SOME CHRISTMAS REMINISCENCES
Peter Andrews

When my father retired from the Army in, I think, 1926, it meant moving from married quarters in Borden. He was offered a job as steward of the Officers Mess at Longmoor Army Camp, my mother became the cook, whether willingly or if she was paid I know not, perhaps "yes" as cook and "no" for payment. The officers were in luck as she was a professional cook, having left school at 12, 2/6d. a week and worked her way up through the hierarchy of the staff below stairs  by keeping a close eye on the cook and studying "Mrs Beeton's", her bible. Though I don't recall any meals served to us, we ate well, courtesy of the Officers Mess. I do remember at the age of four receiving a Tri-ang crane from Father Christmas and at five a wooden seated with pedals at the front tricycle as requested!
In 1929 we moved to Southampton, as my father was offered a better job with the Southern Railway, a classic example of "who you know". He was brought up in Jersey with the Manager of Southampton Docks and as he spoke fluent French became interpreter for the Havre (Le Havre) boats. Proof that who you know, not what you know is a great advantage. With the rise in wages and a settled job we did well food-wise. On Sunday mornings Dad had to meet the Havre boat at 7 o'clock in the Old Docks. Previously to sailing for France he arranged with the Head Steward to bring back cream, croissants, a hock of bacon and camembert cheese etc.. Christmas meant some relatives and occasional friends sitting down to a turkey, ham and beef dinner, followed by the traditional pudding. The latter was made a couple of weeks previously to mature, we all had to stir the ingredients, a hard job. Supper at night was cold meats with the camembert. Silver 3d. Bits were in the pudding, to be saved for the next year. Clearing our parents house years later we came across them, still with traces of pudding on them! Toys for my brother and I, we were the youngest, were Meccano and Hornby train parts, usually a couple of wagons or carriages to gradually build up a collection. The usual stocking and contents, plus odd gifts from relations. One I remember was a full size trumpet full of sweets which when eaten let me practice my "music"! However, next day it had mysteriously disappeared and in spite of a search by all it was never found . I've often wondered why and where it went!

Came the war and a stop to all these goodies, though an Irish relation sent over a turkey one year. Apart from the Christmas pudding, Mother made a trifle for supper, far removed from the present day efforts which seem to be mainly of jelly. I often wondered how she controlled the heat in the coal fired stoves and she never seemed to measure anything out when making cakes etc.. On getting married I did the Christmas meal, minus the pudding, it wasn't every ones taste. Now there are just the two of us we have a capon. or brace of pheasants, though the farmer seems to have disappeared from the market.

On joining the RAF in 1940 there was always a Christmas dinner for those not on leave, this was served by the Officers and senior NCO's. There must have been a standard menu as can be seen by the two shown. Out of 13 years service, I had six Christmas's at home. On being posted to India in 1945 it was to a very isolated unit deep in the wilds of Bengal on the border of Burma. We were a very small group of about 25 personnel and the seasons meal would have been the ordinary rations, but by clubbing together with a couple of rupees each the cook purchased some chickens -  very small, so it was one between two. Judging by the colour, flavour and toughness they could have been any bird! We used to have a weekly free issue of canned English beer and cigarettes in round hermetically sealed tins. There was no canteen as such where meals or any necessities could be obtained, only cups of tea served in a bamboo, mud and grass thatched hut - this was dished up by a lone native.
There was a faded sign hanging outside with the legend THE TEN RATS INN to give it a feeling of an English pub.