Win the chance to have your family tree researched and recorded - worth £150 *NOW CLOSED*

My parents taking me and my sister to Battersea Park, especially the tree walk

I was very shy when I attended my Sunday School Christmas party. All the children seemed to be running round the hall making a racket, while I stood in a corner. The curate must have spotted me because he took me by the hand and asked me to help give out the jelly. He explained the jelly was in traffic light colours, red, orange and green.I was so happy to be asked to help and because I felt important I stopped being shy. He would be surprised to know I remembered his kindness all these years later.

There were so many happy times that it is difficult to pick just one! When I was about ten, we went to stay on a farm in Rothesay for two weeks. The farmer's wife let us collect the eggs each morning which we (my sister and I) loved. We helped bring in the hay and then rode home on top of the hay. We played in the hay barn and made dens. We climbed a manure heap to see the farm cat's kittens. They were pure white, unlike their mother, and had blue eyes. We went on walks in the surrounding area and saw a stoat. The beach was nearby with white sand and the water was shallow for a long way out. All in all, it felt like living in paradise for a couple of weeks.

Walking so proudly along the wall around my grandparent's garden, aged about three. I was showing off my brand new patent leather shoes to my grandfather, when I tipped over and the wail that followed was more to do with scuffing my shoes than my bloodied elbow. Naturally, the shoes have long gone but I still bare the scar of my misadventure

Going to see Blackpool lights in my Uncles car, which was a very small car called 'Betsy'. There were 4 adults and 3 children (no seat belts then), and when we got to the lights my Uncle would open the sunroof and us 3 children, who until then were seated in the footwell, would stand on our little stools and put our heads through the sunroof and we would drive from the start of the lights to the finish. As we came away from the lights heading home there was a fish and chip shop that we would stop at and have our supper. It was magical.

Getting our first(tiny) TV set when I was about 6, and dad pacing out a distance of several feet from it where our chairs were set up. If we moved any closer the set was switched off as we would be affected by ' the radiation' from it. Strangely it obviously wouldn't harm adults who would spend varying lengths of time standing behind it twiddling with the indoor aerial..... Or maybe the 'rays' only travelled out of the screen along with the picture!!

Being asked to be 'Chief' Bridesmaid to my cousin when I was 11 years old - I thought I'd never be anyone's bridesmaid because I was such a plain jane but it was the best day of my life (at the time).

Standing over my mums electronic mangle, she fed wet clothes through and i caught them squashed flat on the other side, it was mesmerising!

Visiting my auntie (mother’s sister) who kept chickens and an old duck. So excited when asked for the first time to go and collect the chicken eggs out of the nest. The chickens were still sitting on the nest/eggs and I became scared of putting my hand under the chickens. I eventually picked up courage and tentatively collected many eggs. Alas, most of them were pot eggs, which I didn’t realise. We all had a laugh at my expense!

Being lifted out of my cot, held in my mother’s arms. Looking out of the window to see the Salvation Army band standing around the lamp post. One of them looked up and saw us. Then they played ‘Away in a Manger’ for me. It’s still one of my favourites.

I can still remember Christmas when I was five. My dad had been off work sick for a while so money was tight and there was not enough for a proper Christmas tree. My dad managed to get three large branches off the large tree at the fire station where he worked and mum arranged them and made our tree which we decorated.
On Christmas Eve my grandmother came to see us and in beknown to my little brother and I she had brought a beautiful but small Christmas tree with her.
When we got up the next day there was this gorgeous Christmas tree decorated and sparkly with lights and lovely chocolates hanging on it!
Santa had left part of the old tree sticking out the fireplace but had managed to eat his mince pie !
I still love to put my tree up on Christmas Eve as it brings back those happy memories.

My earliest memory is the tin bath in front of the fire. It was too cold to bathe upstairs. No central heating just a big coal fire in one room. I was probably under a year old.

Heading off to my grandparents where my grandfather would entertain me with quizzes and puzzles

Our annual day trip to Hilary Island with my Gran, my brother, My Aunty and Uncle and 2 cousins and when the tide came in the seals would swim to watch us. Magical.

Playing with my sister in the grounds of the derelict house next door - we could hide in and climb the rhododendrons, explore the roofless cellars, admire the peonies. Who needs an adventure playground!

My mother coming home from hospital with my beautiful little sister. I was 7 and ready to be a 'little mum'!

I loved school, both infant and junior...

Coming home from church on a Sunday morning to a much appreciated full breakfast waiting for us that my mother had ready and waiting our return. She had went to an earlier service.

Friday evenings, when Dad was paid and he came home with a pound of liquorice allsorts for us four children to share and a bar of chocolate for Mum. We used to sort the sweets, then share them between us, swapping any we didn’t like with siblings!

I spent my Summer holidays with my Grannie & Grandpa. While we were there in 1962, my Grandpa died suddenly and my little brother & I had to stay with my auntie. I loved the attention we got, picnics in the garden or living room, making lavender bags and helping auntie prepare the meals ( something I never did at home as I had 2 older sisters). It was truly fantastic timeand in turn helped us through a sad time.

Watching through the crack in the front room door my baby brother being born in 1957.
Getting all new clothes ready for the whit walks.

Walking along a beach as a young child searching for pearls and actually finding one. My mother had brought a pearl bead from a broken necklace and had hidden it underneath a shell on the shore . I was overjoyed when I found it.

Going to the freezer in the 'Back room' with my nan when we stayed over and picking a fruit pie for dessert that she had made, their were so many to choose from.

Travelling on the train by myself as a young girl from my grandparents house where I lived to visit my Nanna who lived in Darlington. My Uncle John would come round and visit. I remember going to Redcar - happy memories of searching for fish in rock pools.

Riding on the fireside rug when I was about 3 when Mum was hoovering and needed to move the rug.