Memories galore from reader John Hayden. He’s written the tale about a young British girl who married an American soldier stationed at Bushey Hall back in 1956/57 – himself.

He writes: “Back in August 1956, prior to our wedding, a neighbour of my wife-to-be Val’s mother made the comment that ‘British and American blood don’t mix and the marriage would not last’.

“That was quite a comment, considering my soon to be mother-in-law was not completely overjoyed her only daughter was about to marry a “Yank from Bushey Hall”. But that is another story.

“I am sure in many cases this point of view was probably the norm back in the days when many marriages of soldiers from Bushey Hall and British young ladies were something to frown on.

“In our case, that little comment was not a true prediction – not then nor in the 57 years of our marriage since!

“My little story, ‘Going Home’, is just my way of rejecting that.”

He writes: “It was the Summer of 1964, we had been in the U.S. for six years. Val was often homesick for her family and England, to the extent that it was affecting her health. I had been advised by our doctor the best medicine for her was to try to send her home for a short while.

“The first six years or so after leaving the Army, with raising at that time two young boys and the normal expenses of living, was a financial challenge for us. I was always working two jobs, a full time job and another part-time. Both jobs made it possible to live a fairly comfortable life, but there was no saving any money for a rainy day.

“Where was I going to get the money to send her and the two boys back to England for a few weeks?

“I went to the town’s local bank where one of the bank’s loan managers was a friend of my older brother. I’ll always remember his name: Ed Brickett.

“I told him I needed to send my wife and two sons back to England, mentioning what the doctor said about her health. He excused himself and a few minutes later, came back and said: “How much do you need?”

“I told him how much it was (I’d already inquired as to the cost of the air fare) and right then and there he wrote out a cheque for the money.

“I was elated and very thankful. He said normally he wouldn’t give me the loan as I didn’t have any collateral, but he said he knew the Hayden family and felt comfortable I would repay it.

“The day came for driving Val and the boys to JFK airport (at that time it was still called Idlewild). As the plane took off and I saw them fly away, I knew I would miss them and wouldn’t be seeing them for six weeks. Almost straight away, I knew what I had to do.

“The factory shutdown was to start in one week (my vacation). I had the time, but not the money for the air fare.

“The Monday after Val and the boys left, I went back to the bank to talk again to Ed. I told him I needed another loan as I wanted to go back to England too. I missed my family too much, even though they had only been gone a few days.

“He didn’t hesitate, and with a big grin on his face, wrote me another cheque.

“Over all the years since that day, whenever I see him, I remind him of how thankful I always was to him and his bank. And, by the way, I made it my priority to pay back those two loans.

“My next little problem was, I didn’t have a passport. I jumped on a train from Connecticut to the passport office in New York City, filled in the paperwork and had to go back the following Friday to pick up the rush passport. This I did without a problem – and I left for England on the Saturday afternoon.

“It was Sunday morning when I knocked on the door at Val’s parents’ house in England. Val opened the door. I expected her to jump into my arms, but she just asked: “What are you doing here?” Then she started crying.

“The boys come running to me, saying “daddy, daddy”. Now I’m crying.

“With this reunion of my family, I knew I had made the right decision.

“We spent the week with Val’s parents and brothers – went to all the places she longed to see, especially London.

 

Watford Observer: Yank

Outside Buckingham Palace in 1964.

 

“Val and the boys were intending to stay for six weeks and  my visit was for two, but Val decided two weeks was enough for her too and we all came home together.

“And she was never homesick to that extent again.

“Over all the 57 years we have been married, we’ve known some tough times, both financial and health wise, but we have always been there for each other.

“We have been to England many times over those years and I have never had to go to the bank for a loan. Val still gets homesick at times, but no migraines.

“So you see, it doesn’t matter if one of you is American and the other is British; that is not what makes or breaks a marriage. Sorry to say you were wrong, Mrs Neighbour, and, Mum, you had no need to worry about your only daughter.

“She and I had the love, faith and commitment to make it through, at least up to now, 57 years of a happy life together.”

ONLINE TOMORROW: The man who won £2,500 for a 5s stake in 1964.

This story formed part of the Nostalgia column first published in the Watford Observer on March 14, 2014. The next Nostalgia column can be found in this week’s Watford Observer (dated March 21, 2014 and available in newsagents now, priced just 90p) or read online here from 4pm on Thursday.

If you have anything to add – or would like to tell us anything you think our readers may enjoy about Watford’s history – we are always pleased to hear from you. Contact Nostalgia, by clicking here watfordnostalgia@london.newsquest.co.uk