I first met Ron your Dad, at the Forest Road Primary mixed school in Walthamstow in late 1945. We were in the same class and became friends. We took our 11+ exams, Ron did rather well and went to the Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Walthamstow, and I went to the South West Essex Technical School also in Walthamstow.

In the earlier days of our friendship, Ron’s mother used to invite me to Sunday tea. I always enjoyed these invites, but the main attraction was that they were the only family I knew to have a TV set. It was in black and white with a very small screen and transmissions could be a bit dodgy at times. I remember we watched ‘muffin the mule’ quiz games and News programs. These transmissions finished quite early in the evening so I never got home late.

During our later teenage years around 1945, we both signed up for ballroom dance lessons which were held at the ‘Sonny Deardon School of Dance’ in a large room over the Granada Cinema, opposite the flat where Ron and family lived. The idea of the lessons where to give us a good start in the local dance halls. If you could dance, you could have a better chance of being accepted to dance by a prettier looking girl! However, after ‘mastering’ the waltz and quickstep it was decided to terminate the lessons as we could not get to grips with the more trickier steps of the Tango and Samba. I believe Ron gave up as his feet did not respond to his requests!

Later on as we reached the age of 18. We were called up for National Service for 2 years. I was called up 1st as Ron had to complete an extra years at grammar school. We both served abroad. After initial training Ron was posted to Germany and I was posted to Cyprus during the problems there in 1956- 1959.

After finishing our 2 years of service Ron started his career in the Civil Service, and I became a Commercial Artist in London. Because of us not seeing each other for these 2 years we drifted apart, only meeting rarely as our social lives differed. However, in 1963 my fiancé Jenny met Ron and his fiancé Kath at a party in Woodford. I’m a bit vague about what happened at this party but it re kindled a friendship with Ron and we met Kath. They were married before Jenny and I in late 1963 and attended our wedding in early 1964.
Since then we have all been involved with each other in their families.

Sadly Ron passes away thus ending a 75 year period as good friends. We will miss him.