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Swanage
1905 August we moved to Swanage, and settled there for three years only - and yet why did we leave? Dad got on so well, and all went happily, but he could not like the winters and feeling himself cut off from London.
The first year we had many calls to pay and people to know. The summer was such a delight to Victor and Winnie, who learnt to swim and used to bathe sometimes twice a day.
Victor and Winnie
Victor was a strong, athletic boy, could swim well. We sent him to Mrs Hickson who had started a mixed school. He learnt music from Mrs Hickson. He loved his life. We soon sent Winnie too. She was a sweet pretty thing, very strong willed - I fear received too much notice. Boys specially liked her, which perhaps was not too good for her. Oh that I had prayed more earnestly for my darling and been wiser; it might have saved much trouble, for she really has a sweet nature and has good brains. But here again I know we are but frail humans, and God knows I wanted to do my duty. He will overrule our mistakes and my little Winnie will come out on top one day. God bless her. She loved her school too.
(More memories of Swanage. Winnie 6 years. I made her pretty little frocks; she always wore the same, cream nun's veiling with frill at bottom of skirt edged with torchion lace - washed easily, and very pretty. She loved dancing, learnt at Kindergarten and Miss Goldie's. It was all very difficult as Dad did not like it. As I look back and think, we should have let her alone. She would then have loved her home and stayed more with us and married young. But there again I pray God overrule our mistakes. Indeed He has done in many ways. After many sad times I believe she is now happy with a good husband. I hope yet she will be a happy mother. May God grant this.)
Death of Connie
While at Swanage, March 1906, my eldest sister Connie died in Birmingham from an operation, nasal and meregitis (?). Very unexpected. I left the 4 children with Dad and a friend and went to Birmingham too late. How I left home I don't know, and how they got on without me. But they did. I came back after funeral and brought with me Ethel, Ellen and Gertrude aged 13, 12 and 10. They stayed till we all went to Richard's Castle at Easter. What a house-full! Dad was very good to them. Ethel was confirmed there too. I gave her a white dress. She was my godchild.
The birth of Martin, 4 August 1907
In our second year at Swanage Martin was born 1907 August, on Sunday evening (only 7 hours ill) just as our beautiful bells 8 pealed out before church service. We were indeed all rejoicing. Dad always wanted boys, I never could see why. This one was destined to be after his father's own heart.
Victor goes to boarding school
Victor was now 10 years old. He had been a term at St Lawrence's College, Ramsgate, as boarder, but was now home on holiday. Dear Victor! Had I known the future I would never have let him go from home at 10 years. He loved Swanage, the old barn, the rambling garden with plenty of old trees to climb, lovely old house. He loved us and his home. But he soon got used to school and was made head of the Junior School before he joined the big school. A good cricketer.
Martin as a baby
Martin had a lady nurse for the first month. She was excellent. In those days, 30 years ago, babies were carried out for walks, not put in prams, and nurse carried him at one week old to the beach and the C.S.S.M. children's service; his first introduction. It was very hot.
I got well very quickly but I could not feed baby, so he had Allenbury's Food. This was excellent, and he grew strong and quickly; a lovely boy, very dark. Winnie was very interested. She was not 8 years.
Sorry to leave Swanage
We stayed on one year more at Swanage, and then Dad had the opportunity to change to Tunbridge Wells with Mr Eardley. I hated moving, and leaving so pretty a vicarage and garden for a much smaller house and town garden - no apples or much fruit. At Swanage we had a huge walnut tree, under which we often had tea, mulberry tree, apples in abundance, heaps of vegetables, a good gardener, quince tree, all the old-fashioned trees, medlar tree, tennis court. There Dad had three curates, three churches and a district some miles off. Also he was patron of one living. I was happy there and disliked the idea of making new friends all over again. But it was Dad's work and he must choose. So in 1908, Martin one year old, we went to Tunbridge Wells.
Farewell to Swanage September 27th 1908. They gave us a small gift of money and a silver teapot. I was given a silver card case from the working party always held in the Vicarage.
People could not understand why we were leaving; we had only been there three years. I was very sorry. There was plenty of work to be done and in the summer it was a lovely place for the children. But there it was, we left and went to Tunbridge Wells in October. That term we placed Winnie, now 9 years old, with Mrs Pitcairn, a woman full of character, at Monkton Combe, while we settled down and I found a good nurse to go with us to take care of Martin. Dear Winnie, why did I not let her be useful and help with baby Martin. I found in later years she was very fond of children and good with them.
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