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Chelveston History Concluded All of the preceding comments, observations, recordings, with the exception of newspaper clippings are entirely my own. I have attempted to be factual and present happenings in what I remembered as a proper chronological order. I make no apologies for my grammar and composition for which my English teacher would have been horrified, preferring to write as things came to mind.
What became of the Allan Family? Our departure from Tilbury Dock at 4.00 pm. on Wednesday 19th September aboard the SS.Ranchi, despite being a lonely send-off as far as family being there to see us depart, was an exciting time. We were going into the unknown but fortunately had my aunt, uncle, and cousin to greet us when we landed on 3rd November 1951.
Before leaving England dad had purchased a quarter of an acre of land in Australia on the advise of my uncle and had prepared plans for the building of a house. Within the first week of our arrival he lodged these with the local council with an application for a permit to build. It was January before he received the permit and we were able to start building; all houses at that time were of timber construction, with timber weatherboards as cladding.
Dad and I physically built our house from the ground up, working at weekends and holidays, the only work we not allowed to do was the plumbing and electrical wiring, for which we had to get qualified tradespeople in. It took us eighteen months to get it to a stage where we could move in, but another year before it was completed.
Within two weeks of arrival in Australia dad found employment with a local baker and confectioner who just happened to be a Scot, exactly what he wanted. After 6 years he looked around for other work in his field and obtained a position with one of the large biscuit manufacturers where he stayed for 10 years. From here he had the offer of a position as Food Technician in the laboratory of Kimptons, the largest flour miller in Melbourne, which he found very stimulating.
The position required him to test grain, for protein, moisture content and other factors that came from the growers and from his analysis give instructions to the mill for the blending of grains to make flour. Apparently he was so proficient at his job that he could tell by looking at, and smelling the grain, where it had been grown within Victoria. He held this position until his retirement in 1974.
During his retirement he became an A grade Bowler and captained his club for a number of years, he was also a keen gemstone fossiker, making some beautiful dress jewellery.
Mum worked in the laboratory of Kimptons Flour Mills as a Technician’s Assistant three days a week and it was through her that dad was offered the Food Technician’s position. When she wasn't working she undertook voluntary work with Better Hearing Australia which was an organization that helped people with a hearing impairment.
Upon their retirement mum and dad moved from Melbourne to a seaside village called Rosebud, an hour and half drive south of Melbourne. She continued with voluntary work for the Red Cross and the local hospital auxiliary, which recognized her 27 years of contribution to the working of the hospital by making her a Life Governor in 2001.
My brother Bob who has remained a bachelor, obtained an apprenticeship in Ladies Hairdressing and eventually opened his own business which he sold after about 15 years, deciding to have a change of occupation. He held the position of Head Storeman at one of Melbourne's top hospitals and moved from there to the Lung Function Unit in the same hospital, a position from which he retired 8 years ago.
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What became of the Allan Family? (part 1) |
