Archive (1372 life histories found)

Private houses were situated on either side of our Glengormley shop - all rented property, but the opportunity came to buy all three when one tenant left, and we scraped up all our resources together to achieve this. The empty property was let as a…

When our eldest son was born in late 1952, it was time to seek better accommodation and we managed to get a piece of ground and Mr. Ross who had carried out some work at Rathcoole estate, built our new detached house on Church Road, Glengormley. It…

We also expanded our business by buying a run down confectionery and tobacconist shop in Glengormley. We gave up living in our rented semi detached home in Abbots Cross, Doagh Road, Whiteabbey, to use the rooms above the shop for living in. It was…

The sadness we felt when our first baby died at three months of age is something we shall never forget but, in a strange and mysterious way, it changed the future of our lives. Whilst I continued as a representative for Murrays, Doreen on getting…

I was one of the first to sit the dreaded 11 plus exam,which I failed,even though I was on the borderline to pass. This affected me deeply as I thought I had let my parents down. However,it also motivated me to work hard and take an interest in…

Shortly after the war ended,my mum and dad moved the family to a brand new prefab bungalow complete with hot and cold running water,a bathroom and even a fridge. I thought I was a princess as for the first time,I had the luxury of a bedroom all to…

In 1944 my father was lucky enough to be stationed in Ballyhalbert with the R.A.F. We all went as a family and lived in a coastguard cottage right on the beach. It was idyllic. I went to the little country school in the village. We only had two…

My life meandered along in this innocent way until I was six years old and then something happened to change things forever. I came home from school one day to find a little stranger in the house. My young baby brother,Kenneth. My six year old…

Christmas was my very favourite time of year. On Christmas Eve I had to go to bed very early. I was so excited I could hardly get to sleep. Then on Christmas morning I was wakened by my granny shouting 'come and see what Santa has brought '. In…

During the war everything was rationed,we were issued with ration books; cream for groceries,red for clothes and another one for sweets. I was a great treat being given a silver sixpence (2 p) for 2 ozs of sweets,which was all we could buy with…