MADE ME FEEL SO WELCOME
Yes, I was (am) an English war bride. I was born in Ipswich and attended Britannia Road and Copleston Road schools. I met my husband, Dan Curtis, who was serving in the USAF during the Korean conflict, at a dance at Rapier's Canteen in Ipswich during the summer of 1951 while he was stationed at Bentwaters.
The only time I visited Bentwaters was for a dance. Dan told me transportation would be waiting at the Electric House in the center of Ipswich. When I got there it was a huge army lorry and the only way into it was to hitch up our skirts and climb into the back - very unladylike. My mother would have had a fit if she knew.
We were married the following June and arrived in Staten Island, Oct. 1952. It was a terrible crossing and I'm afraid I looked as green as the Statue of Liberty. I was pregnant at the time and we were taken in by Dan's family. They were wonderful to me and made me feel so welcome. Dan's parents gave up their bedroom for us and when our daughter arrived it meant 3 extra people in that apartment, but they never once complained, just lavished me with love and attention.
We had a second child, and through the years progressed from our own apartment to first house in Denville, New Jersey, then on to Florida and condo-living, and then finally to the mountains of North Carolina. Thankfully we are both in good health, have retired and keep busy working in the garden, Dan visiting the YMCA, travelling as much as we can. I have just returned from visiting my brother, who still lives in Ipswich, and also seeing my aunt and cousins. My aunt and one cousin live in Woodbridge and the other cousin lives in Felixstowe. Dan and I are hoping to visit Ipswich next year and act like American tourists by travelling to Scotland, Wales and wherever else our fancy takes us. Maybe we can get to meet you. Will let you know when we make our firm plans. I love your website because I can visit it whenever I feel like seeing Woodbridge and I also keep up with the news in Ipswich by reading the Evening Star on-line.
Sincerely,
Doreen Curtis DANDOR52(a)aol.com April 2000