Atlantic Court

Proud Dad and Atlantic Court. Gaspar later told me he tried to visit and got right back in the car after taking a photo - it was too dangerous then in the 1990s but it may be better now.
page 43 "Accomodation was at a premium but Olive used to sit at the flat controller's office until in the end he gave her a bachelor flat in town. We lived there for seven years. Joubert Park was close by and Olive made many friends as John played there." This sounds worse than it was. It was on the fifth floor and the lift had those gates that pull across so you had to mind your fingers. 52 Atlantic Court was a large room with a small kitchen and bathroom . Sections were curtained off. It does sound as though they had no alternative given that Dad was earning £50 a month. Mum had had good office jobs in York during the War but she must have chosen to stay at home and look after me. I do recall Jane coming in to do washing but there was no servant as such. Dad goes on page 43 "After a year it was thought that John had contracted polio because there was an epidemic. Olive used to take him every day to the children's hospital. One foot was almost lifeless but gradually through exercises such as trying to grip a ping-pong ball, life came into it. It was a student doctor who cautiously suggested that he had not had polio but that his condition was consistent with an instrument delivery". page 44.
Those visits to the hospital seemed to consist of walking up and down for ages and being observed trying to doing various exercises. It is little wonder that I still do not like going into hospitals! I will go if I have to! Dad does not mention that he refused to allow the surgeons to cut my right leg ff and put it back on - quite right too!. There was an important sequel to this in York in 1952 when Mum took me to a chiropractor who was the first to notice hairs growing in the small f my back. He discovered I had 3 slipped discs thus explaining the lack of reflexes and with treatment my right leg began to turn inwards. My right foot still points at a 45 degree angle but it is much better than it was.  There was talk of a builtup shoe but in the end I made do with an inner sole. Sandals remained a problem and I have to wear ones with closed toe and heel otherwise I lose the inner sole! I now have a properly made orthotic inner sole which I should have had years ago! The photo was taken at Schlensinger's studio Johannesburg and I had lots of auburn hair. This came from my Dad's mother Phyllis Worley. From her too I inherited musical talents as she played the piano which of course my Dad did. Mum was a good singer and a very capable homemaker cooking delicious meals and always knitting usually fuzzy wuzzy wool for little rabbits at the bottom of the jerseys!
My favourite toy was a white Fox terrier with a red collar and little bell named Bimbo. I took it everywhere and was distraught when it got lost on the bus! Apparently my favourite story was "Little black Sambo" hardly PC! Mum used to take me shopping and the big treat was tea at John Orr's wiht pineapple cream cake. She was also more than capable of telling me off in the shop but I think I was really rather well-behaved and quiet as a result. Little boys should be seen and not heard was a favourite comment. I recall an episode in Joubert Park where there was a high slide which I eventually plucked up courage to go down. It had been a very hot day and my poor little bottom was so sore. I was not inclined to go again! I have never been much happy on high slides or those rollercoasters. Occasionally when coming onto a high balcony I have felt very nervous and reached for a rail or wall. I suppose it is to do with balance which is now becoming more dodgy.

Here I am with Mum clutching Bimbo in 1952 in Norwich