I visited Margaret Russell in September 2007 (writes Francis Czucha). She told me she had lived in the same house since 1931. The house had been purchased by her father Charles Edward LLoyd in 1910. Her mother Evelyn's maiden name was Green.

Margaret continued living in the same house after her marriage to Alan Russell on Feb 16th 1952. I noticed that the couple seemed to have the 'perfect arrangement'. Alan was occupying himself in his work shop on the ground floor of the house while Margaret enjoyed using her computer and hi fi equipment upstairs. Unlike many members of her generation she seemed very comfortable using modern technology and was familiar with the latest Microsoft products.

                                   

Although Margaret lived in the same house for three quarters of a century she had travelled extensively. "My daughter Audrey and I went to Sorrento in 2006. We also like Singapore, Australia & New Zealand where we have visited in the last few years and hope to go again in the not too distant future. Alan and I have visited the States Canada, Malaysia and Sri Lanka in the past, also Europe. He does not fly much since his heart attack ten years a go but sometimes he visits friends in Ireland. I have travelled with friends but like going with Audrey as we get along so well."

Margaret told me she regretted some of the changes she had witnessed in her area over the years."There aren't the corner shops that there used to be and I don't like what they did to St Matthews Church. I got married in the old church and my parents ashes were there."  

    

(Left) This photo in Oakbury was around the late 80's and the car on the right is Alan's. (Right) The car a Consul is outside our house late 70's. 

Margaret also provided more information about her family and life in Sands End. "I worked in the office in Broughton Road at Sunlight from 1947 until I got married in 1952. My husband worked at BP as a driver from 1953-1985. They moved out of  London and he worked at Crosby Hall in Chelsea until it was sold."

" My father's family the Lloyds lived locally in their young days. I had no time for any of them except him. He worked at the gas board (formerly known as the Gas Light & Coke Company). My mother Evelyn came from Fulham when she was young and then Chelsea. She too worked at the gas company until she married Charles Lloyd in 1928. Her father and two brothers also worked there until they were called up in 1939. Her father served in the Navy for 19 years and then continued working with the gas company until he retired.

Alan was my cousin. I had not seen him for years. He came here when on leave from the Merchant Navy and we got engaged in a month!!. We have a grandaughter of 28 Eve, another 26 Mandy and grandson John 22. Eve has two little girls. Amy is four and a half, Katie is 2 years 4 months."

The picture on the left is of a party in Oakbury in I think 1935  as is the next  one. The figure on the far right is me holding my mother's hand.!!

See Margaret and Alan's St Matthews Church wedding photograph in Schools & Churches section and read about Margaret's time at Sunlight Laundry in Work Places.