Memories.

My tiny garden holds so many happy memories. Val & I moved into our new home in May 1964. Due to the broad lines of trees, Sycamores, Poplars and Willows separating the gardens beyond ours, we were oblivious of the neighbours from another street.
Kerry our eldest daughter was four and soon she had a sister Amanda. Both now are into their fifties.

The property is council owned, and I have no regrets. The garden had played host to others as a dumping ground. My dad spent a few days with me clearing and having dug a very deep trench across the garden, all the rubbish etc was given a suitable burial.

I had recently been medically discharged from the police service. Laughable but true. I returned my kit, then on the Monday I attended a medical at County Hall. London. I passed A1, and was immediately on the payroll of the LCC later GLC Parks Dept. I passed all my gardening exams within about six months. I was then selected to do an extensive groundsmans course courtesy of London University. This opened up much more than I expected. Sadly most of the class didn't share my enthusiasm. I gained my certs in. The science and practice of turf culture. Field and track maintenance along with Athletic stadium management. This included everything including floodlighting.

Within eighteen months I was appointed Deputy Parks Superintendant. I was sent from Castlewoods SE18 to a small park in Deptford. Wowee! suddenly all hell was let loose. Two local rival gangs decided to have a shoot out. Thankfully my staff remained safe. I was then posted to a small park in Mottingham. Honestly, having started in the ancient woodlands and now in this small space, I was thinking about moving on.

Next I was posted to Plumstead Common. This was more of an open space, but it did have some playing fields. Straight away my daily duties were split between the common and the playing fields. From then on. my main charge was the playing fields. I pride myself as having, pegged out and marked out a 440 yd seven lane running track and a full AAA field.

Sadly politics entered the scene. HM Gov. decided to get rid of the GLC. THe whole lot was to be taken over by the local councils. My parks were in Greewich. Greenwich Works Dept was a ticket area. No guarantee was on offer that my staff would be kept on. I left.

News got around and I was soon snapped up by the MOD. This all went well until Michael Hestletine decided the MOD could do without me. At the same time welfare stepped in. As I had a bit of a medical history. I could be medically retired. So since 1984. Yours truly has been just that. All attempts at me getting back to work, now foiled. Medics have marked my card. Medically unfit due to. Gross Degenative disease of the spine.

So Val & I have struggled on. Sadly 9.6.2010 Val my love at first sight bride of 49 yrs failed to wake up from heart surgery. So here in my tiny garden, I often stand still, gaze up at the window and remember Val looking down with approval.