Early days

The Diaries of Russell James Sparrow 1908 to 1991

lot of pacing for the top men at Herne Hill, the Wembley of cycling. I think he was employed in and around London until they were married, and then he joined Bishop and Son organ builders in Ipswich. Their works were on the corner of Westbourne and Cromer Roads, a stones throw from the first Berryhead. Mother and Dad made their first home in Cemetery Road (a cheerful place to start). This job took him all over England, Scotland and Wales being responsible for the installation of new organs in cathedrals and churches. He had many tales to tell about this work but my favourite was about the dedication of a new organ in Cardiff Cathedral when he was made responsible for receiving a big name organist who was to play the instrument at the service. To Dad’s horror when he arrived (in a horse drawn taxi no doubt) he was helplessly drunk and had to be almost carried to the organ and lifted onto the stool. To everyone’s amazement as soon as his hands touched the keys and music was produced he appeared to sober up and the proceedings went on without any trouble.

During this time Mother and Dad moved to Surbiton Road where Clifford and I were born, but in different houses. I was not the firstborn, three boys including twins having preceded me but I think the longest any of them lived was 6 weeks.

My first school was Springfield (now Westbourne) which was only a few yards from our house and the teachers I can remember were Miss Abbott, Miss Cunningham and the Headmaster Mr Glanfield, nicknamed Bogey famous for at least one thing as illustrated by our war song which went, “Bogey, Bogey Glanfield goes to church on Sunday to pray to God to give him strength to whack his boys on Monday.” The boys were a mixed bunch, the boys wearing anything from a sailor suit to knickerbockers, black stockings and hobnailed boots, the bigger the nails the better because bigger sparks could be 10

The Diaries of Russell James Sparrow 1908 to 1991

made when kicking on the pavement. Sunday School was at Crown Street congregational Church and the minister Rev. Arnold Quail. Mother and Dad (when he was home) were fairly regular attendants together with their friends the Neobards who kept the Post Office cum General Store and Bakery at the corner of Surbiton Road and Bramford Lane. They had a son Roger who became a solicitor and a daughter Mabel who married big Stan Dunkley an Ipswich footballer whose son became a goalkeeper for Arsenal. I often think about Mr. Neobard who was a keen supporter of the Town, at that time an amateur team in the Southern Amateur League, because he was such an excitable type, and what his reaction would have been to a professional club and one able to win the first division of the Football League and the F. A, cup, I can’t imagine.

When I was about six, just before or at the beginning of the Great War my cousin Bernard, Uncle Percy’s son and about 3 years my junior, came to live with us because his mother, Auntie Daisy, was very ill. Our neighbours on one side were a Mrs Everett, a widow, and her daughter Phyllis. They had a hut at Felixstowe and I can remember getting up early one morning and going with them for a day by the sea, catching a tram to Derby Road Station and then by train to Felixstowe. When we got to the hut we had banana fritters for breakfast. Mrs Everett also took me shopping before Christmas to help her choose a suitable present for a friend. After a good look round I said if it was for me I would have a clockwork aeroplane, and lo and behold on Christmas morning what do you think – I was the little friend! Looking back I would describe Mrs Everett as a forthright person and when Bernard had a loose tooth and refused to let Mother pull it out Mrs E. came to the rescue and told him not to be a baby, she would take all her teeth out and think nothing of it. Whereupon she removed upper and lower dentures to prove it. I can see Bern, as he was called, now sitting on the table his eyes popping out and shouting “Do it again Everett, do it again.” He is now a

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