Assignment one: Earliest Memory 10/10/2011

Ron Wills remembers the tribute from gypsies at the death of his sister, when he was two.

The retired 82-year-old Bournemouth-based resident speaks with a broad Dorset accent.

(Mr. Ron Wills stands outside his house in Winton.
His sister died when she was five, and he was only two.)

“There were seven of us you see; three sisters and the rest of us were boys” Ron said.

“I was born on Wrenwood Road, and there was a Common right behind us where the gypsies used to live in winter.”

Ron’s sister died 80 years ago. “It was 1931 when my sister died and they covered the ground in front of our house with reeds and flowers. She was five.”

The Romany gypsies paid the younger Master Wills a penny to feed their chickens. He smiles as he remembers how, as a boy, he used to sit and watch the women make clothes pegs.

“At Christmas, they used to send me home with bags of them for my mother and we gave them water for their horses in return. I mean, you talk about travellers these days, but these were proper travellers, you know.”

Mr. Wills compares his fond memories of the gypsies with the modern day negative conception of travellers. “Beautiful people they were,” he says.

Mr. Wills’ father owned a hauling business, where Mr. Wills worked until he was drafted into the army 65 years ago. Mr. Wills remained in the army before returning to Dorset.

Mr. Wills turns 83 in January and will be celebrating with his wife, two children and four grandchildren.

Mr. Wills is still a resident in Bournemouth but has since moved to Parker Road.