Person:Ada Husher (2)

Born at Upton Park where parents lived with Auntie Ade. Went to Board School (kept by Board ogf Education) at Forest Gate.

At the age of 14 yrs, and with her hair still in two plaits, Ada May Husher went to work at DICKENS AND JONES, Regent Street, London, as a Stillroom maid. She dealt with, mainly, cold foods such as chickens for the store restaurant. In the mornings, the shop assistants would come down for cocoa, coffee and "milk with a dash" (of coffee), buns and scones. Cook and assistant prepared entrees for customers of the store, for lunch. Then teas prepared - fancy cakes, toasted scones, and muffins (prepared by the kitchen staff, not our Mum - and only the manageress and her staff prepared the fancy cakes). Our Mum was behind serving-hatch between her section and restaurant. Was supplied with good food. Mum learned how to cut bread thinly. All the assistants lived-in. Salary 10/- per week, plus dinner.

Mum next worked at DAWSONS, off-Chancery Lane, London. Printing firm. Mum worked as an Invoice Clerk.

Next worked at P.L.A. London Docks as general clerk. She was sent to Burroughs to learn how to use the Adding Machine and Calculating Machines. These docks handled Canned fruit, Fish, Wines & Brandies, Guiness, Spice , Ivory, Capsicums, Wool and General Merchandise. Staff were allowed to visit the Wine Vaults, where they were given a light on a stick (these sticks were used to count the persons entering the vaults....Mum said it was easy to get lost down there!). It was here that she met our Dad (Thomas G G Kisky) (Note of interest: Dad said that the Lascars who worked at the docks were not allowed to use the "White's" toilet. They had their own toilet with a red fez painted on the door!)

During 1939-45 Mum worked at PLESSEY's, in Wanstead, for a while - then at HARKER STAGG (Chemists)