My Early Memories
I have many fond memories of my early years growing up in Southport. From the day I was born to the day my family moved to Chester, these memories have shaped who I am today. Let me take you on a journey through some of the significant moments of my childhood.
Birth and Childhood
I came into this world on the 18th of July, 1941, at Christina Hartley Maternity Hospital in Southport. It was a joyous occasion for my parents, and I was christened Ian David McGregor at Saint Philips Church on Scarisbrick New Road.
I have two younger brothers, who are two and four years younger than me. Growing up with them was an adventure in itself, as we navigated the world together.
Home and Family
We lived at 54 Sefton Street in Southport until 1952 when we moved to Hoole in Chester. Our house on Sefton Street holds many memories for me. However, it wasn’t always a happy place when my father came home on leave from the army. He had a strict approach to discipline and believed in the saying, “spare the rod and spoil the child.” I remember the pain of the thick, heavy belt he wore and the fear of doing something wrong in his eyes.
Memorable Moments
Although my early years are a bit hazy, there are some memories that stand out:
- Buying sweets at the corner shop for a farthing and part of a ration coupon.
- Attending Sefton Street School, which was conveniently located on my street.
- Discovering that the school railings had been cut down and used in the war effort.
- Getting a small freshly baked loaf from the bakery shop opposite my house and devouring the soft inside on my way to school.
- Having gas lighting in the ceiling of my bedroom.
- Using torn-up newspaper on a string as toilet paper in the outdoor WC.
- Creating models with the hot tar between the cobblestones on the street during hot weather.
- Watching my mother work as an usherette at the Scala Cinema in Southport.
- Exploring the last afternoon of the flower show to collect free vegetables and flowers at my mother’s request.
- Accidentally stepping on a nail at the Cheshire Lines Railway Station and receiving treatment in the railway’s first aid room.
- Witnessing the coalman deliver hundred-weight bags of coal to our coal hole from his horse and cart.
- Stumbling upon my father’s rifle, a Lee Enfield .303, and bullets in the shed during his leave from the army.
- Enjoying the rhubarb growing in our back garden.
- Spending a few weeks in a strange house with numerous children and attending a different school. It turned out to be an orphanage, and I was there because my mother was in the hospital undergoing a mastectomy due to breast cancer.
- Waking up in the hospital after having my tonsils removed.
- Experiencing the passing of my maternal grandfather, who lay in a coffin in the front room with the curtains drawn for three days before his funeral. As a nine-year-old, I was not allowed to attend the funeral.
- On the day we left Southport for our new home in Chester, a friend informed me that the king had passed away.
These memories, both joyful and challenging, have shaped my perspective on life. They remind me of the strength and resilience I developed during my early years. I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.
As more memories resurface, I will continue to add them to this collection. Our past is a treasure trove of stories waiting to be shared.