Hindsight: thinking about your past.
A series of interviews with members of Bet Tikvah by Lina Fajerman
Hindsight Interview 3:Jean Summerbell, aged 78, founder member
What were the happiest times of your life?
When my Husband was alive; the children were young and my parents were around. When I got married at North London Synagogue, I had a white wedding. The reception was in the library hall at Stoke Newington – all the family and friends were invited.
What Bet Tikvah means to me.
I was pleased when Bob became involved with the renovation of the Synagogue. One of the many things he made for the Shul is the Weathervane that I can still see today. We were at Shul most Sundays working on the building, with Michelle our Daughter and with Rose and Barry Lautman and their daughters. Looking back, they were good times. We were all involved in something new and exciting and it’s nice to think now, we have had a hand in what is here today. I feel very honoured to have been at the beginning with such a lovely group of dedicated individuals who all worked so hard to get the Shul started.
When Bob died all the members from Shul were so kind and supportive, I continued to attend every Friday and some Saturdays and have enjoyed being part of the Ladies association and singing in the choir and have made some very wonderful friendships. It has really given me meaning and purpose to my life. I am still so happy to be associated with Bet Tikvah.
What were the saddest times?
When Bob died just 5 days before his 57th birthday after a long illness and when my parents died. I also felt very sad when I was evacuated during the war. I was sent away from my family in Stamford Hill when I was nearly 9. I was evacuated to Breechwood Green in Hertfordshire in a Gamekeepers cottage. There was no electricity or running water and the lighting was by paraffin lamp and not forgetting there wasn’t any proper sanitation! I was there for around 10 months; Breechwood Green is now apparently at the end of Luton Airports runway. One night a bomb fell nearby in the woods, making a huge crater. When I heard the noise from the bomb, I thought it was thunder but when I went to school the next day I found out it had been a bomb. The Gamekeeper and his wife did not have any children of their own and were always very kind and generous to me. They put up a swing in one of the barns for me and at Christmas time he had made me wooden toy furniture. I did not fully appreciate at the time how kind they were to me. When I look back I think that people were so giving of themselves to take the evacuee’s in. I was evacuated a second time to Daventry, here we were marched around the streets in a large group where people could come out of their homes and chose who they wanted. I was with a friend but people said they could only take in one child, I felt very upset and unwanted. Looking back the whole experience was very humiliating. Again one night bombs fell, I think they may have been aiming for the radio station not far from where I was living.
I wrote home in big letters “I AM CRYING, I AM CRYING, I AM CRYING’ I didn’t want to stay but my Father insisted that I did. As much as I was upset the family were very good to me. It made me appreciate my own home more.
What was the loneliest time in your life?
When Bob died and when I was evacuated as a child; growing up I also missed not having a Brother or Sister.
Are you happier now than when you were young?
I am reasonably happy and content now. I have children and grandchildren.
Do you think your generation is happier than the younger generation?
I think we were happier (except for the war). Young people think we need too many things to make them happy. They are not free to have simple pleasures we had as children. We could play outside, that doesn’t seem possible now. When I was evacuated, we went for rambles and took a picnic. We could be out for hours without adults and no one worried.
Now children have everything geared for them to have different things. It hasn’t made them happier. If they haven’t got it they feel let down. It must be very expensive for parents now.
When we lived in Bow and I was just 6, I played out in the street; we all played in the street. Now parents take their children to different things like swimming, brownies and guides, it’s all so organised.
Do you have any regrets?
Not really; but I have always been content to stay at home and raise a family. I have 3 wonderful children and 3 lovely granddaughters and Blue, Michelle’s rather special dog. As we get older we need our family nearby, as much as I want to remain independent.
My family are very good, and are always there for me. I know I am very lucky.
People should be grateful for what they have.
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