A brief primer on the British road system. The M highways (e.g. M25)are BLUE on the map and are major restricted access highways, like the 401 (on steroids). The GREEN highways (e.g. A3) are primary highways a bit smaller than the M’s. The RED highways and YELLOW roads are smaller still. Then there are the WHITE roads that could be no wider than 4 meters or 12 feet wide. An excellent example of such a WHITE road is Sandy Lane, shown to the left, on which our B&B is located. Looks beautiful, but can be very exciting when you meet another traveller going the opposite direction! If you notice the excellent trimming job on the right hedges… that wasn’t done with clippers!!!
Today was our day in Caterham! We had arranged with Father Jerry at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church to visit the church and see the bridal registry. As he was now on vacation, he asked the Church Warden, Mrs. Carole Ridley to help us out. What a wonderful experience! She and her husband, Lance, hosted us for coffee at their house before driving us to the church.
We were able to take some lovely shots of the interior of the church, but it was too wet and windy outside to get a good exterior shot.
However, we did get a great picture of the Bridal Registry, showing the the entry for their wedding, July 12, 1941. It was quite emotional to actually see their signatures, as well as Lorna and Tom’s there! They were married by the Regimental Chaplain.
Then Carole and Lance offered to drive us to the address listed as Mom/Gramms residence, 77 Monkleigh Road, Morden. We thought no one was home, but we noticed some movement in the house and the lady came to the door when I knocked. After telling her my story and trading some names, it turns out to be the house in Morden where she had boarded with the Elliots all those years ago.
We took Lance and Carole out to lunch at the Woodman pub in Woodmansterne and spent a couple of wonderful hours talking and sharing life stories. It was marvelous!
After we left the Ridleys, we went by the house at 35 Markfield Road, Caterham, which is where the happy couple in the picture we’d all recognize lived after the wedding. I had arranged with the current owner, Paul Ajuwa, a gentleman of Nigerian heritage, to be able to take a picture from the same vantage point as the wedding picture. He graciously asked us into the house and showed us about… offered us a shot of Brandy as per their custom for visitors! Here’s us standing where Dad & Mom stood on July 12, 1941… 70 years ago! I also have a great shot just like the one with Joan, Dad, Mom and Lorna looking up the road to the highway at the top.
Today was a true memory day! We had a great dinner at the Harrow, just down the road. We’re hoping to visit Reigate Hill tomorrow on our way to Devon if the weather is better.
Next post will be coming from our next B&B at the Ring of Bells in North Bovey, Devon. Cheers!