PWSTS Forum for Old Boys, Family and Friends

I always kept on the right side of the cooks at PWST and showed them a great deal of respect and was always polite, I had a healthy appetite and knew where my bread was buttered.
Rest in Peace Little Cook (I never did know her real name) a part of our history at the PWSTS.
Condolences to Lilly's Family

Roger all PWSTS Old Boys are most welcome. Thank you once again for stepping up to the mark. Im on a course that week so Im not able to attend. Once we have names of those wishing to attend I will update Justine.

How to find Barham Crematorium

A260, Canterbury Road,
Barham,
Nr Canterbury
Kent
CT4 6QU

Tel: 01227 831 352

Approaching from A2 Canterbury :
From the A2 take the exit toward Womenswold/Snowdown/Adisham/Nonington
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A260
Turn left at A260/Canterbury Rd
A260/Canterbury Rd
The Crematorium will be on your right

Barham has ample car parking. Refreshments are not available at the crematorium.

The local village of Barham or Denton (both a short distance away) have public houses and hotels which cater for after funeral teas.

The nearest train station is Adisham approx. 3 miles away.

web site http://www.woollardandkent.co.uk/barham/default.asp

I cannot remember a little cook, big cook, long or wide, not even the galley. I can remember doing a bit of waitering... but never mind, the food was good except for porridge, my personal dislike, but I do now have it every day.

Maybe a little late in the day to let you know, but I will be going on Tuesday, to say hello to little cook and also fairwell.

Barry

Lovely service, was amazed at her life story. Roger, Eddie and myself attended. I understand that "little cooks" grandaughter, will be send a line, so will let her explain.

Barry

Hello to you all.

I hope you do not mind me mounting a boarding party to your forum.

I have dropped Andy an email - the whole family, especially my dad, wanted me to let you know how very much we appreciated PWSTS being there at the funeral.

You have a great effect, you know, on a much wider range of people than just your comrades and the navy. My nan was so proud of you all - you were all 'her boys' - and I cannot tell you how excited and happy she was to have been remembered by you when she came down to the services and the plaque unveiling on the pier. When Captain Vine remembered her she was very coy and girlish and I can tell you in all honesty she wore her PWSTS pin with pride and the memories gave her many happy hours.

She would have been really touched to know you were there, and it really did make it more special.

The text my daughter wrote for her Brownie writers badge about 7 years ago when she was 8 read as follows (You will note she was always talking about you all!)

"For my Brownie writer badge I will be writing about my great grandmother. Her name is Lilian Florence Gertrude Bennett. I like her name because it reminds me of Florence Nightingale and lilies in a garden. She was born on March 11 1909.

I have decided to write about her because not many people have a great grandmother. I also love her very much. She is the oldest member of our family and the oldest person I know. I think Im very lucky to have her. I thought she would be an interesting person to write about because she has a very good memory and has wonderful stories to tell about the war and knows all about the history of Dover.

Although she is old and has lines on her face I still think shes pretty. Her hair is white and curly and she wears a purple checker apron and her eyes are blue.

Because she is so old she has lived in many different places. She moved from St Jamess Street, to Clarendon Street, to Folkestone Road (near where I live now) to Pauls Place where she lives now. She was married but her husband died of old age before I was born. Now she is a widow. She was married for 63 years. On her diamond anniversary she got a telegram from the Queen.

Her house is fairly small with only 5-6 rooms. But we think it is special because mummy thinks it looks like a wedge of cheese. It is tall and thin and painted yellow.

My great grandmother hated school. She always thought she was a dunce. But she did like history. The school she used to go to was bombed during the war. She still likes history now and whenever there is a program about history she will always watch it.

When she left school she worked at the rag mill but it was horrible. It was dirty and noisy work. So she decided to work as a cook at the Prince of Wales Sea Training School. But pancake day was her least favourite day of the year. This was because she couldnt cook the pancakes fast enough. As soon as they were cooked the boys came to eat them!

During the war she had seven people staying in her house. Sometimes she had to sleep in an arm chair! Her mothers shop and house were shelled. So her mother lived in a cave by the sea! On a day called VE Day everyone came to the Market Square for a giant bonfire which burnt a hole in the ground.

The two most terrifying nights my great grandmother remembers I found very interesting. On the first night a British aeroplane crashed through a house near where she lived. When they were clearing out the house they found the airmans arm! The second time was when my granddad (who was only about three at the time) was playing up the street. He was just about to go home when suddenly..BANG! A shell hit one of the houses just behind him! So if he hadnt started to come home him and his friend would have been killed.

I get to see her every night after school before my mum comes to pick me up. Sometimes we sing songs like Daisy Daisy which my great grandfather used to sing to my mum, and The Grand Old Duke of York which she remembers from school. I love going to her house because she has my favourite food and she plays games with me.

My great grandmother is very special and I cant wait for her to get one more telegram from the Queen when she is one hundred."


Thank you again for coming - it really did mean a great deal. I have some photos I will post up at some point.

Kind regards

Justine (Laws nee Bennett) - Little Cook's granddaughter.

p.s. I should tell you all - when you were sneaking bottles of milk out of the kitchen up the legs of your bell bottoms..... she always knew and let you do it.

Loved your Nan Justine and like all the others remember her well. She had a soft spot for me, never letting me starve to death!. (Colin just got thinner & thinner). Yes it is true, I was her 'favourite'.

We will all miss her.

Bob of 69'.

I must confess that I cannot remember Lilly, but even so it seems she was a wonderful lady & will be sadly missed. Well done to the lads, hope to see you all at the reunion.

Andy, what an excellent thought.

Regards John.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for those pictures Colin

Well - I should repay the compliment!

We found these 2 photos from 1968 and 1975 - nan proudly at the front with 'her boys'.

These have been squashed for the forum but Andy has larger and better quality versions emailed to him that he can do what he likes with.

Maybe you can find yourselves!

Regards

Justine

 

 

Thanks Justine. I will add them to the web site next week. Snowed under this weekend.