I had to be about three years old. I don't seem to remember anything before this particular incident.
My Dad always said he remembered the war, even though he was only 7 years old when it finished. I was always sceptical, perhaps unfairly, especially as I do remember the aftermath of falling off a cliff when I was only three.
When I was only a few months old, Dad had managed to get a job in Finance with Shell. The position was in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. We moved there "tout-de-suite!" as he would always say. His French wasn't much better than that.
I have seen a few photos of the time in Port Harcourt, and actually had one of me, as a baby, riding a small rocking horse. Unfortunately the elements in Santo Domingo managed to destroy it over a period of time. I know where the negative probably is, but have little chance of retrieving it. Anyway, what can one do with a negative these days?
I don't think we were in Nigeria very long, because we had a house rented back in Brixton, Devon where we were visited by NanYan, my great-grandmother. I am not sure if I really remember that visit, or I have seen photos which make me think I remember it.
Shortly after that we moved to a purchased house on Knighton Road, Wembury. A small village, which I still have ties to in Devon. The house was called 'The Brambles', I believe it was No. 5, Knighton Road, but my Dad didn't believe in house numbers. It was a semi-detached house, built on a slope. From the front it looked like a bungalow, but this was deceptive, because it had at least three floors. We acquired an Old English sheepdog as a puppy, which we called Crispin.
My point is that I seemed to have had quite an active life before I was three years old, but I don't for sure remember any of it. I remember Crispin, but only after the incident detailed below:
We used to go to Bigbury-on-Sea quite a lot with our next door neighbours. I believe they lived in No. 7, the other half of our 'semi-detached'. I think the family consisted of one or two daughters, a son and their mum and dad. I don't remember the surname and the only first name I remember was that of the mum, which was Gerda. My mum and Gerda were very good friends. Anyway, as I said, we used to go with them to Bigbury quite a lot. I think they actually moved there, or perhaps it was a holiday visit that we met them there one time.
I can't say for definite that we were with Gerda and her family this particular time, but it would make more sense as our family are not particularly known as 'beach people'. Also, I was, as I was told later, playing with some other children on a cliff top. We were throwing a ball or something and I stepped backwards a little too far.
I can't imagine the horror that must have gone through the minds of whoever saw me going over the edge. I presume that at least my Mum was there.
However this is it. My first memory. No photos, no proof, but an absolutely vivid memory. I woke up in some kind of bed in a small room, with a nurse asking me if I was all right. I remember seeing my Mum there as well. Don't think I said anything, but I remember the nurse telling my Mum it was probably all right to take me home now.
I have seen photos of the cliffs at Bigbury and there are some big cliffs where some people have met their end. It later turned out that the cliff I fell off was only about 6ft high. I was only three years old though.
You can imagine my days at Wembury Primary School, when I would tell everyone who wanted to hear that "I fell off a cliff". It was as if I had earned some kind of medal.
Even worse. The medical hut, where I woke up after the incident was on a hillside surrounded by hedges near Bigbury beach. It was easily visible being painted white with a big red cross on the roof. I shall check Google Earth to see if it is still there. How I loved to point out, every time I went to Bigbury about the medical hut and the story of me falling off a cliff. In fact, the next time I go to Bigbury, I shall probably do the same.
Most people would recognise no harm was done. The more cynical would say that's where the damage was done.
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