Weblog
08/02: Para Psoriasis
I developed Para Psoriasis in my mid fifties. The areas affected are thighs, arms and torso. I have had a range of treatment, including Steroid ointments, Puva baths and Ultra Violet; the latter does have a stabilising effect. My elder sister developed a similar Psoriasis also in her fifties. Neither of us has ever smoked.I now manage my Psoriasis without treatment from my GP other than an Epaderm prescription. When the sun is out, I take 20 minutes at mid-day. I use the Epaderm Emollient to moisturise my skin when taking a shower; I never use soap, except for my hands, or shower gel or shampoo.
Whilst my sister and I only wear 100% cotton next to our skin, we have found that the affected areas are where the garments have stitching. I have checked with M&S who confirm their 100% cotton garments are stitched with polyester cotton. I now wear a looser style of underpants and if I am wearing a long sleeved T shirt under a pullover, I wear the T shirt inside out, thus avoiding the polyester cotton touching my skin. This has considerably helped reduce the Psoriasis. Also bed linen is 100% cotton. Hotel sun beds are a problem because the webbing is Polypropylene and this has an immediate effect on my skin, causing redness that takes several days to calm down. I now use towels to insulate me from the Polypropylene.
03/02: Expatriate Life
Expatriate LifeIt takes several months to adjust to local conditions, new colleagues, way of life, the latter being an essential to grasp if one was to ensure acceptance in the work place as well as making friends. Barbara was always a great help in that she quickly fitted in with my business colleagues and the local community. The expatriate way of life can be demanding, especially in dynamic Hong Kong. Our private life, that is the time we had together, was minimal because of the need to catch up with the constant flow of customers passing through. The important supportive role played by one’s spouse is invaluable. One’s National identity comes to the fore when overseas and attending the St. George’s Day ball, in whichever country, is something special. We always supported other events such as St. Andrew’s Day ball and the Geordie ball in Hong Kong.
Zimbabwe 1980/1
My first overseas tour of duty with P&O was to Southern Rhodesia in 1980/1. Barbara and I decided as our children were well established in their respective schools in Harrogate, she would remain in the UK with the children and would visit Africa during the 1980 summer holidays. This was a marvellous educational period, especially for the children and we made the most of the eight weeks.
Their holiday program with the title of ‘ZIMFRY TOUR’ was:-
July 10 Arrive Salisbury from UK
12 Bulawayo, Hotel Bulawayo, visit Motopos
13/15 Hwangi Safari Lodge Hotel, visit safari park
16/18 Victoria Falls Hotel, visit Victoria Falls Rhodesia and Zambia
20 Visit lion and cheetah park south of Salisbury
25/27 Troutbeck Hotel, Inyanga, eastern highlands on border
With Mozambique
Aug 1/3 Lakeside View Inn, Kariba Dam, north Zimbabwe
Bordering with Zambia
9/24 Umhlanga Rocks Hotel, north of Durban, South Africa
28 Depart Salisbury for UK
The main residence during the stay was at my leased Spanish styled villa at 56 Younger Road, Hogerty Hill, Salisbury.
Towards the end of my tour in May 1981, I decided to pen paper with my thoughts about Zimbabwe.
It was April 10, 1980 when I arrived in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, to commence my period of secondment to Safmarine (South African Marine Corporation of South Africa). Prior to my departure from Yorkshire, many people spoke to me of Rhodesia as a place of almost paradise and even the Sales Director had spoken of Salisbury as being the place he would choose to live.
On April 18, 1980 Southern Rhodesia was renamed Zimbabwe which when translated from Shona to English means ‘Stone Ruin’. The Prime Minister’s official residence was also renamed ‘Dzimbabwe’ meaning ‘Meeting place of Chiefs’ and the first twelve months of independence has seen the renaming of streets and the removal of statues including that of Rhodes. It is only natural for a country having gained independence to want to creat a new image.
There are many contrasts in climate, nature and way of life. Some say I have had the misfortune of experiencing the wettest summer (October to April) on record, however, to me it was little different to being in Manchester during the summer – very wet! I have to admit that even Manchester does not experience the frequency and ferocity in the storms of these climes. Salisbury, being at an altitude of 1643 metres, enjoys a temperate climate, whereas the South East, Victoria Falls and Kariba, all having a lower altitude, are much warmer and have a higher level of humidity. The Eastern Highlands on the other hand at an average altitude of 2000 metres offers respite from the heat.
The startling colours of the flora, mauve Jacaranda trees, orange flame trees and Poinsettia trees with brilliant red blooms, are all part of the natural beautyu of Zimbabwe. There are several game reserves, including the Wankie (Now Hwangi)Game Reserve, said to be one of the finest in the world, to which a visit is an unforgettable experience. For human existence, there are the fashionable suburbs with delightfully designed houses, most having swimming pools and there are the kraals with various designed rondavels usually made of mud walls and straw roofs.
The Victoria Falls, known in Ndebele as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (The smoke that thunders), is a truly magnificient spectacle and fortunately devoid of todays commercialism. The force of the water dropping an average of 90 metres creates a spray reaching upwards to a height of around 300 metres and there is a natural rain forest through which one can walk – usually wearing only bathing attire and plastic shoes. It is now possible to walk across the famous Victoria Falls railway and road bridge connecting Zimbabwe with Zambia. Building of the Kariba Dam has not only provided Zimbabwe with much needed electric power, but also a lake some 170 miles long and 20 miles wide. The lake provides a valuable source of food with the Kapenta fishing industry (Kapenta is a small fish similar to white bait) and it has also created further employment with an expanding tourist trade.
After a long period of war, a war that sadly drained the country’s financial resources, Zimbabwe is now busy reconstructing its economy. Gold, silver, copper, chrome, asbestos, graphite, tobacco, cotton, tea, coffee and groundnuts are all valuable foreign currency earners. Also, because of the summer rains, the bumper cereal crops will put Zimbabwe into the fortunate position of having a surplus for export, thus, earning additional foreign exchange. Regretably, Zimbabwe’s exports are not earning sufficient foreign exchange to allow free trading and a currency allocation system is necessary to control import spending.
There is no doubt that the long period of UDI has had the effect of forcing local industry into being. Technologically, Zimbabwe is lacking, but the transport and telecommunication infrastructure is such that the country is covered by a network of first class road and rail and the national airline is profitable. Telephone links the whole country, but lacks international STD except to Johannesburg.
One has to talk in terms of white and black Africans as there are many fourth and fifth generation white Africans in Zimbabwe. Colour prejudice is not apparent and usually trouble is confined to tribal factions. The country is split roughly into two tribal areas, north east to south west, the former being predominantly Mashonaland and the latter Matabeleland.
I would not describe Zimbabwe in terms of being a place of paradise nor a promised land. More perhaps a land full of promise, as it has all the ingredients for success.
The last sentence was cut short when it went to press ‘equally, it has the ability to self destruct’. At the time I did not object on the basis far better to end on a positive than a negative.
Indonesia 1985/6
My second overseas posting was on secondment to BenOcean in Jakarta, Indonesia for a two year contract in 1984. Barbara joined me and to say the least, living and working in Jakarta was challenging for both of us. To get visas, it was essential to have a Mr Fixit! Even then, there was a bureaucratic requirement for me to fly to Singapore to visit the Indonesian Embassy. It was necessary to take Barbara, otherwise she would have been an illegal immigrant! It took three days in Singapore to process my visa – we were delighted! Barbara found it more than a challenge to occupy her time in Indonesia. We had a very large bungalow and there were several mosques calling their believers using electronic recordings. These were played with much volume. The British Embassy contacts for Barbara were a start, but without a car, getting around was not easy and shopping was limited. Occasionally, I could release my car and driver to her for half a day and weekends we were able to visit the sports club. For me, working life was full of obstacles, especially in planning one’s day. Getting about Jakarta for appointments was a nightmare because of the density of traffic and undisciplined driving. Making appointments was similar to asking for a dishwasher repairer or gas fitter to call – morning or afternoon, with no possibility of fixing an actual time! Having a dedicated secretary to sort out my program and a driver to remove the stress of driving in the Jakarta traffic made working life acceptable. My working colleagues were a mixed bunch of people from South Sea Islands and Chinese stock, but all Indonesian born. Islam and Christians worked in harmony with the former going to the Mosque on Friday afternoons; there was a good working atmosphere in the office. On Java, one is never more than 70 miles from a volcano, some of which are still active and closely monitored. It is an island of historical contrast; modern high rise buildings in Jakarta and at Borobudur one of the greatest Buddhist shrines (ad.c.800) in central Java; a modern container port in Jakarta where speed, efficiency and a quick turn round of ships is routine and in Surabaya there is a dhow harbour where time has stood still. A dhow is lateen rigged Arabian vessel with cargo mostly carried along a plank between boat and quay! There are beautiful holiday islands, Bali being the most popular and the Indonesian people are relaxed and artistic. In the year 1984/5 there was a downturn in the Indonesian economy, mainly due to a drop in the price of oil. As a result, the decision was taken to cut short my Indonesian tour and to offer me a two year contract in Hong Kong. I accepted and Barbara was delighted!
Hong Kong 1986/9
My third overseas posting was on secondment to Swire Shipping (Agencies) Ltd., who were Port Agents for P&O, also owners of Cathay Pacific airline. Such a vibrant country, with a breathtaking pace of life – both business and pleasure (That is if one has time for pleasure!) Unlike Indonesia, bureaucracy was minimal and the identity card made life easy, especially when going in and out of the territory. Tax on income was also uncomplicated; above a certain annual income, there was a straightforward percentage, with no complicated taxation on investments. My mostly Chinese colleagues, at all levels, were fantastic and this allowed me to quickly fit into the local way of doing business. I was fortunate to arrive in Hong Kong in 1985 at a time when the Chinese were beginning to relax in their trading with the west. Development of trade across the border moved on at a pace and many of the visitors (Mainly UK and European importers) I had to see, touched base with me to establish what were the latest logistics for moving cargo mainly out of China. Most buyers were on a tight schedule and this meant I had to meet them at breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as during normal business hours in their local offices or their Agents. Weekends were mostly involved, for both Barbara and I, in entertaining overseas visitors on the Swire launch “Taikoo Hing”. Once set up, by me on a Saturday morning, Charlie, our on board steward, ran the show, ensuring all glasses were full the whole voyage and that our roast, vegetables and Yorkshire pudding, plus of course selection of sweets, were served on time! A marvellous day out and a good way of cementing relationships with shippers. The downside was that the launch went out every Sunday, with respite only when a typhoon was in the offing! The prayer mat was always well used on Friday nights, pleading for a No.1 signal for the Saturday, so that we could cancel the Sunday launch! Seven ex P&O staff and shippers still meet every second year, with spouses, somewhere in the UK to spend a ‘Charlie’s Angels’ weekend. Our next get together will be 2007 and will be our fourth meeting – such is the depth of friendship one develops. We had a special launch outing for the 200th Scottish trade mission headed up by Ian Lang, Minister of State, Scotland. This included Pipers from the Hong Kong Pipe Band, piping the ‘locally caught’ haggis on board . The haggis was given the short address by Ian Lang! Barbara easily found employment with the British Government and thoroughly enjoyed her stay in Hong Kong. This was such a relief after the difficult year for her in Indonesia.
P&O Containers published the following ‘Profile of Tom Fry’ in their October 1988 BOX BUSINESS, a magazine for their customers.
I did an interview on the Swire launch ‘Taikoo Hing’ for a P&O staff video with John Humphries, however, a policy change shortly after the recording meant the video was never published. It would have been most interesting to see how the interview went!
Hong Kong was an ongoing building site with more of the harbour being reclaimed. Getting around was easy and inexpensive, bus, tram, taxi, mass transit (Underground) were all very clean and efficient. We also had our own car, an automatic and Barbara soon learnt drive aggressively – otherwise you didn’t move! Holidays from Hong Kong were, in the main, to Malaysia and Thailand. We did manage a couple of weeks in New Zealand and vowed we would return. We have been back once more but this was only for a couple of days on the “Canberra”, round the world, after we retired. The food in Hong Kong was great in variety, although Barbara is not into Chinese cuisine! There were good western restaurants we frequented, Jimmy’s Kitchen, La Taverna, Café de Paris, plus a few British pubs. There were also a large number of four and five star hotels, each with their own range of excellent food, with an extremely high standard of service. Membership of the Hong Kong cricket club allowed us to relax and the once a year Hong Kong rugby sevens was a real family sporting spectacle. At my first visit to the sevens, I took along Barbara and Mother who was with us for a holiday. They had their first ever streaker; she passed close by me, went across the fence and field, over the fence at the other side only to come round and up the steps from whence she came. By the time she reached the steps to come passed me, she was being pursued by a number of photographers – the lady was young and well endowed! At that particular point in time, I was concentrating on the Fijians charging down their left wing towards the New Zealand line. The lady was blocking my view and I called out to her “Do you mind, I want to watch rugby”. Barbara quietly said to me, but loud enough for all around to hear “Tom, you must be getting old”. Everyone around, including Mother and myself, just about keeled over with laughter! To this day I cannot remember if the Fijian scored! Choosing a Chinese name can be difficult. One tries to get the best (And honest) advice, however, the idea is to translate names phonetically, so Tom became Tong and Fry became Fan Lai. On my first made to measure shirts I requested the Chinese character for Tong and on the first Monday morning, I walked into Swires office to be greeted by the Managing Director, “Good morning Tom, you have soup on your shirt”! My learning curve about the Chinese language and in this instance Cantonese, was steep. My second monogram attempt got me even further in the mire. I went into the China shipping department, through the line of girls to the Manager. The girls were all grinning with hands over their mouths. I asked the manager why they were grinning and he could not say. Here again my learning curve about the Chinese as people was steep. The Chinese do not like imparting the negative. The following day I had breakfast with an English buyer, who I knew could speak cantonese and who was transiting Hong Kong to China. I explained my experience and that one of the girls has mentioned Fai Lai instead of Fan Lai, pointing to my shirt. They buyer was startled at what I had said and asked me to keep my voice down as there were Chinese people around us have breakfast. Is it that bad, I said. Yes, was the response; basically putting the different intonation on the Chinese character completely altered its meaning from politeness and he said I do not believe you are a rapist! As I said earlier, one has to get the right person to give you a well thought out phonetic Chinese name! Hong Kong was a place I worked very long hours, had a great experience, met a multitude of very nice people and had a lot of fun along the way. My contract was extended by a further year, making three unforgettable years. Scotland was my next posting from which I was hopeful of taking early retirement.
Scotland 1989/1994
Coatbridge and a good deal of Scotland’s central belt at the end of 1989, had seen shipbuilding, heavy steel based industries and coal mining come and go. The result of the demise of these industries had a serious effect on communities and unemployment was high. Electronics based industries had been established and of course the whisky industry was buoyant; also, Scotland has never been short of innovators and entrepreneurs. As a result there was a broad spectrum of businesses, including the North Sea oil industry and there was good optimism for the future economy. Our customers were widely based from the borders to the Shetlands, hence, I got to know Scotland, geographically, very well. Some stunning scenery and an unbelievable range of accents! At first, I had most difficulty understanding some Glaswegians and the Shetland Islanders, but being a good listener, I made it! Barbara and I have some good holiday memories, especially on the northern isles. My Scottish colleagues were great people, generous to a word and being a Yorkshireman, was accepted by them “wha’s one of us”! I still have many Scottish words in my vocabulary such as wee (Small), afore (Before) and dreich (Dreary or bleak)! I took early retirement in 1994 and, for family reasons, moved from our home in Lanark back to East Yorkshire, after an absence of twenty six years.
03/02: Royal Engineers
Royal EngineersOfficers The Garter and Motto surmounted by a crown; within the Garter the Royal Cypher; without the Garter a wreath of laurel; on a scroll at the bottom of the wreath Royal Engineers. The Garter, Motto, Royal Cypher, crown and scroll are in gilt and are raised above the laurel wreath. The laurel wreath is in silver plate.
Soldiers Design as for officers but in gilding and white metal.
Cap Badge
The Cap Badge In 1782 the device worn on the officers' sword belt was the King's cipher
with the crown over it.
At some time later the cypher was surrounded by the garter, on which was placed first Corps of Royal Engineers and later simply Royal Engineers. A similar device was worn on the breastplate of cross belts introduced for the Royal Sappers and Miners in 1823. It is not known when the laurel wreaths were added but it was probably in recognition of the work done by the Corps during the Napoleonic Wars. It was first used as a hat badge on the khaki helmets issued to troops during the South African War in 1899.
I joined the Royal Engineers Transportation Regiment in July 1954, intake 54/13, for my two years National Service. My basic training was at Malvern, Worcestershire. In October 1954, I was posted to Egypt as a Sapper, where I served for one year before transferring to Cyprus as a Lance Corporal. June 1956 saw my repatriation at the end of my two years service, during which I achieved the rank of Corporal.
Early in 2005, a former Royal Engineers colleague, Thomas Love, started to trace his Suez colleagues and with the domino effect, several of us where traced. We held our first reunion party in November 2005. This coincided with a birthday milestone for Tom Love! We had a great evening! I said a few words on the occasion.
1995 to 2005 – 50 YEARS REUNIUON
HQ Tn Regt RE’s GHQ MELF 17, FAYID, EGYPT
Principle guest – Tom and Carol Love
Other guests - George and Pat Frogley
Ian and Joan Bean
Ray Reed
Ernie and Margorie Lloyd
John Kelland
Tom and Barbara Fry
Gillian and Gavin
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE – SHAME ON HIM WHO THINKS EVIL OF IT
Missing names and those who cannot be with us today: ‘Gibbo’ L.Cpl Gibbons,
Flavel
Cpl Wally Thomas
We have been unable to connect with these & other Tn lads, the search goes on.
‘Q’ Fred & Sally Cummings
Derek & Chris Bleach
Q, sadly, is too fragile to make the journey and Chris Bleach is recovering from a heart attack.
Bill Newman
Sadly Bill is no longer with us; we are in touch with his wife Janet.
Propose a toast to the deceased and absent friends.
Three score years and ten comes to mind as a further milestone which brings us together tonight. Propose a toast to Tom (Slangiva). Tom, I should like to congratulate you for showing such tenacity and determination in tracking down your RE Tn colleagues. You have done a fantastic job and your quest has become infectious in that we have all been keen to further your cause.
The initiative for tonight lies with George, who deserves our heartfelt thanks.
Like all good medicine, there are invariably side effects. In this instance, I am referring, Tom, to collusion with your nearest and dearest. This was essential, so I can only recommend for the future, ya keep takin a wee glance ower your shoulder, trust, for you, might well be a thing of the past!
I am sure we lads have mostly pleasant memories of Suez and our living quarters.
‘Q’ was very human and a great guy to work for. Inviting us to his home, that first Christmas in 1954 for a party, is a kindness I shall not forget.
Z craft used for days out to the blue lagoon were great, as was the trip to the Sphinx, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Mohammed Ali Mosque and Cairo Museum.
We played football for hours at a time on the sand parade ground (Noel Coward’s Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun, was so accurate!).
We had no regular guard duties except the occasional guarding of the officer mess.
I am sure we all remember DTL’s (Deep trench latrines)? These were a challenge at first, but it did not take long to realise there were worse smells in the World!
Ants were a nuisance, remember we had to use water as a barrier to prevent them getting at our sugar/biscuits/sweets etc. Mind you ants brought out the more basic of instincts in some of our colleagues who delighted in taking the wings off Preying Mantis and watching the ants dissect these unfortunate creatures!
I am sure most of you will remember the terrible conditions at our mess – a very appropriate name for our eating place. Some guys just did not know how to eat properly and used to leave uneaten food on the table.
We had to keep our tent lines tidy – create patterns in the sand around the outside of each tent and of course laying out ones kit for inspection.
I remember, on several occasions, walking along the main road to the shops and little boys would tug at your trousers shouting you zig zig my sister?!
The ENSA shows and the cinema were a welcome relief to our army routine as was of course writing letters and receiving news from home.
MELF finally moved out of Egypt in the autumn of 1955. We moved to Famagusta in Cyprus and having to track the Z craft and tugs to Tripoli, in Libya and some to Singapore was a really exciting time. Mind you, we were only teenagers and I for one, never dreamt that at such a young age I would have served in the British Forces in two overseas countries. The next year in Cyprus was a fabulous holiday, work until mid-day, down to the mess for lunch, then onto the beach! Walking in the foothills of the Troodos mountains and swimming in the stream pools, in the buff, was fantastic! I can honestly say National Service was a good experience.
I will end on that positive note and now invite our birthday boy to say a few words.
Read More!
02/02: War Memories
WW2 People’s WarMemories of ww2 as a youngster
I was born January 1936 at 20 Woodgates Road in the city of Kingston upon Hull. Father Thomas Fry (Circa 1910) was Chief Engineer of a trawler and served in the Royal Navy mine sweeping. Mother Ada Fry (Circa 1911), nee Maulkinson, was in the Women’s Voluntary Entertainment Service (WVES). She was in the Lottie Stubbins accordion band and at weekends the band entertained the troops at camps along the east coast, as far north as Durham. My elder sister Ada (Circa 1934) and I used to stay with Grandma (Violet, nee Newbury) and Granddad (Thomas Eyre) Maulkinson at the weekends. I attended Anlaby County Primary School where there were large brick air raid shelters with concrete roofs. One day when we were in the school vegetable garden, we were being taught how to rake the soil, when a convoy of army vehicles went by going towards Anlaby. The soldiers were giving the Churchill Victory sign and we all cheered holding up our arms showing them our Victory sign.
Mother had four sisters and one brother. Hilda Watson, married with children, Muriel Maulkinson, single in the Royal Navy, Vera Maulkinson, single was a nurse, Elsie Maulkinson, single in the Army and Thomas Eyre Maulkinson Jnr, single was in the Royal Navy. Only Muriel and Elsie still survive.
1938 saw us move from Spring Bank to Loyd Street, off First Lane, Anlaby, East Riding of Yorkshire. There were houses on the south side of Hull Road Anlaby, but otherwise we were surrounded by meadowland and cows. Anlaby had four farms, one at the corner of Lowfield Road and Anlaby Road, one opposite the Red Lion Public House and one to the west of Wolfreton Drive and in front of which was a pond. Rawsons pig farm was down Pryme Street. The Anlaby village grocers shop was run by Mrs Johnson in the building which is now Crofters Restaurant.
East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) had a repair garage on Hull Road Anlaby Common. With no new buses being built, keeping their fleet on the road during ww2 was a significant part of the war effort. Some buses towed a small furnace producing gas to supplement fuel. During the blackout, conductors would call out the stops en route – Belgrave Drive, Anlaby Park Road North, Anlaby Common, First Lane, at which point we used to get off!
The Hull & Barnsley railway was always busy and strategic line to and from the port of Hull docks. Whilst mostly goods trains moved on this line, there was a passenger service. I could see the railway line from our back bedroom window.
There was spare land between Loyd Street, Mortimer Avenue and First Lane, upon which the Army had a huge tent. Along First Lane between Hull Road Anlaby and Boothferry Road Hessle, the Army had a permanent line of ambulances each with a large red cross on a white circle. Number 2 Loyd Street had a small box on the front wall adjacent to the tenfoot*. The box had a glass front, slightly larger than a post card, and was used to display the Wardens duty roster.
* In Kingston upon Hull and surrounding villages, a ‘tenfoot’ is a ten foot wide access road to the rear of properties.
There was much noise during the war; air raid warning sirens blaring, Costello guns firing at enemy aircraft, bombs falling in the Hull city centre about four miles away, low flying enemy aircraft some of which roof hopped to keep out of the search lights. The loudest noise was the V1 – doodlebug – which landed in a field south of Willerby Road and east of the Springhead waterworks pumping station. I remember my sister and I being hurried by mother into our Anderson shelter and I saw the V1, the engine had a distinctive rasping sound which suddenly stopped. Just as the shelter door was being closed, there was a brilliant white flash, followed by an explosion. We lost many windows and the whole ground shook. Our home was half a mile from and south of the waterworks with the Hull and Barnsley railway line embankment between us and the waterworks.
On another occasion, we had been in the shelter during a raid on Hull and the 'all clear' siren sounded. When we got out of the shelter and looked towards the City centre, there was a red glow in the night sky. We learned the following day that many of the shops had been very badly damaged, some a total loss.
We were walking home along Springhead Lane one evening when the air raid sirens sounded; there were no houses or shelters, so we kept walking. I can remember seeing the search lights locking onto enemy aircraft, low enough to see their markings. I can also remember seeing red flares lighting up the sky. I cannot remember ever being frightened.
We had shrapnel damage to furniture in our front room; one piece through the side of the upright piano and one piece through the front of the leather settee. The government paid reparation to repair the damage caused by shrapnel.
I enjoyed the radio (Rediffusion) programs, In Town Tonight, Workers Playtime, Itma, Have a Go Joe, Billy Cotton, Monday Night at Eight, childrens programs and of course the News. Occasionally, if an Aunt or Uncle was on leave, my sister and I would be taken to the Carlton cinema on Anlaby Road, as it was only a short walk from where Grandma and Granddad Maulkinson lived in Kempton Road. I always enjoyed the newsreel with its war stories.
Village life went on during the war, everyone seemed to cope with rationing, gardens were used to grow food and any waste food would be collected by the pigswill trucks. My sister and I were always entered into the fancy dress parades each year. One year my three wheeler cycle became a ship with me in my sailors’ uniform! As a family, we were fortunate to come through ww2 without loss or injury despite the hazards some family members had to endure. Throughout my life and probably because of my early experience of war, I have always looked for a peaceful solution to any dispute.
My three wheeler cycle became motor tug “Loyd Street” for a fancy dress parade In 1942. Dad was in the Royal Navy as a Chief Engineer of trawlers, used during the war as a mine sweepers.
28/07: About Tom Fry
Born on 12 January 1936 at 20 Woodgates Road, Spring Bank, Kingston upon Hull and moved to Anlaby, East Riding of Yorkshire, in 1938. My early years were living through World War 2 (See my War Memories). I enjoyed singing, was trained by Betty Hall (Nee Middleton) and sang in three choirs – St. Peter’s Anlaby church choir, Hessle County Secondary school and Hallean Singers. I started work with Wm. Gilyott & Co. Ltd., in the shipping industry at the Port of Hull in October 1951at a weekly wage of thirty shillings; the working week was five and a half days. I had to provide my own cycle and travel the seven miles of docks twice each day with no allowance for cycle repairs! National Service absorbed 1954/1956 and apart from twelve weeks training with the Royal Engineers at Malvern, Worcestershire, my time in H.M. forces was spent overseas in Egypt and Cyprus at GHQ MELF 4 Company Royal Engineers Transportation Regiment. I married Barbara Ward (Born 10 June 1937) on 4 July 1959 and we produced three offspring Glen Antony (Born 22 April 1964), Amanda Michelle (Born 8 February 1966) and Caroline Annette (Born 4 March 1968). I took opportunity to move around during my career in shipping and whilst initially this saw me transfer from Kingston upon Hull in 1968 to work in Bradford, West Yorkshire, then Leeds, I went on to take posts in Southern Rhodesia (Now Zimbabwe), Indonesia and Hong Kong. I travelled overseas on business extensively during my period with P&O in Leeds, visiting Middle East, Indian sub continent, Far East, Australia, New Zealand and South/East Africa. My final posting for P&O was in Coatbridge, Scotland from where I retired in 1994, before returning to our roots in the East Riding of Yorkshire. My philosophy at work was always to work hard, keep it simple and have fun along the way. Since retirement, I have been involved in voluntary work; mostly with Haltemprice Crime Prevention Panel (See the link to www.hcppuk.com). We went round the world on Canberra in 1995 to celebrate our retirement and have subsequently cruised the Mediterranean, Central and South America Pacific as well as Atlantic and the Falklands Islands. Barbara and I, in retirement, are keeping very active, having lots of fun along the way and thoroughly enjoying life! There are not enough hours in the day!Interests - Grandchildren Reading Gardening Laptop/Internet Holidays Photography
Favourite Movies - 007
Favourite Music - Jazz, especially Sid Phillips, Big Bands, especially Glenn Miller, Opera and classical
Favourite TV - Sports, Documentaries
TV Hates - Soaps
Favourite Books - Autobiographies and biographies, Fact, Travel