Kerry Wright, et al - 1955

In 1955, when I was 5, I began my schooling at Narrabeen Infants' School, located in Ocean Street, Narrabeen, at the corner of King Street, not far from my childhood home in nearby Mactier Street. Here I am in the 1955 kindergarten class of post-WWII Baby Boomers. That's me, Kerry Wright, in the third row from the front, fifth from the left. I spent three years at Narrabeen Infants' School from 1955-1957. It was only a short walk from home and Mum would walk me across busy Pittwater Road each morning, to see me safely on my way. 

All the teachers were female and generally caring for the most part, albeit in a somewhat strict authoritarian way, in accordance with the teaching methods of the day. The school was in an absolutely stunning location, with its main entrance directly opposite the ocean. The school grounds were generously planted with grand old statuesque pine trees, one of which can be seen in the above photo. 

I vividly remember two incidents from my time at Narrabeen Infants', one good and the other not so good. First the good. All the children were assembled one day to hear a visitor speak about classical music. Among other pieces, she played a recording of Claude Debussy's beautiful "Claire de Lune" on the gramophone. It left an indelible impression upon me, starting a life-long love and appreciation of classical music that continues to this very day. 

And the not so good? You will remember that I mentioned how strict the teachers were. It was the teaching style of the day. Children were expected to sit still and not speak. Well, on this one particular occasion, I remember I needed to wee-wee very urgently. My dilemma was that I was too shy and nervous to raise my hand and bring the attention of the entire class to me, not to mention the possible wrath of the teacher. So I sat tight, hoping I would be able to make it through to the next break. Alas, that was not to be. With startling clarity, I can still recall looking down into my lap and seeing a triangular shaped yellow puddle, contained by my trembling little legs in their grey serge school-shorts. Not exactly a propitious beginning to my academic career.

Ray & Bill Wright, et al - 1920s

Ray & Bill Wright, et al - 1920s

This photo of  Dad, Raymond Harry (Ray) Wright (front) and his brother, William Percival (Bill) Wright, was taken in the 1920s. I am guessing from the bevy of beauties surrounding Dad and Uncle Bill that it may have been taken at the guesthouse of my paternal grandmother, Mary Ann Mullens nee Wright, known within the family as Nanny Mullens. The guesthouse, "Kegworth", was at 207 Ocean Street, Narrabeen, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. It is known that my Wright ancestors originally came to Australia from Leicestershire in England and as there is a village in Leicestershire named Kegworth, it is now presumed the family came from that vicinity. 

I never knew my paternal grandmother, who died before I was born, so I will refer to her here as Mary Ann. Her guest house specialised in providing young city women from Sydney with a holiday by the sea. The house backed directly onto the beach. I never knew my Uncle Bill either. He died tragically young, not so long after this photo was taken. I understand there had been a storm which had blown-down power lines in Florence Avenue, Long Reef. Uncle Bill stepped in a puddle where the power lines had fallen and was electrocuted. 

I am guessing the older woman seen to the right in this picture could be Mary Ann, primarily because the guesthouse catered only to young women and she would have been the only older woman in the house. And I have sometimes wondered if the pretty girl at left, leaning against Dad's shoulder, might be his first wife, Mary Brenda Hunt, who died in childbirth in 1927.

There are many secrets within the family involving Mary Ann, much of which I have only  managed to unearth with the assistance of a genealogist in recent years. Primarily, it can now be revealed that all four of her son's - Raymond, William, Alan and Reginald - were born  illegitimately, even though it is the genealogist's opinion that they were all probably fathered by the same man - John Francis Mullens. Mary Ann and John eventually married in 1938, many years after the birth of their four sons and just two years before John died. There is no record that Mary Ann was ever married before then. They couldn't marry prior to that because John was already married - twice - at the same time - to two different women - and he went to prison for bigamy because of it. John couldn't divorce his first, legitimate wife, because he was Catholic and I am guessing the second, bigamous marriage was annulled.  It is not known if his first, legitimate wife had died by 1938, when he and Mary Ann married. If she was still alive, it would mean his marriage to Mary Ann was also bigamous. 

John Francis Mullens - 1907