My Mum and Family
Peggy was born at 48 Railway Terrace, Houghton Le Spring, Co. Durham to parents Violet Parker Boll and George Alfred Hinchliffe.
The North Country Geordie Miners were a very tight knit community, it was quite often the case that children would stay with an Aunty or Uncle a few doors up if their house was full to the brim. In those days, large families and small houses were the 'norm', it was not uncommon for 8 - 10 children to share one bedroom. The Miners Houses were supplied by the Mine Owners for a small weekly rental whilst at least one member of the household worked 'Down the Pit', in the event of the Miners death, if no other member of the household was working 'Down the Pit, the wife and all of her children were 'turfed out' and therefore became homeless. The Miners houses were known as 2 up 2 down as the bottom floor consisted of a Scullery and Kitchen. Upstairs were 2 bedrooms, one for the Mother and Father and the other for all of the children. There was no bathroom, laundry or toilet inside the house, the toilet was outside. If you were lucky you had a 'copper' to boil your clothes in, the washing was hung out to dry on the 'common' clothes line on the 'Green' which separated the rows of homes.
- In fact the 1911 census records Peggy's Mum Violet at the age of 6 living with her Grandparents Thomas and Margaret Parker at the same No 48, in those days this was the norm. Peggy's father was a break from the mold of coal miners, he was a brick layer. He died from pneumonia when Peggy was 5. The 'Pits' are now closed, the houses remain, from the outside very much as they were, the 'Green' and 'Common' clothes lines are still there today (2017)
Her Mum Violet remarried a few years later to Joseph Rutter Jackson, (Jack) they had 3 children, Derek, Brian and Jill. Peggy was very close to her second family and never thought of them other than her very own brothers and sisters, and she always referred to Jack as “'m' Dad'”. I guess that is why she never thought of trying to find her biological father's family the Hinchliffes.
'Keep your heart young. expectations high and NEVER allow you dreams to die'
'I can do it!'
With Love, Patience, Determination and Inspiration nothing is impossible.
'We Love you Noni.'
Seek wonder in the ordinary, and miracles will happen that you cannot explain
Concentrate on the finish line, not the other boat.
Thank a teacher.... If you are reading it in English, thank a Veteran!