My first memory was when I was about two years and a bit. My mother was sitting by the fireside trying to change my new baby brother's nappy while he was struggling and screaming. She shouted at me to get her a pin from the basket. I remember feeling a physical feeling of shock right through my body. My mother had never spoken to me like that before.

Looking back,I think this incident affected our relationship for the whole of my life. I always seemed to be blamed when things went wrong, even though I knew my brother was the cause. I cannot remember her ever giving me a hug. Once I searched her drawer to see if I had adoption papers!

I enjoyed visiting my paternal grandmother and my aunt (pictured here with me and my brother) who obviously loved me and taught me to do many things in the craft line and I used to make birthday and Christmas presents for everyone.

I loved school. In those days one entered school in the term in which you were five years old. I joined the existing class in May and my first school year consisted of one term. It was the day that the mustard and cress that the children had grown was to be shared out. I was quite overcome by the teacher's kindness in including me. I loved her and even continued to do so even when I was told to stand in the wastepaper basket for some misdeamer!