MARGARETHA LEADER (SOUCEK) September 1937 by her son ANDREW
My Mother grew up during the war, so she could recollect the bombing. UK was at that time Austria’s enemy. With peace came the understanding that it is the people at the top that create war – the people at the bottom just want to live and have a good and a peaceful life. England was crying out for people to help and rebuild the economy. My Mum loved travelling. ‘This is a very good opportunity for me to go to England’. With a few other Austrians she made the journey to London. Like a lot of Austrians, she was a Roman Catholic, so her religion had nothing to do with her leaving her homeland. When the opportunity arose, my Mum left Vienna– finding a job in Stalybridge in the Cotton Mills. My Father, Lionel Hamilton Leader came from St Kitts, his brother was here first. He already had a place in Moss Side, so it was natural that is where Dad came to. Fate brought Mum from Stalybridge to Moss Side. According to my Mum, they met in the Ritz, in Manchester City Centre, on a night out. Apparently on this particular night, the universe brought them together, did their courting, then just clicked from there. Mum was pretty looking, I am not going to say attractive because she was my parent. She was beautiful, you know both in spirit and physically which manifested in things that she did. I can see my Mum; brown hair, very upright, strong, never wanted you to carry her shopping. She would say ‘as long as I am strong enough, I want to be able to carry my own shopping’. Her mind was positive – she had a
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