My grandparents married in Hong Kong in 1927 (which was a British colony until 1997) and then continued the journey together to Shanghai.
In some ways it was very much like a European city with many buildings such as the houses, schools and churches, all built in keeping with European styles and standards. Never-the-less in many other ways it would have been so very different from life in England. How exciting it must have been to arrive in such a far-away place and discover a whole new world.
Public School for Chinese marchng band
While Grandfather’s teaching post was with a school for Chinese children run by the Shanghai municipal government where he became the deputy headmaster, Grannie worked as a teacher in a nursery school for English children.
“Anyone for tennis?”
My grandmother in the 1930s
I’m sure, as a vivacious, beautiful young woman, she threw herself whole heartedly into enjoying the expat life! She no doubt relished the freedom from her strict parents. I believe it was the romance of life in Shanghai that attracted her as much as my grandfather and as Europeans living in Shanghai they were welcome among the social élite.
In 1929 my father was born. It was the custom for expectant mothers to deliver their babies in Hong Kong but my grandmother refused to go so my Dad was born in China, which presumably meant he was a Chinese citizen. (So am I half Chinese?!)
My father with his Amah
Father had an ‘amah’ or nurse who looked after him. My grandmother used to tell me how she’d tell his amah off for feeding him street food. He once caught dysentery and very nearly died but he eventually pulled through and regained his health.
Whenever Grannie stayed with us, or us with her, she would always have an afternoon nap. We’d nag Mum and Dad until they’d let us go up and wake her. Then we’d sit on the bed while she’d tell us another story. I dearly wish I had spoken to her more about her life when I was a little older and written it all down. One of her stories was of when she was on holiday and how she used to haggle every day with the same shop keeper over a pair of vases she wanted. They were made of brass and had the most beautiful bird with a long flowing tail engraved in each of them, inlaid in various shades of gold and silver. On the last day of her holiday she finally bought them for a fraction of the price originally requested. They would now be worth a lot of money if she hadn’t repeatedly polished them, wearing away the precious metal inlay. I still have one of them in my living room. If you polish it the bird almost completely disappears but if you leave it to tarnish the colours re-emerge and it is still very beautiful.
Bubbling Well Road, Shanghai 1928 courtesy of Northampton Museum
My father in his Cathedral School cap
My grandparents lived in Bubbling Well Road (now West Nanjing Road) which ran through the centre of Shanghai. Like Ballard, author of Empire of the Sun, my father went to the Cathedral School. One morning, many years later, he was sitting in bed, reading his Sunday paper, when he recognised his old school uniform pictured in an article about Ballard’s book being made in to a film. What memories that must have brought back. Now 83 years old, he has seldom talked about growing up in Shanghai but one Sunday afternoon in May, we sat down together in my parents’ living room and he told me many wonderful memories about his childhood. I also discovered for the first time what my father had tried to forget.
Shanghai Part 1: The Perfect Grandmother
Shanghai Part 3: The Journey Home to Jessfield
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Wonderful site! Warmest congratulations on your excellent blog. I myself lived in China from 1947 to 1951 and it is always a great pleasure to learn about other experiences enjoyed by people like your parents and grand parents!
Glad you enjoyed it and if you ever write down your story, please do let me know.
Kat, my father was born in Shanghai in 1933 and left in 1946. He went to a cathedral school and both his mum and Aunty were school teachers. He dad was a barrister and taught law in Manchuria University. My dad is now 86. I am currently travelling through China and am in Shanghai with my husband. We are going to visit the old Bubblung well Rd today to see if we can find the site of their apartment. (Cnr Yuyuen and Hart Rd, Conty Apartments ). I would love to share my photos with you once we have visited there!
Oh my goodness! I’d love to see your photos, Jane, and share them on here if that’s OK, please? My email address is [email protected].
So they lived on the same street, although your Dad is 4 years younger than mine. I bet it was the same school too. And I’m sure their parents would have known each other. May I ask, are you English? I thought everyone who didn’t leave in 1939 got inturned. Have you seen the film Empire of the Sun (about an English boy who was inturned)? My Dad recognised the boy’s uniform from the Cathedral School.
I hope you find the apartment’s location. I can’t wait to hear all about it. How exciting! Wish I was there with you. Have a great day and please do let me know how you get on. Kat x
I dont know how your story on Shanghai popped up on my screen – but I took it as a sign to email you.
I am in the process of writing my families story which involved 20 years for some of the family of living in Shanghai , and more than 30 years for other members. My mother was born in Shanghai in 1921 and her sister in 1923 and brother in 1926. My grandmother was born in Kiev in 1900. The family moved to Harbin in 1908 then to Shanghai in 1920. My grandmother worked as a chemist in her own pharmacy in Bubbling Well Rd. As my grandmother was Russian she was described as ‘stateless’ and her children as ‘Chinese’. My grandmother married a British national who was an officer in a fire station in the International Settlement. He adopted my mother and her siblings so they were on his passport and able to leave Shanghai for Australia in 1940.
I think your father would have retained his British nationality.
I adored my grandmother and loved being with her although she didn’t like talking about China. My mother told me most of what I know about family stories in China and I have been using a range of sources in my research to put these stories in context.
Best wishes
Anne
Hi Anne, Thank you so much for getting in touch. I’m pretty sure our grandmothers must have known each other (even if only in passing) as your grandmother’s pharmacy was in the road my grandmother lived in. Have you written down your mother’s stories form China? I would love to read them.
I’m in the process of writing a comprehensive story which is taking on a life of its own – more like a PhD thesis than an overview. So it is taking ages as I am researching the context of their actions to various events in their lives. The research is based on the contents of 6 photo albums I inherited (about 4,000 photos), my mothers brief notes, immigration records and death certificates, a range of secondary sources and a few hours of googling every day. I have allowed another 12 months to finish it. I’ll let you know when it is finished.
Have you looked up anything on the school your grandfather taught in. The Shanghai Municipal Council’s annual reports, which are online and go back into the 19th century, are useful.
Best wishes
Anne
That does sound like a huge project! Please do let me know when it is finished. It sounds fascinating.
No, I haven’t looked at their records. I must make the time to do that! Thank you and good luck with your research and all your hard work, Kathryn
It is now almost 8 years since I wrote to your web page. I have now finished the first draft of three biographies. (1) my grandmother born in Kiev in 1900, lived in Harbin and Shanghai until 1940 then migrated to Perth (Aust). (2) My biological grandfather -my grandmother’s Portuguese lover and father to their three children. (3) my adoptive grandfather who married my grandmother and became a British citizen and migrated to Australia with him and her 3 children .
I’ll let you know when I produce the second draft and start thinking of putting all biographies on a specific website of its own.
Anne
Hello Anne! How excitiing! Thank you so much for keeping me in the loop. I can’t wait to read your website. Do shout if you need a hand. best wishes, Kathryn
Hi Kat, I’m new here…found you through another Wordpress blogger:) I love these images and the stories behind them. I am a sucker for vintage photos…there is something about them that I truly enjoy — the history of what once was, and that moment frozen in time…
Thank for sharing, glad to have connected!
Thanks for popping by. Hope you’ll visit again soon!
Oh, it must be wonderful to have a grandparent tell you stories like these. I only knew one grandparent and I never got told any stories. Thanks for sharing, I’ll be watching for more.
Yes, it was great. I miss both my grandmothers still and I wish I had a chance to know my grandfathers. I’ve Started writting the next part but it’s not so easy!
Beautiful Kathryn! You have now piqued my interest for the rest of the story 🙂
Thanks Madhu and sorry I’ve not been on your site for a while – will catch-up when I get the chance!
No issues. Am way behind myself, just never seem to be able to catch up!
Beautiful! I suddenly remembered my grandparents after reading your post. 🙁
Thanks Miguel. I miss both my grandmothers. Sadly I never really knew either of my grandfathers.
I really hope you’re considering writing a book about your grandparents and their lives 🙂
Indeed I am but it will be quite a challenge. The story here is just a glimpse into their lives. I hope to find out more about my mother’s family too. Just finding the time is difficult.
I’d also really like to talk to any Chinese still alive that remember those times to hear about it from their point of view.
This is lovely Kathryn – I’m now intriuged to find out what happens next…
Thanks Suzanne 🙂
Just love that kind of storie, thanks sharing… 😉
My pleasure and thank you for reading it.
I’m enjoying this (apparently 10 years after the last posting)!