Born: I am M. H. Clark born in 1959. Up to the age of five, we lived in the Hobson, County Durham before moving to Burnopfield. I still go back there on occasions to meet with friends and family.

Dad (1936 -2020): All my male relatives worked down the pits including my dad. However, he completed a 4-year engineering apprenticeship and maintained the machinery which dug out the coal. During the 1960s the northeast was facing a long-term industrial decline meaning there were fewer opportunities for the younger population. In 1968 an opportunity arose to move to South Africa. The chance for my parents to change our lives was too good to miss. In 1969 we migrated to sunny South Africa where we settled in Kensington, Johannesburg.

Mom: was a housewife and in her time designed wedding dresses and bridesmaids’ gowns. I remember many a young woman accompanied by her mother calling by to be measured for her bridal gown. Later her bridesmaids would arrive.  After we migrated to South Africa she found a job in OK Bazaars and later in Truworths in Darras Centre. Years later she became a manager based in JHB Central Station.

Grandparents: Susan Hanton born (31 May 1907-17 September 1998). Susan ventured far and wide within the UK working as a housekeeper and cook. She worked in Essex, Surrey and many other places before World War II broke out. During the war, she worked as a conductor on the buses running between Consett, Stanley and Newcastle.

My paternal Granparents were Hilda Arnott and Robert Clark. They had eight children, four boys and three girls. My grandmother was widowed before meeting Robert and had one son named David.

I was always a lot closer to my my maternal grandother than Grandma Clark. The reason could be she had many grandchildren, and I don’t recall her showing favour to any one granchild. They were also older than my maternal grandmother. On second Sundays the family gathered at their house in Swalwell, Gateshead and she’d sit in her chair and watch us all. She died in 1969, Robert died in 1977.

Schooldays: In Burnopfield my sister and I attended Burnopfield Junior. I briefly attended a School in the Hobson. In Kensington, South Africa, we attended the local schools, namely Hillcrest Primary, Jeppe High and later I went on to Studywell Tutorial College in central Johannesburg. I can’t say I enjoyed my time in high school. I found it oppressive. The teachers were not much to shout about. Schools are for teaching, not ramming tradition and archaic rules down your throat.

Work: I have had three careers. The longest has been my Technical Writing career. I prefer to keep moving hence why I worked as a freelancer. Staying in one place too long dampens your motivation and limits your outlook.