This is an introduction and contents to the story of my mum's childhood as told by her. This introduction is by me.
A few months ago I was rummaging around in a cupboard in my parents' house. I was looking for photo albums I could get out and look through with them. I came across a small blue exercise book. I opened it and saw the title 'Ina's Story: as I remember it'. It was an account of my mum's childhood written by her. Neither of my parents remembered the notebook at that point but my mum had obviously spent quite some time and energy writing it all down by hand some time ago - 89 pages of it. I worked out she wrote it when she was about 60. She is 86 now.
It's a little historical account of someone's life as a child in the period from 1938 for about another 15-20 years. Everyone's life is unusual and unique, but Ina's (and her sisters) in this period especially so, as you will see if you read the account.
I typed it up so I had a typewritten version. Then I asked my mum if she would mind if I published it, eg on this blog, so others could read it. She agreed (very definitely and with full comprehension) and my dad enthusiastically supported publishing the stories.
There are hardly any crossings out in the exercise book. It looks like it all came out very easily in one clear draft. I've resisted the temptation to add many comments (beyond clarifications) of my own. Ina's words trigger so many memories and thoughts. But I wanted to leave it to her own words alone. The odd note for clarification is marked with my initials 'LM'.
These (below) are the contents for 'Ina's Story'. My mum wrote it in a way that broke down naturally into different parts.
Part 1 Peru, the first years
Part 2 Going to Britain
Part 3 Swansea and boarding school
Part 4 On Ina's family
Part 5 Back to Swansea
Part 6 Religion
Part 7 Politics and social issues
Part 8 Books and music
Part 9 Newburgh - golden moments and the kindness of strangers
More Ina's Stories - on Newburgh Again
Ina also has other notebooks on her Uncle George, various travel diaries, and other family stories. I may put some of these up too at some point.
At my parents' request, all these Ina's stories are © Luke Martell 2025
The next Part 1 is on Ina's first years in Peru.
This photo is of the family. From left to right, Ina (second sister), William/Bill (father) holding youngest sister Ruth, Agnes (third sister), Ruth (mother), and Beth (oldest of the sisters). The photo was taken about 1946 when Ina was about 7. More about the context for this photo in Part 2 on Going to Britain.