So very exciting, no more dark, dreary, drizzle days, just bright sunshine day after day. This is how I looked at emigrating to South Africa 1970.
The day arrived eventually. While saying all the sad farewells, I had thought, “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all”. But that was all behind me now. Just a train journey to Southampton, to meet the mail ship. (Yes we were going by post) Mum & Dad with us as far as the ship.
At last we were at the ship; it was much bigger than I thought. In all the hustle and bustle of paperwork and getting us all onboard, saying the last farewell didn’t seem too bad. We were shown to a viewing deck where we and could see the small, sad figures of Mum & Dad waving madly.
Now the time really had come to say goodbye England as the ship left. Suddenly I was aware of this loud music of a brass band below bellowing out “There’ll always be an England.” My teachings of keeping emotions to myself were now all lost as the tears came streaming down, the people and the sounds lost forever. WHAT HAD WE DONE!
Who ever had thought of the bright idea of playing such sentimental music? Perhaps our punishment for leaving our home land
Six weeks later I received my first letter from Mum & Dad (communication was not so good in those days.) Enclosed was a photo of 4 small figures on the deck of the ship and I realised at that moment it was much worse for them as we had all our new life in front of us and they went home to nothing.
in Southampton, United Kingdom
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