A Wonderful Lady - Chapter 3 Mother's Family

Swing Bridge 1904

My mother's parents were George and Eliza Deeks who lived in Millwall for many years. Grandfather had a "Wet and Dry" fish shop in Westferry Road and, after going to Billingsgate to collect the fish daily, he would go on to his work as a cooper at a nearby brewery. Outside the shop there was always a basket of small fish for anyone in need to help themselves. The fish shop was on the corner of Spratley's Row, which was an alley leading to the riverside and the pony was stabled somewhere around there. We were never allowed along there. Mum had one sister and nine brothers and she was kept busy knitting all their socks. If caught by father reading a book, which she loved to do, he would say "Havn't you got knitting to do?".
Mum attended St. Luke's School and left when she was 12, obtaining a job as a cashier in a butcher's. Most of the brothers lived nearby in Byng Street, Alpha Road and Mellish Street and we saw quite a lot of them. They were great fun and we all loved them. My sisters and I got very excited when we were promised a visit to Millwall. We used to take a tram to a public house called The Eastern and from there we took a horse bus to Millwall. The money for the fare had to be passed through a trap door in the roof. The noise of the horse's hooves and the clatter of the wooden wheels on the cobble stones was terrific. If it happened that one of the uncles was with us, we might be taken up to sit with the driver; this was a great thrill. There were two bridges on route. At times we would get caught with what was called a "bridger" and had to wait while the bridge was lifted, enabling a ship to go through.
Sometimes we were taken to Greenwich Park, which was lovely, I think we had to go through a tunnel to get there. Grandma Deeks used to visit people who were in need and help where she was able, in particular making large bread puddings for the hungry. I believe there were many German refugees, probably Jews, in the East End at that time. One family she visited was Father, Mother and a couple of children. The parents were suffering from bronchitis and had been putting linseed poultices on their chests. When Grandma went round one morning she found the children were so hungry they had been eating the linseed from the poultices!
My mother took me to see her Uncle Joseph Deeks who had fought in the Crimean War and was given some sort of position at Rochester Prison. He was a very handsome old gentleman with a white beard and he crocheted antimacassars. His room was very comfortable and well furnished. I fancy someone called Aunt Lottie was related to him in some way, I think she was named Mrs Leguette and lived around Lewisham.
Another thing Mum told me was that her father would suddenly announce that his holiday had been fixed for a certain date and there would be a mad scramble to get all the clothes packed in a large tin trunk. The railway tickets would be purchased and Carter and Robinson, the hauliers, notified who would pick up the trunk and deliver it to relatives in Walton on Naze or Great Bentley; then off they would all go. Gradually the family moved away from Millwall, especially during the 2nd World War when the docks were blitzed.

A Wonderful Lady - Chapter 2 Ada's Job and Sundays

The Leverett sisters in later life - left to right Evelyn, Ada, Floss, and Doris

When Ada left school, at about age 13 or 14 in those days, she went to a very good secretarial school in London run by a Miss Kemp. She was very particular. There was no set tuition period, but she would not let a pupil leave until avery high standard of proficiency was achieved no matter how long it took; she had a good reputation and wanted to keep it. I think Ada's first situation was in Debenham's in Oxford Street and I believe she was very happy there. In the course of time she was able to get a situation at the Brunner Mond Factory in Silvertown, which was within walking distance of where we lived in Trinity Street and so saved time and money.

My sisters inspired these rhymes.

Ada came home late today, the reason why I cannot say.

Her suspender kept on coming down, whilst on her way from Silvertown.

Doris has a greasy snitch: the little drops that fall from which

Are caught into a little dish and that's what makes the soup so rich!

Last but not least comes little Floss who always likes to be the boss

If she can't jave a limp of cheese, a few salt tears she manages to squeeze!

Sundays

When we were quite small, Floss and I used to be taken by Dad to the morning service at Barking Road Baptist Tabernacle, later West Ham Central Mission. At the start of the service Dad used to give us a swiis roll, pink and white or brown and white, coated with coconut. We would sit and pick the coconut off bit by bit and then unroll the rest and eat it a tiny piece at a time. By the time we had finished, the sermon was over! We didn't go in the evening, but we went in the afternoon to Sunday School. In the course of time I was able to play the piano on Friday evenings for the Band of Hope. This prepared me for playing in public and accompanying. When I was 14 I was asked to play the piano for the Men's meeting Orchestra. When I joined the orchestra I did not attend morning service, but stayed at home to help Mum with the beds and with the cooking for six; it was the only day we had midday dinner together. My two older sisters were then in the choir. I had to be at the Men's Meeting by 2.30pm and then was able to attend the evening service, which was lovely. When I read and hear the evening hymns the words bring back very happy memories.

A Wonderful Lady - Chapter 1 The Early Years

The Order of service, for the Celebration and Thanksgiving for the life of Evelyn Eliza Fuller


Brian Fuller with "Auntie Eva" on her 100th Birthday

On Monday I went to a funeral. We were celebrating the life of a wonderful lady, Evelyn Eliza Fuller, who was known to me as Auntie Eva. She had lived for a remarkable 104 years.When she was in her 90's she started to write down the memories of her life, and in this blog, I will record word for word what she wrote. I have included the Foreward written by her daughter Mary Gardner, and I will add a postscript of my own at the end. The "memoirs" were published within the family in 2004, to mark the celebration of Evelyn's 100th birthday, and with Mary's blessing I reproduce them here.

Foreward

Mum was approaching age 90 when she decided to write about her early life in the East End of London. We affectionately called the writings 'Mum's Memoirs!'. Suddenly, she realised that she had written quite a lot - up to the 1940's in fact- and wondered what to do with them. Some of the detail relates to life almost 100 years ago, and hopefully will make interesting reading for family and friends to enjoy. A few family members will identify themselves in Mum's recollections even though they probably won't remember the events described!

I should like to record special thanks to Derek Leach for his kindness, time and expertise in producing this booklet that we can share with you to help celebrate Mum's 100th birthday today, 5th October 2004.

Mary

Evelyn Fuller Remembers

I was born in 1904 in a draper's shop in Rathbone Street, Canning Town, and we lived there until I was about three years old. I was allowed to play in the shop after it was closed, but my sister Doris was not allowed as she mixed up the buttons, which were all sorted into little boxes in drawers under the counter: they were sold loose however many customers wanted. The shop was full of lovely things including hats and all the trimmings. Customers used to come in, choose the hat they wanted and ask my mother to trim it with their choice of pretty bits and pieces. As we grew older my three sisters and I always had nice hats to wear on Sundays although we were not living in the shop by then.

I have been told that the potman used to come from the local pub - I think it was the Balmoral Castle in Rathbone Street, Canning Town - and he used to say " Miss Mabel says, can she please have the baby?". That was me! I do not remember being taken there, but I have a vague vision in my mind of a lot of mirrors and shiny glass. I was told I cut my teeth on Miss Mabel's gold locket. A teacher also used to call and take me to a nearby school where I was Bo-Peep in a play; I cannot remember what the school was like, but I can recall seeing lots of little coloured glass holders lit up with candles inside and railed over the first floor windows to celebrate some victory I think.

Siblings

I was one of four sisters. Ada was the eldest and very placid, although I do remember once, when she was left to give us our tea, she wouldn't let me have jam as well as butter on my bread. She obviously new more about finances than I did! Doris was next, then me, then Floss the youngest. I suppose we spoilt Floss as she always had to have the first pick of everything we were given: if it were an apple she would have to have the biggest. However, we were a team and all lived each other. If one of us got told off for something and sent upstairs it wasn't long before the rest of us had a little cry and found a reason to go out too. We all slept in one bedroom when we were small and used to have high jinks jumping on the beds ans such like. Our windows had blinds, the cords of which hung over one of the beds. One of our best games was all to stand on the bed, hold the cord and pretend it was a maypole, running round it singing! That was fine until Mum caught us!

Our first vehicle was a bicycle that cost five shillings, which we all shared. I don't know who paid for it, but I learned to ride on it and used it quite a lot. We were having ago on it one day and a tyre was punctured. The boy next door said, "Have you got a puncture?" Floss replied, "No , it's only the air coming out!"