Her early years
My first child Sandra was born on 24th June,1946, in Manor House Nursing
Home, Sidcup, Kent, England.
Due to complications at the birth, her left ankle
was badly damaged but after many treatments, to our joy, she won a race for the
under fives and never looked back. Sandie was a very bright child,able to
complete jigsaw puzzles (brick variety)whilst only three years of age. Her
intelligence was recognised when at the age of four, she passed the test to
enter Stoneyhurst Convent High School in Bexlyheath, going straight into
Transition 6-8 year olds instead of the Kindergarten.
A few years later we
moved to Orpington and Sandra became a pupil at St Philomena’s Convent High
School where she stayed until she was sixteen years of age. Sandra later told
me that she deliberately failed her 11 plus, along with some of her friends, as
she didnt want to leave the Nuns and the Convent and go to a different school.
She loved St Phils and even after she left, she stayed in contact with the
Sisters. Sandra was their “golden girl”. and was given the opportunity to
appear in the convents‘ many productions such as “Hiawatha”in which she played
Minnie Ha Ha. Sandra also attended drama classes in the evenings.
