London Days

This was a heady time, when the world was our Oyster and the future was full of promise. Mike and I came to England in 1963 and Mike had a temporary job in Southend Airport till he started his course in Garnet College in Roehampton that September. I had been teaching in Westborough High School for Girls since April. I was lodging with Peggy Taffe and her mother in Westcliff-on-Sea but I spent weekends with Mike in his student rooms and frequently went up by train after school during the week.

We loved our new life and spent lots of time in Richmond Park walking across to Richmond and past John Mills' house. In a pub Mike recognised Jack Hawkins, the actor, and one frosty sunny day I was crossing a road when a Herald Triumph car emerged with the sun roof lowered and a glamourous young man driving. I stood still staring at him, my mouth opened in wonder, as I recognised Roger Moore who played 'Simon Templar' in 'The Saint'.

For the next five years we would revel in our life in London. A favourite time was Sunday mornings at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park where we were amused by all the speeches we heard from so many eccentric characters! We got to know the Irish club in Eaton Square and the Dublin University associations but we still had our house in Barton Road in Dublin and travelled home by Aer Lingus Starflights or Dawn flights frequently.