A trip down memory lane

I was delighted to read the article on Valletta in the April edition of Homes & Antiques. It brought back many happy memories of living in Malta from 1950 to 1953, while my father was serving in the Royal Navy.

I enclose a picture of me, aged about five or six, in the latest ‘girl’s fashion’ of pink woollen coat with a velvet collar. My mother is in her high heels, with my father in ‘civvies’ for a change.

The scene is captured at The Upper Barrakka Gardens (which was mentioned in your article) and I had taken Jenny, my doll, for a picnic. Her lunch box is held by my mother.

Sadly, both of my parents are deceased, but your article has given me the impetus to visit Malta one day, after a 6#-year gap, and recapture some of those happy moments! Pamela Magill, Plymouth two visits there – the $rst accompanied by my daughter. It’s such a beautiful house and the guide made our time there so special. I recalled the tea sets – as I’m a tea ambassador and give talks about the social history of afernoon tea, they were of great interest to me.

On my second visit with my husband, we were taken to a room where tea, coffee and cake was served. Again, we were treated to a wonderful tour of the house and I feel sure our guide must have been Suzanne. I must visit again to see the stumpwork box and the export tea bowls.

I also found the article on Rory Young’s house inspirational. I am one of the &ower arrangers at Berrington Hall (where I’ve also recently celebrated 30 years as a guide), so I just loved all of the &owers in his home.

I keep my copies of H&A for three years, then I go through and tear out all the articles that interest me and stick them into scrapbooks. My family and friends enjoy looking at them when they visit. Eileen Dilley, Hereford