LETTER - ‘Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Chambers’

May I, on behalf of numerous ‘children of the Fifties/Sixties’ send a message of congratulation, albeit a little belatedly, to Mr and Mrs Alf and Janet Chambers.

Mrs Chambers of course, as the report of June 26 (Diss Express) stated, was Aunt Jane of the Children’s corner, a popular feature in the paper at a time when children did not have the range of amusements (TV, mobile phone or tablet) available today. Even if these items had been invented, parents unless very rich would not have been able to afford to buy them.

Christmas presents were likely to be a colouring book and crayons, doll or small toy car and a small assortment of chocolate coins in gold foil, a few nuts and an orange.

It was exciting to spend time, as I recall one competition, trying to think of as many homonyms as possible (allowed/aloud, sea/see, altar/alter, ball/bawl).

The winner would receive a book that mother would collect from the Express office when visiting Diss on Friday market day.

Can you name a fruit beginning with every letter of the alphabet? Apple, blackberry... Would children of today be interested in spending time with that?

How times have changed. A pity. Thank you Aunt Jane for a delightful ‘corner’.

Valerie Grose

Parkside Court

Diss