IN the hope that Nostalgia readers enjoyed as much as I did Mr Brian Gregory's account of his grandfather, Highfield Hall coachman Edward Gregory, and his family, I should complete the story, based on the memories of his aunt Ellen who died earlier this year at the age of 90.

After the family left Highfield Hall for Hatfield Road in 1920, Ellen worked at a bakery (probably Slaters) for a short time, but then left to train as a hairdresser at a salon at the bottom of Camp Road, near the junction with Sutton Road.

"She travelled to London to attend courses in fashionable hair-styling techniques, such as the modish 'Eugene' style done with the wonderful new electric curlers," Mr Gregory told me.

His father, her brother Fred, made friends with their neighbour on Hatfield Road, James Ashworth, who had a motorbike and worked as an apprentice grocer at the St Albans Co-operative Grocery.

"Ellen and James were attracted to each other, but as he was six years older than her, he waited until Ellen was over 17 before he asked her out," her nephew told me.

"Their courtship was innocent and honourable, consisting of pillion-seat rides out to Nomansland and other commons, where they would sit in the sun talking until it was time to go home again.

"Ellen nearly lost her brother and future husband when they were on a motorbike and were hit by a motorcycle coming out of a side turning.

"Fred was fortunate to escape serious injury, but James' leg was so badly damaged that amputation was considered.

"His shin bone was repaired with a plate at the Royal Free Hospital and he needed months of recuperation.

James was back at work when he and Ellen wanted to get married. As they were both shop workers they had to work on Saturdays, but the vicar of St Pauls in Hatfield Road said that a Sunday marriage was out of the question.

"He relented and made a special exception when they said they would otherwise get married in a registry office.

"The ceremony took place on Sunday, July 31, 1932. Ellen was aged 21, and they went on honeymoon to Torquay in James' three-wheeler Morgan."

Although Ellen bought the hairdressing business, the couple moved to London, and later lived in Kingston-on-Thames.

Fred stayed in St Albans, at first following in his father's footsteps as a gardener, but then working in catering in Cell Barnes hospital.

He lived in Drakes Drive, then called Bisney Road, before moving to Beastney Road, as Hill End Lane used to be called.

November 6, 2001 10:30