Through Ten Eyes of a Storm

Beatrice Leaves On the 19 February 1976 I came home from work to our four children and a note. The note from Beatrice said she was gone, she would not be returning and that we would all die because I could not cook or wash and couldn't even look after myself never mind four children. I was in a state of panic but felt sure she would be back and then I could go. Beatrice never returned. At that time the children were eight, five, four and two years old. I continued working and looked after them in such a way that if the authorities knew I would have gone to prison for child neglect. For example, Rodney at two years old was boarded out from Sunday night to Friday whilst the other three remained at home. Sometimes when I was working far from home I would dress them early, show them the clock and tell them that they should start walking to school when the hands reached a certain place. The eight year old was responsible for telling the others what time they should leave. The school holidays were the most difficult period. Sometimes a childminder for one reason or another would let me down. I remember a particular incident - luckily I was not working far but I did not have a childminder. I put the children into one room with food, water and a potty and bolted the door from outside. After a few hours at work, I returned to check on them. My next door neighbour Vera, was sitting outside on her patio begging Ronald to go back inside as he was swinging on the window ledge. If he fell he would drop 12 feet onto the concrete patio below - the others were at the window waiting to follow. Vera said to me, if the Social Services `got wind' of this, they would be taken off me. Furthermore, I was lucky that the neighbour from the other side, Miss Smith who was not too keen on us from day one, went to work. If Miss Smith saw what was going on she would have informed the authorities straight away. I realised that Miss Smith was not guided by her care for the welfare of the children! I thanked Vera, got a hammer and a nail, nailed the windows shut and went back to work. I was always puzzled when I looked at other people's washing on the line and at the launderette - why did Rodney's nappies always have that orangey-yellow colour? I was unable to pin nappies for Rodney so as soon as he messed himself the nappy would fall off. I looked at Rodney and I thought, the other three boys might survive but he is going to die. I had no washing machine so had no choice but to take the laundry to the nearest launderette. Later on, I learned how to properly wash and sort the clothes. My second wife showed me how to soak and bleach soiled whites and to get rid of the orangey yellow stains. My cooking skills were very limited but the boys and I survived on fry dumplings, sardines and rice, corned beef and rice, fried eggs and bread, boiled eggs, cereals and many take-away meals. After Beatrice left my next door neighbour Vera frequently cooked us a Sunday meal which she brought over for us. She took the children's bed linen to her house, washed it, returned and made the beds. At the time Vera was in her thirties, of medium build with blue eyes and blond hair. She lived next door with her husband and two young daughters. Miss Smith, the neighbour from the other side was about age forty. She lived there with her mother, father and son. She didn't speak to us from the outset. She was a brunette, of medium height and not very pleasant. Funnily, her parents who were pensioners spoke to us. My friend Mr Harry Ferguson and I were both members of the Learie Constantine Social Club in Willesden. I often went to the club and socialised with my friends, as this allowed me a haven to have a good laugh and unwind. Sometimes on a Friday and Saturday I would take the boys to the club. Harry's wife Mrs Ferguson (aka Mrs Harry) was a cook in the club. She often prepared a meal for the boys . Audley would always lead the others and in the style of Oliver Twist they would give Mrs Harry the signal that they wanted seconds. To this day, Audley remembers her dumplings were `good'. Sometimes Mrs Harry would also invite us to her home for a Sunday meal. She would tell us that she served her family at one o'clock and since space was at a premium we could come at two o'clock. I never refused any of these invitations.