Fridhem was a happy time for most of us.

We had  great fun running up one staircase and being dared to run down the main stairs. This was not allowed in case Mr. Pott arrived with visitors.

I remember with glee the story of two of us pinching a pair of Martha's knickers. We proceeded down the front stairs, one in one leg one in the other, only to be caught by Mr. Pott and Martha. We, of course, went our separate ways, one up, one down and the knickers were no more. We collapsed into fits of giggles, Martha included and Mr. Pott was not amused. At least they were not bottle green like ours. (the knickers I mean!!)

I have had a letter from Clifford Wallington with in the last week reminding me of even more. Fridhem was not at all clean when first bought, it took weeks to sort out but, once clean and tidy, Martha and all the girls move in. We would listen to our kind of music (Juliet Browning permitting!)  One of the boys gave me "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" by Neil Sedaka for my birthday. I still have it hidden away with all my treasured possessions in the house.

I stayed with Martha during one or two of the holidays. Her Mother had one of the lovely little houses on the front in Hunstanton. There was a balcony out of one of the bedrooms overlooking the sea, it was superb.

After I left St. Michael's, I filled in time working for Derek Ibbotson and his wife, looking after their three small children; now that was great fun, I used to imagine that I was running the four minute mile, I even borrowed Madeline's Great Britain sports jacket to fool some workmen ... it worked!  The surprise on their faces was wonderful as I ran up the street to meet the children, stopwatch in hand, it went off at just the right time!

I then went to Bradford Children's Hospital to do my sick children's training. I was married and Benedict was on the way, then came Nicola and, sadly, a nasty divorce.

My 'knight in shining armour' arrived on the scene in the shape of David; my Parents could not believe their luck, at last I had found happiness. We had Josephine and William rather quickly, a year and ten days between them, but it was a very happy time for all of us.

Martha came to see us when William was about three months old. I began being rather poorly and Martha stayed to help David look after the children. I then had a major operation and radium treatment. Martha was by now our adopted Gran (Nana to the children), she looked after us as her own and eventually, together with her Mother, bought a house in Harrogate to be near us. She stayed here for six happy years. Her Mother then died and she felt that she ought to go back to Heacham where she herself eventually died. I'd like to think that we made her life happy, we have wonderful memories of her which will certainly never go away.

Rachel Golby