Peggy knew John was a trustworthy, honest man who would never cheat Doris, but she did hope he’d have the foresight to ensure she would not be left homeless if anything – God forbid – happened to him. His son had proved to be a complete rotter, and Peggy wouldn’t trust him to tell her the time of day – let alone honour his father’s commitment to Doris.

Wiping a speck of dust from the windowsill, she turned her thoughts to lighter things. With Rachel’s help and a good deal of coaxing, they’d persuaded Solly to allow Anne’s children to attend the factory’s crèche at a very reasonable rate. This had certainly relieved Anne of a good deal of worry, for the autumn term would begin next week.

Jack had managed to find a lovely little Ford with very low mileage for Martin which helped enormously now he and Anne were back and forth to their cottage on the other side of the Cliffe estate. Much to Peggy’s surprise and relief, work was going well on refurbishing the bathroom and kitchen, for it seemed that having Charlie and Frank to chivvy him along meant Ron was actually getting things done and not merely talking about doing it.

She turned from the window and headed downstairs to check on the evening meal that Cordelia had prepared and put in the oven earlier. She didn’t really have time to worry over everyone, although John’s back was still giving him trouble, and his wedding to Doris was in two days’ time, and Sarah seemed determined to keep her arrangements about leaving for Singapore – which was now less than two weeks away. It was Anne and Martin’s last night at Beach View, and thanks to Frank supplying the fish, there was a lovely pie simmering in a white sauce beneath a thick potato crust in the oven, and she’d managed to put together a trifle, which would be a real treat.

She checked on the fish pie and moved the large baking dish into the cooler oven so it didn’t dry out, and then placed the saucepans of sliced beans and garden peas on the hotplates to simmer. Someone had already laid the table, she noted, so there wasn’t much to do until it was time to dish up. She glanced up at the clock which was surrounded by all the photographs the girls had sent her, and smiled with great pride and affection.

There was Suzy looking radiant in her pregnancy with her little boy Teddy; Mary with her small son; Andy and Ivy on their wedding day; Ruby and Mike on theirs; and another of Rita and Peter taken on the church steps with Bertie’s Box Brownie. Doreen had sent a snapshot of herself with her girls and baby Archie looking very happy on a rug in the gardens of the private school where she worked as a secretary to the headmaster.

There were photographs of Fran and Robert; Cissy in her taxi company livery; Anne with her two girls; and one of Jim, looking rakishly handsome in his tropical uniform and slouch hat; and last but never least was one of Sally with Ernie and her little Harry.