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Memories of Upper Wakeham

I’m currently reading ‘Memories of Upper Wakeham’, a book of short stories written by my grandmother.  It is quite interesting to peer into the lives of a forgotten age (or an age not even experienced in my case).  Here is a neat section about ‘entertainment’.  I’m assuming Nanny is fine with me taking a snippet out of her book and publishing it here:

“Box socials were a good way to taste your favourite girl’s cooking, the money going for a favourite charity.  Girls would pack a box of goodies, wrapped nicely, the boxes then were auctioned off to the highest bidder.  The men who bid highest would sit and eat with the girls who packed the lunches.  In order that a girl would not be stuck with a boy she did not like she would give a clue to her beau as to which box was hers.  Lots of fun was had and these boxes were always filled with a very good lunch.  There was usually a dance after the bidding.  These events went out of style before the Second World War and I only remember one which did not go over very well.”

Fascinating stuff!  I find it amazing how the concept of meeting a significant other was such a different one that it is today.  Anyhow, this book is available to borrow from me if you so choose, but I have heard that she is planning to make a second printing around Christmas-time.  I am really enjoying the read and Nanny is quite the interesting writer.

One reply on “Memories of Upper Wakeham”

hmmmm…..I’d read about this before and I think it’s a pretty interesting concept. Except for the whole – girl makes food for boy then watches daintily while he eats it. But really, a good way to get people to give to charity.

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