The Diaries of Russell James Sparrow 1908 to 1991
children, Eva, my age, Jack, Spencer and Babs. They lived in Lime Tree Place and the Dennys, Mother’s brother Walter and two children who still lived with them, Olive and Jack, lived in Stowupland Street. Clifford was born at 73 Surbiton Road on 2 October 1921 and of course having been an only child for so long I was delighted, so much so that I wanted to take my pal Bert Garrod to see him the same day he was born, but that didn’t come off. About this time the building trade was going through a bad period, there wasn’t the bomb damage to clear up as after the war and Dad was finding it hard to get a job. Knowing him as I subsequently did he was not the type to sit down under the threat of unemployment so he looked around for a small building business which would give him the chance to be his own boss, something I would imagine was always his ambition. Eventually he found one at Needham Market and this was the beginning of a hard time for us all. The business was purchased from Mr. Alf Folkard and was supposedly a thriving business with workshops and a yard beside the river in Crown Street, hence the title ‘Riverside Works’ which has been dropped since Clifford took over. There was an electric circular saw, a horse called Tommy, a dog called Bob, five or six men and two boy apprentices and nothing for them to do. Mr Folkard came to the yard one morning while I was there but he was soon gone, Dad told him in no uncertain terms to get out or he’d find himself in the river and he went! Pronto! nd
Starting work I finished school when we left Ipswich and had to decide what I wanted to do, whether to go into the building trade or try something else. At the time Hayward and Son, Solicitors, wanted an office boy. I applied and well remember running all the way home which was 38, Stowmarket Road, Needham to proclaim the great news that I had secured the position with a ‘salary’ of 5/- (shillings) per week. 19
