They didn't have much, but they could throw a party

The three photographs here come from the Rev Philip Mason, of Ditcham Park, near Petersfield.
CAKE The Smiths View street party for George Vs Silver Jubilee. The woman is Mrs Dorey. To her right is George Mason. In front of her is Philip Mason eating cake.CAKE The Smiths View street party for George Vs Silver Jubilee. The woman is Mrs Dorey. To her right is George Mason. In front of her is Philip Mason eating cake.
CAKE The Smiths View street party for George Vs Silver Jubilee. The woman is Mrs Dorey. To her right is George Mason. In front of her is Philip Mason eating cake.

He sent them to me after reading my page last week about Clark’s Corner, Southsea, which was hit during the blitz killing six people.

Philip says his sister Jean was in the shop at the time the siren sounded. As they were going into the cellar Jean insisted on going home. She made such a fuss the shop door was unlocked and she ran home.

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Philip, his brother George and Jean, were under strict orders from their mother that if the siren sounded they must run home.

Dressed overall we see Smiths View,Southsea, decorated for  King George V's Silver.Jubilee, 1935Dressed overall we see Smiths View,Southsea, decorated for  King George V's Silver.Jubilee, 1935
Dressed overall we see Smiths View,Southsea, decorated for King George V's Silver.Jubilee, 1935

Luckily for Jean she obeyed her mother and was saved from a ghastly death.

Jean can be seen in the group photo taken in nearby Smith’s View, second from the left in the front. The photo tells us the children were standing outside ‘Lal’ Silk’s house.

As ever, when something concerning royalty is taking place a street party is called for. The woman at the back is Mrs Dorey and to her right as we look at the photo is Philip’s brother George. Philip is in front of Mrs Dorey eating cake.

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People might not have had much, but their love of the royal family knew no bounds. As much fuss as possible was made on occasions such as jubilees, coronations and weddings as we see in the picture of Smith’s View decorated for the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935.

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