Timeline of influences on the life of author Beryl Kingston

Some other glimpses from the past
Show business beckons! In 1935 ,aged 4, I was enrolled in Madam Hadley's Dancing Group - at the time a haven for middle class mothers who wanted a Shirley Temple child. This picture was taken rehearsing for a show in Streatham. My partner in the white cat suit was called Betty Mackie. I often wonder where she is now The songs we had to learn were ones like: Good Ship Lollipop Tiny Little Finger Prints Wedding of the Painted Doll Flanagan and Allen Chesney Allen's brother kept a sweet shop next door to my uncle's off-license in Tooting.
During the war I was evacuated twice! The first time the day before World War Two broke out and again in November 1940 when bombs straddled our home. When we were evacuated from Tooting for the second time in November 1940 we took Chesney's niece with us.
	Between 1943 and 1949 I was lucky enough to attend Streatham Secondary School. Teaching there was designed to 'spark' a child's interest not simply on 'talk and chalk'. After break we could study wherever or however we wished as long as assignmenst were handed in on time. Being treated as an adult was a welcome change and I began a valued friendship with the Head - Muriel Davies who had fostered and adopted seven children. 1947 I visited the Peckham Health Experiment.
The Peckham Experiment The Peckham Experiment took place in 1935 after rising public concern over the health of the working class and an increasing interest in preventative social medicine. George Williamson and Innes Pearse, a husband and wife team, opened the Pioneer Health Centre in a deprived working class area - Peckham, south east London. Their aim was to conduct an experiment into the effect of environment on health. The Centre was a purpose built Modern building, often quoted as an early example of how new architectural techniques could help further bold new social experiments. Williamson and Pearse recruited 950 local families to be part of 'The Peckham Experiment'. Paying one shilling (5 pence) a week, they had access to a range of activities such as physical exercise, swimming, games and workshops. Members underwent a medical examination once a year, and they were monitored throughout the year as they participated in the Centre’s events. The Pioneer Centre was designed by Sir Owen Williams and moved away from the idea of traditional lines dominating medical buildings. Williams created a large open space using the latest structural techniques allowing the Centre's doctors to properly observe the members. At the middle of the Centre a large swimming pool was covered by a glazed roof, which, along with large areas of windows, allowed natural light in to the building. These windows could be fully opened to circulate fresh air into the building. The cork floors allowed people to move about barefoot. The Centre closed in 1950 due to a lack of funding and a change in emphasise away from experimental treatment within the new National Health Service.
Pictured with my two sisters in 1945 just after the end of the war. I suppose I really didn't look my age then or two years later, aged 16, when I met the love of my life!
1947 - Roy Kingston the 'darling man' turns up on our doorstep It was a bitterly cold winter we had very little coal. To keep warm I ran a country dance club for my sister's friends, one of whom was Roy's sister Olive. Roy knew I didn't look my age and thought I was at least 18 (he was 23) We married in 1950 on the 29th July. Mother said "I give it six months it won't last". It lasted 53 years, 11 months and 6 days. Our children: Larry was born in 1954 followed by Mary in 1956 and Caroline in 1959
National Child Birth trust founder member Rosemary Fost, who is still involved in the Peckham Health Experiment Association, lead to my first book being published. The subject was period pains and was expanded from a small leaflet. I was amused when the book Lifting the Curse later turned up in a library under sorcery
Committee of 100
	On the road from Aldermaston to London early 60's. I was a fervent supporter of CND attempts to Ban the Bomb & have renewed hope at the scale of the recent Anti Iraq War demonstrations in London.
Some questions & some answers	Beryl's books
Welcome page	Beryl's CV