Father's family
My father's parents were George and Maria Leverett. Grandfather was a barge builder and owned 5 houses in Mellish Street. Two of the houses were inherited by my father, but during the war they were demolished and the War Damage paid out was not much. There were four children. I remember in particular one of my Dad's sisters called Ann. She was a big lady and always wore a course apron and cap and did the work of a man. We all respected Aunt Ann. My grandmother (Maria) was brought up by some folk we called Uncle and Aunt Brown as her mother had died when Grandma was quite young. Grandma had beautiful hands and was trained as a mantle maker. Every Easter all the girls in the Leverett family were given a length of material for a new dress by Grandma Leverett, who was in the material trade. This was lovely for us and was anticipated with much pleasure. When the new dresses were made up we were allowed to wear them to church on Sunday mornings only and the previous year's dresses were relegated to more frequent use.
Doctor Nelson
Our doctor was a very nice man called Nelson. His surgery was like a shop with a small porch leading into a waiting room with the surgery beyond. On the wall of the porch leading into the waiting room was a notice that read "H de B Nelson General Practitioner". Two young lads were in the porch one day trying to sort out what H de B meant. They decided it was "Arry de Bob"!
Actually it was Horatio de Beauvoir! Dr Nelson attended my mother at each of her confinements and when my youngest sister was born our shop had failed, so when my Dad offered to pay, as was usual then, the doctor said, "No old boy, have this one on me", which was very kind of him.
Apparently, prior to my birth, my Dad had been ill with kidney trouble and many years afterwards my mother told me that just before I was born Dr Nelson said, " You'll have to hurry up and get better old chap, your wife wants this bed!" She also told me that during her pregnancy she almost lived on oranges; no wonder I like them. There was a greengrocer's nearby and the owners always let Mum know when a crate of really nice oranges had been delivered.
Our shop
I have a vague recollection of the shop, which seemed a dark place to me with just a small jet burning at night. I expect that was because we were not allowed in there during opening hours, which were very long in those days. I think the shop sold practically everything in the drapery line including millinery and I have a picture of it with my dad standing in the shop doorway.(shown at the top)
The shop belonged to Grandma Leverett, my Dad's mother, who also owned two other shops, one in Salmons lane, East London. One of my Dad's sisters, Aunt Lil worked in the millinery department with one of Dad's aunts. Aunt Lil was a very good milliner. Hats were very much in demand form Derby Day at that time and Aunt Lil used to create a model with ostrich feathers etc., wear it, and when asked for one like it, the customer would most likely buy that one, perhaps with a little adjustment.
A customer came in one day who was attending a funeral and was going to wear a black hat, but, as the person was no relation, she wanted a white flower put on it to relieve it. My aunt showed her white violets, roses, marguerites, but she said "No , there are others on show in the window!" Auntie couldn't understand what she wanted as the ones in the window were orange blossom, which are of course for weddings! The customer pointed at the orange blossom and my aunt explained, but the woman persisted, "I don't care if it's apple blossom or what, that's what I want on my hat", so that's what she had - a funeral hat trimmed with orange blossom!
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