Memorable Holiday

C Edward Munyard

1936

I firmly believe that I was particularly fortunate with the parents I was born to, as they both felt there were two things of the utmost importance in the upbringing of their children. The first was that if history was being made, we should, if at all possible, somehow become involved. The second was to get away from London, where I spent my childhood, for an annual holiday, preferably by the sea. Occasionally, these two imperatives would coincide and then we had all the time in the world, or so it seemed, to observe history being made.

For several years we visited Southsea, a pleasant seaside resort near Portsmouth. I vaguely remember the narrow streets of small terraced houses fronted by the pavement, where we stayed with a lovely lady who just loved children and, consequently, spoiled us to bits. ... (continues)