Raymond Remembers

Raymond Butler’s earliest memory is the birth of his younger sister and the celebrations that followed 76 years ago.

As was common in 1932, a female neighbour delivered the baby in the parents’ bedroom.

The house was full of suspense as Mr Butler’s mother went into labour and his older brother was sent to get the next door neighbour, Margaret Hawkins.

Mr Butler, who was two years old at the time, lived in Hove with his parents and five other siblings.

The children were forbidden from going upstairs and were told to amuse themselves whilst the drama commenced.

Mr Butler said: ‘What felt like hours later Mrs Hawkins came down the stairs and announced that we had a new baby sister.’

A new birth in the street was a momentous occasion and all the neighbours made a huge fuss.

The house had a stream of visitors in the hours following the birth and Mr Butler vividly remembers a neighbour bringing round Swiss roll for tea.

He said: ‘Thinking back I can almost taste it’.

Mr Butler, a retired post office worker, now lives in Lancing with his wife Pat Butler.

They have a son, two daughters, six grandsons and one granddaughter.