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I am Michael Chaston Utting - Born 16/May/1929 in Lowestoft, Suffolk.UK.
I came to AUSTRALIA by sea Dec/Jan 1963, and lived in Albion Park, New South Wales, then Sydney and suburbs for several years before returning to Albion Park.
My mother born Florence Evelyn Leighton on 27/Nov/1904 in Lowestoft,Suffolk. Married my father Percival Chaston Utting in Lowestoft Sept/18/1924.He was Manager of "Edwards" Tailors on the High Street Lowestoft for all of his working life. He was very popular in the town and was always called on to organize any important events, was on committees of several Clubs and Associations, and at one stage was Mayor of Lowestoft (I think it was around 1948/1950?)
My Mother came out and joined me when I was living in Penrith NSW. My Cousin and his family moved to Katoomba to take a lease on a Motel, so we moved up there to help them settle in. After a couple of weeks Mum saw an advert for the lease/sale of a 1920's sold brick and oak property on a double block, with its own Croquet Court - Mum fell in love with it and wanted to run it as a Guest House - It was in a very run-down condition but we could both see the potential. The entrance hall was about 30ft long, but looked drab with an old and worn carpet runner and lime green distemper walls and heavily flaking, but very nice decorated ceilings throughout the whole home - which also had 4ft high solid oak panelling in perfect condition. We found a good handyman/painter, and put him on a full time basis. He started by sanding back the ceilings in all the rooms and hall. they had all been flaking because someone had mixed whitewash with calcamite, and had to be treated with "bindanol" after stripping back, in order to prevent further flaking. Enough to say that while this was going on, and after the hall ceiling was finished I went out and ordered a Regency Red and Gold striped wallpaper, with full width Regency Red carpet plus two large hanging coach lamps with large 200 watt bulbs in each. The effect was magic, but that was only the start - but has to end here.
Mum died when we had again returned to Albion Park at age 96 (Most of the family died at around 94/98yrs old. I am 78 at the moment (Dec.2007)
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