Charlie Somerville's Bio

My name is Charles “Charlie” Somerville

I was born on the 11^th of May, 1936 in Sheffield.

My parents named Charles due to my mother’s love of Charles Dickens novels.

The earliest memory of my father leaving when WWII happened and never came back.

I lived in a quite small house that had 2 bedrooms, one for me and my brother, and my mother in the other. My bedroom wasn’t anything fancy just a bed with blankets and a counter with flowers on it. The walls were a standard grey colour.

The neighbourhood was very noisy with lots of planes flying overhead and children chasing one another on the street.

My father Murray Somerville (1905 - 1940) was unemployed during the time I knew him and became a soldier I the last year I remember him. I don’t know that much about him.

My mother Rose Somerville (nee Kingsley) was born on 27^th of October, 1902 in Nottingham before moving to Sheffield in 1929 to be with my father. She was the one who only made money by singing songs in pubs in order to get a decent amount. I remember her giving me a bike on my 8^th birthday which I thought looked nice, I still think that was the best present got from her. I am very close to he and I keep looking out for her now she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and is staying with a family friend since I left to get a well-paying job. She said that she loved my father dearly and wanted to grow old with him before his death. She didn’t spend like crazy and only spent it on important essentials so I wouldn’t have to grow up in poverty.

I only have 1 brother. John Somerville is my older brother born 6^th April 1931 in Sheffield. We were standard siblings that we do fight occasionally but by the end of the day we are still family and we look out for each other. He stopped a young group of bullies from kicking me and helped treat my bruised leg that time. He ended up getting a job as a policeman in London, and we now see each other about 1 every two months. He got married in 1958 to his long-time girlfriend (Evie Thorne) and I was his best man. He has one daughter (Lucy Somerville) born on 20th July 1961.

I don’t remember my grandparents as they sadly passed away before I was born so I never got a chance to remember them. My mother said that my father’s father (Peter Somerville) was on the titanic and that he was one of the survivors, but died of leukaemia a decade later.

There was this Border collie that came on the street every now and then, but I don’t remember him being owned by one of our neighbours. I called him “Shoelace” due to his love of eating shoes. When I was 11 he disappeared altogether and I never saw him again. 

I was a very energetic child as I always wanted to go outside and play with the other kids whilst riding my bike. I remember eating porridge for breakfast every day, and I hated it. When my mother got enough money, she would by us a roast, and I swore that nothing would taste as good as it. I prefer bangers and mash now. There was this park that me, my brother, and my friends hang out that had this giant oak tree with a rive running by. One of my friends built a tyre swing on a branch and we would act like we are on an adventure like most children would.

I wore nothing fancy just general shirt with trousers as I would pretty much get dirty nearly every day.

Due to use being poor I didn’t get that much allowance, but if my mother did a good job that day, I would be given about a shilling, which I would use to by sweets like every child my age.

Me and my brother would help my mother by cleaning the house and help her cook dinner as she has done so much for us.

I went to Waterford Primary school in Sheffield and then went to Oakland Secondary school before going to college. I was a well-mannered pupil as I wanted to get a good education in order to get a better job so I can get a better house for my family to live in. I had love for maths at the time but I since moved on, yet I can still remember some equations. P.E. was my favourite as it involved going outside chasing people which I have been doing since I was born. I hated history as it was just boring and I only want to look up to the future. My best friend at the time was Benjamin Murphy who was quite rebellious but was kind hearted in general. We played together for hours on end every day. Today, he ended up becoming footballer for Liverpool, but we still see each other, just not regularly. My favourite teacher was Mr. Sherman Seddon who was my maths teacher, he always made a ton of jokes, and also plays sports now and the as well. Sadly he passed away in 1961 but trust me he will be missed.

I say my brother was my hero as he got good school grades and was friendly with other people, and look how well he turned out.

We didn’t go on any holidays due to the war that was happening, and when it ended my brother was about 14 and said that he was too old to go holidays anymore, so we didn’t bother.

I always wanted to be a footballer when I grew up due to it being my favourite sport and that I had a long passion for it since I was little.

The key events I remembered in my childhood was WWII and the 1948 Olympics that were held in London.

I believe that today is more simpler then those in the 40's as it isn't loud outside and you don't have the feel of death or despair.
In my teenage years, I feel I got more into sports as I usually hung out with my friends, and I managed to get to London to see the Olympics. I also got my first taste of alcohol when I was 18 when I was hanging out in a pub with John and Ben as a celebration on my 18th birthday. I rarely got into trouble as, again, I wanted to make my mother proud, and have her feel like she accomplished something in her life.
I haven't learn how to drive yet. I want to, but I haven't got enough money to buy a car, so I feel it is pointless to learn how to drive when I haven't got a vehicle to dive with. I do have a bike though.
When I graduated secondary school, I had this feeling like I have made my mother proud because I felt like she now has got 2 intelligent sons that can finally make more money.
My goal was to get a well-paying job and I now have it, as I work as a steelworker.

I went to Sheffield College and studied Chemistry as it was one of the subjects I felt more comfortable with and I could see myself doing in the future.
I knew I would never be a professional football so I used my chemistry skills to join a career of steel working when I saw it provides a good amount of money.
I did have a bit of trouble with working as I burnt the back of my right shoulder, but I still take this over doing nothing.
I moved to my street when I was 23 after my mother's disease, my brother leaving to London and me getting a new job. I felt like I need to move on a do something with my life and not let these problems hold me back.
I met my girlfriend in 1959 due to her being a friend of my brother's wife, and we hit it off ever since. We continued talking and I asked her to move in with me the next year. However, she died in late 1962. I would rather not explain how as I would start crying. I keep up the impression that she still lives with me as I care about her too much to let her go.

My mother said I was always like my father as he would do anything to make anyone happy without he taking a second to think.
My mother's most importance was to make sure her children grew up happy and have a suitable life besides the circumstances, and me and John believe she did a good job.
My best qualities are Friendly, Hard-Working and Intelligent.
My worst qualities are Shy, Anxious, and Drink a lot.
I believe the intelligence has helped me far as it got me a well paying job that helped me to get a house that I could stay in and made my mother proud.
I mostly nervous and sad these days due to me hiding my secret and having trouble talking to people around me.
My favourite book is "Lord of the Flies" as it shows me how innocent looking people can just lose it and act like a monster.
My favourite movie is "Great Expectations" as I feel like the main character resembles me as he started with nothing but now has got something of a life.
People of history I most admire are Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens and Alexander Graham Bell.
The Biggest news in my life are WWII, Queen Elizabeth II, and Winston Churchill being PM.
If I see myself in the future, I want so see myself move on in my life that I now have a middle-class house and managed to find a new girlfriend and starting a family.
If I had 3 wishes, it would be to have a new house, a better job, and having the ability to talk to people again.
My most charitable item was a guitar my brother got me on my 23rd birthday, which I use everyday to cheer myself up. I am decent on it, and it gives me little money if I do busking.
I am scared of dying alone as I want to spend my last days being with someone I truly love and who loves me back, because it scares me to think that I will leave this place with nobody being with me to see it.
I always wanted a car and a better house, as I want to get more money in order to move out of my house and get a more suitable job, but my current house is holding me back, as my girlfriend died there, and leaving the house will mean I'm leaving her.
I definitely feel myself different to when I did when I was younger, as I barely see me family and friends and having trouble talking with the people around me and I barely get out much unless I buy alcohol or do some busking.
I still remain friendly with people as if someone asks me to something I will still do it, even if I don't know the person that well.

I still enjoy football if anyone asks me to join, and again the guitar is still a hobby of mine.
My typical would be go to work, get paid, go to the shop to buy a drink, watch TV while drinking, and go to bed. Maybe do some busking if I have the time.
I think the present is worse as my mother is ill, John and Ben are in different parts of the country, I don't go outside much, and I do a lot of drinking.
I always trust John as even though he is in London, he still cares and supports me like a good brother should.
The most important thing to me right now is to overcome my grief so I can finally say I will move out of my street and find someone to spend the rest of my life with.

My 5th birthday was the worst as it was the first when dad wasn't there to be with.
I am scared of growing old as I still don't have anyone to be with, and that just means one step closer to my greatest fear.
My mother remained the same throughout her life, still singing and caring for us, but it was until her late 50's when she got alzheimer's and me and my brother can no longer look out for her, so a family friend promised to look out for her so we can carry on with our lives.
I want to be 9 again as I was the most happiest and I didn't have any problems that were holding me back, and I had friends and family that would look out for me.

I most liked finding love as it meant I was moving forward with life and on my way to start a family of my own.
The most difficult decision was moving to this street as I didn't want to leave my mother alone, but I had to trust my friend so i can carry on with my life.