Shiny Pennies and Grubby Pinafores: How We Overcame Hardship to Raise a Happy Family in the 1950s

by Winifred Foley

After her years in domestic service, Winifred Foley married and started a family. But, while scraping a living as a charwoman in a rundown north London tenement, she continued to long for her home in the Forest of Dean and the cherished relatives she had left behind. Determined to give their children the rural upbringing she had enjoyed, the young couple moved to an isolated, crumbling cottage not far from the Forest. But even in the 1950s they lacked heating or running water, and money was tight. Food was begged, borrowed, or home-grown, and their clothes were hand-me-downs. It was a primitive life of hard work on the land, struggling to make ends meet, and finding strength in the embrace of a loving family.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2010

About the author

Her first book, A Child in the Forest, was published by the BBC in 1974 after it was aired as a Woman's Hour serial on the radio the previous year.

It became the first of the celebrated Forest Trilogy. Chronicling her experiences of growing up in poverty in the Forest of Dean, the story subsequently inspired a BBC Television drama Abide with Me (1977).

The book's sequel, No Pipe Dreams for Father (1977), charted her teenage years, while the concluding volume, Back to the Forest (1981), described Winifred Foley's return to the Forest of Dean with a family of her own after the Second World War.

Born in 1914 in the mining village of Brierley, near Cinderford, Winnie was the daughter of a miner who was blacklisted for being a local leader in the General Strike of 1926.

Never having enough food to eat or warm clothes to wear cemented her lifelong socialist views, as did the influence of her husband Syd. She met her him at a political meeting while she was in service in London and they married on Christmas Day 1938.

A Child in the Forest started life as a handwritten scrawl in dog-eared exercise books before finding its way to the BBC in Bristol.

Later, the book financed a pleasant cottage in Cliffords Mesne, near Newent, where painting became an interest. Finally, after her husband's death, she moved to Cheltenham, where she had gone into service as a teenager.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, it was well written and covered a period during the baby boomer years in London and the Forest of Dean. I suppose because I was originally born in the Forest and the ages of the people in this book was similar to those of my parents and siblings that it was of particular interest. Many of the stories told brought memories from my own childhood and surroundings.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this book still fresh in my mind, I feel able to give an honest and accurate review. At first, I did struggle to get into the storyline. I had to use paragraphs as chapters due to there being none, although that wasn't really a problem. The story just jump around a bit but that is to be expected with memoirs (from past reading experience). I am glad I managed to settle into the story though. Full of sadness and laughter at times, I am now left wanting to read the previous book, mostly thanks to the last few chapters that speak of Winifred's childhood (the book is divided into several parts, and the last part does have actual chapters). Overall, I am left wanting to read more!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really lovely read, Winifred fogeys reminisces of her life made very interesting reading, she didn't hold back on how hard it was or how poor they were but the love and support her family got and gave shone through the pages and made it sound a much better and richer time. For all the material goods we now have I sometimes think we have lost so much and become poorer in so ways as there is so much we no longer have time for or aprechiate. Reading this lets you focus on the positives and the good things and makes you be so grateful for what you have.

[Nikki Dean Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, easy to read, well written and at times made me laugh out loud. It portrayed how hard life must have been for an everyday family back in the 1950's, wonderfully insightful. Would recommend.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love social history books and this one didn't fail. I loved the characters and marvelled at their resilience. There are some amazingly funny quotes and poignant moments, some of which I could relate to. It's a book to ponder over after the last page has been read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Alex Klaushofer]

Not the most literary of books but gives a real insight into a time gone by.

[Wendy tubb]

I found the book interesting, but found it hard reading the country life dialog.

[Pinkyjoanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant :)

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

a lovely autobiography, the hardships that a family suffer in the 1950s.
But they have a loving family and a community that help each other.

[Heather Copping · Rating 4 out of 5]

England in a bygone era, amusing and enjoyable.

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read about half then gave up

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought it might get more interesting and stuck it out to the end. Didn’t captivate me in the slightest.

[Bobbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a follow-on from her first book, focusing on raising a family in the 50s in a run-down cottage not far from where she grew up.

I felt the book started off well; I enjoyed the passages about her working hard and saving up to transform their home, and found some amusement when some of her ideas weren't as well-executed as she envisioned.

Unfortunately the book started to drag halfway through. I think the choice to not structure and separate the content into chapters did not work. Some of the writing felt long-winded as a result and I struggled to finish it with only mild interest in what was happening. The section right at the end is a collection of very short chapters about brief memories from her childhood - they felt a bit out of place randomly put in at the end, but I found them enjoyable to read and it was nice bonus content.

[Marianne Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply sweet story telling. Every single page, I thought the BBC should make a series out of this lady's writings. She was so genuine, honest and heartwarming. She painted a picture of a world that no longer exists except in the memories of some really old baby boomers.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice escapism to a time when life was simpler

[Sue Hickling]

good read .

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning writing. A remarkable slice of history

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not normally what I read but I needed something light to read during a stressful time. It was just the ticket to be honest and I enjoyed reading about her children growing up in their rural home. The last few chapters spoiled the book for me though as Winifred suddenly changed to writing about her own childhood again and this altered the whole flow of the book.

Merged review:

I enjoyed this book which told the story of growing up in the Forest of Dean in the 1950s.
I like Winifred Foley’s style of writing, it’s just right for those days.