Mary (Molly) Gibson's Story - Part 3 (cont'd) - The Youngest Gibson

PART 3 (cont'd) FROM WINLATON MILL TO LEMINGTON

"It was hard times then, and although Forster had been asked many times to stay in the RAF he refused as he knew he would get on OK within the Co-op.  Molly said she remembers Forster often saying he regretted not staying in the RAF.

Life was good in Winlaton Mill and Molly soon made lots of friends whom she kept in touch with until they passed away.  

Christine started at Rowlands Gill Primary school in September 1950.  

In 1950 the school was amalgamated with Rowlands Gill County Boys to form Rowlands Gill Junior Mixed and Infants, with senior pupils transferred to High Spen County Senior Mixed."  

Rowlands Gill Infant & Junior Schools

"Molly used to take Christine to the bus each morning; she made friends with a couple who had one son and had the same birthday as Christine.  They were Christian Scientists and tried to persuade Forster to join them.  They all remained great friends.  Christine and their son Brian and his family remained friends until he died quite young.

Molly's brother Albert and his wife Florrie emigrated to Australia about this time.  They took their younger son Alan with them, but their elder son Norman remained in UK with Molly and Forster so he could finish his education.

Lillian and Tommy's daughter Maureen had finished her nurse training and Donald his apprenticeship with the Telephone Company, and they too decided to emigrate to Australia.  A great loss, however, letters and phone calls were every 3 or 4 weeks.  

Li and Lil lived close to each other in Australia.

Forster travelled to Lemington for his church duties and Molly would go to Scotswood to visit Evelyn and Aunt Janet.  Christine loved going to Aunt Janet's as she had the biggest button box and she was allowed to play with it)."

"At this time Molly decided to make amends with her father.  She was the only one of the family to do so.  Christine remembers going to Whitfield Road."

The Whitfield Road House

In early 1954 Forster was promoted to Branch Manager at Lemington Co-op.  The family moved to Lemington and another wonderful chapter started in the family life."

TYNE VIEW LEMINGTON