Anne Josephine 1

You had Pa the other day, so it's only right and proper you now get Ma - I hope Cerdiwen is continuing her MothersMonday challenge.
Anne was born in Stanmore Middlesex on the 2nd June 1929, the youngest child of Grace and Joe. Her older brother, Barry, is now in his 90th year and thriving. Sometime in the 30s the family moved to Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, where they had family, and Grandpa Joe was involved in some sort of aerial reconnoitre on the islands. They lived in St Brelade's Bay and had a pretty idyllic childhood. Ma might look very charming with her long ringlets ( achieved by having to sleep with your hair curled up in rags) but she was actually quite a tomboy and usually had knees covered in plasters. She loved horses, dolls, climbing trees and dancing. All this came to a very abrupt end in July 1940 when the Channel Islands were invaded by Germany. The story goes that they were on the last boat to be evacuated - my grandfather sending  heated messages from wherever he was and my granny being rather insouciant and unhurried. The did get on the boat though and the two children were allowed to take just one toy. Ma chose a doll and my uncle chose a toy plane. They were both miffed at having to leave their bikes behind. Ma was just 11, possibly this age in the photo.
They seemed to have moved about a lot during the War and Ma remembered going to many different schools, including the rather formidable Cheltenham Ladies' College . Here she seemed to spend most of her time outside the door of the classroom, punished for daydreaming - the days when you could send a pupil outside and expect to still find them there at the end of the lesson! She was sporty and arty, kind and sweet natured but not terrifically impressed by school.  She was in London for VE Day (Victory in Europe), sweet 16 and had the time of her life, somehow roaring around London on the back of a fire engine! Ready of the next stage in her life.

I might add this to MonoMonday too - found whilst rummaging through my family photos box.