My Golden
Milestones
8. 28 Hazel Drive, Woodley, Reading, Berks.
This is the most
modern house I have ever lived in, being built, we reckon, about 1975. It is a
detached house, neo-Georgian in style, with four bedrooms, and downstairs a
sitting room, dining room and kitchen, plus an extension added by the previous
owner which serves me well as a “Granddad’s Snug”. Unlike all previous homes I
have occupied, this one has no real chimney (see introduction) - just a flue
for the gas boiler. But it provides a base of operations just the same. We have
a moderate sized garden, and behind it there is a lake (pictured) surrounded by trees, providing a pleasant walk at most
seasons of the year.
Woodley is a very large area of private housing,
situated on the eastern side of Reading. And it is being further extended over
what is known as the old airfield. This is my first experience of life in “suburbia”,
having previously lived chiefly in small 
towns or
villages.
We are fortunate to belong to a lively and growing
Baptist church, which was formed as recently as 1979. For some years it was a
“church without walls”, worshipping in a local community hall. But now, by
sacrificial giving and with the aid of a number of loans, we have been able to
open, in March 1988, a new church building (pictured
1992 for a wedding), which has given us a more visible presence, and an
opportunity to make many contacts with the people of the neighbourhood.
One of the notable events that have taken place
during our years here was the wedding of Rosalie and Kimbangi
in Kimpese, Zaire, in July 1983, about which I have
written elsewhere[1].
It was good that Bernard and I were able to go for a fortnight and support her,
and help to cement the bond of marriage. They were over here the following
year. And Rosalie came again in 1986 for the birth of Christopher Matondo (July 18th) at the Jessop Hospital, Sheffield. Then
in 1987 I went out to Kinshasa for three weeks, covering their 4th wedding
anniversary and Christopher’s first birthday. In 1988 Rosalie was over again
(and Kimbangi for part of the time) for the birth of
Charles Ndoma (names from two of his
great-grandfathers) on May 18th. And on Dec. 21st, 1989, David Vididi was born in Kinshasa.
Stephen Thomas Clatworthy
was born on November 8th, 1984, and brought joy to us all, but especially to
his paternal grandparents, as someone to carry on the family name.
And in this period we have had short visits from my
Canadian cousins, Lillian Churchill, then Ron and Margaret Platt with Irene Laflamme (Pictured
1983), and more recently (1987) David and Eulene Moores, and (1989) Philip and Mabel Johnson.
In this latest phase of my life, I have been able to
respond to a number of invitations to preach in several churches in the area.
Also, in our own church, I have been leading a monthly Bible study, chiefly for
senior citizens like myself. And I have found satisfaction in assisting one of
our members[2]
in her desire to learn New Testament Greek. And at the same time I have been
reviving my knowledge of Hebrew, a study which was crowded out during the years
of my active ministry; and for about a year I was able to share this with a
young couple who were eager to learn. On the practical side, it is a pleasure
to look after the garden, and each winter to make a wool rug.
I don’t know how much longer these memoirs may
continue - possibly they are too long and rambling already! But before I write
the last line I must acknowledge my gratitude to God for all His mercy in
directing and preserving my life, and enabling me to be useful in His service.
I am able to say with the Psalmist: “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant
places; yea, I have a goodly heritage”. I am also aware of, and deeply grateful
for the support of my family; particularly of Bernard and Katie, who have
opened their home to me, so that I have been able to live these years free from
anxiety, and surrounded by loving care. Thank you all.
I
am signing this on my eightieth birthday - Good Friday, April 13th, 1990.
Walter B. Harris
Later Notable Events
Walter kept this list of notable dates and events. We believe it was his intention to add them
to his autobiography, possibly as an Appendix, following his 90th birthday in
April 2000.
1990
May 18. Adrian passed his
driving test.
June 26. Visit
of Cyril Bentley. 54 years since we last met! (in
college)
July 12 to Aug. 1
My
third visit to Zaire. Well worth the journey and expense!
Aug. 20. Aunt Olive’s 90th
birthday
Nov. 6. Adrian’s
18th birthday - his coming of age.
1991
Jan. 23 to Feb.
2. In hospital,
for the removal of a polyp from the bowel.
March 30. to April 5. Spring Harvest at Pwllheli.
May
23 to June 1.
My last visit to the Clatworthy’s at Sheffield.
June 19 to July
29. Rosalie, Kimbangi and family in England.
July 27. Lindsey’s wedding at
Bishops Cleeve, to Alan Webber.
Aug. 6. Jonathan’s
induction to Denstone and Ellastone.
It was also his mother’s birthday.
Aug. 15. Bernard made redundant
from “Digital”.
Aug.
17 to 24.
A visit to
Winifred at Soham.
Sept. 10. The 50th
anniversary of my wedding.
Sept. 15. Adrian went to Guildford,
to begin his 4-year course.
Sept. 23 to Oct.
7. Denstone
Sept. 28. Rosalie and the children,
evacuated from Zaire, arrived in England.
Oct. 10. Donald died, on his 46th
wedding anniversary.
Oct.
21 to 28.
Denstone.
Dec. 20. Rosalie and the children
moved to Portslade.
Dec. 21. Kimbangi
arrived in England, to join them. What a year of change!
1992
Jan. 6. Bernard began his new
post as business manager for our doctors’ practice.
Rosalie
began her new post, teaching at Hove.
May 13. Aunt Olive died, at the
age of 91, the last of my mother’s generation.
May 28. I had a colonoscopy at
the Royal Berks. Hospital
June
13 to 20.
On holiday
with B.H.F. at Minehead.
July 7. “Mission in Time”
(B.M.S. Bi-centenary) at Abbey, Reading.
Sept. 23. Winifred moved, to 11
Frank Bridges Close, Soham.
Sept. 28. I had an x-ray at Royal
Berks. Hospital.
Oct. 2. B.M.S.
200th Birthday. Services at Westminster Abbey, and
Kettering.
Oct. 12. Christopher passed his
driving test.
Oct. 18. Joanna’s
Confirmation at Denstone.
Nov. 26. Bernard’s
50th Birthday.
Dec. 29. Visited Cyril Bentley
(from U.S.A) at his son’s in London. We first met 60 years ago, on entering
Spurgeon’s College, Sept. 5th, 1932.
1993
Jan. 14. We had a new roof for the
snug, pitched instead of flat.
Jan. 23. Stuart
Woodward’s Induction at Kenton.
April 7. Bovie
Cook died, and David is now alone.
April
24 Inauguration of
our daughter church at Twyford.
May 8. Re-opening
of Wokingham Baptist Church, after re-construction.
June 25. Christopher’s
18th Birthday, his coming of age.
July 18. Our dog Tess died, at
the age of 15.
Sept. 10. My cousin Rosalie
Churchill married Edwin Ashdown.
Sept. 26. Christopher went to Staffs.
University, at Stoke on Trent, and found his name sake, a member of staff.
Sept. 28. Jonathan Clatworthy’s father died.
Sept. 29. Joanna was presented with
her B.P. award.
Oct. 14. My cousin Irene Laflamme died.
Nov. 6. Adrian’s
21st Birthday.
Dec. 15. We had a new carpet laid
in the hall and dining room.
Dec. 22. My cousin Miriam Emms died.
1994
Feb. 11. I had a new Hitachi T.V.
installed. The previous one (G.E.C. Startime) gave
out last autumn after 16 years use.
March 28. I saw a consultant about my
hernia. He said, “How young are you?” and when I told him 83, he said it would
be better leave well alone, as there could be complications following an
operation.
May 23. My
second colonoscopy. I was told that I am all right, and do not need to
go again.
Aug. 5. Ernest
and Ethel’s Golden Wedding. 50 years ago I was their Best Man - at the
time of the doodle bugs in London.
Sept. 10 to 17 On
holiday with B.H.F. at Minehead.
Sept. 24. David Barter’s Induction
at Woodley
Sept. 28. Jeff
Taylor’s Induction as B.B.A. pastor / secretary (at Woodley).
Nov. 1. Katie
and Bernard’s Silver Wedding.
1995
The year seems to have been quite an ordinary one, with few special events. However, mention should be made of Reg and Winnie Cook’s Diamond Wedding anniversary on Jan. 13th, and of Heather’s retirement at 60 on Oct. 5th.
During the year I have lost
several of my contemporaries:-
Donald
Blakey, my boyhood friend of 75 years.
Bert
Stapley, my college friend of 60 years, and his wife
Barbara.
Mary
Talbot, Phyllis’s school friend, who was matron of honour at our wedding 54
years ago, and her husband Cyril.
My
Aunt Flossie has also died, at the age of 97.
But
there has been good news. Adrian has found employment with the Ambulance
service; and Christopher is also employed for one year, before his final year
in college. And Katie has been able to reduce her full-time work at the library
to part-time.
On
March 30th, I had a dizzy turn while walking round the lake. It hasn’t happened
again, but I have taken to a walking-stick. It gives confidence, and becomes a
kind of status symbol!
1996
March 8 to 10. Katie and Bernard had a weekend
in Paris, travelling via the tunnel. This was by courtesy of the doctors, as a recognition of the extra work put in by Bernard for the
installation of a new computer system.
March 22. Len and Ivy Talbot attained their Diamond
Wedding Anniversary.
April 28. Ingrid was baptised at Portslade, having
returned after several months in Zaire, where she gained a new perspective on
her life.
June 25. Christopher’s 21st Birthday.
July 19. Winifred’s 90th Birthday.
Katie, Bernard and I called on the day, as did Reg
and Win, Heather and Eric, Jonathan and Marguerite and their family. Rosalie
and Kimbangi and their family called on the following
day.
Aug. 1. I had another colonoscopy, my third.
Aug. 6. Jonathan’s Mother, Morfoula,
celebrated her 80th Birthday (with them)
Towards the end of August, we vacated 28 Hazel Drive, while the inner foundations were renewed, and were not able to return until late January 1997. Our sojourn was at 11 Lincoln Close, Winnersh. The double move was quite an upheaval, and we are thankful that it is now past.
Oct. 4 to 6. Our church
week-end at King’s Park, Northampton.
Oct. 26. Joyce and Desmond Scully renewed their
marriage vows at Guiseley, 38 years after I conducted their wedding.
During
the year my college friend Ernest lost his (second) wife Ethel, after 51 years
of marriage.
In
the Autumn David Cook’s daughter Sarajane was
married, but he was disappointed not to be invited to the wedding.
During this year I have had to slow down my walking pace considerably, owing to shortness of breath. But I still enjoy, and try to get, a daily stroll!
1997
March 31. We acquired Jenny, a very lively puppy, about 5
or 6 months old.
April 17. Christopher and Betty Birch called, on their
way to Bristol. We had not met before, but had corresponded. I discovered that
Betty is a niece of Irene Cullis, at Coleford.
June 24. (?) Winifred Cook died. The
funeral service was at Soham Baptist Church on July
2nd. She had been a member their about 70 years.
June 30. Christopher started work with Walkers Crisps
in Leicester, having completed his college course about a week before.
July 12. The wedding of Rosalind
Hodges and Ian Hodges.
August 13. The funeral of Stanley Banyard, at Solihull.
Sept. 16 to 30. A holiday at the
Lindors, while Katie and Bernard were in Scotland.
It was good to visit some of my old haunts, and on two Sunday mornings to renew
friendships at Coleford Baptist Church, and spend an
afternoon with Irene Cullis.
1998
Jan. 28. David Cook moved from his parents’ bungalow,
which he had never liked, to Ely.
Feb. My college friend
Ernest Ford died, aged 89. We entered Spurgeon’s
College on the same day, Sept. 5th 1932, and had kept in contact all through
the years.
May 5. Bernard began his new employment as computer
consultant for the 78 practices in the Southampton Health Authority Area.
Sept. 6. Heather and Eric attained their Ruby Wedding
Anniversary.
Sept. 28. Marguerite and Jonathan moved to Liverpool,
where he is now the Anglican Chaplain at the University.
1999
Feb. 6. Trevor Cook was married to Eunice Short, a Ghanian lady.
June 20. Rebecca’s Confirmation, in
Liverpool.
June 29 to July 2. Visit of Mabel and
Philip from Canada.
Also
in June Adrian qualified as a Paramedic.
Oct. 3. Eric Hodges died; Bernard and I went to his
funeral on Oct. 13.
Oct. 16. Katie and Bernard took me back to Coleford for the 200th Anniversary.
Nov. 1. Katie and Bernard’s Pearl
Wedding Anniversary (30 years).
My general health continues good, but this year I have had skin problems; first eczema, then impetigo, which are taking a long time to clear up.
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