Peggy, like a lot of North Country folk, was a very superstitious person. For example she would never spill salt without then throwing it over her left shoulder. On the 1st of the Month she had to say Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits, White Hares White Hares White Hares, and she adhered to many other superstitions. When you asked why, she did not really know, but it was bad luck not to do the bidding of the superstition. I can remember her telling me if I did not eat my bread crusts, for every crust I left, a Sailor would die, and if I pulled a face and the wind blew, my face would stay that way forever, and plenty more of these 'old wives tales'.

Peggy also loved stories, she would make up many, one of her favourites was that she was related to a Gypsy Romani Prince, however despite all searches on Ancestry by many, we have not found him!!
I bet pounds to peanuts she believed in the Lambton Worm !!

Peggy was very theatrical, in another life she may well have been a dancer in a chorus line. She loved dressing up and in later life she was in amateur musicals and shows. She loved dressing up our children, Sonya and Chris and have them 'perform' in shows with her when they were at her place.

That I know of, Peggy worked in England as a Tram Conductor, in a Lamp Shade Factory, Addison's Bakers, Bata Shoe Shop, and a Domestic in a Private School in Caterham.

Peggy's Mum and Dad, Violet and Jack, had moved South and opened a Green Grocers Shop in Caterham on the Hill in the later 1940's. At first Pop and Derek would do the deliveries using a horse and cart. The Horse was called Dolly. Then, Pop upgraded to a motorised Van, he bought a second hand Van that had been used by a Shop begun in London called Harrods!! Peggy helped out in the Shop often and the Shop was our second home, I spent most days from School having lunch there, and after School. My Grandmother had a collection of brass and once a week I would help her clean and polish it until it all shone. New Years was always celebrated at the Shop and I can remember the North Country Geordie tradition of the First Foot bringing in the New Year, along with the singing of Geordie Songs 'Cushy Butterfield, The Blaydon Races and others. There was always a North Country dish called Pease Pudding and Ham, I hated the Pease Pudding.The Shop was a happy home to Peggy and us all.

Fred Dinning made the decision to immigrate to Australia in 1956, this would mean Peggy, Marion and Rob leave Peggys close knit family behind. None of Peggys family believed when it came to the crunch, she would ever really go to Australia, but sometimes choices are really hard, and I don't think Peggy had much say in that decision. Fred, her husband had a sullen moody personality, a loner with an explosive temper, it was 'my way or the highway'. Marion can remember vividly the day they left, her Grandmother (Violet) and Pop(Jack) standing at the fence of our house, crying as we left. Their hearts breaking and their lives changed forever, losing their beloved daughter Peggy and their only two grandchildren, Marion and Robin. Peggy and her beloved Mother never saw each other again and Marion never saw her lovely Nanna again.

The quality of life in Australia did not improve for Peggy and her daughter Marion. Neither of them wanted to be there, they both missed the extended family that existed in England, Peggy worked in any number of jobs, some being a Record Factory, a Plastics Factory, a Make Up Factory and in several shops over the years. Due to the fact that Peggy's work started early and finished late Marion became her brother Robin's carer from the age of 10.

Peggy never really settled in Australia, she always longed to go back to England and would have done so in a flash if her husband had agreed. She was like ET pointing her finger home and wishing on a star to go there. Her first trip 'home' was not until the 1990's, almost 40 long years in the waiting.

Peggy enjoyed craft and amongst others learned leather making, Painting. She enjoyed baking, knitting and crocheting. She played Lawn Bowls. In her later years she enjoyed going to Chapel with her friends.

In her last years Peggy lived in a relocatable village at Green Point New South Wales. With the help of her brother Derek and her sister in law Margaret who live in South Godstone England, she was able to be given some information about her biological father, George Alfred Hinchliffe.

I have been able to follow that up and now have a very good history of the Hinchliffe family, mainly thanks to my special Cousin Sue Bristow who by absolute chance I found. Sue's Grandfather and My Grandfather were the Hinchliffe Twins, Robert John and George Alfred, Peggy's father.

Sue has researched the Hinchliffe family going generations back. Peggy would so have loved to know all about her Hinchliffe family, sadly Peggy passed away before we had this information.

We hope that Karma prevailed and that Peggy's ashes found their way across the oceans and took her back to the shores of her longed for Home - England.

VALE, MARGARET PARKER HINCHLIFFE-

Written by Marion Burchell, Peggy's daughter.