[Maud Clarke was one of seven children]

Children were sent to bed soon after teatime, all except baby who lay in a rocker wooden cradle by the fire, as mother sat with her endless sewing, mending and darning.

She soothed the often restless baby, by gently rocking the cradle with her foot, thus releasing her hands for this very necessary task. At this time we knew not of gramophones, radio or television, as mother sang a lullaby in the lamp-light, there being no gas-light (except in a few homes) nor electricity.