When May Steel met Tom Warren

The year 1935 was the start for us. We met on 27th July at a travelling fair in Epsom. I had gone there with a girlfriend and she had fixed for us to meet two fellows but I didn’t like the one allocated to me so I refused. I was standing by the bumper cars when I noticed 3 fellows opposite. The blond one in the middle took my fancy, he came round and asked me if I would like a ride and that sealed my fate. He took me home & arranged to see me the next day. I was going to Oxford for a week and he then told me he had another girl in Hampshire so he would be going down to see her to make up his mind. I wasn’t shattered. I liked him but hadn’t really got to know him. On my return from Oxford he was waiting so I guess I drew the short straw. In 1938, things were not too good at his home [in St Philips Avenue,Worcester Park] so he pushed for a Xmas wedding. My mother wanted a June wedding but she was over-ruled. On Boxing Day the snow lay thick on the ground , the car-hire men worried about the hill so I had visions of walking over Epsom Common in my finery. The florists could manage only a bouquet for me so my grandmother [Susan Ferris] spent all Christmas Day making fur muffs for my bridesmaids.Everything went well on the day even though the photographer failed to show up [ attached pic was taken by a guest] and nine months later, 2nd World War began. Our family of boys began to arrive from April 1940 onwards and we spent most of the war years at Ebbisham Road in Epsom with my parents which was a good thing for all of us. I like to think the boys had a happy childhood with Sunday morning football each week in winter and such things as our Good Friday hikes with more & more kids from the neighbourhood tagging along each year. Never much money to spare but great to participate. The joy in recent years has come from watching our grandchildren grow up and re-living the fun & joy from our boys childhood. [ No date given on manuscript but I think this was written around 1970 ]