Brighton, BN1 5PW
27 February, 1984,
Dear Ruthie,
I expect I'm the last of the clan to answer your letter and I do apologise for being so long in doing so. You know of course that you've given the whole family the opportunity of doing what they like best – talking about themselves and you must by now be reeling under the deluge of memorabilia. Therefore I will save you the ordeal of reading through a long detailed account of yet another life story – (not that I couldn’t have done it of course) and will just give you in chronological order only a few of my most vivid memories over my 70 years.
I do get news of you all of course through Grandma Sophie, and know and am pleased that you're all well and happy. Hope all goes well with your project. Hope too that I'll be seeing you again before too long. Our love to you Jonathan and Benjamin and mummy and daddy. And of course from Bill too. love
Minnie.
1913 born Minnie Davidson – 1938 Minnie Noble 1959 Minnie Robins
1913-1918 memories very vague of being always surrounded by large family and strong picture of Uncle Joe coming home in Royal Flying Corps uniform – war over before they needed him.
1918-1925 at school in Hull – large family gatherings at all yomtovim – pesach in particular stands out. Excitement of new clothes for shul – Mama always at home – working hard – washing cooking etc.
1925 the year my father died – only vague memories of him – he was ailing most of my young life.
1925-1929 won a scholarship for grammar school - school famous for having as former pupil world famous woman aviator Amy Johnson – beside myself and Edie. Very happy schooldays – only girl in family to learn cricket and hockey.
1929 Jo and Dorrie moved to London – two school holidays spent with them – first time ever been away from home. The family moved to London – got job at Boots the Chemist in Piccadilly Circus – the only chemist shop in Great Britain to be open all night – very immature and shy 16 year old – straying into the bewildering new pattern of life working with highly sophisticated young ladies
1930-1935 Family made contact with Jewish societies – became very involved in young Zionist society, He’atid, where one member Aubrey (later Abba) Eban practised his speeches on us. All social and communal activities revolved around this group – most holidays spent with members from all over England, and summer schools all learning about and working for Palestine without being fully aware of all that was really going on there.
1930-1938 Remembering pleasant visits from cousins from Kaunas, who sadly subsequently disappeared in the Holocaust. We were not really aware of the dreadful happenings in Germany at the time either.
1938 Married Bernie and settled down in Wallington.
1939 The war started – quietly in England.
1940 Steffi born – bombing started – horrors of taking a three month baby down in garden dugout shelter
1940-1945 Dreadful endless nights of the Blitz – great anxieties, all brothers in dangerous fighting units – Bernie not in army due to heart condition – but just as dangerous experiences in Home Guard on night duty – alone most nights in Steffi’s early years
1945 War over – Roger born – remember being in hospital and hearing that the atom bomb had been dropped in Japan.
1945-1951 Trying to get back to normal living – then life shattered when Bernie died suddenly. Moved to Streatham to be near family – very sad time.
1951-1959 Steffi won scholarship for grammar school. In 1953 we had first ever holiday abroad with Lionel and Fay and children to a villa in Normandy. Became involved in community affairs again, became member of WIZO – led fairly quiet life until 1959.
1959 Met and married Bill, and moved North of the river. Suddenly thrust into a completely new life – two more children – large house – Bill was involved in many activities – political and communal. Met lots of interesting new people – Bill’s sister was married to Sydney Silverman the MP who abolished hanging in Great Britain. He took us to meet interesting people at the House of Commons dining room. (This is my name dropping section). Roger got scholarship to Alleyns, but moved when we moved North.
The Sixties. The children all became involved in Habonim. Steffi left job in publishing to work for the movement, and met and married Steve, and eventually went Aliya to Bet Haemek. Before this confused memories of the house always been filled with young people preparing to go to Israel. Then suddenly they'd all gone. Jane married Iri, and also went to Bet Haemek - now they're in Rehovot. Then Roger and Ricky went to Amiad and in June 1967 very many anxious days – children all in Six-Day War. Nochi was born in 1965 - our first visit to Israel was in 19 64 – first experience of Seder at Bet Haemek - very impressed. My next visit 1966 to a WIZO conference, and I attended Roger’s passing out parade with very mixed feelings. Very inspiring but very frightening. In 1968 we visited Israel with Lionel and Fay who planned to go on Aliya. And whilst in Jerusalem got a message that Bill had been voted in as a Westminster City Councillor. Many more activities – constantly meeting interesting and important people – leading very hectic and happy life – memories of annual banquets of the Westminster Town Hall – meeting the Queen and Prince Phillip at Lancaster House – being invited as guests of the Dean to civic services in Westminster Abbey – Bill working hard meanwhile on various committees in the Council Chambers always working for the interests of the underprivileged – in spite of all the glamorous occasions we enjoyed.
The Seventies. Steffi returned from Israel – had another child, Timna, subsequently divorced from Steve, and now administers the kibbutz office in London. Lovely memories of visiting Roger at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and seeing the Old City for the first time. Bill retired and we moved to Brighton – got even more involved in local affairs. Roger returned to England – married Mary whom he met in Jerusalem – got a degree in Clinical Psychology and is about to become the Principal Psychologist in mental health – happily for us in Brighton – will be moving here soon with Daniella and Adam their children. During the seventies many interesting trips to Israel. We were loaned the house of Meyer Levin, the writer, glorious place in Herzlia on the coast – he was a friend of Lionel and Fay who were then living in Israel. Another time because Jane was working in the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot we were able to stay in a flat in the San Martin, the guest house there. A wonderful experience. Another memorable visit was to Sde Boker. Margie, Jane and Iri’s eldest daughter was at school there, and we experienced the worst ever rainstorm travelling through the Negev.
These are just a few of my memories – the writing of which has brought up to the surface many more – but that will be another story another day.
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