much against my Grandma Barcham's wishes. As some of you will know, I previously told you that my Grandma was not a nice person! She threw back at Mum that she couldn't marry Dad as she had no idea whether he was related to her - she'd been adopted by my 'grandparents' for money (also detailed in a previous chapter)! But Dad wasn't giving in. He spent the next year speaking to various people that Mum had been introduced to when she was a child. The Patterson sisters and her GP knew Mum's background and confirmed that Mum was the daughter of a local landowner's son and a servant. There was no likelihood of Dad being related to Mum. Dad asked Mum if she wanted to know what he'd discovered but she said she'd prefer not to. Her parents had never made contact with her personally even though they had arranged for her to meet some locally influential people but it was obvious they didn't really want to know her. Thankfully, before he died Dad told both me and my sister the story just in case Mum decided at a later date that she wanted to know. Sadly, Mum is now in a home with dementia and doesn't know either me or my sister so it's unlikely she'll be asking us. Once this parental problem had been dealt with Mum and Dad decided they'd build their own bungalow in Coltishall. Tom Cook owned land there so he sold them a piece of land for very little money and they had a two bedroom bungalow built. At the time we still had rationing here in the UK so it took some while for them to get hold of all the necessary building materials but, by 1953 the bungalow was ready so they set the wedding day for 9th January 1954 which was to be held at Aldborough church. Dad tried to convince Grandma Barcham that she and my Granddad should attend the wedding but Grandma wasn't having any of it. By this time Granddad was an alcoholic brought about by Grandma's maliciousness and cruelty so he dare not attend either. Grandma thought this would put a stop to the wedding but Mum and Dad continued the planning but left Grandma in the dark. Mum bought herself a white dress to wear and Dad's family all got together and arranged a small reception at my Granny and Granddad's house in Aldborough. About a week before the wedding, however, my Grandma had gone through Mum's bedroom and discovered the white dress. She cut it up one day when Mum was working at the garage and when Mum got home Grandma slapped Mum across the face and then presented her with the shredded dress. The next day when she was at work she phoned Dad and said the wedding would have to be called off but he told her that he didn't care what she wore at the wedding and that no matter what she would become Mrs Violet Money on 9th January 1954. Dad told Granny and Granddad Money what Grandma Barcham had done and they got together with Dad's three sisters and between them they managed to buy Mum a navy blue suit and little box hat and a pair of navy blue shoes. My Auntie Stella kept them at her house to ensure Grandma Barcham didn't have the opportunity for a ripping re-run! It may not have been ideal for a wedding but Mum, on that cold January day became Mrs Violet Annie Money ... for better or worse! They had three days in Cambridge for their honeymoon. Tom Cook knew the situation with Mum's family so he paid for them to stay in The Garden House Hotel. However, one day of this honeymoon was set aside for Dad to take his final exam for his Diploma at the Agricultural College in the city. But as far as Mum was concerned it was absolutely perfect. I can remember as a child seeing a wonderful photo of Mum and Dad sitting on a park bench in Cambridge holding a box of Cadbury's Roses between them but unfortunately it's got lost somewhere along the line but it really showed just how much they loved each other. A love that would continue for the next 60 or so years. Thankfully Dad passed his exam with flying colours and a new life began for both of them.