Vera Bradley


	Vera Bradley
		Hello, I'm Vera Bradley; I was born in the village of Haswell 63 years ago. My parents were Nance and Jim Bradley. I am part of an extended family. I had a half sister Lily (now deceased) from my mothers' first marriage, an older sister Gloria and a younger brother Jimmy, then I have a step- sister Sheila, and a step- brother Colin from when my dad married again after the death of my mother.We moved to Shotton soon after I was born and I lived there until I married Tom Bradley in 1961. I have four children, Thomas married to Jill with a son Thomas, Michael married to Rosalyn with a daughter Bethan, Claire married to Martin with a son Andrew, and Dominic single living at home. I spent a happy childhood playing skips, bays, tiggy, blonk, ball games etc. I enjoyed going to school and have fond memories of Miss Stainthorpe from the infant school and Miss Lemon from the junior school. After leaving school I worked in Mrs Greener's (general dealers) shop. Then for ICI making explosive cartridges for the mines, then Patons wool factory, until I was married.I moved to the house I know live in. one year after I married. It was my husbands' family home and had been in the family from when it was built about 100 years ago.The year 2001 has been an important year for me, especially February, when I celebrated my Ruby Wedding on the 11th my 63rd birthday on the 24th and on the 28th I retired from work, after working 32 years as a dinner lady at St Godrics' School.Since retiring I have a Self-assertion course, have started a computer class, have done a storytelling course and attend cardiovascular exercise class.I enjoy being a volunteer for the local Community Centre and for nearby castle Eden Dene, and of course I enjoy being on the committee of our Wheatley Hill Mothers Club. A childhood memory is the smell of tar and watching the steamroller mending the roads.
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