Gordon and Connie

 Gordon my dad, had met Connie my Mum when he was a trainee manager for Stevens and Steeds provision merchants.  Manager of the Maury Road Stoke Newington branch was Frederick John Parker who lived over the shop with his wife Fannie Elizabeth and their four daughters, Violet, Constance, Evelyn and Joan. 

In 1925 when Connie was eighteen she and friends had a holiday at Herne Bay. 

Gordon followed on his motor bike.  As you see, they were good buddies by then. Gordon had various bikes including a Norton, an AJS and a BSA. I think.  

At Herne bay Connie is fourth from the left in the group.  

Also below, Frederick John Parker. is on the left with brother-in-law Alf Saunders taken about 1920. F.J. died, stomach cancer, about 1925. He had  spent time in the Great War at the Royal Naval Air Service base at Otranto Italy. 

Gordon and Connie and Paul

Well, on the 28^th September 1928 Connie and Gordon married and they honeymooned in Babbacombe near Torquay where they met up with other honeymooners.  C. and G. are on the right.

Gordon opened 'Steeds' Store' in Angel Lane Stratford.  They bought 137 Capel Road Forest Gate - just across Wanstead Flats from Empress Ave. And on the 9^th Sept. 1930 I, Paul Howard Gordon Steeds was born there.  Here I am about ten months old. 

1940.

 I was still nine in the summer of 1940 and after Dunkirk there was a plan put into operation to evacuate children to the overseas Dominions.  I was booked to sail to Australia where I was to be sponsored by  (later Sir?) Henry Jones the IXL 'Jam King' in Perth.  Auntie Chris gave me my first watch.  I was fitted out with my first suit.  I was given a Panama hat too.. to preserve my English pallor?  These are July 1940 photos of Mum, Dad, Martin and me at 12 Empress Ave. Wanstead with Grandma Steeds.  Then the Germans sank a boat loaded with children going to Canada and the scheme was cancelled.

…And, at that time, with Grandma there is her sister Auntie Emmie and Chris, Dad’s sister, (neither of whom married). There's my cousin Michael on my right. And sitting with Martin is Auntie Mamie. I guess Uncle Alex was taking the photo. These might have been my farewell photos!