The five generations of British females in one family in this remarkable photograph tell us much about how life has changed over the past century.
When great-great-grandmother Dulcie Phillips, 89, was a child, a typical house in Britain cost £800 (Dh4,650) and the average weekly wage was £1.20. She and her husband William, now 94, have lived in the same house for more than 60 years. Her daughter Angela Troughton, 66, has been happily married for 48 years and, like Dulcie, has never been abroad.
Both Dulcie and Angela took time off work to look after their children. By contrast, Dulcie’s granddaughter Rhonda, 40, is a single mum who struggles to make ends meet raising her three children on her own. And Dulcie’s great-granddaughter Natasha Troughton was just 17 when she gave birth to baby Ruby.
These are their very different stories…
THE GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
Dulcie left school at 14 and worked as a waitress at a hotel in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, where she later met her husband, William, an airman who was based at nearby RAF Marham. Married at 20, she devoted her life to raising her four children — often left to look after them on her own, while her husband was fighting in the Second World War.
She is now the matriarch of a family that boasts 17 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She has lived in the same semi-detached house at Tilney St Lawrence, Norfolk, for well over 60 years and while she has never left England, her large family is now scattered all over the world – including one granddaughter and two great-grandchildren in Dubai.
Dulcie, married for 69 years, says: “Society’s changed. Children are not like they used to be. We had to do what we were told. How many children do that now?
“When I became a mother it was accepted that you would give up work to look after your children. Being a parent was an important job.
“I gave up work when the children were small, but I went back to work when they went to school. Once you have them you should look after them yourself. It’s difficult for women these days to juggle jobs and children, but why have kids in the first place if you can’t look after them?
“I’ve got so many grandchildren I can’t always remember their names, but I never forget their birthdays. I love them all the same. It’s wonderful to see your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. I never thought I’d live to see my great-great-grandchildren though!’’
Dulcie, who has never set foot outside the UK, says, “Looking back, I wish I had travelled a bit more. I’d love to go see my granddaughter Faye and her youngsters in Dubai, but I’m too old to travel that far. Luckily she always comes to see me when she’s home.’’
THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
Angela Troughton, 66, is Dulcie’s eldest daughter. She has been married to Paul, also 66, for 48 years.
She left school at 15, married Paul at 18 and was a mother at 19. She gave up work as a hairdresser to raise her seven children, which included two sets of twins.
She now has 13 grandchildren. Living close to her parents, she is still in the same house she’s lived in for 45 years.
Angela says: “Children grow up too quickly. They’re not children long enough these days. Now they get everything easy. I’m not sure they know the value of things like we did… I always wanted to have a big family and was lucky enough to have them. I enjoyed having them younger because I could be young with them. If I’d had them later I wouldn’t have had the energy I had then. I’m glad I was a young mum.
“When they were at school I did take on jobs to help with the family income but I was always there to look after them. Children need their mother.
“I’ve always lived near to my parents, but some of my children have moved away. I don’t mind if I don’t see the children that often, as long as I know they are happy.
“I’ve never had a foreign holiday – I’ve never been out of Britain. I see the younger generations going abroad, but I don’t
want to. My favourite holiday destination is Wales.”
THE GRANDMOTHER
Rhonda Troughton, 40, is a single mum to three children and lives around ten kilometres away from her parents and grandparents.
She juggles work as a medical secretary at a local hospital with looking after her children and now has another mouth to feed with baby Ruby.
Rhonda was engaged to the businessman father of her kids, but they separated six years ago without tying the knot.
Rhonda says: “I’m old fashioned and wanted to be married, however things didn’t work out that way.
“We split up because my partner met someone else, so being married wouldn’t have changed anything. He still would have left.
“Some of my friends who got married are now divorced or separated. Marriage doesn’t mean the same today because people know they can split up if things go wrong.
“My parents were quite strict with us and I tried to do the same with my children but it’s hard when you’re on your own.
“Kids want everything their friends have and there’s pressure to give them what they want.
“I’ve always worked, even when the children were born. When I split from my partner I had to work even harder, but luckily my mother [Angela Troughton] looked after my children while I went to work.
“When I came home after being at work all day often I’d be too tired to enjoy them. I’ll be honest sometimes looking after them became a bit of a chore. But I didn’t have a choice.
“It was a shock when Natasha fell pregnant. She knew what a responsibility it was to bring a child into the world, but she decided to keep Ruby. I’m glad she did.
“It’s like having another child because Natasha and the baby are living with me.”
THE MOTHER
Natasha Troughton was 17 and hoping to train as a psychologist when she became pregnant. She had to give up college when she had Ruby. She split from Ruby’s father four months after the birth and still lives with her mum, Rhonda.
Natasha, now 18, says: “It was tough being pregnant at that age. It wasn’t planned. I told my friends and college tutors and they were supportive, although I did get some cruel comments from other people, who were really judgmental. Ruby’s father was the same age as me but he wasn’t ready to be a dad.
“I feel I’m missing out on a normal teenager’s life. I can’t go out like I used to, I can’t go on holiday and money’s tight, but I just have to get on with it. It’s a little strange to think of myself as a mum. Normally I fuss over my mum but soon Ruby will be doing the same to me.”
Dulcie’s Dubai connection
One of Dulcie’s 17 grandchildren has lived in Dubai since 2003. Faye Brown is married to husband Craig, who is director of Hi-Force FZCO, based at the Jebel Ali Free Zone. Since they married in 2005, they’ve had two children, Matthew and Megan, both born in Dubai. Faye, now 31, has happy childhood memories of her grandmother, Dulcie. “My two sisters and I used to stay with Nan every summer. She used to take us to the seaside and we had a lovely time… Despite having such a big family, she never forgets a birthday and I always go to see her when I’m back in the UK.”
