Cecil's Early Years

Cecil was born on the 26th November, 1902, at the family home in Leytonstone, about the time that Ernest became a captain. Cecil may have been one of twins: his mother, soon after she became pregnant, fell down stairs and miscarried one. While Cecil maintained this story was untrue, Dorothy, Gill and Audrey were all pregnant with twins, which they lost.

Cecil - second from right in the picture - had an elder brother, Frank, and a younger brother, Kenneth, and two younger sisters, Dorothy (on Edith's knee) and Hilda. Cecil got on well with Frank, feared Kenneth, and was closest to Hilda.

Cecil's primary school was Kirkdale School. In the picture he is third from left in the third row, in front of the master, Mr Collett. I can count 51 boys in the picture all, presumably, in Mr Collett's class.

Cecil moved on to Leyton County High School where his footballing skills were so good that, on arrival, he was immediately picked for the first XI. He wasn't really interested in lessons though he did do well in botany, his passion being for sports, particularly soccer and cricket. He had lessons on the piano and on the violin and played in the school orchestra. While he was never as accomplished as his older brother, Frank, who became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Cecil developed a talent for accompanying singers on the piano.