‘It was a glorious childhood. We’d play on bombsites until the mums called us in for tea’
the Commandos’ light-middleweight boxing champion before going on to join the London Fire Brigade where in time he rose to the rank of Assistant Divisional Commander.
Stephen met Penny Hall. They married at 20 and, aged 21, paid the £10 ticket to Australia – as Ten Pound Poms – where Stephen went on to become an accomplished carpenter.
Margaret stayed close to her mother, moving out of the family home in 1978 but remaining in Stepney, where she worked in the Royal London Hospital and married fellow East Ender Peter.
At a time when Amy should have been taking a well-earned rest and enjoying her expanding family, tragedy struck again.
“Mum’s first son Brian was killed in a lorry crash in France at the age of 34,” says Margaret. “He left behind six children aged between two and 11.
“Mum was inconsolable.” Then, 10 years after his father’s death,
Brian’s son Martin died aged
15 after falling from a tree picking conkers.
Amy still had her beloved triplets, but perhaps the repeated tragedy took its toll because in the same year as her grandson’s death she was diagnosed with cancer and died in August 1985, aged 73.
The triplets’ father, Alfred, lived to the ripe old age of 96. The trio are already planning to be reunited for a joint 70th birthday party, and they will raise a glass to their mother.
“Mum’s whole life was devoted to raising us triplets,” concludes Margaret. She had her hands full constantly, but she was utterly selfless and surrounded us with such love.
“I still think of her, standing on the doorstep waving us off.”