THE BEGINNING

Well I was born in June1945. Chiswick, London W4, England At Chiswick Maternity hospital. (Chiswick Hospital was established as a voluntary cottage hospital in 1911. By 1923 the hospital had come to specialise in maternity care. In 1943 the hospital was passed into the control of Middlesex County Council and was renamed Chiswick Maternity Hospital. The hospital closed in 1975 and when I went past in August 2010 it was being demolished) See this article:


Sad at demise of Chiswick Hospital Dec 16 2009

THOUSANDS of babies were born at Chiswick maternity hospital and hundreds of operations took place at the old original Chiswick cottage hospital. Sadly, it is now being knocked down (2010) and I think many Chiswickians will feel sorry that we have lost the memorial to that great man Dan Mason.

The plaque of this wonderful man is now in Gunnersbury Museum.

DOROTHY BARTRAM Friends of Chiswick Hospital

So when I was born the 2nd world war had just finished in Europe, it was still on in Japan. I grew up in Twickenham, a town on the River Thames in South West London. I do not remember much about the early years except going to see King George,  at the  Trooping of the Colour, the 1951 Festival of Britain. The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth (1953). Food being on rationing.

He is a picture of me taken at 5 weeks old!

 John at 5 weeks

I guess most babies look the same at that age, but it is me.

Here are a few more early photos. May parents holding me, taken in York House gardens Twickenham. My mothers mother my grandmother, and my granddad

  Mary and Fred with John in York house gardens  Grandmother Granddad

.John about 6 or 6 years old St. Mary's school, Twickenham  John and Marion Potter

John about 5 or 6 years of age a school photo taken at St. Mary's school Twickenham.                                   John with Marion Potter.