Front Garden of 142 Lower Rd. River Easter 1950
Back Row Eva, Frances, Eileen Fuller
Front Row Brian Fuller, Mother Fuller, Linda Fuller, Mrs Leverett (Eva's Mum), Mary
Frank Joins Immigration
In 1935 I had a feeling that Frank's work was getting a little tedious and he was not enjoying it. A note was sent round the Board of Education, where he was working, saying that the Immigration Service was being extended and applications for transfer were being considered. Frank talked to me about it, warning me that if he was accepted it would mean moving, leaving relatives and friends etc. I said, Where you go, I go with you." So he applied and was accepted. It was a move we never regretted. We put St Teara up for sale, but didn't get any takers. Frank's sister-in-law, Madge, decided she would like it. Frank and his brother Walter had a gentleman's agreement: Frank went on paying the monthly repayments so as not to interfere with the mortgage and Walter refunded the money to Frank.
Temporary Midwife
Before we moved, Frank had to do six months training in Folkestone before he was given a commitment to Dover Immigration. I remained in Laindon, with Mum and Dad, and Frances. One night after we had all gone to bed at about 11pm, there was a knock on the front door and I thought, "Good, Frank has arrived home", but it was Frank's niece Vera's husband also called Frank. He looked white and really worried, "Could you come" he said, "Vera's very bad". So I hurriedly dressed and went just a few minutes walk to their house. Vera was expecting a baby, but not for some weeks. Frank went for the doctor and when he arrived I had to assist at the birth! The preparations for the birth had gone a bit wrong, so there were no clothes for the baby. I went and got some of Frances's and we dressed the the baby boy up in those. That was my one and only maternity case!
Move to Dover
Soon after that episode we moved to Dover. When Frank was training he lodged in Frith Rd., and I went down for a day or two to look for a house. We found one, which a builder had built for his own family. It wasn't quite finished, but livable. It was in River and part way up a hill, so the garden was very steep. We were there for six months and then Percy Hertley, an Immigration Officer, who lived at 142 Lower Rd. who was to be transferred to Croydon, asked us if we would like to rent his house, that he was buying ready for retirement. We were very pleased to do that; it was much more suitable and had a garage. We lived there from 1936 to 1979 and were very happy. When the war came, rather than leave the house empty, Frank and Percy came to an agreement whereby Frank continued the tenancy paying half rent - there were no rates to pay - but, keeping our furniture there, we were able to keep the Army out. The Army did take the house next door and a lot of damage was done. Unfortunately Percy died and Frank offered his widow an increased rent, but she wouldn't hear of it. Then she also died, and the guardian of their son, who was mentally disabled, wished to realise his assets and invest the money, so we were able to but the house as sitting tenants. Everything worked out for the best. It seemed that God's hand was guiding us.
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