Just as a by the by—- when living in Belgium we befriended an English lady ,
who had lived in Manchester, her large family home was opposite my second bus stop on my way to school.
She was the only English person in the town in West Flanders.
Attended the English Church in Gent.
When she died her in laws had to clear over 60 years of hoarding ,they roped us in to help and from very old beautiful Victorian and Edwardian clothing we dressed a whole choir for “ The Good Old Days” concert we did for OXFAM.
She had bottled whole chickens and rabbits for when the Germans invaded.
WW2 .
Still in the cellar in 1960’s/70’s ,looking like humunculi .!
She loved the radio and had every copy of Radio Times from its inception.
I told her in laws they might be valuable so left them to do as they wished.
A hoard of Victorian and Edwardian undies,all lace and Broderie Anglaise , we used those in the concert.
She was of the proportions of Queen Victoria and two of us got into one pair of her voluminous bloomers —- we had to go everywhere together mind you!
Such amazing stories like diverting the spring water supply from their house when The German High Command requisitioned their home, to a supply not always pure———- she said “ it was our little war effort” when we were somewhat ,well , it was a crime of sorts, but she said “ Now listen to me,when you have seen your loyal employees put against your factory wall and machine gunned , you feel you have to do something .
They commandeered our home and we lived in the garage ,seeing our belonging desecrated and the towns folk murdered.”
I brought the clothes to England ,used in many Ladies’Group talks and eventually went to Shropshire Air Ambulance ,volunteers gave talks in many places for funds using the clothes.
Very popular,in Village Halls and one speaker from the hamlet where I had lived would be asked “ When are you bringing them thur big knickers agin?”
Cheerio, Viktoria.
