Ethel Dyall

Pride, Poverty, Pianos. London East end 1900 – 1930s

 

My husband and I were discussing the ways of the world at the present. We were remarking in the way of not so young people, how the youth of today have everything in the way of material things, but not so happy. There is an increase in crime, gloom and doom.
I then ventured, ‘I feel sorry for the kids now, instead of putting them down, we must be thankful to be extremely lucky to have seen the different ways of life from both sides.’
Modern times have produced wonders that we now take for granted, and no doubt, we are living in a miraculous age. A few examples, television, video recorders, computers, sophisticated recording systems, man made fibres to name but a few.
On the other hand, they have never seen a real ‘puff puff’, a steam train. The joy of riding on a train, the brewers drays with those beautiful horses, a posh funeral that we called a horse and cart, to name but a few.
This then is a nostalgic account of my earliest memories. I hope that in some small way, writing this will make me more tolerant and maybe the bright young sparks will understand us old ‘uns better.
Who knows, we might even close the generation gap a fraction.

Ethel Dyall