My first commission - designing a bungalow for my parents.

Eileen and I visiting the new bungalow

Once the exams were over, the end of year celebrations could commence. It was the conclusion of five years of study so there was much to celebrate. There were several events to go to, including the official revue at the Empire Theatre and a special end of year dance.

When I packed up for the summer holidays I knew I would miss Eileen even though I would be starting work in Newcastle in September. Back in Peterborough, I invited Eileen to stay for a few days so I could show her my family life. Everything went well for that first meeting: Mother was happy in her old home environment and she made Eileen welcome; Father was a good host and my sister, Betty, seemed to get on well with her. Things became a little uneasy when it came to Sunday morning and I had to drop Eileen off at the local Catholic Church for her to attend Mass. Other than that, there were no awkward moments. However, we weren't ready to tell anyone at this stage that we were planning to get married. 

The most important thing for my family at that time was the building of their new bungalow which was now well-advanced.  We would soon be moving from Newark Avenue, in the centre of Peterborough, to Royston Avenue in Orton Longueville. At this time, 1959, Father was 59 and Mother was 61. Imminent retirement at 65 had prompted my father to move into his own property, because the house in Newark Avenue was rented from the British Sugar Corporation where my father worked as a Senior Purchasing Officer. The new place would be fairly near the BSC offices on Oundle Road. 

Over the years he must have been putting money aside in order to buy his own property. He had taken the plunge and bought a plot of land on a new development by a local builder. Each property was to be individually designed by the purchaser or selected from a catalogue of house types. Father had decided to put his trust in my design ability and gave me my first commission. He was never one for words of praise and encouragement so I was very flattered by him putting his trust in me. I put a lot of energy into the design in the summer of 1958. It was a great opportunity to test my architectural skills not only in design but other aspects of building project management such as site surveying, planning procedures and financial control. I had to produce drawings in sufficient detail to agree a firm price with the builder. 

In the following months, expenditure on the new house must have been a worry to him. The original design was for three bedrooms but this was reduced to two, with the planned attached garage converted into another small room. A cheaper detached garage was built on the other side of the house. However it was clearly a move upmarket and, after a number of years in a 1930s house, Mother was looking forward to her brand new bungalow. To Father it was a headache. 

Later that summer I made it clear to my family that I intended to get married to Eileen. It was evident that my parents did not approve. My sister, Betty, who was single at the time and still at home, decided to keep well out of it. 

Me, Mother, Father and Betty

The house move didn't seem significant at the time but, on reflection, it was a milestone that would affect all our lives. I still considered myself part of the family but, with my decision to stay in Newcastle and the fact that there would be no room for me in the new bungalow apart from for occasional visits, I felt I was likely to be detached from my family as I began my own career. 

Things were never the same again at home.