[Syd Foley’s memoir begins with a description of the ‘one room, a first-floor front’ that he, his sister Flo and mum lived in, and how lonely and quiet it was to go home for lunch for ‘margarine sandwiches’ since his mother was at work. In this extract, he writes about returning home in the evening.] 

The house was alive now with domestic content. Upstairs Mrs Mack was shuffling about getting something tasty for Old Mack’s tea […] In the back room Annie the ironer had come home and we could hear Gran Smith scolding her for being late […] Downstairs Uncle Bob had his gramophone going while Aunt Mag clattered and nagged.