Statement of Ann Eaton 8th - 13th September 1985

[Patti]

Also AE states that Sheila was taken into hospital before the twins were born.  I had to re-read this, because it makes out that Sheila was having marital problems and was admitted to hospital.  Does this mean that she was admitted 3 times? for this was 1979.  Refer to bottom of sheet 5.

I'm astonished that because Sheila had had miscarriages it turned June to religion. I don't buy that.!

[Jane]

Why did June ask Ann to teach Sheila to cook and find her some chores?  Why couldn't June teach Sheila to cook and find her some chores?  This would have been around the time Sheila was 15 - 17 yoa.

According to JB June taught him to cook.

The same question crossed my mind too, NaNu. It certainly smacks of a less than comfortable relationship between mother and daughter, so perhaps it was around that time, when one of those "difficult" conversations would have been useful, that June backed off.

[killingeve]

Also AE states that Sheila was taken into hospital before the twins were born.  I had to re-read this, because it makes out that Sheila was having marital problems and was admitted to hospital.  Does this mean that she was admitted 3 times? for this was 1979.  Refer to bottom of sheet 5.

I'm astonished that because Sheila had had miscarriages it turned June to religion. I don't buy that.!

She had some gynacological problems and spent several weeks in hospital prior to giving birth to the twins.

Yes and that JB living with an older women, separated from her husband, with 2 or 3 children caused NB and June some consternation 

[Jane]

Also AE states that Sheila was taken into hospital before the twins were born.  I had to re-read this, because it makes out that Sheila was having marital problems and was admitted to hospital.  Does this mean that she was admitted 3 times? for this was 1979.  Refer to bottom of sheet 5.

I'm astonished that because Sheila had had miscarriages it turned June to religion. I don't buy that.!

Patti, until Sheila carried a pregnancy to a successful conclusion, June may have felt guilty that because of the termination she had insisted on, Sheila would be unable to have children. Hence the turn to religion.

[killingeve]

The same question crossed my mind too, NaNu. It certainly smacks of a less than comfortable relationship between mother and daughter, so perhaps it was around that time, when one of those "difficult" conversations would have been useful, that June backed off.

Yes April and it makes you wonder if June ever discussed sexual relationships/contraception with her adopted children?

[Bridget]

Also AE states that Sheila was taken into hospital before the twins were born.  I had to re-read this, because it makes out that Sheila was having marital problems and was admitted to hospital.  Does this mean that she was admitted 3 times? for this was 1979.  Refer to bottom of sheet 5.

I'm astonished that because Sheila had had miscarriages it turned June to religion. I don't buy that.!

If you read further up that same page it is explained that Sheila was to be hospitalised because of her previous miscarriages.

[Jane]

Yes April and it makes you wonder if June ever discussed sexual relationships/contraception with her adopted children?

NaNu, I don't think it takess a PHD in psychology to work out the answer to that.

[lookout]

That's some saga. If only June had been strong enough to have given Sheila more support. The girl must have reached the end of her tether. All the people there,yet not one of them understood her. How damn sad.

[killingeve]

Patti, until Sheila carried a pregnancy to a successful conclusion, June may have felt guilty that because of the termination she had insisted on, Sheila would be unable to have children. Hence the turn to religion.

It's a possibility but I'm more inclined to think that it was all bound up with life cycle issues of burgeoning (love that word) sexuality and impending emancipation rekindling loss issues prevalent within an adoptive family.  Plus June possibly believing that had she have had birth children they would have been pure and chaste instead of accepting that SC and JB were just typical teenagers/young people living in that era and had she have had birth children they are likely to have acted very similarly eg sex before marriage etc.

[Patti]

She had some gynacological problems and spent several weeks in hospital prior to giving birth to the twins.

Yes and that JB living with an older women, separated from her husband, with 2 or 3 children caused NB and June some consternation 

Did you read the bit about the panic button put in the office at the caravan park?

[Jane]

It's a possibility but I'm more inclined to think that it was all bound up with life cycle issues of burgeoning (love that word) sexuality and impending emancipation rekindling loss issues prevalent within an adoptive family.  Plus June possibly believing that had she have had birth children they would have been pure and chaste instead of accepting that SC and JB were just typical teenagers/young people living in that era and had she have had birth children they are likely to have acted very similarly eg sex before marriage etc.

June, of course would have recognized none of that but life may have been easier if she's had some kind of yardstick against which she could measure them. From what Ann says they seem to have been kept very seperate from a peer group. Ann admits to having little to do with her cousins when they were children and I get the impression that they didn't have established friendships. Perhaps they weren't encouraged. Perhaps June thought other children would be a bad influence.

[Jane]

Did you read the bit about the panic button put in the office at the caravan park?

I noticed that when she went to WHF she switched off the alarm and turned off the lights which had been on all night.

[Caroline R]

Thanks Bridget!! Team work!!  I found the rest of it but you save me a job!!

[killingeve]

June, of course would have recognized none of that but life may have been easier if she's had some kind of yardstick against which she could measure them. From what Ann says they seem to have been kept very seperate from a peer group. Ann admits to having little to do with her cousins when they were children and I get the impression that they didn't have established friendships. Perhaps they weren't encouraged. Perhaps June thought other children would be a bad influence.

Good points ol bean.  Their lives appear to lack any sort of lifelong relationships as a result of growing up on an isolated farm, boarding schools miles from WHF, both doing their own thing at a young age eg JB travelling, SC London. 

[Caroline R]

Did you read the bit about the panic button put in the office at the caravan park?

Yes - with GREAT interest!!