The Diaries of Russell James Sparrow 1908 to 1991
Back in England again Mick was on a week’s holiday so on the Monday we had another Xmas Day celebration with all the trimmings and during that week he took us to Needham to see Clifford and Ciss, and neighbours and to look at our old home. We had Ciss over on one occasion and also Ruth and Ted from Chelmondiston. We went to look at 71 Heath Road and the next few days were spent in Ipswich shopping and preparing Heath Road for our occupancy. On Saturday 31st Jan. I purchased an old Morris Minor traveller and this was to be our mode of transport for the next few weeks. It proved to be an ideal vehicle for our purposes as we moved bits and pieces from Needham to Westerfield, to Heath Road and then to Frinton. Mum often says even now that was her favourite vehicle. And it cost £ 75. We moved into Heath Road on Feb. 4th having moved our furniture, with the help of Jack Ansell and our lorry, from Needham the previous day. There was plenty to do here in the way of odd repairs and decoration and of course the garden. We went to Alan Road Methodist Church as well as Bethesda and St. Andrews Churches. Doff had a severe bout of sciatica in March and was laid up for several days in great pain. We had put Heath Road and Needham on the market and had made up our minds to go and look for a new home for ourselves in the Swanage area which we did on the last day of March. We spent the next day on April 1st looking around properties in the middle of a snowstorm, almost unheard of in these parts. One day was enough for us to decide that this part of the country was not for us because of its hilly nature and the lack of anything to suit our pockets! Our next house hunting expedition led us to Walton-on-Naze, Frinton, Holland and Clacton. After one or two further sorties we eventually purchased “Berryhead”, Elm Tree Ave., Frinton-on-Sea moving there on Friday July 31st, it was fine and hot. In the meantime Colin and Jean were 86
