Spotlight - "Pennies from Heaven" - The story of Janet Hodge
This is a photo of Janet giving out the Fruit and Veg for St Andrew's Food Co-op
Janet was born in 1923 near St Andrew's Church at 66 St Dunstan's Road. As one of thirteen children (Janet was no 7) she had a busy start to her life.
The House was a traditional 'two up, two down' so bath time was in the scullery. Janet says "if you were naughty you got the last bath with dirty water!"
All the children slept in the same single bad, head to toe, there was not much room and very often Janet woke up with a big toe up her nose!
Janet's grandparents lived next door (64 St Dunstan's Road). Every Saturday the children would get a penny each pocket money. Janet's grandfather told the them
to go out into the garden and look up to the skies. He would then crouch down in his garden and throw pennies over the fence. Janet and her sibblings were convinced they were pennies from heaven.
Janet spent half her pocket money on a daisy bike hire.
As Janet was in her mid teens during the war, she was not evacuated. She employed her time doing odd jobs and supporting the family.
Janet's first major job was as a school cook. She worked in the workhouse which provided school dinners for over 2000 pupils a day. As the schools had no kitchens or canteens of there own, the pupils ate these meals at their desks.
Janet got married to Richard in St Alban's Church in 1947. They moved to a room in Claybrook Rd then eventually to a requisitioned property in Moylan Rd.
Their new home was near St Augustine's Church which was bombed during the war. (Only the hall was left which was used for a while.)
Schools eventually built kitchens and canteens and Janet moved to Bramber Rd school to cook dinners there.
Janet and Richard moved to the Clematlee Estate for a while then later moved to Vereker Rd when the building was pulled down.
When Janet married Richard she knew he was suffering from emphesemia (Brought on by his service in the war). This made him disabled but Janet looked after him until he passed away in 1990.
Janet and Richard had been attending St Andrew's Church since 1976. Janet used her spare time to work for the church, cleaning and doing laundry.
She also helped with the Sunday morning breakfasts which raised money for the church and charities.
Janet has been responsible for two interregnas and has been a PCC member for 10 years.
In May 2006 Janet slipped on the steps of the Lady Chapel and broke her leg and fractured her knee. She was hospitalised for months. Her leg has heeled but her knee is still not right.
The doctors say that she will need a knew knee cap. She requires a walking stick to get around but nothing will stop her from attending all the services at St Andrew's.
Janet is a trooper and is one of the rocks of St Andrew's. She has lots of great stories to tell and has seen many changes in Fulham.
Janet has two sons, Brian and David and five grandsons, all boys.
by Peter (Webmaster)
Thank you Janet for allowing me to write this piece, it is an honor to know you.