Stephanie wrote about her childhood years, bringing life in post-Edwardian London to life. Despite living in poverty and difficult circumstances, she was still able to find joy in her life.

My London Childhood

There were lots of children in my Lambeth neighbourhood and we would all play together outside on the street - sometimes drawing hopscotch plans on the sidewalk, sometimes skipping rope, with many rhymes to match the skipping and trying not to be caught "out". It was great fun in the summer when the evenings were light, but not so much in the winter - the gas lights in the street were quite dim and darkness fell early. Not to mention the thick foggy nights when you could hardly see your hand in front of your face. The buses would still run, but some nights the fog was so thick the bus conductor would walk in front of the bus carrying a flashlight to light the way for the driver.

My first best friend was Rita, a little girl whose family owned a coffee shop on Kennington Road known as Perdoni's - their family name. We walked back and forth to school together every day and played imaginary games of being great princesses - meeting Prince Charming and getting dressed up to go out dancing.

Rita's parents and seven brothers all worked together in the family restaurant and they all doted on Rita - she was the only girl in the family. One day though, she didn't show up at school and a few days later we learned that she had died, from diphtheria, I believe. I still remember her funeral - as her best friend, I walked beside the casket - it was very sad. I have never forgotten her.

Perdoni's restaurant is still operating today and the last time I was in London, I visited the restaurant and chatted with one of Rita's relatives. When I returned home I received a very kind letter from her family, who were so very pleased to know that I still remembered Rita and her family.

I had another friend - a gorgeous young Irish boy who had a great voice and sang Irish songs at every opportunity. Unfortunately, his mother was unable to find further employment to support them and he returned with her to Ireland where they had family.

I remember another young lad who had a great imagination - he would find some old cloths or sheets, wrap them around his shoulders and go up the six or seven steps to the front door, convinced that he could fly off the steps like Superman. I would be there assuring him he could certainly fly off the steps (of course he couldn't!) but I backed him up every time. Then he too moved away with his mother - and there went my superman.

London was noisy, crowded, busy and I loved it. It was a wonderful place to grow up.