The Silver Ladies Do Lunch

Judy Leigh

Description

THE TOP 10 BESTSELLER

When Lin, Josie and Minnie left Miss Hamilton’s class at Middleton Ferris County Primary School, sixty years ago, they could only dream about what the future had in store for them. The one thing they knew for certain was that their friendship would thrive.

Years later and life hasn’t always been kind. Josie is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband Harry a year after his sudden demise. Lin is hoping to celebrate her fiftieth wedding anniversary with husband Neil, but he’s suddenly keeping secrets and telling her lies, so she’s suspecting the worst And as for Minnie, well she loves her life in Oxford academia, but with no family to call her own, she sometimes wonders if the sacrifices were all worthwhile.

So, when the ninety-year-old Miss Hamilton – or Cecily as she lets them call her now – glides gracefully back into their lives on her glamorous purple mobility scooter, the ladies are in need of inspiration and fun. And over their regular lunches, the friends start to dream of leaving the past in the past and embracing the future, because there’s nothing you can’t achieve with good friends at your side.

Judy Leigh is back with the perfect blend of fun and friendship, capers and caring. The perfect feel-good story for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

Readers love Judy Leigh:

‘I have been a fan of Judy's work for quite a while now. I love the way in which she writes such fun, feel good, heart-warming and uplifting stories.’

‘The Golden Oldies’ Book Club is an entertaining read, written with warmth, humour and a message not to let chances slip by. Themes of friendship, community and navigating life and its opportunities run throughout.’

‘A lovely warm read about family and closeness. This author never disappoints, always a joy to find one of her books which I haven’t read.’

‘Such a good read. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their lives as we are gradually introduced. It's refreshing to have a cast of older characters in the lead - reminds everyone that life isn't over when you reach middle age and beyond.’

‘A captivating cosy read written with warmth and humour—friendship, emotion, love, joy, and laughter are abundant throughout the pages of this wonderful story.’

Praise for Judy Leigh:

‘Brilliantly funny, emotional and uplifting’ Miranda Dickinson

'Lovely . . . a book that assures that life is far from over at seventy' Cathy Hopkins{::} bestselling author of The Kicking the Bucket List

'Brimming with warmth, humour and a love of life… a wonderful escapade’ Fiona Gibson

Sujets

• Holidays
• Siblings
• Humorous
• Women
• Reino Unido
• 21st century
• Sibling
• General officer
• Woman
• United Kingdom
• The Women
• Great Britain
• General
• Holiday
• Family Life
• Romance
• Fiction
• Royaume-Uni

Informations

• Publié par: Boldwood Books
• Date de parution: 02 juin 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781801623773
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE SILVER LADIES DO LUNCH


JUDY LEIGH
For my brother Tony…
Middleton Ferris, Oxfordshire, present day
CONTENTS



Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37


More from Judy Leigh

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by Judy Leigh

About Boldwood Books
1

‘Who do you think our new teacher will be?’ Josephine Potter fiddled nervously with her long plaits as she stood by the railings of the red brick primary school, beyond the separate entrances marked ‘Girls’ and ‘Boys’. ‘Not Terrible Thomas again?’
‘He caned me on my hands last year…’ Linda Norton cringed at the memory. ‘He said my handwriting was like a spider. But my nib broke – the inkwell was full of soggy blotting paper and it splashed everywhere. It really hurt and I couldn’t write at all for a whole day. I didn’t dare tell Mum, though.’
It was 1959, the beginning of the autumn term. Josephine and Linda huddled in front of the painted wooden sign for Middleton Ferris County Primary School in Oxfordshire. They were wearing grey pinafore dresses, ankle socks, squeaky new shoes. As they linked arms, ten years old, best friends forever, they dreamed of wonderful things, although the dreams weren’t fully formed yet.
‘It’s our last year – we can’t have old Thomas again…’ Lindy’s small face was puckered. ‘I hate his guts – he caned Sally Corbyn because she didn’t know the seven times table, and she wears callipers.’
‘He’s horrible.’ Josie shuddered. ‘I always feel sick on Mondays. I hate Sing-a-long-a-Monday with that posh woman on the radio with the warbling voice.’
‘It’s even worse when Terrible Thomas cracks the cane and shouts, “Sing, you buggers, or I’ll make you sing.”’ Lindy sniffed, swishing her glossy ponytail. ‘His face goes all red.’
Josie said, ‘He’s the worst teacher in the school. He’s so bossy.’
‘He made me dance with Jimmy Baker in country dancing. Jimmy Baker stinks.’ Lindy pinched her nose to show how bad the smell was.
‘Jimmy is a sweaty stink bomb,’ Josie agreed. ‘Old Thomas made me dance with George Ledbury and he smells just like the pigs on his dad’s farm. Fergal Toomey says he sleeps with the pigs, but I don’t believe him.’
‘I wish I could dance with a nice boy when we do country dancing…’ Lindy said dreamily.
‘Who do you think’s the handsomest boy in the class?’ Josie asked, grasping her friend’s hand.
‘Neil Timms – he’s gorgeous, he has come-to-bed eyes.’ Lindy sighed, blushing. ‘I don’t know what come-to-bed eyes are, but his eyes are really nice… he has curly eyelashes…’
‘It’s certainly not Dickie Edwards.’ A slim girl with long unruly hair joined them, her face bright with mischief. ‘I knocked his front tooth out in the rec when he tried to bully our Tina. It hasn’t improved his ugly face one bit.’
‘I wish I was as brave as you, Minnie,’ Josie said, linking her arm through Minnie Moore’s.
‘Or as clever.’ Lindy linked the other arm. ‘You’ll go off to the grammar next year and leave us behind at the secondary modern.’
‘My dad says I can’t go.’ Minnie spat on the ground and rubbed it into the tarmac with her plimsoll. ‘He says it’s a waste of money for a girl.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t care. I’ll go anyway.’
‘Even Terrible Thomas said you’re exceptionally bright.’ Josie said.
‘I am. But I’m not singing “Shenandoah” again, whether old Thomas is our teacher or not.’ Minnie frowned. ‘He can cane me all he likes. And I’m going to tell him to stop caning Kenny Hooper and making him cry. It’s not fair.’
‘Ugh, Kenny…’ Lindy pulled a face. ‘He’s weird.’
‘He’s not weird, he just sees things differently,’ Minnie said, picking at the threads on her second-hand pinafore dress. ‘One day, people will say he’s a genius.’ She sighed. ‘I hope they have some new books on the library shelf. I read all the Famous Five books three times last year. Can’t they get some Greek myths or some Shakespeare?’
An infants’ teacher came out into the playground, a woman in a long skirt, her hair in a roll, to clang a hand bell loudly.
‘We’d better go in,’ Josie murmured. ‘Then we’ll find out who our teacher is…’
‘I hope it’s someone who can teach,’ Minnie grumbled. ‘Someone who won’t keep making us bloody sing – or dance with silly boys. I tell everyone Fergal Toomey’s my country dancing partner because he doesn’t come to school half the time and I get to sit out and read.’
‘I hope we get someone who can keep Dickie Edwards under control…’ Lindy cringed at the thought. ‘He scares me a bit, to be honest.’
‘He doesn’t scare me. We stick together.’ Minnie pulled a face. ‘That’s how it’s going to be. I don’t care about old Thomas and Dickie Edwards and smelly Jimmy Baker. We’ll make this the best year yet.’
The three friends walked through the door marked ‘Girls’. They crossed the hall that always stank of stewed cabbage, sweet pink custard and sweaty plimsolls. It smelled different today, a sharp whiff of too much polish and disinfectant. They made their way towards the classroom, taking their seats one behind the other. Most children were already there. Minnie went to sit at the front. She twisted round and winked as Lindy and Josie took the desks behind. Kenny Hooper sat down with a thump, looking around nervously. Dickie Edwards flopped behind him and flicked Kenny’s ears, causing him to yelp.
Then they heard the clack of heels, and a new teacher walked into the room. The class was quiet, studying the calm woman who stood before them. She wore a fitted blue dress with a swirling skirt and blue shoes with pointed toes. Her hair fell in blonde waves to her shoulders. Her fingernails and lips were painted red. She looked like a film star.
She smiled, and when she spoke, her voice was blanket soft. ‘My name is Miss Hamilton. I’m your teacher for this year.’
Someone sighed; it could have been relief that she wasn’t Mr Thomas or it could have been love.
Miss Hamilton glanced around the room. ‘So, I thought we’d start off today by getting to know each other, and the best way to do that is to sing.’
Minnie groaned. Sally Corbyn visibly shuddered, heaving her callipered legs into a safer position. Miss Hamilton moved behind her desk and reached for a large case, taking out a shiny acoustic guitar. She strummed a chord once, twice, and turned to the class with a smile as Dickie Edwards made a hollow sound from his backside, a low farting noise that rippled against the chair. Jimmy Baker laughed loudly and Kenny Hooper waved a hand in front of his face as he yelled, ‘Miss, he stinks – he did that on purpose.’
The class held their breath as one, watching the new teacher. She smiled again, placing the guitar carefully against her seat, and walked towards Dickie, skirt swishing, heels clacking. She leaned over the desk, her red-nailed fingers taking Dickie gently by the ear, and she whispered, ‘Do you have a medical problem you’d like to tell me about, young man?’
Dickie’s cheeks were burning. He stammered, ‘N-no, Miss…’
‘Then let’s see if you can sing as well as you blow the trumpet, shall we?’ Miss Hamilton held his earlobe for a moment longer, sashayed back to her seat and picked up the guitar.
Minnie Moore mouthed across the classroom to Josie and Lindy, ‘Not bloody “Shenandoah”…’
Miss Hamilton was already strumming the chords to Buddy Holly’s ‘That’ll Be the Day’, and every member of the class sat up straight, then forty-four faces smiled as one and joined in with the teacher, whose strong voice carried to the back of the class. They sang ‘Wake Up Little Susie’ and ‘Peggy Sue’; Miss Hamilton even let them clap their hands in time as they boomed ‘Jailhouse Rock’ as loud as they could. Georgie Ledbury, the farmer’s son, waved an arm in the air. ‘Can we sing some Chuck Berry songs, Miss? He’s my favourite!’
They sang ‘Maybelline’ at the top of their voices. Kenny Hooper was louder than everyone. Then Miss Hamilton put her guitar down and smiled. ‘Thank you, class. That was delightful.’
Josie gasped and Lindy turned round, wide-eyed. No one had called them delightful before; Mr Thomas never said thank you. Miss Hamilton scanned the room, her eyes falling on an empty desk. ‘Who’s missing?’
‘Fergal Toomey, Miss,’ Minnie piped up.
‘His family are bargees,’ Jimmy called out. ‘They live on the barge down on the Cherwell. He’ll have gone rabbiting with his dad.’
‘They are Irish, Miss,’ Dickie added in an attempt to endear himself with new information to the beautiful young teacher. ‘He don’t come to school much.’
Miss Hamilton faced the class, her eyes bright. ‘I see. Right. So now we’ve warmed up, I’ll take the register, then let’s do half an hour of arithmetic. We’ll get those times tables perfect, and then we’ll learn about some of the most incredible countries in the world. After that, we’ll all be ready for playtime, and we’ll have earned our bottles of milk.’
The day passed in a swirl, and by three o’clock, every member of the class was in love with Miss Hamilton, even Dickie Edwards, who collected the exercise books and put them away. Then Miss Hamilton took out a copy of The Wind in the Willows , and said, ‘Right, class, make yourselves as comfortable as possible please. It’s story time.’
Dickie and Jimmy both laid shorn heads on their arms. Minnie closed her eyes blissfully. Kenny Hooper’s crumpled face was suddenly calm. Josie and Lindy leaned against the wall next to the belting radiators that made the room smell warm, the toasting scent of washing powder on their jumpers. Miss Hamilton began to read a story about