Hilda Maud Goodchild

Hilda lived in Watford until she was 11. She attended Alexander Road Primary school, then got a scholarship to Watford Grammar School along with her sister Mabel. The family moved to Chiswell Green at that time and they had to walk 3 miles to Garston to catch a bus to Watford Grammar school until their mother could afford to buy them bicycles.

When she left school age 15 (withdrawn by her mother because Mabel had left with no qualifications) she went to work in a straw hat factory for a year. Then she lived with her sister Win and her friend in Market Harborough and attended typing school. When she returned home her mother took her to look for office work - but this did not pay highly so she went into tailoring for 8 years. There she sat next to a girl brought up in a children's home and was inspired to apply to work in the National Children's home in Harpenden. The doctor there advised her that she would make a good nurse so she applied to train at the Luton and Dunstable and then was a midwife until she married in 1946. After a 6-month courtship she married Dick Enstone, who she met through her sister Doll who was married to Dick's brother, Sid. Dick was in the process of divorcing his first wife who had changed her name by deed poll while he was on active service and was pregnant with twins.

Hilda and Dick lived in furnished rooms for a while until she got a job as a relief nurse to an old woman. There was a cottage attached to this position where they lived for 5 years. Dick's father then died and left enough money for a deposit on a house so they moved to Sussex Rd, Watford where they had Christopher. They then moved to Wynchland Cresecent, St Albans where they had Martin. From there they moved to Mayflower Rd, Park St. By then George and Dick had split up in their partnership as landscape gardeners. After a whilerelations were repaired - George came back to Dick, who arranged for George to park his lorry at Mayflower Rd. The neighbours objected so they had to give up the house and moved to Watford Rd, Chiswell Green. After a family dispute with George the house was sold to pay off the business debts and Hilda and Dick went as housekeeper and gardener to West Common, Harpenden for 5 years while the boys were at University. They saw a position advertised as gardener and assistant cook at Wall Hall College - they were there for 8 years, then allocated a council flat where they lived until Dick died in 1988. Hilda then obtained a sheltered accommodation flat where she lived until her death.

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