Roots Trip for My 80th -
September - October 2012
Our Roots Trip was inspired by Gil, who in the summer of 2011 suggested we did a trip instead of having a party for my 80th birthday. It turned out that we did both, as some of my dear friends made me a surprise party before I left for England and I had also asked Dee and Mervyn if they would host a party for friends and relatives in England. They agreed and I gave them a list of people I would invite, I would pay for refreshments, but they insisted on getting the cake.
So where do I take my three children and when?
We could not go in the summer following Gilיs annual visit, because of the Olympics, so it had to be during the Succoth vacation.
Where?
I had returned to my old house a few years ago when my cousin Phyllis sent me a photo of my house on a sales page, the price that was being asked was 700,000 pounds! It turned out that it was sold for over a million sterling!
Stan and I went to see the house and the two sons of the owners showed
us around. This one family of four had transformed the whole house where three families had lived in my time. In the early sixties up till the eighties, I believe the area had become very run down. Mum saw what was happening and moved to Southgate in 1958.
In January 2012, I wrote a letter to the inhabitants of Petherton Road, asking for permission to visit them in late September. Simon and Lizzie, were intrigued to hear from me, and said that I should write nearer the date and they would like to meet us, but they had moved because both their sons had married. Coincidentally, Freddie, their younger son, who was studying Graphic Design when we visited, had been among those chosen to hang some of his works in the new Design Wing of the Israel Museum. Simon told me that they had moved from the house very recently but still live in Stoke Newington.
He gave me the email address of the new owners, Caroline and Phil, and Caroline wrote inviting me to come and see the house. She hoped the builders would be working by then and feared there might be a lot of dust.
I wrote to the Primary School in Newington Green which my brothers and I had attended and was told I would be welcome to come and look around the school, the original building was there but another building had been added on.
The next letter was sent to my Middle and High school, Skinnerיs Company School for Girls. Mr. Gibbs the Educational Officer, replied and explained that the school, built in 1880, had been sold to a religious group who were not allowed to change anything as it was a Protected Building and that a new school had been erected near Manor House very close to where I had lived. Mr. Gibbs had written a book about the school and the work of the Skinners Company which no longer dealt in furs, instead their present activities include the schools they founded and two alms houses as well as other charitable works. Stan purchased the book and sent it to me. I asked if we could visit Skinner's Hall in the City and he agreed.
My next step was to visit the village where I had been evacuated three times. I wrote a letter to the headmaster of the present school a few times but received no answer. I looked for other sources of information on the Internet but only struck luck a short time before we visited. My brother, Stan, noted that there had been four episodes of a TV documentary about the village of Kibworth by Michael Wood. Among the credits for the film appeared the name of Norman Harrison, the chairman of the Kibworth Historic Society. Stan wrote to him and Norman replied and asked me to write and tell him about all the people, places and incidents I remembered and he would try and discover some of them. He would gladly show us around.
We had only six clear days as Gil had to return to work after a week.
I arranged with Stan and Marise for Aviva and I to stay there the first three nights and he gave the boys the address of nearby hotel.
The problem was where to stay in London. Hotel prices were outrageous, and we were too many to stay with the Beth's in Pinner. I then had the brilliant idea of asking my cousins, Fabia and Stephen if we could use their house as I knew they would be spending the High Holidays in Israel. Fabia agreed and told us we would probably meet their youngest daughter, Rachel, who was still studying at Kings College but not to worry as the house contained 8 bedrooms! I could finally arrange a timetable.
Aviva and were leaving Israel at 19.00 and would arrive in Luton airport at midnight. My brother, Stan would meet us. He lives about 40 minutes away. Gil and Jonathan would arrive from America early Thursday morning and would go by bus to Milton Keynes.
Friday, Day 1:
We had a leisurely breakfast and set off about 11.00 for Bletchley Park, the site and museum which describes the work of the thousands who were employed in decoding the messages of the Germans during WWII. The official tour starts every hour in the main building which is a lovely eclectic house built in various architectural styles. This place was bought by the British Intelligence Services before the war. Heads were hunted in Oxford and Cambridge and others were also recruited, including Michael Cohen who went to Kfar HaNassi, and I now discovered that Gerda,my mother's cousin Harry's wife had also worked there. Besides being able to solve the Times crossword puzzle in ten minutes, recruits had to know German or Russian and be excellent at Maths.
We heard the introduction and then we were taken round the various buildings and prefabs to see the places where the workers sat in shifts for eight hours round the clock in freezing conditions. They were billeted out to places as far away as Bedford and Luton.. No one was allowed to discuss what they were doing and names have only been released recently.
After seeing the various machines and computers invented there, we visited the post office which is the same one that was used during the war; we then went to the exhibition of toys that were made out of whatever was available during the war. There is also an exhibition of clothes and containers for food and other artifacts used during WWII! We even saw a JNF box!
We had eaten a light lunch in the Bletchley restaurant and when we returned "home" and enjoyed a short rest, we ate out with Stan and Marise at a pub called the Flying Fox. Photos of the entire trip can be seen on www.devbeth.weebly.com. And also on Facebook .
Saturday, September 29th
We had arranged to meet Norman, chairman of the Kibworth Historic Society, at his house. His wife, Pat, gave us refreshments whilst Norman told us what he had discovered from my scattered memories. He proudly produced two newspaper cuttings. The first one referred to the review of the play I had taken part in at the village hall and this was one of the places we were going to see. The second item was entitled ״alien summoned"; it reported that my father and mother had been stopped by a policeman and were summoned 10 shillings each for not reporting at the police station. I was shocked when my nasty billeter showed me this item as I did not know my parents were considered Aliens! The good thing that came out of this was that the name of the road where I was first billeted was mentioned. Thus Norman discovered that the kind Dunkleys, who had looked after me when I was first evacuated, had lived there. He took us to the house where the present owners were waiting to greet us. They were delighted to meet me and Wendy took me up to the attic where I had slept. She cried when we left.
We then took Norman and Pat to lunch at a pub called The Yew. We were so busy talking, I did not notice whether the food was tasty or just OK.
Our next stop was at the Village Hall which was very busy as they were holding a bazaar of decorations and children's toys and books. The organizer was there with her mother and daughter, it turned out they are Jewish! Kibworth is such a very English village , I was surprised they had settled there.
Norman had discovered that the library where I had waited impatiently for the coming edition of the latest "William" book had never really existed. Instead, two boxes were placed each week in the school lobby and there I could take out my book that was supplied by the Leicester library.
We visited the station going down what seemed to me to be a steep hill at the time. I would go to meet my mum and sometimes as on the night of the summons, they could both come to visit. Norman tried to identify the cottage of the spiritualist and the place where I had attended a séance with my mother, but to no avail. He thinks that once his article about my visit appears in the local newspaper, some people may come forth with information.
We returned to Stan and Marise very tired and after a rest, we enjoyed Marise's beetroot soup and the rest of the meal. Lopez and Lucy joined us. Lucy is pregnant and naturally anxious as she lost the baby she was expecting a year ago. Lopez is working hard and is on an engineering course where he has to now learn the names of all the tools in English.
Sunday, September 30th
Stan, who has been our driver, came with us to the Waltham Cemetery where mum and dad are buried. Stan had the gravestones cleaned a little while ago and Ray and I shared in the cost.
We then continued to Dee and Mervyn where I had invited relatives and friends to my 80th. I paid for the refreshments but they insisted on buying the cake. They, Ian and their lovely Cypriot help had arranged the lounge which is easily enlarged by opening the doors to the TV room, so that all the guests could sit in an oval shaped circle. About 45 people were present, the Beths and their kids, the Rosses and the grandchildren, only Adam and Anna who live in Israel were missing. On my side, my cousin Helen and Bernie, Bernice, her father Harold and his sister, Bessie, who used to play with me when we visited my auntie Debbie. My friend, Jacquie whose son Raffi is married to Bernice, had come especially all the way from Southport. Other friends included Cyril's cousin Helen and her husband, Brian, Beryl, Gloria's sister, and her husband, Paul. Dee's sister, husband and father came as well.
Marise had arrived with Amy who I had not seen for a long time. Aviva and Amy got on very well and met later in the week. Poor Daniel, Stan's oldest, had shingles, so only he and Lucy who had to rest prior to a visit to the gynecologist were missing.
After greetings written by Jonathan ,Gil and Aviva were read, Karen read a lovely message from Adam and Anna, and then she added her own greetings. Mervyn delivered his blessings, and Stan read out a great poem in my honor. Aviva then suggested that all the guests each tell of their connection to me.
Most of the guests complied with my request not to bring presents but to donate to the Upper Galilee Hospice for Cancer.
It was a lovely party and I shall always be grateful for Dee and Mervyn's organization. It was also the first night of the Succoth Festival, Karen, Adrian, Marise, Stan and Amy and us were invited to stay for dinner. After the blessings and Aviva's explanation about the four species, Marise suggested that everyone tell who they would have liked to invite to the Succah. Some chose a close relative, others a famous personality and I would have liked to invite Miss Gayford, my English teacher to come. Not only did she organize Music Appreciation and Drama after school hours, she took us to concerts and to the Old Vic to see Lawrence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and other famous actors in Shakespeare over the weekends in her own free time.
After a very satisfying day, we went on to Fabia and Stephen's splendid house two minutes away from Golders Green Park where we were going to spend the rest of our time in England. Stan had travelled to London before the family left for the High Festivals in Israel to receive the key and instructions for heating and so forth.
We each had a room to ourselves, I had a bathroom nearby, and Gil fixed a lamp by my bed but I could not see how to turn it off until the second night!
Monday October, 1st, my birthday.
Stan had stayed the night so that he could accompany us to our former Elementary school in Newington Green and to our old house. We had arranged to be at the school at 2.00, so we set out about 11.00 and first drove past Petherton Road and the side streets, Beresford Road, Pyrland Road and the other roads where my grandparents, aunts and uncles had lived. We drove up to Stamford Hill, my school was closed as it was Succoth and had been sold to a religious group, but the entrance is very imposing and nothing is allowed to be changed.
We then made our way to Newington Green and had lunch in a Turkish Restaurant. The owner was very friendly and told us he had been to Tel Aviv recently.
We arrived at the school and were met by the headmistress who after telling us about the additions that had been made assigned one of the staff to show us around. The original building is still there, but another building has been added on. The walls were covered with beautiful posters which local artists help the children to make.
The children are all from Somalia and Turkey and wear navy uniforms with green collars. They all seem to be very busy and involved in green ecological projects.
We looked at the registration books which were begun when the school was founded in the 1800's. There were no books in my time but they were renewed after WWII. We found Raymond' name but no mention of Stan. Everyone's father's trade was included, mothers did not work outside their home in those days.
After thanking the headmistress for looking after us so nicely, we set off for Clissold Park. Much has changed since I was last there, many formal gardens are left for flowers to grow naturally. The children's playground has been enlarged and includes an artificial hillock. The boating pond has no more boats, it is probably too expensive to run.
The house in the park where I had spent so many hours reading on the verandah had been renovated two years ago and now consists of a restaurant where we had tea. Upstairs the rooms are now used for studying; the internal architecture is splendid.
We had been lucky with the weather so far and although it was quite cold it was pleasant to walk a great deal. So on to Petherton Road where we had arranged to meet the new owners of the house at 6.00.
Caroline is a very pretty redhead and Phil is very handsome. She had worked at a clinic for anorexics but the money had run out so she has returned to nursing. Phil works in a bank. So far the builders had not yet begun work on the changes they wish to make. The main change is in the basement which they want to convert into a kitchen and dining area. They both love cooking and entertaining. Upstairs, the rooms of the attic had been combined before their time and one large window had been inserted. Looking out over the rooftops of London, I was reminded of a family wedding which Mrs. Abrahams and family had also attended. I had slept in the attic with Rayner, Mrs. Abraham's granddaughter and had woken early and saw the most glorious sunrise.
We then took the couple who got married at the end of October, to the Greek Restaurant which they had recommended, in Highbury Barn. We had to go through the alley by the church and on the left hand side a school had been built. I could have gone to a school two minutes away!
Home to bed and Stan returned to Milton Keynes for a well deserved rest after driving us around for four days.
Tuesday, October 2nd
Jonathan noted that rain was expected the following morning when I had planned for us to take the river boat to the City, therefore we decided to do this on Tuesday. We took the bus which now has signs and announcements at every station. It is a wonderful journey when you sit on the upper deck in the front seats. Jonathan and Aviva recognized the house in Finchley Road where we had lived for two years in the sixties when we were working as emissaries for the Habonim Youth Movement.
We were going to spend the day visiting some of my favorite places in London. We took the ferry boat which does not have the river guide, no matter, the important buildings were easily recognized and I could point out points of interest.
We got off at the Tower and crossed the Millennium Bridge to get to the other side of the embankment. I immediately recognized the Hayes Gallery complex and we had lunch there. It no longer has French restaurants and kiosks making crepes. Instead, there was a bagel bar and a very pleasant eatery opposite the enormous installation. No one came to play boules but maybe this was because it was past lunch time in the city.
After a pleasant meal we walked to the Modern Tate. In the past, I have walked there from the Waterloo end, this way was much longer and by the time we arrived, I was quite exhausted. Jonathan and I reached the Munch exhibition but were told tickets could only be bought downstairs. I gave up and we decided to meet at the cloakroom an hour later. As usual, I went to my favorite room where the Rothko works are hanging. Here one can rest and meditate,
We then walked for miles to the nearest underground station and reached Covent Garden. The Street entertainers seemed less entertaining this year except for a wonderful young group of violinists and other string instruments who were playing in the main cafe area.
We returned by underground to The Park for a short rest and wash as we were meeting Dee and Mervyn at an Italian restaurant in Golders Green.
The owner was a very lively character and wanted to play loud music. We had a pleasant meal but it was too noisy to have a proper talk, so we all went back to The Park to chat for a little longer. Dee had told me that Mervyn had been so excited all week because at last, he was going to spend time with all three cousins together.
Wednesday, 4th October
We took the underground to reach Skinners Hall in the City of London. Mr. Gibbs, the Education officer, greeted us and we spent the next hour visiting all the rooms, and the patio. All our photos show the many magnificent rooms which are hired out for meetings, weddings and other functions.
The Skinners Company is now a charity institution and helps to run the new Skinners school which has moved near to where I lived close to Manor House. They still care for the two boys' schools in Tumbridge Wells, and for two Alms Houses
We took Mr. Gibbs advice and went to have lunch by the river at a pub used by many city workers.
From there, we made our way to the last part of our programme with Gil who was returning the following morning. We arrived at Trafalgar Square where we chose which museum we would prefer till it was time to have an early supper before going to the theatre. Jonathan and I went to the Portrait Museum. The restaurant on the top floor has the most impressive view of the main buildings along the Thames.
We went to eat and then took a taxi to the Victoria Palace Theatre to see Billy Elliot. On the way, we passed the Mall and Buckingham Palace which were lit up and looked very impressive.
The theatre was the most uncomfortable one I have ever been to. No leg room or AC. However, the show was amazing and worth the money.
We returned home and had to say farewell to Gil who was leaving early the following morning.
Thursday, October 4th
The official Roots trip was over. Aviva wanted to shop and Jonathan and I decided to go to Golders Green Park and had a light lunch in their restaurant. Aya had a short break from work, so we arranged to meet her at the restaurant by Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. On the way, we saw religious families playing football with their kids on the lawn.
Kenwood is being restored but the eateries were open and we drank our tea/coffee and chatted until Aya had to return to work.
In the evening, we went with Shosh and Dan to an Italian restaurant and met up with Karen, Adrian and Michael. We were delighted to be together for another few hours and hope to meet with them soon when Anna has the baby.
Friday, October 5th
I had arranged to meet Robyn, our newly found Australian cousin at the hotel in Oxford Street where she and her mother were staying. She has done a wonderful job of discovering many members of the Cohen family. She has also sent me documents showing the immigration certificate of my father which proved he was only three months old when he arrived from Vinnitsa.
Jonathan came with me and we met in the lobby of the hotel with her mother, Marlene, her uncle Tony and another cousin who was returning to Washington the following day. The latter had never met a kibbutznik before and asked many questions. Marlene was thrilled to learn that I knew Vita from Kfar HaNassi who she had met in Australia.
We went to have lunch in Selfridges where mum had worked in the Art Department. The place was very elegant, the dishes very small and very expensive. Jonathan was still hungry so we popped over to a cheap cafe where ate a more satisfying meal.
Jonathan went on to see The Wallace Collection. I joined him after I bought thermal vests in M &S. I had never been to this elegant Museum before, and saw for the first time, one of JB's favourite artists, Bellington. It rained on the way there, but then the sun came out and we enjoyed tea in their beautiful restaurant.
On the way home, we booked a place in the Chinese restaurant in Golders Green and thus spent our last night together.
Aviva had gone shopping and met up with Amy in South London.
Saturday , October 6th
Aviva and Jonathan were going to spend the day with Aya and friends. Stan and Daniel who felt much better after his bout of shingles came around one o'clock and later we drove to the Cohen Reunion at Hendon Hall.
It was very exciting to meet up with cousins and their wives. Lionel, who lives in Wales, and Melvin who lives in the Midlands, are uncle Jack's sons who I last saw at Lionel and his brother's Bar Mitzvah. I met Paul, Don's grandson who got married last June, and his brother, Adam. I finally met David Lewis who is in touch with Ruby and is the grandson of dad's cousins who were killed in the Blitz.
The weather was kind and we took lots of photos on the lawn. The tea was very tasty and I even met a relative of another cousin who was Joe Cohen's niece who sat at my table, who told me he had died a few years ago.
We left the party and went onto visit Alf. Daniel had interviewed him for the film we made for Frank's 70th. We sat chatting for an hour and as always, I am amazed at Alf's dedication to Ruth who is bedridden and has dementia.
We returned to Milton Keynes and enjoyed a meal with Marise
There are of course, dozens of photos which can be seen at
www.devbeth.weebly.com
and on Facebook where I could fill some comments.
Our Roots Trip was inspired by Gil, who in the summer of 2011 suggested we did a trip instead of having a party for my 80th birthday. It turned out that we did both, as some of my dear friends made me a surprise party before I left for England and I had also asked Dee and Mervyn if they would host a party for friends and relatives in England. They agreed and I gave them a list of people I would invite, I would pay for refreshments, but they insisted on getting the cake.
So where do I take my three children and when?
We could not go in the summer following Gilיs annual visit, because of the Olympics, so it had to be during the Succoth vacation.
Where?
I had returned to my old house a few years ago when my cousin Phyllis sent me a photo of my house on a sales page, the price that was being asked was 700,000 pounds! It turned out that it was sold for over a million sterling!
Stan and I went to see the house and the two sons of the owners showed
us around. This one family of four had transformed the whole house where three families had lived in my time. In the early sixties up till the eighties, I believe the area had become very run down. Mum saw what was happening and moved to Southgate in 1958.
In January 2012, I wrote a letter to the inhabitants of Petherton Road, asking for permission to visit them in late September. Simon and Lizzie, were intrigued to hear from me, and said that I should write nearer the date and they would like to meet us, but they had moved because both their sons had married. Coincidentally, Freddie, their younger son, who was studying Graphic Design when we visited, had been among those chosen to hang some of his works in the new Design Wing of the Israel Museum. Simon told me that they had moved from the house very recently but still live in Stoke Newington.
He gave me the email address of the new owners, Caroline and Phil, and Caroline wrote inviting me to come and see the house. She hoped the builders would be working by then and feared there might be a lot of dust.
I wrote to the Primary School in Newington Green which my brothers and I had attended and was told I would be welcome to come and look around the school, the original building was there but another building had been added on.
The next letter was sent to my Middle and High school, Skinnerיs Company School for Girls. Mr. Gibbs the Educational Officer, replied and explained that the school, built in 1880, had been sold to a religious group who were not allowed to change anything as it was a Protected Building and that a new school had been erected near Manor House very close to where I had lived. Mr. Gibbs had written a book about the school and the work of the Skinners Company which no longer dealt in furs, instead their present activities include the schools they founded and two alms houses as well as other charitable works. Stan purchased the book and sent it to me. I asked if we could visit Skinner's Hall in the City and he agreed.
My next step was to visit the village where I had been evacuated three times. I wrote a letter to the headmaster of the present school a few times but received no answer. I looked for other sources of information on the Internet but only struck luck a short time before we visited. My brother, Stan, noted that there had been four episodes of a TV documentary about the village of Kibworth by Michael Wood. Among the credits for the film appeared the name of Norman Harrison, the chairman of the Kibworth Historic Society. Stan wrote to him and Norman replied and asked me to write and tell him about all the people, places and incidents I remembered and he would try and discover some of them. He would gladly show us around.
We had only six clear days as Gil had to return to work after a week.
I arranged with Stan and Marise for Aviva and I to stay there the first three nights and he gave the boys the address of nearby hotel.
The problem was where to stay in London. Hotel prices were outrageous, and we were too many to stay with the Beth's in Pinner. I then had the brilliant idea of asking my cousins, Fabia and Stephen if we could use their house as I knew they would be spending the High Holidays in Israel. Fabia agreed and told us we would probably meet their youngest daughter, Rachel, who was still studying at Kings College but not to worry as the house contained 8 bedrooms! I could finally arrange a timetable.
Aviva and were leaving Israel at 19.00 and would arrive in Luton airport at midnight. My brother, Stan would meet us. He lives about 40 minutes away. Gil and Jonathan would arrive from America early Thursday morning and would go by bus to Milton Keynes.
Friday, Day 1:
We had a leisurely breakfast and set off about 11.00 for Bletchley Park, the site and museum which describes the work of the thousands who were employed in decoding the messages of the Germans during WWII. The official tour starts every hour in the main building which is a lovely eclectic house built in various architectural styles. This place was bought by the British Intelligence Services before the war. Heads were hunted in Oxford and Cambridge and others were also recruited, including Michael Cohen who went to Kfar HaNassi, and I now discovered that Gerda,my mother's cousin Harry's wife had also worked there. Besides being able to solve the Times crossword puzzle in ten minutes, recruits had to know German or Russian and be excellent at Maths.
We heard the introduction and then we were taken round the various buildings and prefabs to see the places where the workers sat in shifts for eight hours round the clock in freezing conditions. They were billeted out to places as far away as Bedford and Luton.. No one was allowed to discuss what they were doing and names have only been released recently.
After seeing the various machines and computers invented there, we visited the post office which is the same one that was used during the war; we then went to the exhibition of toys that were made out of whatever was available during the war. There is also an exhibition of clothes and containers for food and other artifacts used during WWII! We even saw a JNF box!
We had eaten a light lunch in the Bletchley restaurant and when we returned "home" and enjoyed a short rest, we ate out with Stan and Marise at a pub called the Flying Fox. Photos of the entire trip can be seen on www.devbeth.weebly.com. And also on Facebook .
Saturday, September 29th
We had arranged to meet Norman, chairman of the Kibworth Historic Society, at his house. His wife, Pat, gave us refreshments whilst Norman told us what he had discovered from my scattered memories. He proudly produced two newspaper cuttings. The first one referred to the review of the play I had taken part in at the village hall and this was one of the places we were going to see. The second item was entitled ״alien summoned"; it reported that my father and mother had been stopped by a policeman and were summoned 10 shillings each for not reporting at the police station. I was shocked when my nasty billeter showed me this item as I did not know my parents were considered Aliens! The good thing that came out of this was that the name of the road where I was first billeted was mentioned. Thus Norman discovered that the kind Dunkleys, who had looked after me when I was first evacuated, had lived there. He took us to the house where the present owners were waiting to greet us. They were delighted to meet me and Wendy took me up to the attic where I had slept. She cried when we left.
We then took Norman and Pat to lunch at a pub called The Yew. We were so busy talking, I did not notice whether the food was tasty or just OK.
Our next stop was at the Village Hall which was very busy as they were holding a bazaar of decorations and children's toys and books. The organizer was there with her mother and daughter, it turned out they are Jewish! Kibworth is such a very English village , I was surprised they had settled there.
Norman had discovered that the library where I had waited impatiently for the coming edition of the latest "William" book had never really existed. Instead, two boxes were placed each week in the school lobby and there I could take out my book that was supplied by the Leicester library.
We visited the station going down what seemed to me to be a steep hill at the time. I would go to meet my mum and sometimes as on the night of the summons, they could both come to visit. Norman tried to identify the cottage of the spiritualist and the place where I had attended a séance with my mother, but to no avail. He thinks that once his article about my visit appears in the local newspaper, some people may come forth with information.
We returned to Stan and Marise very tired and after a rest, we enjoyed Marise's beetroot soup and the rest of the meal. Lopez and Lucy joined us. Lucy is pregnant and naturally anxious as she lost the baby she was expecting a year ago. Lopez is working hard and is on an engineering course where he has to now learn the names of all the tools in English.
Sunday, September 30th
Stan, who has been our driver, came with us to the Waltham Cemetery where mum and dad are buried. Stan had the gravestones cleaned a little while ago and Ray and I shared in the cost.
We then continued to Dee and Mervyn where I had invited relatives and friends to my 80th. I paid for the refreshments but they insisted on buying the cake. They, Ian and their lovely Cypriot help had arranged the lounge which is easily enlarged by opening the doors to the TV room, so that all the guests could sit in an oval shaped circle. About 45 people were present, the Beths and their kids, the Rosses and the grandchildren, only Adam and Anna who live in Israel were missing. On my side, my cousin Helen and Bernie, Bernice, her father Harold and his sister, Bessie, who used to play with me when we visited my auntie Debbie. My friend, Jacquie whose son Raffi is married to Bernice, had come especially all the way from Southport. Other friends included Cyril's cousin Helen and her husband, Brian, Beryl, Gloria's sister, and her husband, Paul. Dee's sister, husband and father came as well.
Marise had arrived with Amy who I had not seen for a long time. Aviva and Amy got on very well and met later in the week. Poor Daniel, Stan's oldest, had shingles, so only he and Lucy who had to rest prior to a visit to the gynecologist were missing.
After greetings written by Jonathan ,Gil and Aviva were read, Karen read a lovely message from Adam and Anna, and then she added her own greetings. Mervyn delivered his blessings, and Stan read out a great poem in my honor. Aviva then suggested that all the guests each tell of their connection to me.
Most of the guests complied with my request not to bring presents but to donate to the Upper Galilee Hospice for Cancer.
It was a lovely party and I shall always be grateful for Dee and Mervyn's organization. It was also the first night of the Succoth Festival, Karen, Adrian, Marise, Stan and Amy and us were invited to stay for dinner. After the blessings and Aviva's explanation about the four species, Marise suggested that everyone tell who they would have liked to invite to the Succah. Some chose a close relative, others a famous personality and I would have liked to invite Miss Gayford, my English teacher to come. Not only did she organize Music Appreciation and Drama after school hours, she took us to concerts and to the Old Vic to see Lawrence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and other famous actors in Shakespeare over the weekends in her own free time.
After a very satisfying day, we went on to Fabia and Stephen's splendid house two minutes away from Golders Green Park where we were going to spend the rest of our time in England. Stan had travelled to London before the family left for the High Festivals in Israel to receive the key and instructions for heating and so forth.
We each had a room to ourselves, I had a bathroom nearby, and Gil fixed a lamp by my bed but I could not see how to turn it off until the second night!
Monday October, 1st, my birthday.
Stan had stayed the night so that he could accompany us to our former Elementary school in Newington Green and to our old house. We had arranged to be at the school at 2.00, so we set out about 11.00 and first drove past Petherton Road and the side streets, Beresford Road, Pyrland Road and the other roads where my grandparents, aunts and uncles had lived. We drove up to Stamford Hill, my school was closed as it was Succoth and had been sold to a religious group, but the entrance is very imposing and nothing is allowed to be changed.
We then made our way to Newington Green and had lunch in a Turkish Restaurant. The owner was very friendly and told us he had been to Tel Aviv recently.
We arrived at the school and were met by the headmistress who after telling us about the additions that had been made assigned one of the staff to show us around. The original building is still there, but another building has been added on. The walls were covered with beautiful posters which local artists help the children to make.
The children are all from Somalia and Turkey and wear navy uniforms with green collars. They all seem to be very busy and involved in green ecological projects.
We looked at the registration books which were begun when the school was founded in the 1800's. There were no books in my time but they were renewed after WWII. We found Raymond' name but no mention of Stan. Everyone's father's trade was included, mothers did not work outside their home in those days.
After thanking the headmistress for looking after us so nicely, we set off for Clissold Park. Much has changed since I was last there, many formal gardens are left for flowers to grow naturally. The children's playground has been enlarged and includes an artificial hillock. The boating pond has no more boats, it is probably too expensive to run.
The house in the park where I had spent so many hours reading on the verandah had been renovated two years ago and now consists of a restaurant where we had tea. Upstairs the rooms are now used for studying; the internal architecture is splendid.
We had been lucky with the weather so far and although it was quite cold it was pleasant to walk a great deal. So on to Petherton Road where we had arranged to meet the new owners of the house at 6.00.
Caroline is a very pretty redhead and Phil is very handsome. She had worked at a clinic for anorexics but the money had run out so she has returned to nursing. Phil works in a bank. So far the builders had not yet begun work on the changes they wish to make. The main change is in the basement which they want to convert into a kitchen and dining area. They both love cooking and entertaining. Upstairs, the rooms of the attic had been combined before their time and one large window had been inserted. Looking out over the rooftops of London, I was reminded of a family wedding which Mrs. Abrahams and family had also attended. I had slept in the attic with Rayner, Mrs. Abraham's granddaughter and had woken early and saw the most glorious sunrise.
We then took the couple who got married at the end of October, to the Greek Restaurant which they had recommended, in Highbury Barn. We had to go through the alley by the church and on the left hand side a school had been built. I could have gone to a school two minutes away!
Home to bed and Stan returned to Milton Keynes for a well deserved rest after driving us around for four days.
Tuesday, October 2nd
Jonathan noted that rain was expected the following morning when I had planned for us to take the river boat to the City, therefore we decided to do this on Tuesday. We took the bus which now has signs and announcements at every station. It is a wonderful journey when you sit on the upper deck in the front seats. Jonathan and Aviva recognized the house in Finchley Road where we had lived for two years in the sixties when we were working as emissaries for the Habonim Youth Movement.
We were going to spend the day visiting some of my favorite places in London. We took the ferry boat which does not have the river guide, no matter, the important buildings were easily recognized and I could point out points of interest.
We got off at the Tower and crossed the Millennium Bridge to get to the other side of the embankment. I immediately recognized the Hayes Gallery complex and we had lunch there. It no longer has French restaurants and kiosks making crepes. Instead, there was a bagel bar and a very pleasant eatery opposite the enormous installation. No one came to play boules but maybe this was because it was past lunch time in the city.
After a pleasant meal we walked to the Modern Tate. In the past, I have walked there from the Waterloo end, this way was much longer and by the time we arrived, I was quite exhausted. Jonathan and I reached the Munch exhibition but were told tickets could only be bought downstairs. I gave up and we decided to meet at the cloakroom an hour later. As usual, I went to my favorite room where the Rothko works are hanging. Here one can rest and meditate,
We then walked for miles to the nearest underground station and reached Covent Garden. The Street entertainers seemed less entertaining this year except for a wonderful young group of violinists and other string instruments who were playing in the main cafe area.
We returned by underground to The Park for a short rest and wash as we were meeting Dee and Mervyn at an Italian restaurant in Golders Green.
The owner was a very lively character and wanted to play loud music. We had a pleasant meal but it was too noisy to have a proper talk, so we all went back to The Park to chat for a little longer. Dee had told me that Mervyn had been so excited all week because at last, he was going to spend time with all three cousins together.
Wednesday, 4th October
We took the underground to reach Skinners Hall in the City of London. Mr. Gibbs, the Education officer, greeted us and we spent the next hour visiting all the rooms, and the patio. All our photos show the many magnificent rooms which are hired out for meetings, weddings and other functions.
The Skinners Company is now a charity institution and helps to run the new Skinners school which has moved near to where I lived close to Manor House. They still care for the two boys' schools in Tumbridge Wells, and for two Alms Houses
We took Mr. Gibbs advice and went to have lunch by the river at a pub used by many city workers.
From there, we made our way to the last part of our programme with Gil who was returning the following morning. We arrived at Trafalgar Square where we chose which museum we would prefer till it was time to have an early supper before going to the theatre. Jonathan and I went to the Portrait Museum. The restaurant on the top floor has the most impressive view of the main buildings along the Thames.
We went to eat and then took a taxi to the Victoria Palace Theatre to see Billy Elliot. On the way, we passed the Mall and Buckingham Palace which were lit up and looked very impressive.
The theatre was the most uncomfortable one I have ever been to. No leg room or AC. However, the show was amazing and worth the money.
We returned home and had to say farewell to Gil who was leaving early the following morning.
Thursday, October 4th
The official Roots trip was over. Aviva wanted to shop and Jonathan and I decided to go to Golders Green Park and had a light lunch in their restaurant. Aya had a short break from work, so we arranged to meet her at the restaurant by Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. On the way, we saw religious families playing football with their kids on the lawn.
Kenwood is being restored but the eateries were open and we drank our tea/coffee and chatted until Aya had to return to work.
In the evening, we went with Shosh and Dan to an Italian restaurant and met up with Karen, Adrian and Michael. We were delighted to be together for another few hours and hope to meet with them soon when Anna has the baby.
Friday, October 5th
I had arranged to meet Robyn, our newly found Australian cousin at the hotel in Oxford Street where she and her mother were staying. She has done a wonderful job of discovering many members of the Cohen family. She has also sent me documents showing the immigration certificate of my father which proved he was only three months old when he arrived from Vinnitsa.
Jonathan came with me and we met in the lobby of the hotel with her mother, Marlene, her uncle Tony and another cousin who was returning to Washington the following day. The latter had never met a kibbutznik before and asked many questions. Marlene was thrilled to learn that I knew Vita from Kfar HaNassi who she had met in Australia.
We went to have lunch in Selfridges where mum had worked in the Art Department. The place was very elegant, the dishes very small and very expensive. Jonathan was still hungry so we popped over to a cheap cafe where ate a more satisfying meal.
Jonathan went on to see The Wallace Collection. I joined him after I bought thermal vests in M &S. I had never been to this elegant Museum before, and saw for the first time, one of JB's favourite artists, Bellington. It rained on the way there, but then the sun came out and we enjoyed tea in their beautiful restaurant.
On the way home, we booked a place in the Chinese restaurant in Golders Green and thus spent our last night together.
Aviva had gone shopping and met up with Amy in South London.
Saturday , October 6th
Aviva and Jonathan were going to spend the day with Aya and friends. Stan and Daniel who felt much better after his bout of shingles came around one o'clock and later we drove to the Cohen Reunion at Hendon Hall.
It was very exciting to meet up with cousins and their wives. Lionel, who lives in Wales, and Melvin who lives in the Midlands, are uncle Jack's sons who I last saw at Lionel and his brother's Bar Mitzvah. I met Paul, Don's grandson who got married last June, and his brother, Adam. I finally met David Lewis who is in touch with Ruby and is the grandson of dad's cousins who were killed in the Blitz.
The weather was kind and we took lots of photos on the lawn. The tea was very tasty and I even met a relative of another cousin who was Joe Cohen's niece who sat at my table, who told me he had died a few years ago.
We left the party and went onto visit Alf. Daniel had interviewed him for the film we made for Frank's 70th. We sat chatting for an hour and as always, I am amazed at Alf's dedication to Ruth who is bedridden and has dementia.
We returned to Milton Keynes and enjoyed a meal with Marise
There are of course, dozens of photos which can be seen at
www.devbeth.weebly.com
and on Facebook where I could fill some comments.