My staycation memories

We celebrate the circle of life with this trip down memory lane from June Richards in Plumstead, South East London, whose early holiday memories have made her appreciate how lucky she is to have such a close family…

June writes: “My mum was born in Yorkshire in 1922. She left school aged 14 and went to work in a cotton mill, which she hated. She ran away when she was 17 and lied about her age to join the army.

“My dad was a soldier and they met at an army barracks. The framed picture is of my mum and dad’s wedding day in June 1943. They are the couple in the centre – Jessie and Dennis. They went on to have four children, me and my two sisters and my brother.

“We had a carefree and happy childhood. Mum would chuck us out in the morning with a jam sandwich and a bottle of water and told us to be back at teatime. We played in the local parks and on the estate where we lived in Eltham. We were often chased out of the park by the park keeper.

“My father died when I was 15 in 1964, so we went on holiday with just my mum in 1965. The beach photo is a picture of me and Mum on Clacton beach. We had a week there in a caravan with my two sisters and brother.

“I remember we had to walk a mile to the beach with all the paraphernalia and at the end of the day trek all the way back. We had such a lovely time, I remember the laughter, crammed into a tiny caravan. Happy days!

“I met my husband Gordon in 1968 at my sister’s house. We married in 1970 and had two daughters, Penny and Michelle, and three wonderful grandchildren.

“My mum went on to remarry and had many happy years with Jack.

“They are both long gone now sadly – but the memories remain.”