Richard & Margaret Leftwich

Report by Richard Leftwich, son of Richard and Margaret

Richard William Leftwich was born 1899 in East Brixton

Margaret Scottow was born in

Richard William was one of five children, four of whom, in the 1920's owned an up-market clothing factory in Aldersgate, East London, classified as 'Mantle Makers to the Wholesale'. The other brother sadly was killed in the First World War.

As a young man Richard fell in love with a senior tailoress, Margaret Scottow, who was working in the factory. Much to the anger of the family, they dismissed her but Richard reinstated her. (All was forgiven).

Richard and Margaret married in 1927 at Greenwich and lived in North Harrow.

Richard and Margaret had three children as follows :-

Joan Leftwich born 1928

Marie Leftwich born 1931

Richard Leftwich born 1938

At the start of the Second World War the factory business was in decline, so Richard and Margaret decided that, with three young children, it would be safer to leave London. Shortly after that the factory was completely destroyed by bombing.

I think it was in 1940 that they moved into Graham Cottage no 1 on the Main Road, in Lacey Green, next to Stocken Farm.

Is was a very difficult time of great anxiety. Richard was offered a clerical job at Bomber Command. The office building is still there, next to the water tower clearly visible from the Main Road.

Margaret looked after the children, who soon settled. The girls were able to play together. One day Mrs West, who owned the farm, spoke to the very young Richard and showed him some baby lambs. Mr and Mrs West had a son John, who was a little older than Richard who spent a great deal of time at the farm, playing as children but later helping at various jobs.

Margaret Leftwich got a job as cook at Lacey Green School and the children loved the meals. However after a number of years lots of new rules and guidelines came into force and ultimately Margaret felt there was too much paperwork and school meals were much less popular so she retired from the job at the school.

Having been widowed some time Margaret left Lacey Green and lived in Cliftonville with her sister, but Pat and Richard were worried about her. They were able to have a small 'granny annex' built on their house so Margaret lived there until she died in 1994.