War Time, Peace Time, My Time by Dorice Greenfield

Author:Dorice Greenfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

The Love of My Life

1941–1950

I soon realised, as I got to know him more, that Reg was a true gentleman. He was always there for me and, when he was not around, I used to get quite lonely and start to miss him. So I stopped being nasty and we spent more time together. I found he was entertaining, even amusing, and we really got on very well. In time we met each other’s families. Oh dear, little did I know the problems we would have.

Although John and Fred, my two older brothers, seemed to get on well with Reg, my parents did not approve as he was twelve years older than me and Jewish. Reg’s mother made me very welcome but a Jewish home was very different from ours. One of the first things I noticed was that you are offered food all the time! Reg’s step-father was choir-master at the Shepherd’s Bush synagogue; a very charming man. I called him ‘Papa Shoot’ as his surname was Shoot. Unfortunately the two families just did not get along with each other.

After about two years, it was at the dear old Palais where Reg took me upstairs onto the balcony and asked me to marry him. I agreed, but how on earth was I going to tell Mum and Dad? Whatever they thought we were a couple now. I knew they would hit the roof; they did, and all havoc broke loose, so I ran out of the house and went to the pictures.

Strangely Reg’s parents were OK about it. It was my mum who was difficult; she would not sign the consent form as I was under twenty-one, and at the time you could not marry without your parents’ consent.

‘I’ll put my head in the gas oven if you marry Reg. He is too old for you and the religion is too different,’ Mum shouted at me. I was crying – it was ghastly, I was just so upset. Then Freda, my best friend, said to Mum, ‘OK, there you are!’ and she opened the oven door, put a cushion there, and 2 pence in the meter, and pulled me out the house. We went to the pictures, but I couldn’t settle as I was upset so we came home early and there was Mum, knitting, with the consent form signed. Freda and I looked at each other and Mum said, ‘Well, put the kettle on, I want a cup of tea’. This was her way of letting me know that although our engagement could go ahead, she wasn’t happy.

Reg’s family were happy for him and accepted me. His sister Rene invited us to her home to celebrate, and as she was married to a Christian, they knew exactly how we felt.

On the way to Rene’s, as we were early Reg parked the car and we went for a walk on Ealing Common. This is where Reg gave me my engagement ring. It was a solitaire diamond platinum ring and very beautiful.

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