Cultureshock

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Video transcript

I was born in 1930 the year war broke out, sadly my father was killed when his ship was torpedoed at sea and my mother was left to struggle to raise me on her own through very hard times.

I was a very shy child with an inferiority complex and I felt inferior at every subject. At school my favourite subjects were music, art, needlework, cooking, housekeeping, English and Geography. I remember I was absolutely terrified at exam times and when I sat the eleven plus exam I was petrified. This exam qualified a pupil to go to high school. I passed and I was so proud I cried.

At the time I was taking piano lessons at the cost of 10 pence a lesson. I felt very privileged, as I loved playing. Times being hard my mother found it difficult- as did other mothers to afford the uniform. A lot of single mothers today struggle with costs.

However, my chance came again when I was 13 I passed the 13 plus again and I had to forsake the chance to go to St John’s High School. I was still continuing my piano lessons and had now progressed and was qualified to teach at the age of 13, my music teacher was very proud of me and wanted me to go to the Royal London College of Music to sit for my cap and gown.

Sadly, my mother could not afford it. My dream was to teach music. My dreams were shattered and I had to take a job in a grocery store, the money I earned was a big help to my mother though it made her life a little easier, which made me proud – to be able to return something to my mother for the hard life she had raising me on her own.

Time flies by, I married and had four sons who we are very proud of and have all done very well for themselves. We were married for 44 years when sadly my husband died. I was devastated; I’d lost the love of my life, but needed to fill my life with something to take away the pain of this dreadful grief. I went to college thinking if I tried to concentrate on a subject it might divert my mind and give me a motif to carry on. I chose to take a diploma in Applied Arts, as I like art at school. Pouring my grief into the subject I chose ‘The Circle of Life’ after all life must go on.

I did well and won my diploma. The lecturer offered me a place on the degree course for applied art. I earned my degree and graduated on July 12th 2007. I finally achieved my goal of winning my cap and gown at the age of 67. To my amazement I was also presented with an outstanding achievement award!